CHAPTER TWO - ENCOUNTERING PRINCE CHARMING

Walking to work the next morning, Sophia made sure she left early so that she would arrive on time. The sky was still dark when she left home. Chef Bob wanted the place sparkling clean at all times. Every table should be so clean that one could see their reflection on them.

 

The sky was yet to clear up properly. Sophia could see a few joggers and stretchers lining the walkway, so she felt a bit safer. However, the neighbourhood was not entirely safe, and she had to be careful at all times. With the Zang Packhouse just a few blocks away, she had every reason to be wary. Werewolves and humans always fought over who owns what and who has more rights to enter what place. Their popular form of fighting was over a girl. Sophia knew her own body was a huge attraction, which is why she made sure to wear loose clothing on her way to work. She would then change into her uniform at work where they could not touch her inappropriately.

 

While walking by the Zang Packhouse, she could see several black cars parked in front of the big compound. There were several werewolves around bickering and laughing. She picked up her pace when she saw their chattering had stopped, and they were focusing their attention on her. She ran off, not looking back or stopping until she got to the restaurant. She still had her life to keep. She didn't know what happened to her. She had stayed mesmerized by them like that. It had been so long since the Zang House had had that effect on her, and that had been because of a certain werewolf. A certain young man who had no idea of her existence. The cars there were unusual, especially at that hour. She would make sure to take a different route when she was coming back home. She could do without witnessing a fight.

She quickly opened the restaurant and got to work. Changing her uniform swiftly, she set to work with the cleanser and a clean towel. She was almost done when the chefs began walking in. They all ignored her and went in to begin their duties.

Chef Bob was the only one who gave her a slight nod, the action forced as well but Sophia wasn't perturbed. As long as she did her work well, there would be no complaints. Soon, the restaurant opened and customers began to walk in. She was taking a short break when she saw Becky coming out of the manager’s office. Her work shirt was loose, and her fake breasts were spilling out from her bra. She winked at Sophia as she stepped out fully and closed the door. Sophia's best friend was a bit crazy, so she asked suspiciously, "What were you doing in there?" even though she knew the answer. She was willing to give her friend the benefit of the doubt.

Becky smiled and whistled softly. "What you will soon be doing at the Zang Packhouse."

Sophia swallowed the jibe. It was well-deserved. "I haven't made up my mind yet," she replied gently, just to save her dignity.

"Oh, come on, don’t lie to me. You seem more relaxed this morning, like you have it all figured out," Becky said while buttoning up her shirt. Her fake breasts were too big to fit into the small shirt.

Together they both walked to the restroom. Sophia splashed water on her face while Becky fixed her smudged makeup. Sophia then asked innocently, "Why did you have sex with him?"

 

Becky gave her an eye-roll which Sophia could see from the mirror. "He promised me some money, but he was being slow with it. I gave him a little incentive, and now the money is sitting fatly in my bank account," she explained.

Sophia felt sick to her stomach. This was truly uncalled for. "What do you need the money for? You are already working to save up for college, and the last time you said it was almost complete..."

Becky cut her off with a flick of her newly dyed blond hair. "As if you didn’t know that was what I used to pay for this..." She pointed to her fake breasts that stood firm on her chest.

 

"Oh," was all Sophia managed. She didn’t want to dampen her friend's mood. Becky had always felt inferior to Sophia when it came to her body.

 

"So, when are you going to go?" Becky asked.

 

Sophia was quiet for a minute. She had made up her mind to go, but she still couldn't help feeling hesitant. It had been her goal not to allow any of the boys in their neighborhood to touch her. She wanted to go to college and have success in her life, and give her virginity to the man she would love for the rest of her life. That had been her plan.

Selling her virginity was not helping Sophia achieve her goals. Becky grew impatient and snapped her fingers in front of Sophia's face. "You're not thinking twice about this, are you? Stop acting like your virginity is such a precious gift. You could make good money with it since some loser in college is going to get it for free anyway. And snap out of it, Alan Zang is never going to love you. He's not even in the city anymore."

Sophia responded, feeling embarrassed, "I'm not waiting for him. He doesn't even remember me." Even if their paths did cross, she would be too star-struck to talk.

Becky continued, "Well, I won't argue with that. Just remember that I can't accommodate you when you're thrown out of the house. My house is too small"

Sophia almost cursed out loud. She had sent Becky messages about the debt her father left, but she didn't expect her friend to throw it back at her.

"I remember," she answered quietly and made to leave the bathroom.

Becky leaned a hand on Sophia's shoulder. "I just want the best for you, Sophia. You have all it takes. You should not allow it to waste away. Use what you have to get what you want." With that being said, Becky left the room, the smell of her perfume almost choking Sophia as she walked out.

 

Sophia went out shortly after her as well and resumed serving. She could see the angry glares the other workers gave her, though it wasn't extended to Becky. The poorest girl always got the blame.

 

She ignored them and resumed serving. She had finished three orders when her phone began vibrating in her pocket. Since she couldn't pick up calls, Sophia was apprehensive. It could be her mother. She served the customer with a full-blown smile while being conscious of the ringing phone in her pocket. She hurried to the locker room quickly, fished out her phone, and saw it was a strange number.

Picking it up on the next dial, Sophia answered anxiously, "Hello?"

"Is this Sophia Andrews?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Yes," Sophia replied.

Becky came in and gestured to know what was wrong.

 

Sophia pointed to the phone.

 

"I am calling to ask you to pay up for the loans your father collected from our company. He listed you as his next of kin. It took us quite a long while to get your number but everyday is for the thief and one day is for the owner. Pay up while we are asking nicely otherwise..." Sophia cut off the call immediately.

 

"Who is that?" asked Becky.

 

"Loan sharks... it seems Dad has done a terrible thing to our family. That horrible man. He even collected money from loan sharks." Sophia's eyes swelled up with tears.

 

"That's bullshit. You don’t have to pay up; it's not like you are the one who collected the money," Becky said, irate. She placed her hands on her waist.

 

"He listed me as next of kin."

 

"How could he?" Becky asked, helping Sophia out of the room. "You know what? Switch off your phone for now. Let's just go out there and do our work. We can discuss this after work. Let's not lose our jobs before you can pay up."

 

Becky made sure they side-stepped Chef Bob as they resumed their work, though his mean look was settled on their backs as they took the plates he dropped. Sophia's mind was clouded, and she was so worried that she did not notice the man standing behind her, admiring her behind. She served the customers in front of her, and Mark was behind her, serving the table.

 

He was being loud, and it was clear that he knew the guests and was being ridiculously polite. Mark was only ever that polite and sweet to potential girlfriends who drooled over his tattoos. Sophia turned when she was done serving to look at the table. What caught her attention was Alan Zang, sitting like the macho man he was. He was back. That was the first thought that came to her mind. His baby cute face from junior school was now all straightened up into carved jaws and a perfectly flawless face. His slim shoulders were now broad, and his chest was like a massive field; a strong werewolf in his own right.

 

Her mother had warned her off his type anyway, so she had stayed clear. Not that he noticed her anyway. He mostly hung out with his two friends, Julian and Eddie, who were both rich kids and sons of Alphas of some other packs. The werewolves ruled Zang City, and there was no denying that. They were the ones who ruled the upper class of the city. Humans were in the lower class and had little wealth compared to them. It was like they just came and took over everything.

 

Alan had never spoken to her. She was the kid who almost never had any textbooks needed in class and had to share. She doubt if he even recognized her face. She was the one who was late in handing in most assignments because she could not find her notebooks; they had been torn by her drunk father. Not that anyone knew the horrors of her life then, when her father had still been living with them. It was hell.

 

They had little to eat on some days since he spent their money on booze and her mother was so gullible, she operated a joint account with him. She was the one who didn't have the right to admire the richest kid in the class, and being a werewolf just made it all worse. She had been disheartened when he and his friends disappeared from school. Later, rumours had it that they had travelled abroad. He was the one whose eyes she secretly followed in the halls, a slight comfort for her eyes and the pain in her heart. Yet here he was in the restaurant, which was highly unusual. She hadn't even known he was back.

Sophia kept her emotions in check, knowing werewolves could easily scent her excitement. She gently left their side and returned to her position, sneaking a peek at the massive handsomeness that was eating slowly, his eyes not leaving his food. He looked up when the werewolf next to him asked him something, and as if on cue, he turned his head, and their eyes met. Sophia snapped her eyes elsewhere immediately, and she began doing table rounds, ignoring his blatant stare on her person.

 

Although she couldn't help but wonder if he remembered her. Was that why he stared? By the time Sophia was done with her rounds and returned to her position, she saw that his table was empty, and he was nowhere to be found. Disappointment sat in the pit of her stomach, though she could not pinpoint why. Werewolves in Zang City rarely dated humans, and even if they did, they only wanted a whore for the night. She didn’t stand a chance with Alan Zang. He owned the damned City.

 

As if to remind her once more, her phone began vibrating endlessly in her pocket. This time, it didn’t stop, not even once until she was done with her duties for the day. That was long enough for Sophia to think about Becky’s words. Alan Zang was just a faraway dream that would never come to pass. Her reality lay in selling her virginity.