Chapter Three

Chapter Three

                        Inez

My hands roamed over the sheets before my eyes were fully opened. Coarse. Manly scent. And so definitely not my bed.

I jerked up, my eyes scanning around the large bedroom before thoughts of the previous night crashed in. 

Business party. Got heartbroken. Slept with a stranger.

Stranger…

My hands trembled as I moved the duvet from my nude body, and stumbled off the bed. Sounds of water splashing from the nearby bathroom made me halt in my steps, and make a quick decision. I wasted no time in getting into my discarded dress that was tossed on the ground, while trying hard not to think of what happened last night. Gosh. I fucked up so bad. My cheeks colored crimson as memories of my bold approach that was totally un-Inez filled my mind. 

I didn't bother to look at my reflection in the mirror as I pulled out some dollar bills from my purse. I muttered a quick prayer to the god that made me decide to start moving around with some cash in case of emergencies. And this…

This was definitely an emergency. 

I counted and recounted the $5000 bills, placed them on a noticeable part of the bedside table. I eyed the little notepad and pen beside the little potted plant. On a second thought, I grabbed it and scribbled a quick note, ending it with- “As mature adults, I hope you take what happened last night as part of an adventure, and let's hope never to meet again. The cash should be enough to compensate for your services.” 

…

New York city lived up to its famous traffic. I sighed and leaned against my seat. I didn't particularly have any destination in mind when I left the stranger's house and hailed a cab. My body felt itchy and I craved a good bath.

As the cab drove past a mini restaurant, my eyes caught the advert for a job vacancy, and an idea came to mind. 

“I’ll stop here, please.” I said to the driver. 

My phone rang just as I got out of the cab. I didn't have to check the caller ID to know who it was. 

“Mother,” I called out tiredly.

“What the hell do you think you're doing, Inez Raymond?!” She yelled. I could picture her furious face and the stomping of foot which went along with it.

“I am fine, thank you for asking.” I mouthed a ‘thank you’ to the cab driver, paid, and headed towards the restaurant.

“Don’t play games with me, young lady. What is this I hear about you and Dexmond?” She snapped.

I let out a long exhale. “Oh. So you heard.” It was a resigned response.

“Yes. Why did you cheat on your husband, you whore?!” Her voice was overly furious at that point.

I froze. “I did what?” 

“You should know better. After all, you're the one who slept with another man on your wedding anniversary, Inez. To crown it all, you threatened to divorce him.” She yelled louder.

“Mother, what are you saying? Dexmond proposed to-”

“I don't want to know what he did, young lady. Dexmond funds our family and you know that. Go back and beg for his forgiveness. Cut yourself with a knife or something to gain his pity if you have to.” She instructed.

Tears stung my eyes, and my steps became unsteady. “Of course, this is about you. Don't call this number again, Mother.” I said, and hung up.

She called back almost immediately. I ignored it, and returned the phone into my purse. 

The restaurant was a bit busy when I walked in. The beautiful interior looked nothing like the shabby exterior. I suddenly regretted my impulse of stopping over to seek a job before freshening up. I didn't even look like I actually wanted the job.

“Why are you loitering around instead of working?” An unsmiling woman with a book in hand asked, forcing me out of my self-pity.

“No, no, I don't work here.” I rushed to explain. “I saw the job notice outside and came to apply.” 

She wasn't impressed. As she looked me over, my self-consciousness doubled. I was pleasantly surprised when she said, “Work starts immediately.” Then she turned to leave.

“I’m hired?” 

“Except you don't want the job.” She disappeared through one of the doors. I followed her, and found myself in the kitchen. 

“Take one of the aprons, and get to work.” The unsmiling woman ordered, gesturing at a rack at the far end of the large kitchen. 

I grabbed an apron, put it on, and got to work just as she instructed.

My first day at work went surprisingly well. Towards late afternoon, a loud grumble from my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten, all day. 

“Do we get free lunch here?” I asked Maurice, one of the old waitresses. 

“Yes. You can help yourself to some donuts and latte.” She told me.

“Latte and donuts for lunch?” I asked in a whisper. 

Maurice chuckled. “You want something better?”

“I’m fine with it.” I winked. 

“I think you have one more table to tend before going for a lunch break.” Maurice called out, making me groan.

“Alright. Just this one.” I mumbled as I went over to the new customers at the left wing of the restaurant. The smile on my face wiped off when I saw who it was.

“Evane?” I whispered, my voice failing me.

She sneered as her gaze met mine. “Oh, who else but the praying mantis that thinks itself an eagle?” She mocked.

I gripped my writing pad hard, and bit the insides of my lips. “What would you like to order?” I asked, ignoring her hurtful words.

“Order? I can't order anything while you work here, bitch. You're getting fired right away.” She scoffed, crossed her legs and leaned against her chair.

Wondering what Evane was doing at a mini restaurant such as this, I struggled to remain calm and not retort.

“Why are you not serving this customer?” A voice called out from behind me. 

“Who owns this place?” Evane asked in the tone of a superior.

Probably sensing that Evane was rich, Madame Alex’s voice was mellow when she responded. “I do.”

“How much would it take to fire this low-life?” Evane asked.

Tried as I could, my eyes couldn't resist straying down to her ring finger. My heart clenched when I saw the ring sitting prettily on her finger. A ring which was even prettier than mine.

“Pardon?” Madame Alex frowned.

“I don't like repeating my words, woman. Would $3000 do?” As she spoke, her hand dug into her purse and retrieved her card. “Here. Fire her this instant.”

Madame Alex's face shone with glee. “Of course, of course. Thank you, Miss.”

Evane looked at me scornfully. “You should get going. Poor people like you, make my skin itch.”

A bitter taste rose at the back of my throat as I turned to leave the restaurant. I didn't even bother taking off the apron. I felt humiliated. And I hated how much my heart ached.

My vision was blurry as I turned down the other lane straight ahead, with absolutely no destination in mind.

As I walked on, certain that I wasn't hallucinating about the car that was tailing me, I turned back twice. Sure enough, the car was still tailing me. It was an expensive looking car-  the type that only high socialites could afford. 

I hastened my footsteps. My soul almost left my body when two figures emerged from behind the wall and blocked my way.

“Hey, watch where you are going!” As my initial fear vanished, my anger erupted.

The two men who were dressed like bodyguards simply bowed. “We apologize, Miss.” One of them said with a little bow.

I was puzzled at their actions. I was still dressed in my sorry-looking dress and apron. I surely looked nothing like someone another person would bow to.

“Can you step out of my way, please?” I requested.

“We are sorry, Miss. But we were instructed to bring you back home with us.” The other bodyguard replied. 

I blinked. “Instructed by who?”

“The patriarch of the Turners’ family.” The first bodyguard replied.

I stared at both of them, and burst out laughing. “Please, please, you can do better.” I said in between bouts of laughter. Their faces remained stoic, and my laughter died down.

I glanced back at the car that'd been tailing me, and it was parked.

“The Turners? The second powerful family in Europe Turners?” I asked slowly.

They nodded. 

“Why? That's impossible.”

“We should get going now, Miss.” As they walked towards me, I moved back farther. I didn't get anywhere before they caught up with me. 

“Please, cooperate with us, Miss. Sir Xander will have our heads if you don't.” One of them begged.

Overwhelmed by the turn of events, I remained docile as they led me to the car. 

Convinced that I was being abducted, I simply closed my eyes and rested my tired self on the seat as the car started and zoomed off.