Chapter One - TAKE HER!

LINXARA BROOKE 

"Two barbeques shrimps for table four, Lin." 

Two barbeques shrimps, a succulent shrimps grilled to perfection on the barbecue. I sliced the barbecues faster than anything else this day. A lot of customers coming in left and right making everything extra busy. I don't even have time for myself. Just as I was about to slice the last piece, I accidentally cut my hand and blood started gushing out. 

Hot tears rolled out of my eyes. I hurriedly moved over to the running water, washing the blood away. 

My life has not always been easy. It's either I get yelled at by my boss, Nicole or I cut myself with a knife or somethings else should happen. Something must happen in everyday of my life. I am not that lucky as my twin sister, Vynessa Brooke. She is lucky and she gets everything she wants either by nook or cranny. I can't do what she does honestly. 

She is a stripper at the same club I work. I am a waitress in the day and a bartender at night. 

I am in no position to judge her because that was all she could resort to. Stripping. I can't do the same and I just can't do it. No reason for it. My sister is outspoken and confident in herself that she is always ready to flaunt her physique to everyone but I can't. 

Vynessa is taller and slimmer than I am. We have the same face but not the same body shape. People say I was a lot more curvier than her. I don't dispute that and I don't care. I don't care about how I look. I just want to work and take care of my sick mother. She was diagnosed with stage IV diabetes foot ulcer combined with hypertension. It had become so worst that I fear that something bad might happen to her. 

I just want to work and pay our bills. All I want is a better life and I am working towards it. 

"Gosh! You are so slow, Linxara! If you don't want this job anymore just say it. Other people are dying to get this opportunity that you have." My boss, Nicole yelled out loud at me. Great. I was just at the verge of preparing the shrimps. Nicole saw the blood gushing out of my index finger but she could do nothing to help me. All she cares about was the customers and the money she will receive in return. 

I sniffed through tears as I tried to stop the blood. I had to apply pressure. "I...just...cut my fingers accidentally." 

"I don't fucking care! If you had not been so slow I am sure your inexperienced ass would not have cut your finger. Now, if you -" She pointed her finger directly at me and she continued, "don't want this job anymore. Get out. Pack your shit and get out of my property." She seethed, looking at me dead in the eyes. 

More tears rolled out. I nodded. I don't want to lose this job. I will do whatever it takes. I moved closer to her, pleading with her. "Please, don't fire me. I will continue with it."

She scoffed, "that's what you usually say. You will continue. Your twin is even smarter than you are. You are just a slow dimwit. If you really want the job, then see to it. Start working. Get to work before I change my mind." 

She walked out immediately. I tore out of my skirt and wrapped it around the wounded area to stop the blood from rushing out. I did it and continued doing it. I have always been compared to my sister. She is popular for her confidence and braveness and I am less popular. I am only popular when it comes to men. They all want me on their bed because of how I look. Because of my sensual physique. 

After two minutes, I was done making the order. There was no waitress to serve it out. I had to step out of the hot kitchen to serve the order to the right customer. Table four. 

"Table four..." I muttered, looking amongst the little crowd of customers. They were men and women talking indistinctly. 

I could hear people murmuring, slurring, laughing, lisping, yelling. Everywhere was so busy that I could barely see through the table. This happens every time I am on shift. Those men will come specially not because they want to eat but because they want to stare at me. At my body to be precise. 

"Table four!" I shouted through the indistinct talks. The two men signified. They made it pretty easier for me to locate them. That's a miracle because on a normal day, they would have made it so hard for me. Sometimes they do trick me just to see me walk around for fun. Just to make fun of me. 

I walked over there and placed their order on the table. I was paid immediately and when I was about to turn around to walk away, the door suddenly opened and everywhere became so silent that even Nicole froze on the spot. What was happening? I shifted my gentle gaze to the entrance and saw five men dressed in tailored black suits. They looked around and when they laid their eyes on me, they stopped. 

They looked like they were guards to someone popular because just their presence alone ignited silence in the previous noisy moments. I gulped down a lump of saliva and another person stepped in. This time around, everywhere became a graveyard. It was as silent as anything else. Even if a pin dropped, it will be the most prominent sound in the restaurant. 

I batted my lashes. Who was he? And why was everything and everyone silent? Is he some kind of politician that we need to accord some respect to? 

The presence of the man was intimidating. He was cladded in a tailored black tuxedo that accentuated his athletic built body. His slim, silver cufflinks sparkled from afar as he shoved his hands into his pockets. His tattoos and piercings gave him that bad boy vibe which I don't feel comfortable with. His presence alone screamed money, power and influence. 

He scanned his eyes across the room and the moment I was acknowledged by him, he tilted his head to the side and just like that, I was grabbed by two unknown people from behind. 

"Take her!" His deep voice resonated in the silent restaurant. 

What? Take who?