Chapter 1

Maya's POV

“Where’s my god-damned order at, for fuck’s sake? I've been waiting here for over thirty minutes.”

I rolled my eyes as I moved to the kitchen to get the order before this guy started to chew my ear off. Again. Not my fault he came to the cheapest café-slash-bar in Las Vegas and expected quick service.

Ah, men.

“Trina, the guy who ordered the grilled cheese sandwich, is getting real cracky and is on my last nerve right now. So, for the love of everything lovable, if you do not want to see one of your precious customers in a body bag, then please… hand the order over right now,” I said, stressing the please.

“Oh, quit being overdramatic. There's only so much an oldie like me can do around here.”

“So, you do agree you're old, huh?”

“Well duh. Have you seen me? I'm all wrinkly and bones. No one is ever going to imagine that I was a little vixen back in my day. Ouuu, girl, I was getting d**ks like candy. My favorite was my night with Grayson. The man knows how to make a lady's wet dreams come true. He made me come like I had never come before, and let's not forget that tongue—the way he licked my—”

“What the fuck! Trina, why would you say something like that? I officially need to bleach my ears and maybe my whole body. I still wonder why a 72-year-old woman has the mouth of an 18-year-old. I didn't think it was possible, but congratulations—you've scarred me for life.”

She just cackled like the witch that she was and finally gave me my order.

Oh, my cheesy cheese, it smells heavenly. How can a menace like her make delicious masterpieces like this? It's just not fair.

“Oh, please… you'll know what I mean when you're my age, all old and wrinkly. That's why the best advice I'd give you, as a wise old lady, is: get as much d**k as you can while you still can, but always use protection. You only live once, baby girl."

Then she proceeded to wink.

Oh, hell no.

I grabbed the plate of sizzling grilled cheese sandwich and ran the fuck out. As the proper lady I am, I made sure to slam the kitchen door shut because the woman in there was a danger to humanity.

Aren't I the best?

I slowed down and stopped running. I started wondering how and why my Black, 72-year-old boss and café chef had the mouth of a dirty sailor.

Who made her such a nuisance to society?

Why did I have to be her favorite, for fuck's sake?

Of course I'm her favorite. That woman loves me to bits, and I love her more. But I'm never telling her that. Her ego is already as big as the Statue of Liberty, so the only option I have is to be bitchy to her.

When I got back to the counter to give the cranky guy his sandwich, I couldn't find him.

I thought this guy was hungry, so where did he disappear to?

And then I saw him, groping the newbie in the ass.

Oh, he is so dead.

Still with the sandwich in hand, I sucked in a long breath and slowly let it out. Then I counted from one to ten.

When I was done, I put on the sweetest smile ever and sashayed to his table. He just looked at me, rolled his eyes, and continued with his business.

Yup. He definitely has a death wish, and I'll happily fulfill his wish for him.

“Hello, sir. I've got your order with me right now. My deepest apologies for taking so long. The chef just had some issues in the kitchen.”

“Oh, that's quite okay. But next time, it wouldn't kill you guys to be quick. After all, I'm a regular here, and I deserve special treatment, ya got that?” he said, smiling up at me with his yellow, rotten teeth, still not leaving the newbie alone.

Still with my sweet-as-sugar smile, I replied, “Loud and clear, sir. In fact, the chef told me you were the most important customer in here and instructed me to treat you with utmost care. She even told me to give you one of our never-seen-before specials.”

The fucker had the audacity to smile even wider, blessing us with more disgusting teeth, and decided it was the best time to tap the newbie's ass. She was sheet-white now.

“That's what I like to hear. So, tell me, beautiful, what's the name of this special?”

Okay, now I'm really pissed. How dare he?

Still boiling with rage, I managed to keep my smile.

“It's called Bitch-Faced with Grilled Cheese.”

Before he could blink, I slammed the sizzling grilled cheese square in his face.

He jumped out of his seat and groaned in pain, finally letting the newbie go. She was clearly shaken because she just stood there, staring at nothing.

The whole café went dead quiet. 

Everyone just watched the drama unfold.

“Hey,” I called out to her.

Still nothing. So, I walked up to her, held her hand, took her to an empty seat, and sat her down.

“I'll be right back. Okay?” I said softly.

She nodded. Or at least I think she did.

I turned back to face the douchebag. He was blindly reaching around for the napkins usually kept beside the condiments.

I'll be damned if I let his pain go away.

I grabbed his arm tightly, yanking him back before his fingers could even touch the napkins.

He flinched.

Good.

“Looking for these?” I asked, holding the napkin dispenser in front of him, smiling way too wide. I mean, why wouldn't I? This is fun.

He blinked, his face red from the sandwich, and tried to pull away.I didn't let go. Not a chance.

“Let me go, you stupid bitch,” he hissed.

Now that made me smile wider.

“Ah-ah-ah, that's not gonna happen, old man. Do you know why?”

“I said leave me the fuck alone.”

“Not what I asked. Again, do you know why?”I said, digging my nails deeper into his arm for more effect.

He squirmed harder.

Ah...what a beautiful sight.

“W-why?”

“Atta boy. Now, was that so hard to say? Hm?” I asked, raising my brows at him. “You see that girl over there?” I nodded to the direction of where the newbie was seated. "She may not have told you to let her go, but her body did, but did you listen?”

He said nothing.

“Answer me. Did you or did you not listen?”

“No, I didn't. But I swear, if I knew it would have been like this, I wouldn't have done anything to her.”

“What's your name?”

“Jonathan.”

“So, Jonathan, does that mean if I didn't intervene, you'd continue to grope an innocent girl who's old enough to be your daughter? That is, if you even have one. Do you have a daughter?”

He avoided my gaze. Fucker literally looked everywhere and anywhere but me.

“Yes.”

“How old is she?”

“12.”

“I feel sorry for her. You're such a sorry excuse for a father.”

And he had the audacity to look sad. Talk about pathetic.

“Apologize.”

Looking confused, he said, “Wait, what?”

“I didn't stutter.” I deadpanned.

“Why am I apologizing?"

The nerve of this guy.

“For assaulting a minor, being an asshole dad, being a whiny little bitch… Oh, and let's not forget about your terrible dental care, cause dude have you seen your teeth. So yeah, I think that'd be all.”

“You fucking psycho! Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“Someone who didn't stutter.”

I swear, he looked like a pressure cooker about to blow.

“Alright, I'm getting bored. Apologize so we can get this over with.Or do we have something else to say?” I asked, now holding his pointer and middle fingers. I bent them just slightly—just enough to make him flinch.

His expression changed immediately. Any sign of defiance was long gone. Only pain was written on his face. Just pain. Sweet, delicious pain.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Not to me. I'm not the one you bothered.”

He turned toward the newbie and muttered, “I'm sorry.” 

“Sorry? She can't hear you,” I said, enjoying every single bit of his suffering. I bent his hand even more, just for a little motivation. And that seemed to do the trick.

His breath hitched.

Now we're getting somewhere.

“O-okay! Okay!” he gasped, the words tumbling out too fast. “I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I'll never touch you inappropriately ever again.

I smirked in satisfaction.

“Now that's better.”

Still holding his fingers, I turned around and scanned the café, making sure I had everyone's attention before announcing.

“As you guys know, T's is a well-known establishment that's a café in the mornings and a bar at night. Yes, she's a bit rough around the edges, but with that being said, we have a zero-tolerance policy against sexual assault and harassment. Meaning: when a girl or guy says no, it means no. So, you fucking drop it and move on. If you don't want to listen and accept the rules like sensible human beings, then be my guest. There's plenty of food and drink to be shoved into any motherfucker's ass. Try me.”

I turned my attention back to my recent victim and smiled from ear to ear like a possessed clown.

“Never, and I mean ever, forcefully touch any girl, and I'll make sure you have something to remind you. Always.”

As I was about to say bye-bye to his fingers, all of a sudden, I was hauled away like a sack of potatoes.

What the hell!

Someone's about to die, and I don't care when or how. I just know this person is about to get it.

Before I could even wrap my head around what the heck

was going on, I was dropped down like a used tampon.

Hard.

Ouch.

I tried to balance myself properly, but the ground was already tilting. After what felt like an eternity, I finally got myself together, and I was more than ready to take that asshole on.

I looked up to get it on, only to be greeted by what I thought was the most beautiful shade of blue eyes.

And oh, they were glaring at me.