CHAPTER 1: A BIG MISTAKE

Melissa

The day had barely begun and I could feel my entire body succumb to its tiredness. My eyes felt like they had suddenly become lead and my legs wobbled badly, I desperately needed a good rest.

Just like every other night, I had spent the entire last night in the school library again, trying to catch up with the term's work, forgetting that I worked a morning shift at the local eatery.

"Melissa, we have an order at table 10 and table 23," the voice of the manager dragged me out of my reverie.

"I'm on it," my voice scratched, failing to go higher than it was. I stretched my limbs and they felt like they had weighed more pounds overnight. I grabbed the tray housing the cups of coffee and walked into the main restaurant.

"Here you go," my smile came so faintly that you could barely notice it. I dropped the first order at table 10 and walked towards the next table. As I neared table 23, a customer in a hurry bumped into me from behind, causing me to spill the coffee on the very fine young man that sat on table 20.

"I'm sincerely sorry, I'm sorry," I dragged out the napkin that served as my second uniform, wiping his cloth without even looking up to see who it was.

"I told you Felix, not to bring me to some low ass restaurant. Now look at what this bitch has done," his voice merged with my thoughts of needing a good sleep. Immediately hearing the vile word he said, I stopped cleaning and decided to look at him.

"Excuse me, what was that for? There's no need for such language. I already apologized, even though it wasn't my fault."

"That's all peasants like you say, feigning innocence and all you look like to me is a bitch," he said. I could feel my anger level skyrocketing, I tried to compose myself no matter what he said but I was losing it.

The slumber had cleared from my eyes by then and I could hear myself grating my teeths together. Before he could say another word, my hand went over his face twice. The man with him gasped, rushing to his side in a hurry, surprised.

"Sir Alex–" he called. He raised his hand in the air as a way to stop the man from talking.

"Do you have the slightest idea who you just raised your hands on, lady?"

"I could care less and if you don't know how to speak, I'll teach you. I could tell that your mother did a very bad job raising you."

I caught a wimp of the man asking me to keep mute but I was way past my tolerable mood. I despised it, seeing waiters or the people of low class being treated like shits by people who were lucky enough to have a fortune left for them.

"Felix, get the manager for me," he adjusted his suit and sat at his former position. I decided to rest my wobbly legs since my agitated state had calmed down.

I drew a chair from the other table and sat. I could feel his eyes on me, boring so much hate and unspoken words. My eyes and ears caught hastened footsteps and I rushed to my feet.

The manager rushed in immediately, his head down and his hands behind him. Before the rude man could say a word, the manager rushed his words quickly.

"Sir Alex, I am so sorry for my employee's behavior. It's a huge honor for us to have you dine in our small restaurant, I can assure you that it won't happen again."

After a long lingering silence, he decided to speak up.

"Unfortunately, I have so little patience and it has been used up. I will close this restaurant down and you won't be allowed to operate anywhere in New York."

"That's uncalled for. Why are you so callous? I was the one who offended you, let me take the fall for everything." I challenged him, even before he could say another word.

The manager dragged me to his side, whispering in small voices. 

"Keep quiet Melissa, do you know who you are talking to?"

"Obviously, I'm talking to a very rude man who just insulted one of your employees."

"Looks like you are in for a long ride. That's Alexander Pierce, ever heard of his name?"

My world just crashed to my feet and whatever hate that I felt for this man had turned to fear. My body stiffened and I slowly turned my head to see the bastard wearing a stupid smirk on his lips, he kept tracing the edge of his coffee with his fingers without breaking the eye connection.

"I sure do like the posture I'm seeing, it can only mean that he–" he pointed to the manager, "–had told you who I am."

He turned his attention back to the manager.

"I'd give you another choice," he sipped the cold coffee, "fire her and you get to keep your company."

"Done sir," he replied, looking at my face with so much sadness. He knew how much I needed the work, it was the only means of sustaining my school bills and my mother's medication.

"Felix, let's go. We are done here," he dropped an empty cup on the table and they both walked out.

I raced behind them in my uniform, begging for an audience.

"Please I'm sincerely sorry, I didn't mean to. Just please don't take away the only job I have, if you take it away, you take away my life," my tears were flowing freely by now. I didn't care if he saw me in a shape I didn't like.

He sighed, holding the handle of the open door. "I'm quite a generous person, I give second chances."

Relief washed over me, I wiped my tears away from my face, ready to hear the new chance I was given. I was ready to do it, anything to keep my job.

"A contract offer of 6 months, you will live with me, be my personal hooker, I'll take you anywhere and anyhow I want. You will be paid on a monthly basis, after that you are free to go, nothing else."

My eyes bulged out, irritated by his so-called stupid second chance. "What?"

"It's either that or nothing else," he said, putting on his sunglasses.

I walked closer to him and spat in his presence as a sign of disrespect. "You are a piece of shit and I hope you die a miserable death."

"We'll see about that cupcake," he winked and entered into his car, leaving me to my thoughts.

"I'm really doomed," I said to myself, wrapping my hands over my head. Afraid of the unknown, it kept jabbing at me like the tip of a sword.