Fated to bound

Claire woke up with a heavy knock on her door as usual, she yawned and stretched her body, she stood up,"who's there" she asked, But got no reply. she went to the door and opened it slightly. she peeped out and saw her stepsister, Mitchell standing on her doorstep.She hissed and slammed the door angrily, she went to her bed and sat down.

she looked at herself in her mirror hanged on the wall,she looked like crap, she stood up and went to her bathroom,brushed and showered.

she went back to her room and took her phone, The knock came again. "What do you want!!" She yelled at the person knocking,"open the door Claire.. " A voice said from outside.

"Dad?" Claire asked looking shocked,she definitely just heard her dad's voice. she quickly stood up and went to the door.

she opened the door and her dad was standing right in front of her,she hugged him happily. She wasn't expecting him to come back home by this time of the month,I was early August.

He comes home only moth endings and return as soon as its a new month.

Claire's Dad walked in and sat on her bed, she closed the door and went to him, she sat next to her Dad and stared at him waiting for him to start the conversation.

"Dad, shy did you come back home so early?" Claire asked, she knew something was wrong but didn't know what exactly it was.

Her Dad sighed, "Claire, your step mum always call and report the issue of your wayward behavior towards her" Her Dad said.

"you never came home anytime I call you and tell you she maltreats me, but you did when she called.." Claire said.

" you've changed since you married a woman who already has her own child, you're always in support of her no matter how many times I try to tell you, I dislike this house..I don't even wanna stay here anymore! " Claire yelled and rushed out.

Her father yelled her name and went after her but he was too slow cause Claire had already disappeared into thin air, Claire went out through the back door.

she walked around the neighborhood for sometimes, she soon got tired and rested on a public chair. she was getting hungry,she sat and thought of what to do.

she definitely doesn't want to go back to her house, she thought of going to her friend's house. She stood up and started walking. though it was a long walk, Claire managed to reach her friend's place.

She knocked the door and her friend opened up, "Claire?" Her friend asked in surprise. she was shocked to see Claire in her doorstep breathing heavily. "Hi Natasha..can I come in?'" Claire asked, "Sure, come in" Natasha said.

Claire walked in and met Natasha's parent eating on the dinning table, she exchanged pleasantries with them and they invited her to join them, Claire gladly accepted and joined the family on the table.

Claire ate the food hungrily without caring if she was being stared at, Natasha's parent were surprised to see Claire eating in such manner and knew something was wrong some where, and also, she rarely comes to their house in very early hours of the day.

They excused themselves and left the dinning room. "so why did you come this early?" Natasha asked Claire who was still eating in a rush.

"my Dad's back and he didn't return because he wanted to come and check on me, He returned because my stepmother called him and told him I was been wayward!" Claire said.

"That doesn't still explain why you're here" Natasha said. "My Dad is always in support of her no matter what, I am sick of staying in that house, i don't think am gonna return there anytime soon.." Claire said.

She continued eating and soon finished the food, she drank some water and rested her back filling satisfied.

Natasha's parent walked back in few minutes later and sat back down, "So Claire, why are you here?" Natasha's mum asked.

"my Dad came back today and accused me of been always rude to my mum, I left angrily.." Claire said shyly.

Natasha's parent continued eating, they stopped few moments later and both sipped some water. "We have called your dad and he's gonna be here in any seconds.. " Natasha's Dad said.

"What, you called him, i gotta go" Claire said and stood up, she walked to the door and opened it. Her dad was standing right in front of her, Her dad grabbed her hands and waved at Natasha's parent.

He dragged Claire back to his car and instructed her to get in the back seat, Claire stared at her step mum who was sitting in the front seat and hissed.She opened the back door and sat in, she murmur some words angrily but wasn't heard.

Her dad got in and started driving her home. The car was silent as they drove home, "Dad am not gonna stay with this bitch anymore! " Claire broke the silence.

"you dare call your step mum a bitch, you want this the hard way?, I'll give it to you the hard way!" Her dad yelled and increased his driving speed.

They got home and he dragged her out of the car and into her room and locked her in, "You're gonna stay in there until you learn some manners! " Her dad yelled.

"open the door, you can't lock me in here, open the damn door!!" Claire yelled and kicked the door.She sat on the floor resting her back against the for, she wept silently till she slept off.

She woke up hours later, she tried to open the door but it was still locked. she hissed and stood up, went to her bathroom and washed her face with some waters, she heard a knock on the door.

Claire quickly went to the door and opened it, Her stepsister was standing there staring at her, "Hey, Dad wants to see you now, get your ass out here quickly before he leaves, he has an appointment " Mitchell said and walked off.

"Hey you better treat me with more respect if you don't wanna get your ass spanked! " Claire yelled as Mitchell walked away. she was a year older than Mitchell and had always asked her to show her some respect.

She slammed her door angrily and went back to her bathroom, she checked her face In the mirror and adjusted her hair, she finished in the room and left her room.

She met her Dad sitting next to her step mum, Her stepsister had probably gone somewhere as usual, she barely stays at home while Claire barely goes out.

Claire sat on a chair facing her Dad and waited for him to start the conversation, "So Claire, I'm afraid to tell you this but you are now to stay in this house, in your room precisely ".

"so am gonna just stay in my room till I age and die? " Claire asked. "you didn't allow me to finish what I was saying, so you're gonna stay indoor till we get you a job or something " Claire's Dad said.

"No need for that, I'll get myself a job!" Claire yelled, His stared stared at her in confusion. "No I can't let you do that, leave that for me.." Her Dad said.

"Just give me twenty four hours Dad, twenty four hours and I'll be back with a job letter! " Claire said and walked angrily to her room..

Claire had dropped out of school a year after her Dad remarried, Her step mum had one way or the other convinced her Dad to stop paying her fees for a reason best know to her.

Claire had always asked her Dad to continue paying her fees so she could finish her schooling, some times she asks politely, most times she does it rudely, but it always ended up in disapproval.

It was gonna be a hard job for Claire to find a decent job under twenty four hours, she didn't even have a particular location to head to, she just planned on roaming the city for some while till she finds something.

Claire got dressed and headed out in search of a job, she started by walking round her neighborhood for some while, she boarded a taxi to a popular fast and food restaurants, she was hoping to find a job there.

After a long drive she got to the restaurant and paid the taxi driver with the last money she had. "wait how am I supposed to get back home when am done here?" Claire asked herself after realising what she just did.

She sighed and walked into the restaurant, she looked around and found the place busy as usual, she had only been here once, a long time ago. Claire walked to a old woman who was mopping the floor and greeted her.

"Hi Mam, am here to see the manager.." Jane said. The old woman directed Claire to the managers room, she reached the door and took a deep breath, Claire pushed the door open.

She gasped when she saw A man fiercely kissing a woman on his desk, Claire quickly closed the door, "Hey come back in!" The man yelled from inside.

Claire opened the door and walked in slowly, the lady quickly adjusted her cloths and left quickly, Claire stood there and stared at the man.

"Are you the manager?" Claire mumbled, "yeah sit, how can I help you?" The manager asked. "i want to work for this restaurant, am good at cooking, cleaning, anything you want me to do, am good at it!" Claire said.

"Really?, we could use one more waiter but it has to be someone of Five years experience, but you don't look old enough for that so you can leave my office now, bye! " The manager said.

"wait what! " Claire asked looking quite shocked, The man repeated his statement asking her to leave, Claire pleaded the man to just give her a chance to show how good she is but the man refused, after some much pleading, Claire gave up.

"Fine I'll leave, I'll leave and tell the owner of this restaurant what her manager does secretly in his office!" Claire said and stood up. "excuse me, you don't even know the owner of this restaurant, so you can't do anything " The manager said.

"I just said 'she'. I know who she is and where she stays, I am gonna tell her everything I saw!" Claire said and turned to leave.

"Stop!, Alright I'll give you the job!" The man said, Claire jumped up happily and did a victory dance, The manager instructed her go sit and handed her some forms to fill, she was to bring back the already filled form and start work the next day.

Claire thanked the manager and left the restaurant feeling fulfilled. Her mood soon changed when she realised she had to walk home, she walked back in and went to the manager's room.

Claire opened the door and met the manager fondling and kissing the lady again, "Holy shit, what do you want from me for God's sake!" The manager yelled.

"Em..I need taxi fee, Am out of cash" Claire said slowly, The manager angrily handed her some cash and asked her to immediately leave. she left the restaurant and boarded a bus back home.

Claire got home feeling so tired, she stood on their doorstep and stretched. she opened the door and slowly walked in, Her dad was sitting on a chair, he stared at her as she walked in looking tired.

"you're ok?" Her Dad asked, "i got a job in a restaurant" Claire said. "Well congratulations dear, you just made me proud of you " Her dad said.

Claire nodded and walked slowly to her room, her Dad was talking when she walked off, He paused and stared at her as she walked away. "you're sure everything's okay?" Her dad asked.

She walked to her room and dropped the file she was holding on her small desk, she fell on the bed feeling very weak. she soon slept off some while later.

Claire woke up few hours later feeling good, she yawned and looked at the time on her cell phone, it was already Seven pm.

She stood up and went out of her room to guest's room, she met her whole family seated and talking, she greeted non of them and went straight to the kitchen.

she drank some water and exited the kitchen, she walked past them again and was stopped by her Dad, "Claire, can we have a minute with you?" Her dad asked.

She sat next to him with a stern face, Her dad cleared his throat and started. "Everything's gonna be changing now that you have secured a job, if I may ask, what's your monthly salary? " He asked.

"it's weekly" Claire corrected, "fine, what's the weekly pay?" He asked. "20 dollars per week" Claire said.

"Not bad, so you should always make sure to always get to work early" Her dad said, After about thirty minutes of counselling, Her dad finally stopped.

Dinner was later prepared and they were all invited to the table, Claire went to the table and served herself, she took her food and started walking away, "what are you doing Claire, we're supposed to eat together, as a family " Her Dad said.

"we are not families! " Claire said, she turned and walked away from them, she went to her room and locked the door.

Claire sat on her bed and ate her food, she picked up her Mobile phone and messaged Natasha on WhatsApp. she told her about her new job and how excited she is to finally get a job.

She stood up and went to the form and went through it, she grabbed a pen and filled it, she took one more glance at the paper and hid it under her pillow She had already finished eating so she laid on her bed and continued with her phone, she slept off some while later.

Claire woke up the second day early enough, she quickly rushed to her bathroom and showered, she dressed up and rushed downstairs.

Breakfast was already served, she quickly ate some bread and cheese and rushed out to go,"oh shit my phone!" She yelled and rushed back to her room. she quickly grabbed her phone and rushed back out.

"am forgetting something, shit the form!" Claire yelled and rushed back in, Her family just watched her as she was dramatically running helter skelter.

She reached her room and stared around trying to find it. "Where's it?" She asked no one in particular, she searched her desk, under her bed, even her bathroom but still couldn't find it.

She opened her wardrobe and scattered her wears trying to find the piece of paper but still didn't find it there, she scratched her head trying to figure out where she kept it, "ohh, I know where it is!" She said and rushed out.

she went out of her room and went to her parent who were still on the dinning table, "where's she, oh there you are. where is my Application form!" Claire yelled and grabbed her stepsister by the neck.

Her father quickly dragged her away and held her, "just calm down, fighting isn't gonna find your application form. Now you, did you take anything from her room?" He asked Mitchell.

"I didn't take anything from her room, she misplaced it and is now blaming me for her carelessness! " Mitchell yelled.

"you crazy bitch, I know you have hidden it somewhere, give it back now or I'll kill you!" Claire yelled on top of her voice.

Her father calmed her down and told her to go check her room well, Claire insisted she checked well. He left and went to her room, Claire followed her.

She got to her room and met him searching furiously for the paper, "where was the last place you saw...wait is this it?" He asked her holding the application form.

Claire nodded and sluggishly took the paper from him, "Arrange your stuffs and meet me In the dinning room, you have to apologize to your sister " Her Dad said and walked out.

Claire checked her phone and it was already Half past eight!, she was supposed to be there by eight.

She quickly rushed out and went out through the back door, she boarded a taxi to the restaurant. Claire took a deep breath and entered the restaurant slowly.

she walked straight to the manager's office and knocked, The man asked her to come in which she did nicely, She walked to the seat and sat down.

"Am sorry for coming late, traffic was very bad" Claire said. "ok.." The manager said and collected the form from her, he glanced through it carefully, "Are you sure I can start working here today? " Claire asked.

"Congratulations miss Claire, you are now a worker of this restaurant! " The manager said. Claire jumped up happily and gave a more thrilling victory dance, she sat back down laughing.

"you can go over to the old woman and tell her to give her your clothes " The manager said. "Thank you so much Mr manager!" Claire said and smiled.

"it's Nicholas " The man said. "oh ok, Mr Nicholas, thanks for the job. I'll make you proud " Claire said and walked out of the office..

chapter three

"now where's the old woman, hmmm. oh there she his!" Claire said and rushed to the old woman sitting on a chair busy with her phone.

"Hi old woman Mr.. " Claire was saying when the woman suddenly interrupted her, "you're calling me an old woman, your mama is a old ass bitch!! " The woman yelled at her.

"my mum is actually gone.. " Claire said with a sober face, "Your mum's gone, where'd she go. Paris, LA or new York?" The woman asked. "no she's dead " Claire said. "oh she's dead, sorry about that kid but don't call me an old woman again, am Miss Kate! " She said.

"Miss Kate?,you didn't get married when you were younger? " Claire asked, "i was until my husband left home one day and never returned!" Miss Kate said and chuckled.

"how did you feel raising a kid alone" Claire asked. "Enough with the question now kid, go pick your wear in the store" Miss Kate said and pointed at a door entrance.

Claire slowly went to the door and opened it, she went in a saw lot a wardrobe, she opened it and saw uniforms hanged to the wardrobes, Claire touched the clothes carefully and selected one.

She tried it on and checked herself in the mirror, It was too big. she changed into another one and checked herself again, this time it was too small, Claire kept on changing the clothes trying to find a perfect fit.

She finally did find one after about an hour of trying, she looked around at the clothes she dumped on the floor, she quickly started pushing them and piling them up into the wardrobe. it won't fit in cause she the clothes were not properly arranged or hanged.

Claire stopped when she heard a knock on the door, "Hey kid get your ass out here, we have customers! " A voice yelled, it was miss Kate. Claire quickly pushed the rest of the clothes into a corner and rushed to the door.

"damn, it looks good on you darling" Miss Kate exclaimed as she saw Claire walk out majestically out of the room, Claire smiled and shut the door.

miss Kate escorted Claire to the kitchen and showed her everything she needed to do, Claire swung into action immediately.

She carried plates and served the customer carefully, customers occupied the room, some where already served while others weren't. Claire was walking to and fro holding plates.

She stopped to rest a bit, she sat down next to miss Kate, "Is this what you do here everyday" Claire asked gesturing at her phone.

"Kid mind your business, i have my job and you have yours!" Miss Kate yelled. Claire stood up to go drop the plate in the kitchen, she suddenly paused when she saw a group of men walking towards their restaurant.

They were dressed in suits, four men walked in and took an empty table, Claire stared at them as they talked. The lads looked very handsome and Claire couldn't take her eyes off them.

Miss Kate suddenly spanked her from behind, Claire quickly rushed to the kitchen and dropped the used plates. She walked to the gentlemen with her heart beating fast, she gently asked for their orders.

"Hey beautiful, I'll have some chicken wings, guys what do you want " one of the lads said. They all took their orders except the last one, he seemed exceptionally quite. He just stared at his phone with his very cute face ignoring all that was said.

His friends ordered his own food for him, Claire went to the kitchen and arranged the orders in a plate, he carried it back to them and serves them.They all ate except the silent one, "Hey Jake eat something, We'll be leaving soon" One of the man said to him.

He ignored, His friends continued eating their food. "His name is Jake!" Claire said to herself as she walked back to the kitchen, she dropped the plates she was holding and rushed out back, she sat next to miss Kate and watches as the men ate.

Miss Kate looked at Claire and noticed she was gazing weirdly at the men, " stop staring at customers too much, it's weird " Miss Kate said.

"The guy with the phone, why isn't he eating" Claire asked. "Maybe he's not hungry! " Miss Kate exclaimed. "He's the CEO of Jake's limited, He is not used to eating in public..I think " Miss Kate said.

"i knew have heard the name somewhere, you don't see a millionaire walk into a restaurant everyday " Claire said, "billionaire" Miss Kate corrected.

"Damn, he's cute and super rich. His girlfriend is a lucky girl! " Claire said, "About that.." Miss Kate was saying when one of the dude suddenly called for the waiter.

Claire quickly rushed to them, They told her they have finished eating and paid her with a large tip, "its so good to have you here Mr Jake " Claire said and smiled.

He looked at her with a stern face and didn't say a single word, He walked out if the restaurant and to his car,"His happy to be here too" The man who paid her said.

The other men walked out of the restaurant and walked to their exotic vehicles, Claire stared at them till they drove, she sighed and cleaned the table.

"He acted weird when I tried to exchange pleasantries with him" Claire said to miss Kate, "next time don't try to!" Miss Kate said and laughed.

Claire continued with her work till it was time to go home, she finished changing her dress and boarded a cab home, she stood on the door step and sighed heavily, she remembers she sneaked out today and her dad was gonna scold her for that. she opened the door and walked in, Her Dad was sitting on a couch watching TV.

"Dad, am sorry about what happened earlier " Claire said. "go apologize to your sister, she's in her room " He said.

Jane nodded and walked away, she went to her room and locked the door. she showered and changed her clothes. she picked her phone and dialed Natasha's line, she told her everything that had happened today.

She dropped her phone and laid in her bed, she thought of the silent dude. "why was he silent or Is he deaf and couldn't head what I said" Claire thought to herself.

She sighed and rested her head on the pillow, she was about to doze off when she realised she has not had dinner yet.

She stood up and rushed out of her room.,