جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

My eyes lit up instantly.Fifteen grand a month!"Room and board included?" I blurted.Julian looked at me like I was an alien."Included.""Full benefits? Health, dental, 401(k)?""...Yes.""Weekends off? Triple pay on public holidays?"Julian ground his teeth. "Don't push your luck!"I pursed my lips."No need to bark. I'll do it.""Good.""Now, assistant, go wash my car."My eyes went wide. "Wash the car? You want me to hand-wash a Maybach?""Got a problem with that?""It'll cost extra." I held out my hand.Julian took a deep breath, pulled a bill from his wallet, and slapped it into my palm."Here. Buy yourself a couple of decent sponges."I looked at the thirty dollars in my hand and broke into a grin."You got it, boss! I'll get her so shiny a fly would do the splits and break a hip sliding off!"On the first day of school, I proudly became a paid car-washer.Julian sat on a bench beside the tree-lined campus path, sunglasses on, sipping an iced americano.His eyes were hidden be

The room went dead silent in an instant.Julian's expression finally shifted. His thin lips parted, a hint of displeasure lacing his words. "Marcus, that's going too—""You bet!"I picked up the glass, my eyes locked dead on that three grand.Three grand!How many baskets of fries would I have to drop at KFC to earn three grand?!Under everyone's stunned stares, I tipped my head back and chugged it down in one go.The fiery liquid burned down my throat and into my stomach, and I forced down the urge to puke.I slammed the empty glass upside down on the table."Thanks for the tip, boss!"I crammed that three grand into my pocket, terrified the money would magically grow wings and fly away.The blond guy just gaped."You... you actually drank it?""You paid, so of course I drank it." I wiped my mouth."Got any more, boss? I feel like I could earn myself a down payment on a house."At that, the room fell utterly silent.Feeling like he'd lost face, the blond guy gritted his teeth and pour

At the Sinclair family dinner that night, I absolutely killed it.Old Mrs. Sinclair took my hand and asked, "Cassandra, dear, what is it you love about our Julian?"Thinking of that thirty grand, I put on a performance of absolute professionalism.I reached over and clasped Julian's hand in both of mine, gazing at him with the deepest affection."Grandma, I love Julian like a fat kid loves cake and a bear loves honey!""Even if he ends up flat broke, flipping burgers at some run-down diner!""I'll still pack him a brown-bag lunch every single day and make sure he never, ever goes hungry!"Julian's body went rigid. Then he turned the tables, wrapping my hand up firmly inside his scorching-hot palm. In the light, I clearly saw the tips of his ears quietly flush a faint red.The relatives all around were moved to red-rimmed eyes by this "sincere" declaration of mine."Good, good girl." Old Mrs. Sinclair dabbed at her tears, touched."With you, I can finally stop worrying about Julian."Af

"Get out."Julian didn't even lift his head.Cassandra froze."Julian, what's wrong with you? I'm the real Cassandra! That Vivian is just a money-grubbing little knockoff!"Julian finally raised his head, his eyes looking at her like she was a corpse."A fragile, stupid woman like you, constantly letting men scam you out of a million and a half at the drop of a hat, is completely repulsive. Just looking at you turns my stomach."Cassandra's face went white in an instant, tears spinning in her eyes."You... how can you talk to me like that!""Security!"Julian pressed the intercom on his desk."Please show Miss Ashford out. From now on, she is not to set foot in Sinclair territory without my permission."Two burly security guards charged in at once and dragged Cassandra out, half-escorting, half-hauling.Julian slumped into his executive chair and yanked his tie loose in irritation.His head was full of nothing but that woman holding up her money, grinning ear to ear."Heartless little

"Good vibes are good for business, Mr. Sinclair." I peeled a tangerine with a smile and popped a segment into his mouth, cutting off his complaints."The customer is king, and you're just the king's little errand boy."For a solid week straight, Julian showed up at my cart to "serve his sentence" without fail, day in and day out.He went from charring the steak black at the start to expertly seasoning, flipping, and stacking a perfect sandwich later on. He could even fold the wax-paper wrappers into crisp, neat corners.I had to admit, the elite really are built different. Even at grilling cheesesteaks, he was number one.This particular evening, at closing time.I was counting my money, and Julian sat on the little folding stool beside me, rubbing his sore shoulders."Tired, huh? Want me to do you a huge favor and give them a rub?" I was in a great mood.Julian shot me a glance."How much per rub?""Friends-and-family rate. Two hundred and fifty."We were right in the middle of bicker