Chapter 5: First day at work

Evania's POV 

 I placed the tray of steaming coffee cups in front of them, keeping my eyes on the table. "Here are your drinks. Your steaks will be out shortly."

 Jared didn't touch his coffee. His eyes stayed locked on me. "You know, for someone who works for us, you're not very friendly."

 "I'm professional," I said flatly. "There's a difference."

 Kaden chuckled. "Professional. Cute. I like that."

 Niklaus reached for his coffee, but his fingers brushed my hand instead. Deliberately. I jerked back.

 "Sorry," he said, not sorry at all. "Accident."

 My jaw tightened. "I'll check on your steaks."

 I turned to leave, but Jared grabbed my apron strings, yanking me back. "Relax, sweetheart. We're not done talking."

 "Let go of me." My voice was ice.

 "Or what?" He tugged again, pulling me closer.

 I wrenched free, spinning to face him. "I will slap you if you don't keep your hands to yourself."

 Jared's grin widened. "Feisty. I love it."

 Kaden leaned forward. "She's got fire. You don't see that every day."

 "Fire," Niklaus echoed, smirking. "Makes me want to see what else she's got."

 I stared at them, disgust churning. Tessa's warning echoed in my head. Beasts. She was right.

 "I'll be back with your food," I said through gritted teeth.

 Their laughter chased me to the kitchen. The chef slid three plates of sizzling steak onto the counter.

 "You okay?" he asked.

 "Fine," I lied.

 I carried the steaks back, setting each plate down. "Medium rare. Enjoy."

 Jared picked up his knife and fork, but his eyes never left me. "Sit with us."

 "Not happening."

 "It wasn't a request." His voice hardened. "I'm your boss. You do what I say."

 I folded my arms. "I take orders, not commands."

 Kaden laughed. "She's got you there, brother."

 Jared dropped his fork. The clatter echoed. "I don't like your attitude."

 "Good," I shot back. "I don't like your hands."

 Niklaus shoved his chair back. "Who do you think you are? We could have you fired in a second."

 "Then do it." My voice was steady. "Fire me. I don't care."

 Jared rose, looming over me. "You think you can talk to us like that?"

 "I think you've been spoiled your whole lives," I said, voice rising. "You think you can touch anyone, say anything, and get away with it. Not with me."

 Kaden stood too. The three of them surrounded me. Customers stared. Staff froze mid-step. Tessa's jaw dropped from across the room.

 "Sit down," Jared ordered.

 "No."

 He grabbed my arm, fingers digging in. "I said sit—"

 My hand connected with his cheek. Hard. The crack echoed through the entire restaurant.

 Gasps rippled through the room. A plate shattered somewhere. Tessa clutched her tray, eyes wide. The chef peeked out from the kitchen, mouth open.

 Jared's head snapped to the side. He touched his reddening cheek, disbelief twisting his features. "You hit me."

 "Get your hands off me," I hissed. "Or I'll hit you again."

 Kaden and Niklaus stared, stunned. None of them had ever been touched. Ever.

 I ripped off my apron and threw it at Jared's feet. "I quit."

 I turned and walked toward the door. Niklaus grabbed my shoulder from behind.

 "You think you can just walk away?" he snarled.

 I slapped him too. Crack. His head whipped sideways. Another wave of gasps.

 Kaden moved forward. I held up my hand.

 "Try me," I warned. "I've got two hands."

 He stopped. The three brothers stared at me, mouths hanging open. The whole restaurant was silent now. Every eye fixed on me.

 Then my boss appeared, shoving through the crowd. His face was purple. His veins bulged. "What the hell is going on here?"

 Jared pointed at me. "She attacked us! Twice!"

 "She hit Jared!" Kaden added. "And Niklaus!"

 My boss turned on me. "Evania! Explain yourself!"

 I wasn't expecting anything new. Judging from the way they were behaving, I could already tell who they got it from.

 I squared my shoulders. "Your sons are nuisances," I said, voice ringing clear. "They touched me, grabbed me, harassed me and I defended myself."

 "You slapped them!" he roared.

 "Because they wouldn't stop!" My voice rose. "They think they can do whatever they want because they're your sons. Well, not with me. Not today."

 The room was dead silent. Staff exchanged looks. Customers whispered behind their hands.

 I could see it in there faces—they're probably wondering what guts I had to hit the sons of my boss. But I was done being that naive Evania that anyone could toy with.

 After everything that happened between Caleb, Madison and me, I knew I had to develop a tougher skin if I was going to survive the cruelty of men.

 If only I had been this tough with Caleb, maybe he wouldn't have treated me like trash.

 My boss's face contorted with rage. "You're fired! Get your things and get out!"

 "I already quit," I said coldly. "But thanks for proving my point."

 Without a second thought, I grabbed my bag from the hook and walked toward the exit. Every step felt like thunder. Tessa mouthed "oh my god" from behind the counter. The chef shook his head in disbelief.

 I pushed the door open and stepped outside. Cool air hit my face.

 The door swung shut behind me, cutting off the chaos. I've had enough for just one day. First, it was the black sedan that seemed to haunt me, and now it is the sons of my boss acting like they owned the world.

 I stood there, trembling. My heart pounded. My palms stung. But I didn't regret a single thing.

 I pulled out my phone and dialled the cab. I had taken his number after he dropped me off earlier. Minutes later, I was in the backseat.

 "Green Ridge," I said.

 The car rolled forward as I stared out the window.

 I'd hit the triplets. In front of everyone. And I'd walked out with my head high.

 Now I just had to tell Aunt Prestige I'd been fired on my first day.

 And figure out what the hell I was going to do next.