Chapter 3 003

"Honey, let's go upstairs now," I told Damian, who was still nervously standing behind me.

"Forget what's happening. You're always welcome here, mmm?" I asked. He gently nodded his head and tagged along with me.

"What about your engagement to Alex Osborne?" my dad asked.

I paused on the staircase. Is he serious? That's what they're worried about? I was never going to marry him anyway. "Save him the trouble and call off the engagement," I continued walking upstairs.

Alex and I have been betrothed since we were 16, before he traveled abroad to get his degree. It's been over nine years, and we haven't been in touch. He's probably married with kids already.

"Your father is talking to you. Come back here!" my mom demanded.

I pointed Damian in the direction of my room, left our bags by the staircase, and went back to the living room.

"You know how important this marriage is to both families. Don't say a word about that bastard of a son you have and pray Stanley accepts you."

"You can insult me all you want, but don't say anything about my son," I retorted. She was beginning to cross the line.

"Dalma, you don't have a say in this. He'll be back in three weeks, so keep your fingers crossed and, like your mom said, say nothing about your child," my dad interrupted.

Three weeks, huh? How did they intend to get me back here in three weeks if I didn't show up today? No calls or texts for six years, and they think I would have run home after one call because of a silly arranged marriage.

"Let him come. I'll be here waiting," I said in a sharp tone and headed upstairs again.

They could go on about how important marriage is to the family business, but I was already exhausted.

Staying at my father's house didn't mean I would just sit back and relax. The best they could do was give me shelter and food.

I still needed money to cloth my child and get his medications.

I just needed the extra bills from rent and food off my back. I began searching for a job, but no one wanted to hire someone who was kicked out of school.

I majored in computer science but had a thing for graphic designs since high school, so I made it a side hustle

My designs were good, but no certificate meant no employment, I guess. I finally got hired as a waitress at the Starlight Spoons in the Plaza Hotel.

**********

"Dalma Millie, right?" the manager asked. It was my first day at work, and I was dressed in a neatly ironed white shirt and black corporate trousers. I believed white and black were the typical colors for a waitress.

"Yes, sir!" I responded firmly like I was in the military.

"You'll be tagging along with Ethan. Both of you will be serving the VIPs today."

"Okay, sir!" Ethan and I responded.

Ethan was nice and welcoming. We clicked immediately. He's about 6'5", with blonde hair, brown eyes, a chiseled jawline, and well-built muscles.

One would say he's too cute to be serving people, but I'm too pretty to be doing this job, too, so I'll just try not to fall in love with him.

JADEN'S POV

"Boss, the car is ready. Your date would be arriving at 1pm.The reservation has been made, and the location was sent to her," Valentine said

I completely forgot I made a promise. That was a mistake. I'm not even close to being interested in marriage.

Well, I need to get my mom off my back. Make her believe those women are not good for me.

"It's past 1pm, and the so-called blind date is yet to arrive. I can't stand lateness," I constantly stared at my watch, I was becoming impatient already.

I have to figure out a way to get out of this trap I'm in. While I scrolled through my phone, a thick waitress passed by me. Brown hair, probable a 5'9", curvy hips with an elegant smile.

I gestured for her to come when she was done with the other customers. A guy had come to take my order but I wasn't even interested in food.

"Well there's no harm in having a little fun with this beauty while I'm here," I murmured.

"Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to Starlight Spoons. What can I get you?" she said in a professional tone.

"Just sparkling water," I placed my order, and she was as swift as a fox with delivery. But hey, I guess she's not just serving dishes today.

She placed my order on the table with an undone blouse. She had well-rounded boobs and I couldn't help but stare. That was so unlike me.

"Anything else?" she asked, this time in a slightly annoyed tone.

"Nothing for me, but hold on, my guest is here."

A lady approached my table, dressed in a slutty red gown, black heels and dark hair packed in a sleek ponytail.

I guessed she was my blind date. She smiled from across the room like she already knew me. Well I'm not surprised, I'm Jaden Worthington after all.

I need to get myself out of this. Didn't my mum tell her I hated it when a lady wore revealing clothes? or maybe I just compared her to the hot waitress that stood beside me, elegantly dressed yet so beautiful.

"Forgive Me miss," I whispered, pulled her to myself and placed my lips on hers.

She tried resisting but I pulled her closer, she eventually returned the kiss. I gently parted my lips, letting her tongue slide in. This should make the slutty woman uninterested.

"Mr. Worthington! What are you doing?" the dark-haired woman asked.

She pulled up the waitress and dragged her by the hair. Before the waitress could say a word, she gave her a sound smack.

"SLUT!" she yelled.

"We've not even gotten to know ourselves and you're already cheating, unbelievable," she faced me before storming out of the restaurant.

She just said I'm already cheating, some guts she's got. Well my plan worked now I can get out of here.

The waitress stood motionless with her hand on her cheek for a while, everyone in the restaurant had eyes on her. Poor thing had to get embarrassed because of me.

Suddenly, she snapped out of her daze, her eyes blazing with fury. She turned over to me, her face contorted with rage.

"Who do you think you are?" she hissed.

Before I could respond, she raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face. The sound echoed through the silent restaurant.

"You think you can just use people like that?" she yelled, her voice shaking with anger.

"You have no idea what you just did!"

I stood there, stunned, as the sting of her slap spread across my cheek. The entire restaurant was now watching our confrontation, the air thick with tension.

My guards immediately held her down but I gestured for them to let her go. "You've just messed with the wrong guy," I stood up, adjusted my suit and headed out.

************************

(DALMA)

"Who do they think they are?" I murmured, pacing around the kitchen in fury. "Taking advantage of me because I'm in uniform?" I scoffed.

Who does she think she is laying her hand on me because she couldn't tame the womanizer of a man she has.

Pervert! Looking at my boobs obviously wasn't enough and he thinks he can do whatever, just because he's rich?

"You should take it easy," Ethan said, sneaking up from behind. "The manager isn't happy with your reaction," he continued

"Wait what? But.... I got hit for no reason."

"He said you'll be doing the dishes for the rest of the day, so get to work," Ethan instructed before heading back into the restaurant.

Did I just get demoted on my first day? I really do have bad luck. I just had to serve that pervert on my first day.

It was past 10pm and the close of work. I wrapped my coat tight around myself as I walked home. The night was unusually cold, the wind biting at my exposed skin.

I had chosen the longer route home, hoping the fresh air would help clear my mind after the chaos at the restaurant.

The path I walked was flanked by tall trees, their branches swaying ominously in the breeze. My footsteps echoed in the stillness, the only sound in the otherwise silent night.

As I rounded a bend, I heard it. The unmistakable sound of footsteps behind me. I paused, listening intently. The footsteps stopped as well.