CHAPTER ONE

THE STOLEN BAG

Mia’s POV

Another day of not getting a job.

I sat on the bench outside the last place I had visited and stared at the ground. My hands were tired from carrying my bag around all day, and my feet hurt from walking from one place to another.

I had been looking for a job for weeks, but nothing was working out.

Everywhere I went, I heard the same thing.

“We’ll call you.”

“Leave your number with us.”

“We’re not hiring right now.”

And they never called.

I checked my phone again, hoping maybe someone had finally called me back.

Nothing.

I sighed and locked my phone.

“This is really not working,” I whispered.i

didn't know what I was going to do anymore. I had rent to pay. I had bills to pay. I also needed money for food and other things I couldn't keep avoiding.

The little money I had saved was almost gone.

I had already started cutting down on things I needed just to make it through the week.

I looked up at the sky.

“Please, I just need one job.”

I knew talking to myself wouldn't solve anything, but

I didn't know who else to talk to.

I stood up from the bench and adjusted my bag on my shoulder.

I was tired.

All I wanted was to get home, take off my shoes, lie on my bed and forget about everything for a while.

As I started walking home, I passed different people going about their day. Cars moved along the road, people talked to each other, and some shops were still open.

Everyone seemed to have somewhere to be.

Everyone except me.

I felt like I was stuck.

I had been trying so hard to get my life together, but nothing seemed to be going my way.

I kicked a small stone on the ground.

“I guess that's not happening now,” I whisperedto myself.

I continued walking.

A few minutes later, I noticed a woman standing beside a black car parked near the side of the road.

She looked completely different from me.

She was dressed in elegant clothes, carrying herself like someone who was used to having everything she wanted. Even her car looked expensive.

She was looking down at her phone while waiting beside the car.

I didn't really pay attention to her.

I was already too tired and focused on getting home.

Then suddenly

Someone bumped into my shoulder.

“Hey!”

I turned around quickly.

Before I could say anything, I saw a man running away.

He was holding a woman's handbag.

My eyes widened.

The woman beside the car looked up and immediately screamed.

Thief! Thief! Somebody help me!”

People around us turned to look.

But nobody moved.

Some people just stood there watching.

The man kept running.

I looked at the woman, then at the thief.

For a second, I didn't know what to do.

I could have walked away.

I could have pretended I didn't see anything.

But something inside me wouldn't let me.

“Stop!” I shouted.

I dropped my bag on the ground and ran after him.

“Mia, what are you doing?” I asked myself while running.

I didn't even know why I was chasing him.

My legs were already tired from walking all day, but I kept going.

The man looked back and saw me chasing him.He seemed surprised.

Then he ran faster.

“Stop running!” I shouted.

He ignored me.

I ran faster too.

My heart was beating hard, and I could barely catch my breath.

People on the street started looking at us as we passed.

“Give the bag back!” I shouted.

He turned into a smaller street.

I followed him.

For a moment, I thought I was going to lose him.

But then I saw him slow down.

I used that chance to get closer.

Got you!”

I reached for the bag and grabbed it.

The man suddenly turned around and pushed me hard.

I almost fell.

“Give me that!” he shouted.

“No!

I held onto the bag tightly.

He pulled it.

I pulled it back.

“Let go!” he yelled.

“No!”

He pushed me again, but I refused to let go.

I didn't even know where the courage was coming from.

I just knew I wasn't giving him the bag.

For a few seconds, we struggled over it.

My hands started hurting.

Leave me alone!” I shouted.

The man suddenly pulled harder.

I lost my balance and fell to one knee.

But I still didn't let go.

“Why are you so stubborn?” he shouted.

“Because I'm not giving you this!”

He stared at me for a moment.

Then, as if he realized he was wasting time, he suddenly let go of the bag.

I fell backward slightly.

Before I could get up, he turned around and ran away.

I sat there for a few seconds, breathing heavily.

I couldn't believe what had just happened.

I looked down at the handbag in my hands.

“I actually did that?”

I slowly stood up.

My knees hurt, and my breathing was still heavy.

I picked up my bag and started walking back toward the woman.

When I finally got back, she rushed toward me.

“Oh my goodness! Are you okay?”

I nodded.

“Yes, I'm fine.”

She looked at my clothes and then at my slightly dirty knee.

“You're bleeding.”

I looked down.

There was a small cut on my knee.

“Oh. It's nothing.”

She shook her head.

“You shouldn't have chased him. He could have hurt you.”

I smiled slightly.

“I know. I just couldn't stand there and watch him take your bag.”

She looked at me for a few seconds.

Then she took the handbag from my hands and quickly opened it.

She checked inside.

Everything was still there.

She let out a breath of relief.

“Thank you,” she said. “I honestly don't know what I would have done if you hadn't stopped him.”

“You're welcome.”

She closed the bag and looked at me again.

“What is your name?”

“Mia.”

“Mia,” she repeated with a small smile.

“Yes.”

She looked at my face carefully.

“Do you live around here?”

“Not too far.”

“Do you work?”

The question made me sigh.

“No.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“No?”

“I've been looking for a job for weeks.”

She looked surprised.

“Really?”

I nodded.

“Yes. I've gone to so many places, but nobody wants to hire me.”

She was quiet for a moment.

Then she smiled.

“Maybe I can help you with that.”

I looked at her.

“You can?”

“Yes.”

My heart suddenly jumped.

I had spent the whole day feeling hopeless, and now this woman was telling me she might have a job for me.

“What kind of job?”

“You'll find out when you come.”

She reached into her bag and brought out a small card.

She handed it to me.

I looked down at it.

There was an address written on it.

“Come to this address tomorrow,” she said.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. Come in the morning.”

I looked at the card again.

“Are you sure?”

She smiled.

“Yes, Mia. Just come.”

I nodded quickly.

“Okay. Thank you so much.”

She gave me one last smile before getting into her car.

I stood there watching as the car drove away.

I looked at the card again.

For the first time that day, I felt hopeful.

Maybe this was the opportunity I had been waiting for.

Maybe things were finally going to change.

I held the card tightly and started walking home.

I had no idea what kind of job was waiting for me at that address.

I had no idea who this woman really was.

And I definitely didn't know that walking into that place the next day would change my life forever.

I thought I had finally found a job.

Little did I know I was walking into a rollercoaster of trouble for myself.