Quiet!

"Let go of me!" Rivera’s voice cracked as she shoved at James's chest. His weight pressed down on her, and his hands fumbling blindly at the buttons of her blouse.

“Pretty Rivera," he chuckled, his breath hot against her neck. "Stop playing hard to get. We both know you want this."

Just the sight of Rivera's beautiful, flushed face made James’s mouth water.

James longed to taste her, to have her.

Three years.

For three years, James had suppressed his nature to chase Rivera properly, but everything had failed.

Now, seeing the cute yet sexy Rivera enter his office, he found himself unable to resist her.

James picked up five times Rivera's monthly salary and held it out. "Look at all this money. If you say yes and agree to be my girlfriend, I'll give all this money to you. Not only that, I'll promote you from an ordinary waiter to assistant manager and increase your salary by tenfold. What do you think?"

James had met a lot of girls. Even though many would say no at first, they’d eventually succumb and say yes.

Rivera frowned in disgust. She hated it when men tried to gauge her loyalty with money, or when older men lusted after her.

Despite her disgust, she tried to stay calm and polite. James was her boss, and he could decide to fire her.

Rivera faked a smile and shook her head. "Thank you, Mr. James, but I can do well with my salary."

James frowned and leaned in to kiss Rivera's cheek. She must be pretending—no woman doesn’t like more money.

Rivera moved her cheek away from his lips and pushed James directly, trying to walk away from his office.

James' face wrinkled into a frown. “You bitch! Just because I’ve been giving you an inch doesn’t mean you should take a mile."

His anger surged, and his decision was made.

He had restrained himself around Rivera for far too long.

She had been tantalizing him ever since she stepped into his restaurant for an interview three years ago, and there was no way he would let her slip away without tasting her.

Thinking like this, James lunged, pinning her against the desk to force a kiss onto her cheek.

Rivera's face reddened, her heart skipping. She threw her head back and head-butted James.

"Ouch!" James cried out in pain and let her go.

Seizing the chance, Rivera scurried out of James' office and ran down the passage leading to the stairs, which led to the restaurant.

"That crazy bitch," James cursed.

He ran after Rivera, clutching his bleeding nose. "I don't want to see you again. Rivera Summers, you're sacked, you bitch!"

Rivera stopped once she was out of the restaurant door, her eyes wet with tears.

Her old t-shirt had a trace of tearing.

She inhaled and exhaled deeply while leaning against the restaurant wall.

Rivera had always known about James' lewd nature—he had basically flirted with 99% of the females in the restaurant.

Rivera had endured working here because it allowed her to work underage and paid her reasonably.

"Rivera, are you okay?" Tricia snuck out of the restaurant and touched Rivera. Rivera jumped in shock.

Tricia was filled with remorse and apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you." She bit her lip. "Did he make a pass at you again?"

Tears dripped down Rivera's face.

Tricia hugged her and patted her back.

"He tried to rape me this time. I was lucky to escape," Rivera sobbed.

Just the thought of what could have happened if she hadn’t been strong enough to push him away sent trails of fear down her spine.

"That man is shitty," Tricia cried angrily. "Had he not been the son of a famous and wealthy business tycoon known for buying cases, I would have done my best to take him to court."

Rivera shook her head slightly. Tricia, also a poor waitress, had better financial standing. "No, you can't do that. I've been sacked; I can't get you sacked too. I have to leave now."

"Okay." Tricia nodded and reluctantly separated from Rivera. "Will you look for a new job?" She held Rivera's hand.

Rivera nodded. "I still need to take care of my family. I have to leave now."

Tricia watched as Rivera left.

"Bitch," Tricia smiled and entered the restaurant proudly.

Tricia had been in a relationship with James for a long time, but he had always been infatuated with Rivera.

Once, in bed, James had even called Tricia “Rivera.”

Rivera Summers trudged toward home.

She had been expecting a promotion, but because she refused James' demands, it was gone.

Soon, her position would be replaced by another girl, and it made her heart ache.

This work had been conveniently across the street, saving transport costs. Where would she start finding a new job now?

"Why is the world so cruel? Why does it hurt so much?" Rivera roared angrily, eliciting the gaze of many passersby.

Unable to bear the stares, she scurried off home.

Riverera Summers lived in one of the poorest districts in the country. Puddles of dirty water lined the streets, litter and filth scattered everywhere.

"Sexy mami, with that pretty little mouth. I bet you'll be a good fuck tonight. Come over; I want your pretty little mouth wrapping around my dick," one gangster in the district shouted lewdly.

"You scoundrel," Rivera muttered, tuning out the noise.

The back of the district, where Rivera’s family lived, was meant for the poorest of the poor.

The apartment paint had faded to a dirty color. The roof leaked, the floor was muddy, and the doors creaked, one barely hanging by a screw.

"I'm home," Rivera announced as she entered.

She closed the door behind her and saw her sick mom and younger sister watching something on her sister's phone, both wrapped in a blanket.

Rivera sighed. The duo had chosen to pay data bills instead of other necessary things again.

They were unresponsive, as if they didn’t see or hear her.

Rivera shook her head pitifully. Although used to this, after what had happened at work, she had expected to be shown love upon arriving home.

Except for the money Rivera brought, she knew she had no worth to her parents.

Rivera wiped her eyes before the tears could spill and placed her cheap purse on a rusted nail knocked into the wall as a hanger.

"How’s mom's health?" Rivera asked as she approached Mrs. Sylvester and Megan, her sister.

Mrs. Sylvester finally looked up from her phone. "Did you get the salary and the promotion I told you to apply for?" She stared coldly at Rivera.

Rivera slowly shook her head and fidgeted. "I've been sacked, Mom."

Megan and Mrs. Sylvester's eyes widened in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

They had been looking forward to the promotion. They couldn’t believe Rivera had lost her job!

Mrs. Sylvester’s face contorted in a frown.

Megan smiled and held Mrs. Sylvester's hand. "Mom, Rivera isn’t the type to make a stupid move. I believe she must have a reason, right?"

Rivera sent Megan a grateful look. "Ye… yes, Mom." She stuttered.

"State the reason now." Mrs. Sylvester scowled.

Rivera took a deep breath and explained in a shaky voice, "I was molested by my boss. He almost raped me..."

The tears she had been holding back flowed freely.

"What did you just say? You reject an incredible opportunity to make our lives better and you are here crying? Are you insane?" Mrs. Sylvester’s face was filled with anger.

She couldn’t believe this useless child had chosen to get sacked rather than help their living conditions.

Rivera's eyes widened in disbelief. "Mom, I just explained about James wanting to rape me..."

"Quiet!" Mrs. Sylvester’s voice boomed. "So what if he wanted to have sex with you? Is that a big deal? You should be grateful that James—of all men—wanted to have sex with you. What’s your worth? You are so useless! You have to return to that restaurant tomorrow to accept that offer, or don’t ever step into my home again. There’s no place for lazy people in my family."

"What?" A chill ran down Rivera's spine. She was too stunned to continue crying.

Seeing her useless child’s face infuriated Mrs. Sylvester further. "Get out of my face, you useless thing!" she yelled.

Rivera burst into tears and scurried to the kitchen.

Why? Why did they always show no empathy for her? She worked to pay the house rent, bills, her mother’s hospital bills, her dad’s gambling debts...

Rivera was almost raped, yet they gave her the cold shoulder.

What had she done to deserve such a life?

"Rivera." Mrs. Sylvester’s gruff voice suddenly called.

Rivera stiffened. Her eyes lit up with hope.

She stepped out of the kitchen and stared at Mrs. Sylvester eagerly. "Mom..."

Mrs. Sylvester’s face scrunched in disdain. "Give me the money. I mean, you took your salary home, didn’t you? How dare you not bring it up? You want to hide it, isn’t it? I know it. You are such a wicked, selfish, heartless bitch."

Rivera’s eyes immediately dimmed, her face pale.

She couldn’t believe that money was more valuable than her to her mom. How could her mom treat her like this? She thought her mom might apologize. "Mom, I—"

CRASH!!!

A figure suddenly flew into the room and crashed into the wall.