||Chapter 3||

"Uuuuhh..." I turned my alarm off.

It was 5:30 and I had to get ready to work. I felt exhausted. It's been a week since I ran out of Mr. Queen's penthouse.

The bruises he left on my wrists didn't seem to be getting off so I have to conceal them everyday. What a fucking douche...

I can't get him out of my head lately, the way he looked at me, there was something different in his eyes when he first came through the door. Maybe something like amusement or hope. But his gaze was still so cold it would make you want to wear an extra jumper.

I kept thinking about his sharp jawline and the smell of his cologne.

Uhhh stop. He probably already forgot all about you and is now swimming with some hot ladies in a pool full of piranhas.

Oh wait no, only the hot ladies would be swimming with the piranhas.

After they've had sex.

I guess.

I brushed my teeth and put my long, warm-chestnut hair in a high ponytail. I looked in the mirror and saw my light green eyes. I put my makeup on.

I looked fine apart from the bags under my eyes which I got from not sleeping, I've been having nightmares lately. I wake up panting and sweaty, not able to fall back to sleep. The dreams usually reveal the memories I try not to think about during the day, and that sucks. A lot.

As I walk out of my apartment I breathed the fresh morning air.

It was still dark. I walked, like always, with a fast pace. Not many people were out this early considering it was 6:30. But I didn't mind it that much, I actually started to like it at the Café. My legs got used to running around and serving drinks and pancakes all day, but at the end of my shift, (plus the over hours) I would always feel completely exhausted.

When I finally reached the Café I walked in and saw that Vicky was here. Vicky isn't quite my actual friend but it's close. She works with me but she never stays longer than 6 hours. But I can't complain because she's always here when it gets busy.

"Morning Vicky," I said as I gave her a smile.

"Morning Natalie." I chuckled at her response because she always seems half asleep in the morning.

"Hello Natalie, how you doing?" I heard Mr. Sterne ask with a huge grin.

"I'm okay, sir. Thank you." I answered as I got my half-apron around me.

After 10 minutes, there were already about 5 clients and I had to serve all of them since Vicky said she'll come back at lunch.

I got a few generous tips from men after they got a good look at my ass.

The clients came and went, ordering things

like cappuccinos, pancakes with strawberries, muffins, cookies and donuts.

It was lunch time and Vicky finally came and helped me take orders from about 25 people.

The whole day went by and it was 7:30pm. I was asked to stay over time for at least 1 hour.

30 minutes to go. I decided to do the dishes.

After 5 minutes, the Café was empty and inside came 3 men in suit. They took the table in the corner, near the window. They looked like they were watching someone from the it. I finally got myself together and went to take their order. As I walked nearer, two of them looked at me suspiciously as if I was going to pull out a gun and shoot at them.

"C-can I take your orders?" I asked, shyly. The two men turned in my direction while the one in the middle kept staring at the window making it impossible for me to see his face.

"Hello sweetheart, what would you suggest?" One of them asked me eyeing me dangerously up and down.

"T-the Cappuccinos are awesome, they go well with our chocolate muffins." I stated and anxiety grew inside me as I held my breath.

"The muffins aren't the only thing I'd like to eat tonight, sweetheart." He winked at me. Gross

Then he continued, "We'll take 3 cappuccinos with extra sugar and 2 biggest chocolate muffins you can find." He grinned and winked.

I just smiled falsely and the other man rolled his eyes while the third one didn't look out the window anymore, he was staring at me. I immediately remembered those emerald eyes and that sharp jawline. A shiver went down my body.

Please don't remember me, please don't remember me, please don't remember me.

i think he didn't. He just looked at me like I was something he hid at the back of his head and was now trying to come out.

I quickly walked away and made their orders, after 5 minutes I came back to their table and gave it to them. As I placed one of the cappuccinos in front of Damon Queen, he suspiciously looked at my hand. Then I noticed it! The concealer washed off when I was washing the dishes and my bruises were perfectly visible.

When I tried to take my hand back he grabbed it. He took a good look at my bruises and I knew he remembered. I was dead frightened and he began to speak,

"Where's the restroom?"

I felt like adrenaline was was rushing through me but I tried to remain calm.

"I-it's at the back...um... I can show you."

Crap. What did I do. He grinned in satisfaction as if he heard perfectly what he wanted to hear.

He followed me to the back and after the doors shut behind us, he stopped walking.

I turned around to see what's wrong but he grabbed my waist and pinned me to the wall delicately. He put both of his arms on each side of me, making me looking straight at him.

And again, I could smell his amazing cologne and his minty breath. But he didn't grab my wrists this time, thankfully.

I was confused. I didn't know what to think or feel about him.

My breathing wasn't steady and I was frightened.

He leaned closer to my ear.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He whispered like he was about to stab me with a knife at least 20 times.

"W-what do you mean? I work here..." I tried to get myself together but my voice was barely a whisper.

"You work here?" He repeated like he didn't believe me.

"That's what I just said." I started to get frustrated and irritated. Who the hell does he think he is?

"Now why won't you and your pathetic friends get out so I can finally go home?" But he ignored me and licked his lips.

"I don't think I got your name last time."

"That's unfortunate." I said sarcastically but he didn't like my answer. His expression got dangerous like the last time.

"It's Natalie." I simply whispered as I didn't want to piss him off. He smiled.

"Well Natalie, tell me, are you scared of me?"

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I didn't say anything and he didn't neither.

He chuckled.

Then, he pushed himself off the wall and walked back to the table.

With one move of his head, the other men stood up and left. Damon was after them, but he stopped at the door. He took one last look at me with satisfaction.

What the hell is wrong with him?!

Then he left.

It took me 5 minutes to tidy up and leave the Café. When I've locked the doors I turned around and started walking.

"Don't bother, I'll drop you off." I turned around immediately and there he was, Damon in his handsome suit leaning over his black Porsche. God, why haven't I noticed him?

"No, thanks" I said a little too sarcastically.

I didn't even noticed when he walked up to me, grabbed me by the arm and whispered in his harsh voice,

"Do not disobey me."