Chapter 2

Present

“Miss Aana Watson.” My interviewee called me by my fake name, which I stated in my resume to conceal my true identity. 

I swallowed hard before forcing a smile. “Yes…” 

“Why do you want to work at this restaurant?” He asked and stared into my eyes. 

Uncertainty gripped my chest as I struggled to maintain eye contact. If he discovered the truth, what would I do? Scott had shut down every path that could help me and my family. He wanted us to see him dying miserably. I had known he would come to avenge his brother, but I never expected that he would become this heartless. The entire city of Boston was under him. Everyone knew who he was, and they all wanted to get a glimpse of him. Every restaurant, bar, and shop had been ordered not to hire me. 

Two days ago, my sister lost her bartending job, so I wasn’t sure if this cruelty is also happening to her. Scott Martinez wanted us to beg for mercy on his feet, which is something I would never, ever do. 

“Miss Watson…” my employer-to-be snapped his fingers in front of my face to capture my attention. “Where are you?” 

“Umm…” clearing my throat, I straightened my back against the chair. “Actually, this restaurant is nearest to my home, and also this is one of my grandma’s favorites.” I examined the classic look of the restaurant, large oak wood tables, and ancient pictures of men and women sticking into each corner of the room. The restaurant was cozy and comfortable. 

Curious, he asked, “How old is your grandma?”. 

“Seventy-six.” I smiled and thanked my granny, who had told me about this restaurant when I was a kid. 

He nodded and flicked through the pages of the document in front of him, seemingly uninterested. “We specifically designed this restaurant for our senior citizens who like to spend their time here. Most of the servers quit this job because they can’t deal with the passivity and laziness of older people.” He leaned forward, looking right into my eyes. “Miss Watson, are you comfortable dealing with these people? You may require a lot of patience.” 

“I’m comfortable, Mr. John,” I said quickly. “I’m more than comfortable, sir.”

“Good. You can start tomorrow,” he said with a sincere smile and I sighed in relief. 

“Thank you, sir… Thank you so much.” I jumped in excitement. 

“You’re welcome, Miss Watson.” He looked charming when a grin appeared across his young face. “I look forward to working with you.”

I nodded and grabbed my handbag before rising from my seat. Giving him the last smile, I walked out of his office. My heart was floating with happiness and hope. Now, I have a job with good pay and it is far away from the city. Scott would never find my whereabouts and additionally, I disguised myself with a red wig and lenses. I hadn’t put on my rounded glasses. 

I smiled while heading towards the bakery to get some doughnuts and chocolate cookies, my siblings’ favorite. Clutching my handbag against my chest, I was dreaming about the future. My dream would only come true when I was able to provide a good life for my family. I was the older one and it was my responsibility to avail them of everything they wanted.

A sudden gasp escaped my lips when mud splashed across my face. Wiping a brown substance from my neck, I looked at a white sports car, halting right in front of me. It didn’t take a second as a heavy crowd gathered around the car. My eyes went round when Scott Martinez got out of the car.

“Sir…” Paparazzi begged for his one glimpse. 

“Oh my god, Scott Martinez!” Two women huffed in disbelief. Their expressions were as if they had seen a lion walking on two legs. 

“Scott! Scott! Scott! Please…!” The entire crowd screamed, shouted, and cried to get his attention. 

“Scott, please…!”

“Sir…!” 

Scott stopped all of a sudden, and I froze. He glanced over his shoulder at his fans and waved his hands with a charming smile. My eyes took in his handsome face and masculine body. How dashing he was looking in his tight blue t-shirt and black cargo. His shoulders were broad and profound, and his arms were toned and thick. It was the same body to which I had given uncountable marks. I marked his heart and so his body. I thought making his body ugly would make him mine, but it never worked. All I did was force him to hate me passionately. 

I had done wrong with him to own his heart. 

I sighed in despair and removed a handkerchief from my purse and cleaned my face. Forcing my steps towards the bakery, I bought two doughnuts and cookies for my brothers. Since Natalie didn’t like sweets, I got her favorite macaroni pizza. Hey, I bought nothing for myself because I didn’t have enough balance. 

After walking a mile, I finally arrived at our small apartment where I and my three siblings were living together. Clarence insisted on shifting with his high school friends, but I refused him. He was sixteen, and I didn’t want him to be involved in any illegal activity. I warned him if he left us then he would never get a share of our father’s secret property, which was completely a lie. I lied to him to make him stay with us.

“I’m home,” I announced while entering inside. I flinched at the sight of the cracked wall and peeled paint. I could even smell and see the smoke rising in the air, caused by our neighbor. “Hey, little prince.” I smiled when Caden approached me eagerly. 

After a moment, Clarence and Natalie followed him and welcomed me. Clarence looked rough and irritated. “Is everything okay?” I glanced between them and they exchanged a look. After a long silence, Natalie nodded her head. “Good.” I walked over to them. “I’ve got a new job.” 

“Cheers!” Clarence taunted, and I frowned. “Scott will wipe us. God knows what had you done to him. He had sucked every penny that we had left. Look at us where we are and look at him where he is. He has fucked our lives up.” 

“Shut up!” I glared at him and put the food packet on the table before disappearing into the room. 

“Why don’t you give your life to him, Cami!” Clarence shouted from behind me, making me pause. “If that’s what he wants, at least it’ll save our lives.” 

********

“I would like to have iced tea with chocolate cookies.” An elderly man with a thick white beard said. 

“Sure.” I gave him a polite nod before asking, “Would you like to have an appetizer?”

“I’ll have garlic bread to start.” 

I scribbled down his order on the pad. “Anything else, sir.”

“That’ll be all for now.”

I walked into the kitchen to get his order. My life had been running smoothly for three months as I wouldn’t have to face Scott Martinez and he didn’t even know where I was. Caden and Clarence started school and Natalie enrolled in the university. I needed a couple of years to get my life on track. I had always dreamed of becoming a model but always got a rejection because of my unattractive face and thick legs. I was good 5’8 but my legs were too fat for a model personality. And my face… It was not unattractive, but it looked plain when I wore my rounded glasses. I had short black hair and light gray eyes which sharpened my features. I had high cheekbones and a long neck, but what I didn’t like in myself was my lips which were too thick. 

I loved to adore myself, but people didn’t let me. I had bullied people because they bullied me. 

“Scott Martinez is here!” I was startled when one of the waitresses screamed out in excitement. “Oh my gosh, he is here!” 

Suddenly, an excited murmur flared up in the kitchen as everyone got thrilled to hear this news. I even caught a couple of waitresses grabbing lipstick and starting to apply it to their lips.

“I’m gonna take his order.” Abira, one of the waitresses said, tugging her blouse, and making sure it would show her cleavage.  

“I’m gonna serve him.” Another waitress protested. 

I frowned and adjusted my wig before putting iced tea and chocolate cookies on a tray and heading out. 

“Aana…” I paused when my employer called me out and forced me to turn around to face him. 

“Yes, sir.”

“You’ll serve Scott Martinez,” he announced, and my heart leaped into my throat. 

“I’m occupied, sir,” I replied, my voice raspy. 

“Abira will take care of your guest,” he said while glancing her way. 

“No!” she exclaimed promptly. “I’ll serve Scott because I was the one who saw him first.”

“Shut up!” My employer clipped, and she bit her lips to stop herself. 

“I…I…” I stuttered. “I can’t serve him.” 

“Why?” he demanded and held my gaze as if he found the truth.

I lowered my gaze, feeling my rising heartbeat. “Because I’m not comfortable with celebrities.” 

“It’s a golden opportunity to meet Scott Martinez.” He tore the tray from my hands before turning me around and pushing me out of the kitchen towards the hall. “Now go, Miss Watson.”

Breathing shakily, I headed towards his table. My finger trembled when I spotted him with Maura Garcia. She was giving her autograph to a couple of guests and Scott was busy staring at her. A small smile appeared on his face while he was watching his fiancee happy. 

“Hi, I’m Aana. I’ll be your server tonight,” I mumbled. 

Scott froze, and his bright blue moved toward me. My heart almost stopped beating when he stared right into my eyes. There was softness, respect, and tenderness in those eyes. Maybe because he had been through this phase. He respected every small worker who worked hard to earn their daily bread. 

“Hi, I’m Scott Martinez. Thank you for being my server,” he said charmingly with a playful wink. Two dimples appeared on either side of his cheeks when he smiled. 

He practically looked like an angel. Maura was a lucky woman to own his heart. 

“May I take your order,” I mumbled while fixing my eye on the order pad. 

“Two black coffees, thank you.”

I nodded and turned to leave, but then Maura called me back. “Hey, what’s your name?”

I closed my eyes briefly before glancing at her. “It’s Aana.” 

“Aana, don’t you want my autograph?” she leaned forward before she held Scott’s hand. 

“No!” I spat and glanced at Scott, who was already staring at me with amusement. “I want his. Can I get one?”

“If you know him better, Scott Martinez doesn’t give an autograph. Okay, you may go now.”

I returned with their order and caught their tongue sticking into each other’s mouths. They quickly tore themselves away when they noticed me standing next to their table. Putting the tray down, I turned on my heel, but suddenly I lost my balance and fell into Scott’s arms. My heart throbbed when he wrapped his muscular arm around my waist before pulling me closer to his firm chest. His familiar scent lingered in my nose. I tried to breathe but couldn’t when he was holding me tight. 

“I’m sor…”

“Camille…!” I froze when Maura shouted. 

Shocked, Scott’s eyes moved down to the wig on the ground and then moved back to my face. My heart lurched when his fury sprang to life. “How Dare You?!” he hissed out and shoved me away from him. “Damn it!” 

“She managed to find a job by disguising herself.” Maura sneered. “This ugly rat needs a good lesson, baby.” 

“Who’s the owner of this restaurant?” Scott said impatiently, looking across the hall. 

“Scott please…” I begged, and it fueled him more. “You’ve got what you wanted for a long. My parents, my wealth, and my dignity. Now, leave me and my siblings alone.”

He stepped forward, towering over me. His eyes were burning like lava. “How am I supposed to leave you alone, Miss Davidson?” he brought his ear close to my ear. “I’ve been missing you for three months. Now, I’ll make sure never to let you go.”

*******