Chapter 2

Growing up with intimidating parents, whom at some point I thought were the descendants of Hades, you’d think I’d be immune to the glowering looks from most people. Well, I’m afraid to let you know that I was indeed very incorrect. So very incorrect.

Because the deadly glares I was receiving right now from Yolanda and Theodore, mostly Yolanda, should have had me in the morgue by now. From head to somewhere beneath the table, they were dripping with spilled food and water, and I’m pretty sure the plates had hit them as well. I gulped visibly as I watched Yolanda’s jaw tick ominously and a second later, a feral sound erupted from her mouth.

“You stupid, clumsy peasant!” she screamed, wiping the Alfredo sauce off her face. Theodore, however, remained silent as he continued to glare at me with so much indifference that it chilled me to the core.

It wasn’t long before the manager, Mr Morris, scurried over looking very apprehensive and alarmed. He passed me a brief punitive look before turning to the two damsels. “Miss Heinz, Mr. Duke, I am so very sorry about this minor inconvenience-,” he has sputtered somewhat angrily and apologetically simultaneously but was cut off abruptly.

“Shut up, idiot. Your stupid apology isn’t going to help with anything. Your idiotic employee just ruined my hundred-thousand-dollar dress, my cute hair and skilful make up, not to mention the damage she’s done to my Theo over there,” she shrieked belligerently, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

I finally stood up and felt the pain in my knees.  Troy had since disappeared, making me look like a complete clutz. “Hey, it wasn’t my fault. Somebody bumped into me!” I remarked defensively, throwing my hands in the air.

Yolanda clicked her tongue in response. “Liar, you did this on purpose! And just for that, I’m going to sue this restaurant for this, it’s like assault!” she added indignantly. Theodore was still silent, which irked me for some reason. How could he just sit there and watch this debacle? He had to have seen that this was an accident!

Mr Morris’s face contorted in fear. “There is no need to get lawyers involved in this. I’m sure we can work something out.” He then turned to me. “You’re fired. What you did is unacceptable,” he chastised with so much malice that it made me almost cry. Almost.

All of this was so unfair! How could I lose my job over something as trivial as this? I cursed lowly at my streak of bad luck. I’d already been fired from several jobs prior to this. My parents were right, I wasn’t going to get anywhere in life. I felt like such a huge failure.

“But that simply is not enough. The damage? Somebody has to pay for it!” Yolanda went on, making my heart tweak. Reparations? Heaven knows that I cannot afford to replace any of their expensive designer apparel!

“But I can’t afford to pay you back,” I mumbled lowly, holding my head down in defeat.

“I have a solution,” Theodore finally spoke. My head peaked over to him. He looked eerily calm, as he had taken out a handkerchief to wipe away the remnants of the food and water off his face and upper body. He once again looked at me through thick lashes, a storm swirling in his bewitching grey orbs. “You will come work for me in order to pay off the damages.”

Silence reigned all around us. Even the people nearby us had gone silent; I was pretty sure they had been listening in. Most of these rich folks were shameless gossips and I bet they were enjoying every second of this.

“What?” Yolanda, Mr Morris and I all exclaimed in surprise. Me, work for him? That was a terrible idea! I could never last a day, let alone working for his majesty, Mr Duke. He had to be joking, right?

Yolanda clutched his arm, face reddening with rage. “You can’t possibly mean that! I don’t want this woman to work for you. I don’t want her near you-,”

He passed her a blank look. “Well, you know damn well that she can’t replace your clothing. As for mine, not even close. And you said she needs to pay for her mistake, right? So, what’s the problem?” he sliced coldly and she flinched at his biting tone. He turned back to me. “Pack your bags, we will be leaving for England,” with that, he stood up, adjusted his tainted suit jacket and strolled out. Yolanda fumbled to grab her bag, gave me one last nasty glare and scrambled after him as fast as her six-inch heels could carry her.

“Get this mess cleaned up and once you’re done, stop by my office for your last pay check,” Mr Morris barked tersely and went back to his post. Sulking, I went to the kitchen to retrieve some cleaning supplies. Lexi rushed over to me and engulfed me in a bone crashing hug.

“This is all my fault,” she cried in guilt but I chose to laugh it off. I mean, I had to always think positively. I wasn’t getting sued, and that’s great. The only problem was I was on my way to another country to work for a mysterious man I knew very little about. What could possibly go wrong?

Everything, an inner voice mocked and I sighed.

I pat her back in order to pacify her. “Well, it kinda is your fault but don’t worry about it. What’s done is done,” I drawled gloomily. She moved back from the hug and held my hands in hers. Although I always regarded her as a little pest, Lexi was the only person I could consider a friend right now.

“Is it true that he’s taking you to England so you can work for him?” she asked curiously and I nodded my head. “And you just said yes?”

“How could I say no to him? He basically always gets what he wants. Plus, he is very intimidating. But he didn’t even ask for my details or number, just told me to pack my stuff. I wonder how he’s going to find me…” I trailed off, thinking deeply about. But just how was he going to find me? I could run away and be in Tijuana by tomorrow.

Lexi made a face. “Dude, he is like a super powerful man and would have no problems finding out who you are, or where you live. Hell, he can even have your third-grade report card if he wants!” she said matter-of-factly and I found myself shuddering. Did he really have that much power?

Just then, Troy walked into the kitchen looking like a mouse caught in a house. He smiled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Hey Maya, super sorry about that earlier,” he droned shyly and I just glared at him. Craning my neck to the side, I began to crack my knuckles as I took calculated steps towards him. He took a step back in fear.

“I got fired because of you, Troy. And now I’m being taken to the UK by some man I don’t even know to pay off a debt I’m in because of you. Since I have literally nothing else to lose as it is,” I grinned sinisterly at am. “I am going to kick your perfectly formed ass.”

And that afternoon, I took out my pent-up anger on that blasted son of a goose Troy. He tried to run at first but I was too quick for him. He tried to escape from me through the back door but I caught up to him in the alley at the back of the building. I handed his ass to him, that by the time he went back into the restaurant, he had a black eye, busted lip and a minor limp. Grinning in satisfaction, I also returned, did the cleaning up whilst ignoring all the not so subtle looks I was receiving and went to Mr. Morris’s office to grab my last pay check. It wasn’t too much, but adding it to my other savings I’d be okay for a couple of months.

He didn’t even spare me so much as a glance, so before I left, I gave him my own two cents. “I hope you know that what happened this earlier wasn’t my fault. You were supposed to defend me but ended up siding with them. And for what, just because I’m poor and they are rich? You should be ashamed of yourself, Clark,” I tsked in disgust and made sure to bang his door on my way out.

Going to the workers area, I removed my work attire and changed back into my own clothes. Packing my few items into my back pack, I shut my locker and sighed sadly. I hadn’t hated working here, it was the first job that I had kept for a long time and the pay wasn’t too bad. I was really going to miss it, believe it or not. Even the rich, snobby people I got to meet on a daily.

Before I left, Lexi came and hugged me good bye. “Please keep in touch, Maya,” she said with a sad smile and I smiled back just as sadly.

“I’ll try.” After one more hug, I left the premises. Today, I decided to take a walk back. Ordinarily, I’d board a bus back to my shabby apartment which I’d reach in about 15 minutes but a walk would take me a bit longer to get there. When I neared my street, I was gobsmacked to find a sleek black Porsche stationed outside my block. As I neared it, I was even more shocked to see who got out of it.

“I told you to get packed. We’re leaving right now.”

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Hey guys. As promised, here is the second chapter. How did you like the direction it's taking?

Thoughts on Maya, Yolanda and Theodore?

Vote, comment and share! You too ghost readers. I love you all the same 🤗❤️😂

Anywho, I'll catch you guys next week.

~Deetronite.