“The Cold-Hearted Boss Forced Open Her Driver’s Bag, Suspecting Him of Stealing… But She Broke Down in Tears When She Saw What Was Inside!”
THE OLD BAG AND THE HEART OF GOLD
The Ice Queen and the Poor Driver
Clarisa was a famous real estate CEO, known for her flawless beauty and a heart as cold as ice. One morning, standing in the lobby of her building, she glanced at her watch and threw her car keys onto the receptionist’s desk, snapping angrily:
“Fire the previous driver immediately. I don’t pay people just to wait for someone who’s ten minutes late.”
At that moment, Arlan—a thin young man who delivered food—was helping the janitors clean up some spilled coffee. The HR manager noticed his diligence and stopped him.
“Can you drive? Do you have a license? Our boss needs a driver right away—the salary is triple what you’re earning now!”
Arlan nodded, thinking of the broken roof at the Pelita Hati orphanage where he lived.
“Yes, I can. Thank you very much for the opportunity.”
Between Two Worlds
During the first few days, the atmosphere inside the car was heavy and tense. Arlan always held tightly to his old, faded gray backpack in the front seat. Clarisa glanced at him in the rear-view mirror and sneered:
“Hey, Arlan, put that trash bag in the trunk. You’re dirtying the inside of my car.”
Arlan trembled slightly and hugged the bag even closer.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but what’s inside is very important. I need to watch over it so it won’t get damaged.”
That was when Clarisa began to grow suspicious:
“A poor boy like him—why does he have to cling to that bag? Could he be stealing from my company?”
Even so, Arlan continued to show care in his own quiet way. Once, when they were stuck in traffic and Clarisa had a headache, he gently played some instrumental music and offered her a piece of candy.
“Ma’am, the elders say soft music and ginger can help reduce stress. Please try this.”
Clarisa was stunned. For the first time, someone looked at her not as a “money-making machine,” but as a human being who also got tired.
The Storm and the Fried Rice
A powerful storm arrived. Clarisa was stranded outside the car because her expensive umbrella had broken. Without hesitation, Arlan ran into the rain and used his cheap raincoat as a temporary shelter for her.
“Ma’am, hurry! Please get inside—you’ll ruin your expensive blazer if you get soaked!”
“And what about you? You’ll be completely drenched!” Clarisa shouted over the wind.
“My clothes are cheap, they dry easily. But you—you must not get sick!” Arlan replied with a smile, even as he shivered from the cold.
That night, they were stuck on the highway for three hours. Clarisa’s stomach ulcer flared up because she hadn’t eaten. She nearly fainted from hunger. Hesitantly, Arlan opened his bag and took out an old lunchbox.
“I brought some fried rice I cooked this morning… If you don’t mind, please eat this first so you don’t collapse from hunger.”
At the first bite, Clarisa almost cried from how good it tasted.
“Where did you buy this? It’s delicious.”
“I made it myself, Ma’am. My mother at the orphanage taught me. I always bring my own food to save money.”
The Truth Behind the Zipper
One day, Arlan forgot his bag in the car while he went to the mosque to pray. Unable to resist any longer, Clarisa opened the zipper with trembling hands. She froze in shock.
There was no gold. No stolen valuables.
What she saw instead was:
Leftover bread and snacks from office meetings, carefully wrapped in tissue.
An old notebook with handwritten words:
“Saving for 5 sacks of cement: 300,000đ. Still need 2 million more to fix the roof for the children.”
Clarisa slumped back in her seat, sobbing uncontrollably.
“What have I done? I called a man with a heart of gold a thief…”
When Arlan returned to the car and saw her swollen eyes, he grew worried.
“Ma’am, are you okay? Did something happen?”
Clarisa looked at him, her voice hoarse:
“Arlan, I’m the one who should be asking for your forgiveness. Could you take me to your orphanage? I want to meet the children.”
Final Chapter: The Radiance of Kindness
Weeks later, rumors spread throughout the office:
“What happened to Ms. Clarisa? Why is she sharing meals with her driver now?”
Clarisa heard them but did not get angry. She only smiled with quiet dignity.
She used company funds to renovate the entire Pelita Hati orphanage. One morning, instead of sitting in the back seat, Clarisa opened the door beside the driver’s seat.
“Arlan, don’t tell me that ‘Zomblo’ joke today. Tell me instead about your plans for Rio’s education.”
Arlan smiled widely and drove the car toward the orphanage.
“Yes, Boss! Today will be a beautiful journey!”
The old gray bag was still there—serving as a reminder that true wealth does not come from expensive jewelry, but from a heart that knows how to love and help others.