All Chapters of Sponsored Love: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

It was closing time at Pepe's café; a quaint and humble space large enough to comfortably accommodate twenty-five seated customers and five more at the waitress' bar. Leather booths lined the front wall, and the large glass windows were decorated with orange, red, yellow and brown maple leaf stickers. The neon open sign which faced the street soon switched to Closing Soon. The usual strong scent of freshly grounded coffee beans had faded in the atmosphere, and blended perfectly with the soft aroma of the last baked sweets left in the store that day; vanilla with a hint of dark roast.A couple who had shared blueberry muffins and hot cocoa in the far booth near the bathroom stood and made their exit while waiving at the waitress who stood behind the bar and wiped the counter for the umpteenth time since the start of her shift. The waitress, Stephie, a caramel-skinned girl with wild brown and blond curls and coils currently pulled back and tied at the base of her skull, wore a simple bl

Carter watched the air intensify between his son and the fuming waitress. This wasn't going the way he had imagined. "Jacob enough. Let her go." Carter warned after hearing his son's senseless words.Stephie said nothing. Her eyes ran red and wet with unshed tears, but she bit down on her jaw, and swallowed a bout of liquid salt. She wouldn't cry. There was enough in this world to make her cry. Like the fact that she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a decent meal, or the feeling of purchasing new clothes. However, a jerk like Jacob couldn't make her cry.Jacob did a once-over on Stephie's angry face, then with a scoff, he let her go."Stephanie wait." Carter called after her before she rushed out of the office, urging the girl to halt once again."I know a girl of your manners, no matter the situation, knows to listen to her elders." Carter continued, "it is obvious that we started on the wrong foot. Please, allow me to treat you to a meal. Allow me to explain myself and my

The next day, Stephie exited her home only to find yet another piece of paper on her porch. This time, when Stephie tried to ignore it, she found that the words on the leaflet had changed from old scribbles she was used to, to a new message.Think you can get away? Was what was written on the page. The words struck a fearful beat in her chest, and a sharp exhale pushed its way out of her lips.Blinking and gulping in a panic, Stephie quickly balled the paper and scanned her surrounding areas. The neighborhood was quiet for a weekday afternoon, and yet Stephie couldn't help the feeling that she was being watched. The mailman was once again making his rounds and minding his business, and at first glance nothing seemed out of place, and yet Stephie couldn't shake the churning of warning in her abdomen, nor could she calm the erect hairs on her neck. Hurrying down the steps of her home, Stephie walked a little quicker to the bus stop than she usually would.On the bus, Stephie noticed a co

Narrator-The sound of her first name rolling off Jacob's tongue so casually sent Stephie's apprehension beyond the clouds, and before she knew it, she stomped past Jacob and aimed to take a seat. But Jacob wouldn't accept the disrespect. Grabbing her arm, Jacob stopped Stephie in her tracks. "Get your hands off me." Stephie was instantly on the defense, as she attempted to move her arm out of the man's grip. "You bumped into me," Jacob pointed, then in one swift pull, he drew Stephie closer to him, his face hanging above hers as his nose flared in a menacing manner, "apologize." "And if I don't?" Stephie dared to ask.She couldn't help that her wit was so easily triggered. "You should think twice about having an attitude with me, after all, I'm the only one standing between you and homelessness in this moment." Jacob reminded her.And again, the same reaction. Stephie's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes widened slightly in panic. There was something about being in the streets w

Stephie stood in front of Jacob's door, breathing mutely while her eyes subtly studied the intricate natural lines found on the white coated wood. She had been standing at his door for quite some time now, stuck in a mental debate on whether she should even knock or return to her room.After Jacob had left her alone, Stephie returned to her room, and yet she found she couldn't lay or even dare to sit on the bed, feeling dirty and covered in sugar and crumbs and smelling like coffee. Unsure whether John would return later with her personal belongings or not, Stephie found herself in a conundrum. And of course, who else could help her in this situation if not the master of the house himself?So here she was, at his door, and yet not having the courage to knock.Sighing and deciding she'd rather sleep on the closet floor with towels for her bedding, Stephie turned to leave, just as the door swung open, and there she met Jacob, who now wore a short-sleeve shirt and gym shorts. A small han