Chapter 1: The Gangster

Ashton

"Good morning, would you like a booth or a table, sir?" I asked the middle-aged man who had just entered the cafe. I smile at him meekly because I want all the customers to have a good impression of me and there's no other way to radiate good vibes towards the customer than smiling at them the moment they entered the cafe. I've been working as a part-time waiter here in La Lena Cafe for almost a month now.

"A table please," the middle-aged man replied.

"Okay, please follow me, sir," I said as I walk ahead and take the man into his seat. I politely said goodbye after the man was already sitting comfortably on his chair, I need to grab the menu and also my notepad and ballpen to jot down his orders. I was about to return to the man's table to cater his order when I saw him already standing in front of me. I couldn't help but frown wondering what he was doing on the counter but then I just act as if nothing happens.

"What would you like to have, sir?" I politely asked him but he just stared at me from my head to toe causing me to raise my eyebrow. After a while, he suddenly smiles foolishly at me.

"I want to have you, how much?" The man said and that was the moment that I lost my respect for this man. I feel nothing but an annoyance as I stared at him from head to toe and he suddenly grins at me because he thought I was checking him or maybe he thought I was looking at him with lust when the truth is what I'm feeling right now is pure disgust.

"I'm too expensive, sir," I said and tried to smile at him even though what I really wanted to do was turn my back and leave him the fuck alone, but then I know that it wouldn't be nice as a waiter of this cafe to leave his customer. I don't want this old man reporting me to my manager and twisting the narrative of what really happened. I don't want to risk getting fired just because of this horny old man.

"Come on, don't you know me? There's no such thing as too expensive for me." The old man replied and I just look at him with furrowed brows. I couldn't help but wonder if he was an actor or a businessman.

"Name your price, you're exactly just my type." The old man said and that was the moment that I lost it, I dropped the fake smile that was plastered on my lips.

"Um, I'm sorry but I still have a job, sir. I can't leave." I replied and tried to sound polite in front of him even though he was not polite to me.

"Aw, don't worry about that. The owner of this cafe is my friend, I can explain everything to him. Now, tell me your price and come with me, my driver is waiting outside." The old man's insisted and I take a deep breath trying to calm myself because part of me wants to punch him already.

Fuck! This man should go to strip clubs or anywhere that he can buy male sluts. This is a fucking cafe and I'm not interested in his offer.

"I'm sorry but if you don't have anything to buy at the cafe, sir, you'd better just leave," I said and tried not to sound rude to the old man because I still don't want to lose my job. I can't help but gulp when I saw the foolish grin on his face slowly disappear and was replaced with annoyance or anger, I don't know.

"I can give you a million in just one night, boy." The old man said.

"I don't need your money, sir. Please leave already if you don't have any orders." I replied causing his jaw to tighten in rage because maybe I had trampled his pride when I refused his indecent offer to me.

I take a deep breath when a few seconds later and the old man is still standing in front of me and by the look of it, it seems that he doesn't have any plans of leaving me the fuck alone.

"Aw, I know this tactic, bitch! You're acting like you're not interested in my offer but the truth is you're just trying me if I can raise the set price. Don't worry, money is never a problem. Do you want two million or maybe three million? I can give you that but you need to earn those millions. How about being my little filthy boy for a month?" The old man said and smiles at me which I find now super creepy.

Fuck! Even if he gives me all his assets I still don't want to be his boy for a month. I don't need his money. Until now, I still have the black card that Luciano gave me and I can use it and spend it whenever I want. I didn't use the black card though and instead of living like a rich kid, I did a part-time job as a waiter here in La Lena Cafe. I’m trying to live my life as simple as I can be. I want to experience a normal teenager’s life. I want to spend all the money that I really worked for. I don't know but I feel an insurmountable joy and happiness at the thought that I am using my hard-earned money and it's not coming from anyone.

"I'm not interested in your offer, sir. Please excuse me, there are other customers that I need to take care of." I said and I was about to turn my back on him so that I could go to another customer when he suddenly grabs my arm causing me to gasp in surprise.

"What the hell is wrong with you, boy? Don't fucking play as hard to get because you're not worthy of it, you're just a whore and I bet a lot of men have already fuck you." The man said with gritted teeth as he tightened his grip on my arms. I can see that there are already some customers looking at the commotion that this old man is doing right now.

"For the second time, I'm not interested, sir," I said with conviction and tried to get rid of his hand but he was holding me with too much force. I can't help but wince because I can feel the pain of his nails digging into my skin.

"No one ever dares refuse my proposal. I can't allow a worthless whore like you to reject me." He said angrily and suddenly pulled me causing me to fall on the ground because he pulled in surprised.

"Let go of me!" I complained as I struggle to get away from the old man.

"No! You're coming with me! You fucking slut!" The man shouted and I’m sure at this point, everyone's attention was already on us. I can feel all of them staring at me.

I can't help but sneered at the old man when he pulled me again and this time he was pulling me harder. I hold onto the wine racks in an attempt to stop the old man from dragging me out of the cafe but then he pulled me again and my eyes widen in shock when the wine racks suddenly lose balance and it fell on the ground. I gulp as I look at the wine racks in disbelief, all the broken bottles of wine and the expensive red wines spread on the floor like a wildfire.

Fucking hell! I'm sure I have already lost my job now.

"That's what you got for being a fucking hard to get, slut. Come to me and I'll pay for that, you don't have to worry about it or where you'll get the money to pay for this." The man said and he tried to drag me out of the cafe again.

I wince in pain when the old man drags me out, it looks like I got a wound on my knee. The old man was about to open the door when someone beats him to it, and a man with a cold, dark, and serious face enters the door.

It was Harry, the man with the eyes as cold as the north pole, and the way he looks at me felt like he was shooting daggers into my heart.

"What do you think you're doing?" Harry asked, I don't know if he was asking me or he was asking the old man who was still holding my arm too tightly.

"Mind your own business, boy, if you don't want to–," the man hadn't finished what he was going to say when Harry punched him in the face causing him to fall on the floor. It was a fucking hard punch that the old guy is now sleeping comfortably on the floor, unconscious.

I was still in shock that I didn't even realize that Harry had grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the cafe. I was unconsciously following him but then after a few minutes, I snap out of my thoughts and pulled my hand away from Harry.

"Where are you taking me? I need to go back to the cafe." I said but he just raised an eyebrow at me.

"You sit on that bench and don't make the mistake of leaving if you don't want me to punch you in the face," Harry said threatening me, causing me to swallow my saliva. Harry turns his back on me and I was just staring at him until he enters the convenience store.

I sat on the bench, I wanted to leave and go back to the cafe but then I suddenly remembered Harry's cold and dark eyes as he proceeds on threatening me not to leave.

I'm thankful that Harry helps me with that old guy but then at the same time, I can't help but feel confused because based on the rumors circulating around the university, Harry is a gangster and he loves bullying students.

Fuck! I'm a new student and I don't want to transfer to another school, but most especially, I don't want to be Harry's punching bag. I can't help but think that the only reason why he helps me is that he wants me to repay his kindness by being his punching bag.

Tsk! That won't fucking happen. I can actually take care of myself, I can punch that pervert old man until he collapses but then Harry came and decided to play the superhero character.

"Here,"

I snap out of my thoughts when I suddenly hear Harry's voice, I didn't even realize that he was already in front of me. I raised an eyebrow at him while looking at the band-aid he was giving me.

"What am I going to do with that?" I asked him with furrowed brows but he just glares at me as if he can't believe I was asking him a question.

"Are you fucking high? Put it on your empty brain." Harry replied with a taunting voice and then he suddenly kneels on the ground, he opens the band-aid and put it on my knee. I gasped when I noticed the wounds on my knee, I almost forgot about it.

"Thank you," I said shyly.

"Tsk!" He replied before standing up and then he starts walking away from me, I couldn’t help but frown staring at him walking down the street.