The Waitress and the Billionaire

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

At that moment Peter is called to the stage, there he receives a microphone and starts talking about his newest red casino, he looked like a God exuding power and authority, everyone respected him and boasted with attentive looks at everything he said. Peter Bennet showed everyone that he was a kind man, but because of his dangerous words of double meaning, something tells me that this is all just an act, that everything is just a big manipulation, and to me, he hides his real nature.

Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am exaggerating, but the way he treats me, especially when he looks at me with a certain obsession, trying to control and manipulate me... there are no doubts. Peter leaves the stage and everyone claps warmly for his beautiful words, he goes back to his table and the pianist starts playing again. I warn Ethan that I am going to the restroom and leave the hall. I walk around the casino and find a restroom nearby, I enter the place and approach a sink, I look at myself in the mirror, I was serious. I am a pile of emotions, I don't know what my real feelings are to Peter, but seeing him next to someone else makes me uncomfortable.

I hear the door being opened, I quickly look at the entrance, I see him walking through the door with a serious expression, Peter walks towards me as if nothing had happened.

"What are you doing here?"

"Why are you near that man?"

"The same way you are near that woman."

"I asked you to wait for me, not to get cute with the first one who comes along."

"I wasn't making fun of anyone, I was just talking."

"That's not what it looked like."

"Think what you want."

I turned my back ready to leave the bathroom, however, Peter grabbed my arm and pulled me into his body, holding me in his arms with a terrifying expression on his face, I tried to free myself, but he overpowered me easily.

"Let's get out of this bathroom together and go to a table, you will sit next to me and be quiet."

"Do you really think I'm going to stay near that woman?"

"Are you jealous, dove?"

"Of you? No!"

"Of course you are, but let's not sit next to the pretty blonde."

"If you think she's pretty, you should have come with her and not made me come."

"You're making me horny, my raging pussycat..." Peter brushed his full lips against mine and kissed my neck, my skin shivered rapidly.

"No..." I try to protest and push him away from me, but the strength of his arms stop me and make my body soften in surrender

"Come, let's play a little doll." Peter released my body from his grasp and circled his palm in mine, then pulled me out of the bathroom.

Amber Carter

The alarm clock rings and along with the shrill sound I hear banging on the door waking me up in acts of desperation, I jump out of bed with my hair falling in my face, I feel the sun illuminate my face.

"Girl, you're going to be late again!"

"I woke up!" I yell to Mistress Carolina, clamoring for her to stop pounding on the wood.

I get up from bed and look at the damn clock, turn off the alarm clock and still sleepy I drag my body towards the bathroom. After doing my hygiene and taking a nice cold shower I go back to the room and put on my uniform, when I look at myself in the mirror and make sure I was ready I leave the room, as soon as I open the door I smell freshly brewed coffee by the preciousness of my life.

"Good morning, Ms. Carolina." I approach her and kiss her cheek.

If it wasn't for her, I would be living on the streets, I wouldn't have a bed and much less a job where I can support us without any problems.

"Good morning, green eyes, how did you sleep?"

"Very well." I move around the kitchen preparing my coffee.

"Will Bianca be stopping by today?" he asked me.

"Regrettably not, I'll be paying for a bus to work today."

"Oh, too bad, but well..." I warn you that I won't be sleeping at home today.

"Not that it's any of my business, but where are you going?"

"Of course it is your business Amber, I consider you my daughter and that is why I am telling you."

"I consider you very much, too, like a mother."

"I'll sleep at one of my friends' houses, tomorrow we're going on a cruise."

"Cruise?"

"Yes."

"Oh! Okay, have fun."

She looks at me with clenched, worried eyes, she moves closer to me and takes my hands.

"I didn't want to leave you home alone."

"I won't be alone, I will have the company of my books."

"You can go with me if you want."

"You know I can't, I have work."

"Sleep at a friend's house then."

"You've known me for a long time, you know I don't sleep at friends' houses."

"I see I'm dealing with an old time woman."

"I just enjoy my good old company, there's nothing better than that."

I walk out of that conversation and face the clock, my eyes widen and quickly in hurried steps I walk to the door, in my hands is the purse I always carry to work.

"I take it once I get home, I won't find you, right?" I ask before leaving.

"Absolutely right! You can bring a boyfriend if you want."

"My boyfriend is my job."

She smiles and speaks:

"Good answer, he bankrolls you."

"Exactly."

I walk in hurried steps through her busyness at that time of the morning, I approach the bus stop and again face the clock on my wrist, for the third time this week I will be late for work, my deep sleep is to blame. A few minutes deciding whose fault it was, the bus approaches and I face the crowded bus that was already there, it was either face it or walk, the second suggestion is out of the question.

"You're late, fifteen minutes ago!"

My boss exclaims with a startled look on his face, I pass him and walk down the hallway until I reach the staff area.

"I'm sorry, my alarm clock didn't go off, I'm sorry."

"Spare me your excuses, go to work!"

I quickly get out of his sight and head to the booth putting my belongings away, after putting on my apron and gloves I head to the counter, the cafeteria was packed as early as eight in the morning.

I work in a cafeteria in a soccer arena, every day this place is crowded, I am surprised by the people who are always visiting and enjoying the culture, especially the men, what we see most around here. Here was the only place where I found work, it was either that or be a maid, which I was not very good at.

Dona Carolina helped me find this job, everything I have is thanks to her, she was the one who helped me as soon as I left the orphanage, yes, I grew up in an orphanage in the north of now where I live, it was a simple orphanage, we lived on charity, mainly from well-known and wealthy people. When I turned eighteen the caretakers warned me that it was time to leave, as soon as I passed through the big gates I found myself alone in a world I didn't know, I had no employee, no money to buy food, I was alone.

In the first days it was difficult for me, no one wanted to hire a dirty girl with unkempt hair. The day I met Dona Carolina I helped her with the groceries to her house, she sympathized with me, without thinking she offered me a room in her house, when I heard that offer I saw her in angel's clothing. Dona Carolina is a middle-aged widow, has no children and lived alone, she was sent by God to me.

"Miss, are you taking my order?

"I'm sorry, what did you say?

"I asked if you are taking my order" I face a teenage girl.

After delivering her order I see Bianca approach me, she quickly asks for her deck partner:

"How are you, Mistress Carolina?"

"Fine, she asked for you today."

"She can't live without me, I think I'll stop by later to visit her."

"You'll waste your time."

"You won't find her at home, she left for a cruise."

"Um... Interesting! Are you home alone?"

"Yes, but I don't intend to take advantage of it."

"And why not? We can call some boys and have a game night."

"I'm not in the mood, I'll enjoy her absence with books and contemplating the silence."

"Okay, enjoy the solitude."

"Thank you, that's very important to hear from you" I speak with a voice laden with debauchery.

We end that conversation and go back to work, I started to notice the customers' requests, some were kind and nice, others were rude and always had mischievous looks, many looked at me like a piece of meat, charlatans were frequent at work. I always ignored them, although some were insistent in trying to get my number, I always treated them well and did not respond to the harassment.

As soon as I arrived I said goodbye to her and went upstairs, it was 6:00 at night and my only desire was to take a shower and fall into bed.

Amber Carter

Lying on the couch I struggle to keep my eyes open, since I got home from work I just took a shower and lay down on the couch, I drop the book on the floor, I get up and look at the clock hanging on the wall, it was 8 pm, I sighed thankfully, I have enough time to sleep until tomorrow.

I decide to go to the bedroom, but before I get there I hear knocks on the door, I approach the door and hear whispers outside, when I open it I find Bianca accompanied by two friends I already knew.

"Wow, what happened to you?" she asked upon seeing my sleeping state.

"I just woke up, what are you doing here?"

"I came to visit you, I even brought company."

"Bianca, it's late." I speak sleepily.

"It's still eight at night."

Along with the boys she enters and approaches the couch, I see them draw cards and start playing, I watched that scene with no desire to participate, I waited anxiously for her to leave and take them along, I didn't want to be rude to them, I know she thinks I'm a lonely person, that's why she insists I go out more often I get a boyfriend.

"Come play, Amber, you don't know what you're missing."

"I don't know how to play that."

"Come here, I'll teach you." The boy who was accompanying her offered.

"I'm fine here, thank you."

"Come... Don't be shy." He insisted.

I sighed and approached them, Diego began to explain to me the way that I should play the cards, in a short time I was able to understand the sequence of the game, I was so entertained that the hours went by, we ordered food and continued to play.

"How about we make the game more interesting?" Caio who was on Bianca's side suggested.

"More interesting?"

"Yes, you see... We could bet."

"I'm out, I'm no fool to make bets." Said Bianca.

"It doesn't have to be money." He persisted, rolling his eyes.

"We could bet by taking off some piece of clothing."

"I don't think that's a good idea...." Bianca protested.

"I agree." I backed up her words.

"And why not? We are all friends."

"I think you guys better go." I got up from the floor.

"If you don't want to bet, you don't bet." Diego said.

"Bianca, have you seen the time? We work early tomorrow."

"She's right." Bianca also stood up. "Let's go for it."

As soon as they were through the door, I locked it and headed for the bedroom, I was exhausted, and my only urge was to throw myself on the bed. I went to the bathroom and got rid of my clothes, got into the shower under the shower let the warm water wash my body and charge the energies I lost during the day. I went back to the bedroom wrapped in a towel, approached the closet and put on a flannel shirt, let my hair down and threw myself on the mattress.

The next morning I was already waiting for Bianca in front of my house, today she would give me a ride to work. I slept well tonight, my energy was recovered, however, as soon as her car stops in front of me and I looked at her face, I saw huge dark circles under my eyes showing that she had not slept well.

"Good morning, Bianca." I greeted as soon as I got into the vehicle.

"Good morning, Amber." She yawns.

"Didn't sleep well tonight?"

"Remind me not to go out anymore at night, please."

"If you listened to me more often, maybe you wouldn't have bad nights of sleep."

"How right you always are, don't you get tired of being perfect?"

"No."

"I get it. But anyway... Diego is interested in you."

"I know, he's already declared himself to me."

"And what did you say?"

"I said that I considered him a friend."

"You should get to know him better, he's very handsome."

"Caio is an idiot, did you see what he wanted to do?"

"He didn't mean it, he just joked."

"He didn't give me that impression."

"Are you suspicious like that anyway?"

"I'm not suspicious, I just don't trust people blindly."

After wading through the traffic we arrived at the workplace, we went straight to the huge cafeteria. It was exactly 8am, a good amount of people were already around the arena. We walked through the crowd, as we walked I felt a strange and distressed burning all over my body, I stopped walking and looked around, in fact I didn't know what I was looking for.

"Amber!" Bianca calls to me.

I walk back, after putting away our belongings, we start our workday. Today I was responsible for serving customers outside the cafeteria, in the food court, I took their orders always with a smile on my face.

"The Arena is very busy today." Bianca said.

"I noticed."

"That's because a businessman is out on a tour with his son."

"Businessman?"

"Yes, so it's very busy."

We thanked him.

A few hours later the game had already closed, the number of customers redoubled at that moment, I was counting the hours until my workday was over and I could leave. After serving the last customer, a group of men dressed in suits and sunglasses approached the food area, they seemed to be security guards.

In the middle of them was a tall man with blond hair and blue eyes, his expression was terribly intimidating, he was bigger than the security guards themselves, it seemed that he was the one protecting them. This man exudes pure testosterone, an air of arrogance and power, he was very attractive.

The security guards moved away and stood at short distances, the extremely handsome man shifted his eyes to me, for a moment I held my breath, that intimidating look remained on me staring at him, I couldn't turn away.

"Young lady."

I hear a sweet low voice call me, I looked down, a little boy was standing before me, he is such a small and beautiful being.

"Hello, little man." I smile at him.

"I want to make my request."

"Ah! Perfectly... What would you like?"

"Chocolate ice cream! "

With the order written down in my mind, I walked over to the other employee to prepare it. With the ice cream in my hands I turned around and noticed that the child had approached that man, they were sharing the same table, I felt intimidated by the fact that I will have to approach him, I can't send another employee to take my place, or the boss won't like it at all.

I chased that feeling away and approached the table, as soon as I handed her huge chocolate ice cream, I said:

"Here you go, good snack."

Just as I turned my back to get back to work, I hear the child order:

"Sit down!"

I was surprised by the child's attitude, I soon deduced that he is a spoiled kid, I turned to him and spoke with a small smile.

"I can't my angel, I'm on office hours."

"Sit down!"

I hear the thick voice laden with authority and danger, I turned and was met with grayish blue eyes and a serious expression, for a moment my legs went wobbly. One of the security guards approached me and placed a chair and forced me to sit down, heavens, what have I gotten myself into?