001 The Breakup

Lana

"My boyfriend just got engaged to someone else," I said, gulping the content in the glass I was holding.

"That must be hard," the insanely handsome man replied. He sounded sorry for me.

Yeah... I am definitely pitiful.

"Why is a guy like you in a bar like this?" I asked.

I'm not stupid. I see the way he’s dressed, he looks like one of those rich people that frequent the restaurant I work at, but it’s quite odd I’ve never seen him before. Maybe he’s a new billionaire, or maybe he just moved into Los Angeles. Probably here for business.

"Trying to get away for some time," he replied with a shrug, and I sighed.

"Running away from responsibilities. Sounds like something I would do," I chuckled as my eyes went to the bottle of beer in front of me.

This beer costs a lot, and I’m sure as hell I don’t have enough money to pay for it, but who cares? I’m grieving here. My boyfriend of four years just broke up with me-well not literally.

"He didn’t know what he lost," I heard him say, and I scoffed.

"Trust me, he didn’t lose anything," I replied painfully.

"I think otherwise, pretty lady," he smirked, and his beautiful deep dimples came into view.

I swear, the man before me is a Greek god, or maybe he was sculpted perfectly by one.

"Lana!" I heard Beatrice’s voice. I almost forgot she had gone to the bathroom a few minutes ago.

My eyes went to my sister, who looked drunk as hell. We came here to make me forget Ethan, but she’s the one who ended up getting drunk.

"How much did you drink, Trixie?" I sighed, walking toward her.

"I don’t know, but I swear I’m not drunk," Beatrice said defensively.

"That’s not what I’m seeing," I scoffed, and she chuckled awkwardly.

I shook my head and turned toward the man I was talking to, but he was gone.

Well… that’s rude. He didn’t even bother to say goodbye, and I didn’t even get his name.

"Lana, I don’t feel so good," Beatrice said with a scowl on her face as she clenched her stomach with her hand.

Shit, she’s going to throw up.

I quickly led Beatrice into the bathroom to empty her stomach as I held up her hair.

I didn’t really know how long we’d been in the bathroom, because it seemed like Beatrice was going to throw up her intestines.

After she was done, I led her outside the bar and stopped a taxi.

When we got to my apartment, I carefully laid Beatrice on the bed. She was so drunk she kept mumbling gibberish as I tried to put her under the duvet.

"I’m sorry," Beatrice mumbled.

"There’s nothing to be sorry about, Trixie," I replied, stroking her hair with a smile.

"Ethan is a jerk," she mumbled again, and I chuckled.

"Well... that’s very true," I replied and covered her properly as she drifted off to sleep.

I walked back to the living room of my small apartment and slumped on the couch.

I brought out my phone as my mind drifted off to the man at the bar. The few minutes I spent with him were oddly comfortable, I really didn’t want it to end.

Too bad he had to ditch me the first chance I got distracted. I’m guessing he didn’t enjoy my company that much.

Scrolling through the internet was mere torture. News of Ethan Pierce and Hannah Sanders’ engagement was all people were talking about.

Seeing how people were congratulating them made my heart sink. Would they congratulate us if I were the one getting married to Ethan?

Probably not. I’m no one. They would definitely brand me a slut who was with him for the money.

And that’s why Ethan suggested we keep our relationship a secret. He said he was scared of people talking bad about me, but I knew deep down he was ashamed of me.

He didn’t even have the decency to tell me about his engagement. He couldn’t end things properly for the sake of four years.

Four years of relationship all washed down the drain, just like that, just because I am a nobody.

The thought made my eyes sting with tears. My heart clenched tightly, suffocating me until I couldn’t breathe.

Fuck Ethan. Fuck Hannah. And fuck everyone who’s wishing them well.

Stray tears rushed down my cheeks, and I used the back of my hand to wipe them away.

I won’t cry for him. He’s a jerk, and I am not going to cry for him.

I dropped my phone and laid on the couch properly.

---

"Lana! Did you really sleep here?" Beatrice’s voice rang in my ears like an alarm, and I quickly jumped from the couch.

"What time is it?" I asked, totally disorganized.

"7:30 a.m.," Beatrice answered, and my eyes widened.

Shit, I’m late for work.

I quickly rushed into the bedroom to set my clothes for the day and take my bath.

Within thirty minutes I was done. I quickly wore my flats, dashed into the living room, and saw Beatrice setting the table for breakfast.

"I’m not eating breakfast. I’m already late, Harper will kill me," I said hurriedly and ran out of the house while Beatrice sighed.

She seems pretty fine for someone who was drunk as hell last night. I didn’t have time to check if she had a hangover.

I said hi to Mrs. Shaw, our neighbor, and her adorable daughter, Lily, but didn’t wait for her to respond before rushing down the stairs and out of the building.

I hailed a taxi quickly. Normally, I would walk to work, but not today. I didn’t wake up early enough to walk to the restaurant.

When I got there, Harper was already glaring at me as I stepped down from the taxi and paid the driver.

"I have customers, waiters, and waitresses but no cook. Tell me, how does a restaurant function without a cook?" he frowned, and I smiled politely at him.

"Sorry, I overslept," I apologized.

"Why the hell are you still standing here?" Harper yelled, and I dashed into the restaurant and into the kitchen.

---

Today has to be one of the busiest days of my life. I’ve been standing for four hours without a break.

Being a chef really isn’t easy. My legs and arms are killing me. I can’t wait for Jenna to come in for her shift.

"Sorry I’m late," I heard Jenna’s voice and smiled at her.

"No problem. Orders keep coming in, you have a lot to do," I tapped her on the back, and Jenna chuckled.

I work the first shift from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every morning, then Jenna takes over for the remaining hours.

I changed out of my work clothes and walked out of the restaurant, hoping not to run into Harper, he doesn’t seem to be in a good mood today.

I hailed a taxi to my next job. It’s really hard working there since I’m nothing but a mere waitress in an expensive restaurant.

I got down from the taxi, walked into the restaurant, and went to my locker to change my clothes.

Everyone here is so professional. I applied here as a chef, but I guess my certificate isn’t good enough for this type of restaurant. The manager had pity on me and gave me the waitress job.

I had no choice but to take it because of the pay.

Most rich folks come here to eat and drink wine. In fact, this is where I met Ethan.

I swallowed a lump in my throat at the thought. Fucking Ethan Pierce.

"Table two," Jake told me as he handed over the tray of food.

I took it from him and walked to table two, but my heart sank to my stomach at the sight of who was at table two.

Ethan and his fiancée, Hannah.