Another blissful day to work.
Rhea thought as she walked into the restaurant. She had an afternoon shift at her work place today.
Just as she entered, she almost knocked into Derek who was just about to come out of the restaurant.
"I know you hate your boss so much but killing him is not necessary" Derek joked as he saw that it was Rhea who bumped into him and not just anyone.
"Killing him will not be of any use after all, he still pay me" Rhea played along.
"Ah, you are really too evil" Derek gasped.
"..." Rhea was speechless.
"There are plenty of customers today, you should go ahead already so you won't blame me for making you late" Derek said.
"You are already making me late...." Rhea mumbled.
"Did you saying something" Derek said giving her a questioning look.
"No, nothing at all... I will go ahead first" Rhea answered and hurried into the restaurant. Derek looked at her departing figure and shook his head before heading out.
Rhea walked into the dressing room and changed into her work dress. As soon as she got out of the room, another waitress approached her quickly.
"Rhea, please I need you to do something for me" The waitress said.
"What can I help you with Anna" Rhea asked.
"It's my little boy, I just got a call that he was rushed to the hospital, his sickness suddenly came up again. I need to be there" The waitress said with urgency in her voice.
"Ah..."
"Could you please cover up for me?" She pleaded tugging at Rhea's sleeve.
"Don't worry, go to your son, I will definitely help you with your shift and explain things to Derek. He will definitely understand" Rhea said calmly.
"Thank you, thank you so much... I really don't know how I am going to make this up to you" Anna said. Her eyes was clear with utmost sincerity. She had met with some other waitress who politely decline her. She felt she owe Rhea a great favour.
"Just go already, your son is waiting" Rhea urged her.
Anna turned and walked away from Rhea, she paused and looked back gratefully at Rhea who nodded in acknowledgement.
Just then, outside the restaurant, an obviously expensive car stopped and a man stepped out of the car. Although his cold gaze could freeze hell over, bystanders could not help but fawn at his beauty.
with long strides, he gingerly entered the restaurant. At his arrival, his imposing aura made many pause whatever they were doing till he walked past them to his already reserved private room. He only came for lunch.
Some meters away from the restaurant stood a lady who wore sunglasses. As soon as she clearly saw the face of the man who walked into the restaurant causing an emotional uproar, she smirked.
She pulled her phone from her purse and dialed a number. After the second ring, the call connected with the other person.
"You wouldn't believe who I saw...."
Back in the restaurant, Rhea walked into the newly occupied reserved room to take orders.
"May I take your orders please? Rhea said politely without raising her head at first.
'That voice...' the man thought and raised his head. Rhea who was wondering why the customer was silent also raised her head at the same time and their eyes met.
Rhea?
Er–Eris?
Surprised flashed through Eris eyes but it quickly left as it came. He had only just picked a random restaurant to have lunch and it had to be where she was.
"You–you, why are you here?" Rhea blurted out before she knew it.
"Lunch" Eris answered with a frown.
"Sorry" Rhea quickly apologized when she noticed his frown. She may not have an idea of who he is but he still doesn't look ordinary to her so she chose to be cautious.
Eris only frowned more. He just suddenly not like that she was being so cautious. Why do I care anyways? He wondered.
"Pasta with mushroom sauce, extra servings of vegetable salad and the best wine in the restaurant" He ordered. Rhea bowed and left. He watched her back thoughtfully.
Rhea returned to the room and served the table carefully. She turned to leave as soon as she was through.
"Stay" The cold man uttered.
"Ex–excuse me.." Rhea stuttered. She thought she did not get what he said clearly.
"Stay" he repeated. "I do not like to have my lunch alone" He spoke the half truth.
The main reason why he was asking her to stay was to learn some things about her. He did not feel her presence overbearing like every other person he had met before.
"Ah.." Rhea sighed. She could not possibly sit with a customer at work, it was definitely against the ethics of their work. She was about to rejected when Eris opened his mouth again.
"You will not get into any trouble. I will personally inform Derek" He assured.
Rhea did not know if to believe him was right but seeing eyes clear and true, she carefully sat in front of him.
She watched him as he ate with much orderliness. She almost envied him. She did not know she was watching him so intently until he raised his head and their gaze met.
Rhea cleared her throat anxiously and her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. Eris raised a confused brow.
"Sorry, sorry ... I didn't mean to watch you like that" She quickly apologized.
"Vegetable salad, for you" Eris said, ignoring her apologies he returned to eating.
'What' Rhea thought.
"That is what girls eat after all" He stated as a matter of fact.
"Not all girls are like Amelia" Rhea mumbled underneath her breathe. Eris looked at her with a raised brow and she quickly looked away.
Ignoring whatever she had said, he added, "Amelia eats that".
Rhea frowned. Was he comparing her to Amelia? Her frown deepened, she didn't like the idea.
"If you didn't like to eat alone, you could have brought her with you to feed her on these irritable grass!" Rhea snapped. She did not mean to be ride but she just cannot take the comparison. But unknown to her, Eris was not comparing.
Eris after hearing what she said glared at her that she shivered. She subconsciously rubbed her exposed arms and dropped her gaze. Eris notice he was making her to feel discomfort, he immediately stopped.
"I—" She started but stopped when the closed door pushed open.
"ERIS!"
A high pitched ear piercing voice rang across the room following it was the loud closing of the door with a thud. Rhea jumped in shock.
At the same time, Eris and Rhea turned their gaze towards the intruder. She strode to the table angrily.
The devil's betrothed, dressed in a blood red gown, she approached them. Her heels made clicking sound at her every move. Her waist sway left and right provocatively. She was here to kill!.
Amelia had dropped everything she was doing the moment she was told that Eris came to this restaurant. She dressed extra with the hope that he would look at her once again.
But alas, she met an infuriating scene when she walked in his signature room. That despicable person sat with him and she did not miss the look on Eris face. It was not the usual cold and aloof look he always give her.
'That wench!' She cursed.
Eris had ignore her for weeks making her worried to death but he was here with some waitress.
"Eris, why? Why are you here and ... and with—"
"Is there a problem?" Eris cut her off.
"There is a problem!" Amelia yelled. "You have been ignoring for weeks but here you are... how could you!" She pointed angrily.
Rhea really wished the ground could open up and swallow her. How could she agree to sit with Eris knowing Amelia and tantrums.
"Do you have any right to dictate my life?" Eris questioned giving Amelia a very hard look. She shook in her shoes but still summoned courage to look back at him.
"We are in a relationship" She lowered her voice.
Eris raised a confused brow. 'What is a relationship?' He thought.
"I only remember paying for your time like everyone else does" Eris explained in a not too subtle way.
Rhea looked at Eris and then at Amelia whose jaw dropped. She was tinted red in embarrassment.
"Er–Eris, why would you say that!" She snapped after she finally found her lost voice.
"Because it's true" He deadpanned.
"Are you being brainwashed by anyone ... Eris, do not misunderstand me!" She pleaded. She couldn't bear to lose him, not yet.
"Tuesday 12th, 6:30pm. Where were you?" Eris questioned.
"I was... errrr" She paused and gasped. 'He can't possibly know that right' she thought.
"You were at the club. With another man who was willing paying for your time" Eris voiced nonchalantly.
'I shouldn't be here' Rhea thought.
"You–how did you know!" Amelia said with a forced voice.
"Nevermind, I am done with your company too".
Eris stood up Immediately after dropping the bombshell on Amelia who stood frozen in shock. He walked towards the door. He held the door knob and turned back.
"I'm sorry" He uttered. His eyes met with Rhea and he held her gaze for a moment before walking away leaving Rhea dumbfounded.
Amelia who just got over what Eris said to her immediately dashed out of the room with the hope to catch up with Eris to explain things to him but he was long gone. Feeling depressed, she entered her car and drove off.