CHAPTER SIX

I cleared my thoughts and placed my hand on the verse.

17. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 

19. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20. Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

I rolled my eyes and kept the bible in a drawer. It wasn’t that easy. Nora was trying to save my soul? It was funny to think about it. But what if? What if she was on to something?

Lexa’s POV

I didn’t forget that I was going for work. I almost did as I admired myself in the mirror. This blue dress was the most expensive thing I had.

It was a thick light blue dress, embedded with flowers. It was sleeveless and long. Along with the dress came two white sleeves. I looked like Cinderella, without the puffiness. 

I straightened the curls out of my hair. I was formerly thinking of bangs but… I loved the natural me best.

“You look lovely in that dress.”

I swiftly turned to see my mum. What do I tell her? 

I bit my lip. “Hey, mum.”

“Where did you get it from?”

“I’ve always had it. Didn’t you know?”

“Don’t try that trick with me. You know it doesn’t work.”

I almost forgot. “My friends got it for me.” Lie! “There’s a party happening tonight in the restaurant. He asked all of us to be present. We would serve but we should also look nice. So, they got this for me.” 

Before I could let her process what I said, I dropped the wad of money in her hand. 

“Where did you get this from?”

“It’s an advance. I asked my boss for an advance. You have a checkup tomorrow and we need the money.”

Kimberly sighed. “You don’t have to waste your money on me. It won’t help.”

“You sacrificed your marriage for me. This is the least I can do for you.”

“You didn’t. It was never your fault. It was completely mine.”

I knew my mum to well. “There it is again. You’re lying. You don’t have to lie to me.”

“It was doomed to end anyway. You don’t have to blame yourself for it.”

She was stubborn to admit; just like her daughter. “You still love Mark.”

“What makes you think so? I completely don’t.”

She’s such a terrible liar. “I see you watch the videos taped by you and him when you were married. You scroll through your marriage pictures every night. Don’t lie to me.”

She closed her eyes. “I’m glad he left so he wouldn’t have to cry when I’m gone.”

“Stop saying that!” Tears were dropping down my face. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Kimberly came in for another hug. I needed that. I was so confused. I didn’t understand anything. I couldn’t come clean with the fact that she was leaving me. She’d leave me soon and there was nothing I could do about that.

“Miss Rica called.” She changed the topic. “She asked for you. She also wants to know when you’ll check on them.”

“If she calls back, tell her I’ll see them soon.”

“You look so beautiful tonight. Don’t ruin this with your tears.”

I cleaned my face. “Easier said than done.”

My mum laughed. “You aren’t going with your hair like this.”

She sat me down as I looked at myself in the mirror.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Everything. Don’t worry. I’ll style it up for you. Remember, I used to be a hairdresser.”

I smiled. “That’s hard to forget. You put so many mannequin heads in the house. I wouldn’t stop having nightmares about them. It was like a horror film.”

“Remember when you said one smiled at you.”

I shivered, recollecting that terrifying moment. “It really did! It also said it wanted to suck my blood.”

Kimberly laughed again. “I miss those old days. These days are really tough for us.”

“Thanks to my job, everything will be fine. And you didn’t want me to get a job.”

“Now, keep quiet and stay still. You don’t want to be late for your party.”

Yeah, party. Who would want to be late for that? Pfft. Not me.

Lot’s POV

I had already planned this well. I was looking forward to teasing Alexa again. It would be my utmost pleasure.

I dressed well. I wore a black tux with a light blue *inner*. My cufflinks were pure gold. Sometimes, I wished I was a woman. Women had more fun and detail in dressing. Men’s dressing is more or less… boring.

My hair was well made to a pompadour. I wanted to look my best tonight. Alexa would be mesmerized by my sheer beauty. I’m sure she would.

My mind was on Alexa and Alexa alone.

“What are we waiting for, Lot? We’ve been here for twenty minutes.”

It was necessary that I endured Britney. More like Bratney. It was all part of the plan.

“I called for a personal waitress. I don’t want any ordinary waitress to serve you, dear,” I said, holding her hand. 

I had to make her patient till it was time to burst out. Britney was one of my associates. We normally do nothing than business deals and the likes. She was perfect for the job. She is a spoilt and bratty lady.

She’s never suffered for a day in her life as her family swims in money. She also knows how to make anyone lesser to her, wish they were never born. 

This is day one of suffering, two more days to go.

Anytime the door opened, I wished it was Alexa. If she was the punctual person Nora told me she was. She’d reach in no time.

As my phone’s clocked hit nine. I got her scent. 

Jasmine. She was here. I could sense her from meters away. 

Brit was working on her makeup. She was obsessed with her looks. Unlike Alexa, everything about Brit was fake. Alexa had true beauty. I couldn’t wait to see how she looked.

The door of the restaurants was opened by the *ushers*. A blue heel stepped into the restaurant. The sound of the hill tapping the floor echoed in my ears. Soon, the whole figure came into appearance. 

Alexa… 

***

She was the prettiest thing in the restaurant. Her hair was curled and packed into a stylish English bun. Her lips were painted in crimson. She put no other makeup but her face was still cleaner than Brit’s.

Her curves exposed themselves in the beautiful dress. Her white sleeve-gloves complemented her pale but spotless skin. She came in majestically… but she was searching for someone. 

Her eyes raced past Elliot’s but she traced it back to him. She wasn’t sure to smile so she walked on, ignoring his secured gaze on her.

Brit lifted her head from her phone and caught him straying away. “Hello! I’m right here!”

“Don’t worry. She’s the waitress.”

Brit turned to her, suspiciously. “Why is she so well dressed?”

“I have no idea.”

Brit was comparing herself to Lexa. It made her sick if anyone was slightly prettier than her. It highly irritated her.

Lexa reached their table. 

She avoided eye contact with Elliot. “I am Lexa Halton. You’re waitress for today. Please, can I take your order,” she said with the fakest smile.

She could tell Brit’s attitude by the jealous look she gave her. “You’re thirty minutes late. Weren’t you asked to arrive at eight-thirty?” Brit continuously eyed Lexa.

“No ma’am. I was asked to be here at nine.” Lexa turned to me for an explanation.

“That isn’t so. I asked you to reach here by eight-thirty,” Elliot winked at Lexa.

“But…”

“No more excuses. For coming late you will remove those heels and serve us with bare feet.” Lexa wanted to explode but she couldn’t blow this. Her job counted on it. “Hurry and throw your heels into a nearby bin.”

Lexa signaled Elliot that she would kill her. If only that was possible, he laughed.

“What would you like tonight? I will take your order.”

It was hard for Lexa to smile when her bare feet were on the cold ground. It was the hardest thing she’d do that year.

“I’m a vegetarian, level 3. I also don’t eat oily foods with cholesterol and calories.”

“I didn’t ask for your food info but for what you want to have.”

Lexa shouldn’t have said that, Lot knew it too.

“How dare you? You spoilt bag of cheese. You come in here and meet a Queen like me only to embarrass me in front of the whole world!”

“I think you’re overreacting.”

“Did you hear what she said, Lot? She said I’m overreacting.”

Lot had to step in. “You don’t have to get angry over an insignificant poor girl like her. Relax, she’s not worth it.”

Brit fanned herself. “You’re right.” She eyed Lexa. “Throw those white gloves away. I don’t want to see them.” <What does this brat want? Why don’t I throw all my clothes away and run around naked? How will you like that?> “What was that?”

<Did I speak out loud?>

Lexa shook her head. “Nothing.” She threw her beautiful gloves away and went back to the the table. She knew this night was gonna be a long night. “What do you want, sir?”

Lot had been looking at her for a long while. 

He snapped to reality. “Stake. I want stake.”

“You can’t eat meat in my presence. Order veggies.”

“I don’t eat anything else but meat. Do you have a problem with that?” Lexa held her laugh. She didn’t want to lose her dress next. “You.” Lexa and Brit glared at each other. “… better watch yourself or…”

Lexa cut in. “Or what? You tell me to pull off my dress.”

Elliot burst into laughter. Lexa always found a way to make his day. He didn’t regret his plan one bit.

“You b****h. I want you to scatter that cheaply made hair of yours. Do it now!”

Lexa stepped back. “You can tell me to walk bare-footed home. You can make me remove my beautiful gloves. You can even ask me to tear this dress off my body but listen to me. This hair was made by my mum and I won’t let you or anyone else place a finger on it.”

“I was right. Cheaply made hair! It was your sick mama that made this for you. Didn’t she?”

“Don’t you talk about my mum like that!”

Elliot watched the drama. He didn’t want to miss a second of it.

A man in a white tuxedo appeared on the scene. “Please ladies. There is a strict no fighting policy in this restaurant. If you do want to fight, it should please be fifty meters away from the restaurant, thank you.”

“There’s no need. I was just about to leave.” Lexa threw the menu at her face and stormed away. Brit turned red in anger. She phoned her driver’s number and went out the back.

Elliot smiled at Lexa. She was still outside of the restaurant. He could sense her and moreover, the walls of the restaurant were transparent.

He stood. 

“Would you like anything, sir?” the man in the white tux asked.

He raised his palm and walked out to Lexa.

Lexa was puffing angrily, outside of the restaurant. She was trying to get a taxi. 

Even though Lexa wasn’t as tidy as when she first came in, she wasn’t less beautiful. He could praise her all day if he wanted.

He gave Lexa a smile when she caught sight of him.

“This is all your fault!”

His smile grew. “You looked very beautiful and sexy tonight. You’re hot in that dress.”

She hissed. “Why did you call me here? You purposely wanted to get me embarrassed. I don’t know your problem.”

He groaned and looked towards the busy roads. “Olia is beautiful tonight.”

She watched his movement. “Tell me exactly what you want from me.”

“Sometimes, it feels like we’re speaking distinct languages.”

“Please, answer my question.”

“Wow. The sassy Lexa Halton is begging me,” he clapped.

She revolved her eyes. “I am not sassy.”

The sound of the clap dragged her into… a memory.

She heard a clap behind her. She jumped and turned to see… him.

“Did you… remember something, about me?”

“Yes… No. No! Why will you say that? You’re a weirdo.”

He moved closer to her. “Shall the date go on?”

“Firstly, this was never a date.” She folded her hands on her chest. “When you answer my question then the date shall go on.”

She didn’t realize how close he got to her when he traced his hand down her cheek. “I like you. Do you want to hear it all in detail?”

Her cheeks turned pink. 

She pushed him off her. “I’ll wait for you inside.”

Elliot laughed as she rushed into the restaurant. It was an excuse for her to get away from him. He knew he was getting her, it was just a matter of time.