Stefani angrily stomped and stormed inside the Chief Executive's office, walking past some employees with horrified faces.

"DAD!!!" she shouted as soon as she entered and noticed the questioning looks of at least ten people inside the room. They all bowed to Stefani and to the CEO, who was Stefani's father, then quickly headed out as words were not needed to be spoken anymore.

"Stefani, what happened?" Her father asked though he had already somewhat predicted this happening.

"How could you decide things like that by yourself? I'm 18 years old! I'm still too young for that!!" Stefani gritted her teeth as she glared at her father, eyes widening in anger, and her long black hair waving like a storm. If anyone saw this scene, they would think that there was a weird drama scene was being filmed. They would even conclude that the drama was all about a faceoff between wolves. Except that because of her small height and adorable face, Stefani looked like a small puppy glaring at the leader of the pack.

The door suddenly opened, letting in a handsome guy in a suit, his hair fixed in the most presentable way. Stefani couldn't guess how many hours the guy had spent on it. The navy-blue suit paired with a striped, dark magenta tie was absolutely perfect too. His black leather shoes shone so brightly on the ground that even the sun would feel ashamed for rising above. The man just practically screamed one word—perfection.

And Stefani hated it. Stefani hated it very, very much.

"To add more, with this guy of all people, Dad! Why did you choose this monkey?!" Stefani's finger pointed at Jonathan Gonzalez, the 24-year-old most trusted employee of Mr. Hernandez. 

Mr. Hernandez sighed, then opened his mouth. "Stefani, it's just an engage—"

"No!! I'm not going to be engaged with this monkey! I'm not going to marry him!! I hate you so much Dad!! I hate you!!" Stefani puffed out raging breaths as she turned around and began heading outside, but of course, she did not forget to death glare at Jonathan first.

However, Jonathan just stared at her as if she was nothing but air, which only annoyed Stefani more.

She shouted a series of curses before she finally exited the office.

"Ah, that brat," Stefani's father shook his head in a rather unusual way. Yes, he was already used to his daughter's behavior—the sudden barging into his office, the shouting and glaring and everything in between. For most people in this building, this was actually a common occurrence. 

The truth was, Mr. Hernandez only wanted Stefani to be happy. After all, she was his only child, his only family, his precious. Jonathan had been good, obedient, always ready to help, and his performance at the company was unsurprisingly excellent. He was also good-looking and had a kind heart. Mr. Hernandez knew Jonathan was the right person for Stefani. Even though Stefani probably didn't deserve Jonathan, Mr. Hernandez still believed Jonathan could, in a way, influence Stefani to be a better person.

"It's okay, sir. I'm used to it anyway," Jonathan said with a smile. Of course, Jonathan was also used to the treatment Stefani gave him every time she saw him. It was as if Stefani hated him so much that even just staying in the same room irritated her. Well, Jonathan had already gotten used to it. Stefani could really be a brat sometimes…or always.

"By the way, about the engagement..." Jonathan started, though was lost for the next word. Ever since Mr. Hernandez offered an engagement with Stefani, Jonathan couldn't think straight. He was always calm and good at organizing his thoughts no matter the situation, but he could not deny the fact that this current issue made his head ache a lot. 

"Jonathan, I know you're thinking Stefani is such a brat and that your life would probably be hell if you became her husband." 

Jonathan couldn't help but cringe at the word 'husband.' Just imagining being with the little brat in the same room—bedroom—made Jonathan want to bang his head on the wall. He felt uncomfortable just thinking he'd be in the same house with her for a week…or even years. After all, all he had ever received from that sassy teenager were death glares and verbal insults. Could he really take accept person, especially her extraordinary attitude, into his peaceful life?

"But can you at least give it a try? Stefani is still young, yes. She is naive, immature, and has a sharp tongue. But I don't think I could entrust her to anyone just yet. For now, you're the perfect guy. I know I can trust you with my daughter." 

Jonathan was touched by the words the president just uttered. He trusted Jonathan this much. Jonathan felt really grateful. Mr. Hernandez was the one who helped him and his sister when their parents died in a car accident when they were still kids. Although Mr. Hernandez didn't adopt them as his children, he was the one who sent them to school, gave them shelter, food, education, and everything the two pitiful orphans needed. For Jonathan, Mr. Hernandez was like his second father. He was family. 

But was getting engaged with his second father's bratty daughter be the way to repay the kindness?

"I understand, sir," he responded after thinking for a while. 

Maybe it was. Although Jonathan still hated the idea of having to deal with the little devil Stefani, he still had lots of respect, gratitude, and concern toward Mr. Hernandez. 

Sighing silently, Jonathan concluded he would agree to be engaged with and marry Stefani. 

"I can't believe it either! I hate them so much!" Stefani cried to her friends Christina, Dianne, Bridget, and Ivy.

 It was a lively Sunday morning and Stefani woke up in a bad mood, all because the sudden call from her dad stating what he proposed to be "good news." Despite being pampered by her father, Stefani wasn't someone who could easily say the words "I hate you" to anyone. The only exception was Jonathan Gonzalez. Every time Stefani came across Jonathan, she couldn't help but hate him more and more. 

When her father suddenly announced this engagement, Stefani was fuming with anger. She couldn't understand why, out of all people, her father chose the person she hated to the core.

The four girls sighed all at the same time while looking at their friend. They had known Stefani for a long time and knew how dramatic she could be, especially when expressing her feelings. They waited for Stefani to finish crying before speaking.

"Calm down, Stef," Ivy tried to calm her friend's nerves down. Instead, she started crying even more as if she had been bullied. The other four shook their heads, sighing as they knew how stubborn Stefani could be. Despite being the same age, Stefani was obviously the most immature of them. 

"I said calm down!" Ivy shouted, which made Stefani shoot her head up, pouting.

"I don't want to be engaged to someone I don't love and doesn't love me," Stefani cried, eyes full of sadness as she stared at the table. Christina and Dianne looked at each other, exchanging knowing looks. Christina sighed and patted Stefani's shoulder.

"Stef," she called out sympathetically, but was immediately shut up by Stefani who stood up all of a sudden, nearly knocking their drinks off the table. For sure, the crying session had ended, replaced by a more aggressive and deadly declaration of intense hatred.

"And of all people, why that monkey!!!" Stefani suddenly said loudly, frustration clear in her brown eyes as she slammed her hands on the table. The action made her friends jump a little. But Stefani was beyond mad. Why was her father doing this to her? He knew she didn't like Jonathan. No, not didn't like—she hated him! She hated him so much that just the thought of him made her want to hijack an airplane, escape Earth, and live somewhere far away so she would never see him again!

"Stop it, Stefani! Seriously," Bridget, a bit exasperated with Stefani's actions and rants, snapped. She looked at Stefani with serious venom eyes, ready to bite Stefani if she started whining again. "Stop being dramatic, seriously!"

Stefani bit her lower lip and sighed. Actually, Stefani was a simple person. What she wanted was just a simple life with her future husband—someone who would cherish her, respect her, treat her the best, and love her for the way she was with all his heart and soul. In their marriage, all the good and bad times would be cherished like flowers blooming. That was what Stefani desired for her future—wonderful, pure love. Suddenly, the blooming petals turned dark then slowly faded into thin air as a certain person—a 24-year-old someone—showed up in her mind.

"Ah, I can't do it! I can't!" Stefani began to cry once more. "Don't you guys get what I'm trying to say? I want to be married to someone I love and who loves me back, not with someone who doesn't even care about me!"

"You're overreacting. What makes you think Jonathan doesn't care about you?" Dianne asked, taking a sip from her drink. 

Stefani immediately shot her a glare. "Dianne, stop trying to be funny! I don't care whether he cares about me or not. I hate him! He's always doing what Dad wants like a dog! I hate him so much. Do you know that? He thinks he's so great just because he's handsome and performs well at work. So what? Not everyone sees how arrogant that guy is! Argh, I hate him so much. I think I'll die first before I kiss him!" Stefani cried out and began to pant hard, desperately catching her breath after her nonstop, long rant.

The girls looked at each other, and after a moment, all burst out with laughter.

"Hey! What's so funny?!" Stefani frowned deeply while glaring at her friends. 

"Do you know how many times you said the word 'hate'?" Ivy asked, the cracked-up smile on her face still not leaving her from the laughter.

"Whatever! I just hate him, okay? And I definitely won't ever get married to that guy!!" Stefani stood up again, feet stomping as she left the coffee shop, hair bouncing with every step. 

Christina shook her head and took a sip of her iced coffee jelly. 

"Girls, you think this Jonathan guy is really handsome?" Bridget suddenly opened.

"I don't know. Stefani said he is, but he's arrogant too..." Dianne commented, thinking about what their dear friend just said moments ago.

All of them paused for a moment. Their eyes then twinkled, and they started to giggle as they whispered to each other.

"Arrogant plus handsome? Time for some investigation, girls!"

Everyone nodded in agreement as they pulled out their black sunglasses and auntie scarves from their bags.

The next day, Stefani was walking down the stairs out of her classroom when she suddenly heard a group of girls giggling loudly along the way. Thinking it was nothing, she shrugged as she walked out of the building, heading towards the front gate where she'd be waiting for her butler to come and fetch her as usual.

She walked past a bunch of girls squealing, making her eyebrow twitch in curiosity. What was the commotion all about?

A flock of girls and boys were standing near the front gate making Stefani frown in annoyance. Damn these idiots, blocking the way all the time. Stefani grunted as she gripped her backpack and began walking the other way.

"Stefani."

Stefani's ears perked up and she immediately turned around, only to find Jonathan leaning against his car like some kind of a TV or drama star idol. Frowning, Stefani walked towards him.