Chapter 1

Benedicta's POV

" Hey, Alex-"

" No! Lexi" she exclaimed cutting me off and making me chuckle.

" Okay, Lexi, you know that I can't keep living here without contributing to anything even though you say it's okay but it's not with me." I have been trying for the past 4 months to convince her to let me bring something to the table but she never lets me. 6 months ago I was stranded in the streets of New York with nowhere to go. It was a coincidence but I zombie walked in front of her car because of exhaustion and dehydration and she knocked me over. After that, I woke up in her lavish apartment feeling completely out of place. Long story short, she bombarded me with so many questions about myself so I had to spill the beans about my perpetual miserable existence.

I'm an orphan and I turned 18 so the system had to kick me out. It's not like I was sad about it because was more than happy to go out even though it was out to the streets. It was hell, to begin with, so don't mind even if I had to sleep under the bridge. Thanks to Alexis Williams I did not get to live those days out in the cold without a home and not eating from a roadside dumpster. She is too kind to let me stay with her but takes advantage of it even though she doesn't seem to mind.

" I know I'm always saying this but I need to get a job-"

" This again! I thought we got through this. There is no need for you to go to work because we have everything we need and you don't have to worry about it." She cut me off again like she always does when she disagrees with me and we have done a lot of disagreeing so imagine that.

" No Lexi, I get that you have money and all but I can't just sit here and do nothing. I won't try to repay you if that's what you want but I'm going to work just to get ahead in life and do something other than stuff my face with junk"

Alexis has been overprotective of me but it was kind of overbearing but sweet and thoughtful. I guess it comes with age. She is 25 while I'm just 18. Ever since we met and I told my life's story she was there for me until it eventually felt like she was my older sister. I see her as one and I respect her a lot but she is going to have to take it down a notch.

She paused her lips for a moment and sighed, I hope she gives in. " I know Bene, but I feel bad that you want to work. I mean you are so young and you should be going off to college, making friends, and going to fret parties but you couldn't have that."

" I understand all that but just let me do this, " I took her hand in mine, " it's what I want and I promise I don't mind working" I smiled giving her reassurance and she smiled back.

I did not want to go to college. In high school, it was bad enough with people looking down on me and mocking me for being an orphan so I did not have the best time of my life as I should have. I missed all the events that mark high school experience because I did not want to stand out, in a bad way or to be made fun of and pushed around. I avoided it for as long as I could so my track record is not great either.

So now I wanted to skip all the fun parts and dive headfirst into the real world. It doesn't matter what job honestly anything would do, I'm not much of a dreamer. As a child, I always dreamt of getting a good family that would take me out of the orphanage so I could grow up with parents like other kids but that didn't happen. So dreaming to me was like having expectations and with that, you had to be prepared to get disappointed if you weren't lucky enough. Whatever I could get I will take and not expect anything more, that's how it is, appreciate what you get.

" Alright then, since we are on a job topic have a place to recommend"

" Sure, bring it in" I replied with interest. I'm glad she understands now and we won't have to fight about it.

" It's a hotel that opened 3 months ago, Twilight Hotel and I think they might be short of staff so it's a great place to start"

" Really! But shouldn't I begin somewhere a little less big? I don't have experience of anything so I don't think I'll have a chance to work in a hotel. Let me just begin at diners" Lexi smiled softly at me and placed her hand on mine. " Trust me, Bene, just go and try it out and see where it leads. You'll have nothing to lose in the end but I'm sure you'll get the job." She sounded so sure hell she looked sure about it.

I was nervous about it. I mean going to look for a job at the hotel felt was going to take a giant leap and I had the worst of luck until Alexis. But she's right, if it doesn't work out, which I have a feeling it won't I'll try somewhere else.

" Okay then, I will do it" I agreed

" Good! So now that it's settled I'm craving mac and cheese, do you want some? " I nodded my head eagerly because she makes absolutely the best mac and cheese even though she's is not that great of a cook. She got up and went to the kitchen while I went to my room to freshen up. My room was beautiful and it was the first time I had one and privacy in my life. In the orphanage, we used to share a room and it was damn uncomfortable no matter how much time I had to get used to it.

Lexi helped me decorate it however I wanted it to be. I had a feeling she was not going to let me leave anytime soon but I was not complaining. I had her now and I didn't want to feel lonely anymore she made me feel like family. After years of being all alone, I have her as a part of my life. I hope we stay together until one of us gets married.

I took a long hot shower. My mind wandered to the orphanage days. Hot water was such a rare commodity, you had to consider yourself lucky if you got it to bathe. That place was not a home but a child purgatory but that's that. Now I'm in a safe place where I can appreciate the little things of life, like hot water, a bed with clean fresh sheets, a Jasmine scent perfume, a piping hot cup of coffee, and buttermilk pancakes.

After the shower, I wore my butterfly print pajamas and joined Lexi in the kitchen. I took in the smell of the food laid out on the counter along with an orange juice. Simple and light, just the way I like it. I took a seat on the stool opposite, Lexi. " Smell delicious"

" Well dig in B!" she beat me to it by taking in a mouthful. I followed suit and I moaned as the creamy cheese hit my taste buds. It's really good and a weird thought crossed my mind. She could pass off as a Mac and cheese chef, no maybe not a chef like that but she could specialize in just Mac and cheese.

" Earth to Bene!" she snapped her fingers in front of my face pulling me out of my thoughts. " What are you thinking about? The food won't itself."

" Uh yeah... I just zoned out there" I chuckled continuing to relish in the food. After eating I cleared the counter and we helped each other wash the dishes. We took some snacks and soda to the living room and plopped down on the couch to watch some movies. That was our nightly ritual, we would never go to bed without eating junk and binge-watching series and movies on N*****x.

....................................................................

Author's note.

Dear readers, I have just joined this platform and I hope I can deliver something good to immerse yourselves in. I'm no expert, I'm still trying to gain the reins of the story-writing field.

I would love to hear your thoughts and I can take any constructive criticism that you have.

I will be making a playlist for some of the chapters suitable. I implore you to listen to the songs, you won't regret it.