"I said I want you. Why? Don't you come on the menu?" He nodded towards the menu board hanging over her head.
Faith wasn't sure how to answer that. She looked the man over. He was dressed in a navy-blue three pieces suit that she couldn't afford with her three salaries combined.He stood tall, shoulders straight and looked her straight in the eyes--so different from Ernie a few minutes ago."Hello?" He snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. Faith caught a glimpse of his watch, half-hidden underneath his jacket sleeve. She felt her brain drop. "Anybody there?"Faith bristled. "I don't understand what you mean, sir. My question was 'Is there any drink I can get you?"She was confused. Was he a student? He looked a little old to be a student. He also looked a little young to be a lecturer. Perhaps a Teacher's Assistant? The suit was much too expensive for that though. Maybe he was just a visitor to the school."Well then, if you insist, get me one.""One what?""One of everything."Faith's mouth dropped open. "You want me to give you one of every drink we have on the menu?" She looked back at the menu, quickly counting how many different drinks they served. Fifty, they served fifty drinks.He frowned down at her. "Yes. How many times do I need to repeat the same thing?"She cleared her throat. "That will be fifty drinks, sir.""Okay. Total?""Err... I'm going to need to get my manager for this. Give me a second." Faith hurried away and dodged into the employees' room.She took a deep breath. Who was this man? He looked rich, really rich. She'd already met a lot of rich people at this school, but somehow he exuded wealth on a different level.What did someone like him want with her? She couldn't begin to imagine. She needed to get back to work.She ran off to find the manager. She found him in his office, feet up, watching a movie."Sir?""Yes, Faith?" He groused. He didn't like to be disturbed in the middle of a movie."We have a customer out front who wants one of every drink."The manager, a burly man named Anthony, jumped up. "Wants what?""One of every drink we've got.""Then why are you standing here talking, you silly girl. Let's go!"Faith rolled her eyes but followed Anthony silently. The customer was still standing there when they arrived.He had his phone out now and was typing quickly into it. He stopped and put the phone away when he saw them."So? Can I pay for the drinks?""Of course sir," Anthony said in a sweet voice that Faith had never heard him use before. He rang up the order, totalling $500.Faith's eyes widened in shock but the man didn't even blink. He pulled out his card and swiped without a word. The familiar beep sounded, signalling that the money has gone through.Faith felt faint. He just blew $500 on drinks. Life was so not fair. Here she was working three jobs and she could barely afford anything but someone could blow half of her salary for a week on drinks alone."Now that that's out of the way, I recall saying I wanted you."Faith had totally forgotten about that in the face of his flagrant display of wealth."Want me for what?""Now that I think about it, this isn't the best place to discuss such business."What business? Faith thought."What time do you get off?""In thirty minutes.""Cool. I'll send someone to pick up the coffee then. You can come with him.""Come with him? I don't even know you! You could be a kidnapper or a rapist for all I know."The man blinked at her as though she'd just said the stupidest thing he'd ever heard."Of course, I'm not a kidnapper or a rapist. Do I look anything like a kidnapper or rapist?""It's never written across the forehead," she shot back.The man rolled his eyes and turned to Anthony. "I'll like you to have your employee deliver the coffee later. Is that fine?"Anthony smiled sweetly up at him. Faith fought the urge to puke at the grubby man's display. "Of course, sir. I'll make sure she's there.""Hey, that is not part of my job.""It is now. If you don't like it, you can quit "Faith practically growled. Oh, she hated this man. She didn't even like the job, but she couldn't quit. She needed the job. She needed the money desperately. She didn't have a choice."I'll be there.""Good! I'll see you in thirty minutes then." He turned and left quickly, just like he'd appeared.Faith tried to follow him with her eyes, see where he went but Anthony stood in front of her with his arms folded and a frown. His head barely reached her shoulders. The sight would have been comical had she not been in a bad mood."Well? Get back to work!" He groused.Faith took a deep breath to calm her heated face. "Next!"The rest of the minutes passed in a blur. She took customer's orders and made small talk when appropriate but for the life of her, she couldn't remember a word that was exchanged at that time.Finally, the clock struck three and her shift was over. She took her last customer's order just as the door swung open.Faith felt her shoulders tighten. She was so high-strung. She'd been waiting impatiently for the past thirty minutes.She wouldn't admit it out loud to anyone, she was actually excited. Maybe even more excited than nervous.She was naturally a very curious person. That was one of the reasons why she excelled at studying.She loved to learn, to gather information, to know things... She could never stand when things were hidden from her. She always had to know.As a child, the phrase "Curiosity killed the Cat" was repeated to her very often as her parents tried to warn her about sticking her nose in other people's business, but she'd never been able to learn the lesson they so desperately tried to teach her.Today, that saying might finally come true. Curiosity might finally kill her cat.She supposed it wasn't a bad way to go, "Death at the hand of a Billionaire." She could probably write a killer book about it. If she ended up dying, hopefully, someone would.She looked up to see who's opened the door. A man in a black suit stalked towards her. That was the best word she could use to describe his approach--stalking like a lion approaching its prey.He was tall, taller than the man from earlier. His suit was also expensive but not as expensive as the other man's.Even in a jacket, muscles peeked out from under his suit. A few buttons of his white shirt were opened and a pair of shades hung from them. The part of his chest that was visible was well-sculpted and she saw a hint of a tattoo peeking out.He looked dangerous, dangerously hot. Faith swallowed, and she knew every woman in the place did as well.He seemed strong, really strong, but when he came up to her, his face was kind and he smiled at her."Hello, I'm here to pick up two orders--some drinks and a pretty lady."Cassius, as she'd come to learn that he was called, had carefully placed the drinks in the back of the car and ushered her into the passenger seat before taking his seat beside her.Her initial evaluation of him had been proven right. He was a very sweet guy, despite the way he looked.He'd insisted on carrying all the drinks himself, a gesture she appreciated for two. One, it was very gentlemanly of him. Her second reason was not very ladylike. She and all the other ladies in the cafe had spent the short few minutes it took him to ferry the boxes of drink to the car drooling after him with their eyes. He was definitely aware of the effect he had on them. She caught a slight smile on his face on one of the trips.Now she was locked into a tight space with this force of a man. Even though the air conditioner was on, she felt hot. The heat was coming from his body and pressing over her. She cleared her throat and discreetly fanned herself.He looked over at her and grinned. Yup, he de
"Delivered her safe and sound boss." Calcius casually walked up to the screen desk and dropped into one of the chairs facing the man."Good job." His voice dripped with sarcasm. Calcius didn't respond. He simply pulled out his phone and typed away. So much for the camaraderie she was expecting."I figured you'd come after all." He said with a smirk.Faith huffed and folded her arms. What could she say to that?"I take it you don't think I'm a kidnapper or rapist anymore then."Cassius snorted. The man eyed him. Calcius didn't look up from the screen."How would I know?" Faith scowled at him."So let me get this straight, you still aren't sure that I'm not a kidnapper or rapist yet you came all the same?"Again, she didn't answer."You're more interesting than I thought.""You didn't give me much of a choice! My manager was going to fire me, remember?""So?""So!? So!? I need that job, you assh*me."He seemed taken aback by her outburst. "Why not just quit?"Faith shut her eyes and cla
Faith was on cloud nine. She practically floated back to her hostel. Honestly, she wasn't entirely sure how she got there. All she knew was that she'd entered a cab and was dropped off at the University gate. Her body hadn't even registered the walk to her hostel.She walked the Halls of the hostel blankly. This time, she didn't stop to think about the fact that a single room here was more luxurious than her entire house back home.When her parents and siblings drove down to drop her off at the start of the semester, she could tell that they were all exceedingly jealous of her even if they didn't say it. She didn't blame them for it.She'd felt guilty and awkward standing in front of them, knowing that she would now live here with the rich people she'd so desperately wished she were a part of from childhood while they would have to go back to their shabby home. She was officially the one that made it out. She felt guilty about that. The least she could do was finish well, get a good
"You know him?" Faith asked with surprise. She looked over at Adele who was also gaping at her."Who doesn't know him?" Sheila shook her head at Faith. "Girl, have you been living under a rock?""No, just living under a lot of work."Sheila rolled her eyes but didn't make any comment about that. "He is one of the richest, most successful people in the country.""It's true. He owns a tech company." Adele chipped in. "I can't believe you don't know him. He's always in magazines. He was voted most eligible bachelor by the Star Magazine last year.""So he's like a big deal?""The biggest deal. I can't believe that he's schooling here and no one knew till now. They really worked hard to keep it out of the media." Sheila shook her head."You seem to know him quite well.""More like I know of him. My father does some business with him so I've met him a few times. Nothing deep."Faith gulped. If her super-rich friends were acting so wonderstruck, just how important was this Devlin character.
"This is Devlin. Here's my direct line. See you at 6 on Monday for our first session. Address attached."That was the content of the message that had turned her stomach to a sludge pudge for the past four days.From the moment she read the message, she was filled with apprehension. At first, she didn't understand why. After all, this was not her first rodeo. She'd tutored all through high school for the extra bucks.But this time, the stakes were higher. She wasn't tutoring for a few bucks anymore. This job was now her lifeline especially since she dramatically quit two of her jobs over the past few days.She recalled her encounter with Anthony the manager just two days before. She'd come in to work as she was scheduled and gone in the back to inform him that she wouldn't be working there any longer.He did not take that information well. "You can't quit now! Where do you expect me to get a replacement? The session is already underway.""Perhaps you should look in the same place you
"Want a ride?" Devlin's devilish face smiled at her from the comfort of a black BMV Convertible with the top down.Why was he laughing? What was there to laugh about? Frustrated and angry, the tears burst out from Faith in torrents."Are you crying?" Devlin asked in disbelief. He stepped out of his car and hurried up to her. "What's wrong?""What's wrong?" She repeated. "What is wrong is that I've been walking through this massive graveyard of an estate for thirty minutes."The words were coming out in torrents. "The guard wouldn't let the cab in which you could have told me ahead. He sent me into this maze with no directions. Nothing! Devlin stood quietly, letting her vent. "All I have is your stupid house number, 387A. But the numbering here is insane! Why would 157A be right next to 226A? And WHY IN THE WORLD would it be opposite 228B!" She finished her rant, breathing heavily.Realizing that she was done, Devlin finally spoke. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I didn't even think of th
Devlin gave her a confused look. "Fired? Why would I fire you?""I d-didn't arrive on time. You said we should meet by six but it's almost seven now.""I don't see how that's your fault. Isn't that what you were yelling at me earlier? That's it's all my fault?" He grinned at how flustered she became as she remembered yelling. "Why would I fire you for something that's my fault?"She didn't have any answer to that. She groped around her mind for what was appropriate to say. She finally settled for, "Thank you." "Yeah, whatever. I know I'm awesome."Faith rolled her eyes and turned to enter the bathroom. There was no way she would sit there tutoring him looking like a homeless racoon.Before she closed the door behind her, she held his eyes, "And I absolutely don't have any mucus on my face." She slammed the door shut in his face.The sound of Devlin's laughter filtered through the thick door. Faith stood before the mirror and checked herself out. She looked horrid. Her eyes were swoll
Faith prepared herself to grab the steering wheel. She would rather die than be kidnapped for whatever evil purposes a CEO would kidnap a person for.Her mind moved rapidly, reminding her of every bit of alarming information she'd heard on the news; from sex rings to strange rituals. She would do down swinging, and take the bastard with her.Devlin glanced at Faith. He must have seen the mad glint in her eyes because he finally deigned to say something. "Calm down, will you? I'm just taking you to your d*amned hostel."It took a moment for his words to register in Faith's half-crazed brain. "What?" She said slowly. "Why would you do that?""Because I'm a gentleman?" He scoffed.Faith responded with a scoff of her own. Gentleman, indeed. If he were a gentleman, then she was the pope."Doesn't seem right to leave you to make your way back this late when I can just drive you home." Faith squinted at him suspiciously. What did that mean? That he was trying to be nice. She don't think he