My oh my, look who we have here," he said coyly, his brown eyes darker than usual, he sized me up, his eyes lingering a little bit too long on my chest. I almost slapped my head in annoyance as I recalled that in my hurry, I didn't close my first two buttons, I shivered in disgust as he eyed me over like a piece of meat.
I hurriedly buttoned my shirt as he turned to Madison and said gruffly "Don't you have somewhere to be, or do you think this restaurant pays lazy workers"
"I'm very sorry sir", she replied her voice not sounding anything like apologetic, making him aware that she wasn't sorry at all.
"Leave and meet me in my office later", he sneered clearly annoyed at her dauntless attitude.
As Madison walked away she threw me an apologetic look yet again over her shoulder.
I sighed dejectedly, her apology couldn't do much.
Mr. Dominic strolled towards me, not missing how his eyes glinted with mischief with a perverted look on his face. I would slap this bitch if he lays his hand on me.
When he was close enough to block my personal space, he took a lock of my hair, twirling it around his finger, I took in a deep breath to conceal my irritation.
"Brianna, I do hope you know that you are in big shit and even Rita, your Messiah, can't save you out of this one, Unless of course..." he looked down hungrily at my chest, his fingers almost grazed my hips as he walked around me.
I stiffened as I looked into the dark eyes of the monster. The things girls go through in the hands of some men.
This isn't the first time, but it is definitely going to be the last.
I just don't get why, Mr. Dominic doesn't understand that a no is a no, he constantly tries to sexually harass me, saying he would increase my salary, improve my living status, even when he knew I had a boyfriend.
One time he mistakenly slapped my ass, and in return, I also-- not so mistakenly poured just out of the kettle boiling tea on him, which resulted in a first-degree burn on his arm.
I thought he had learnt his lesson, apparently, clearly not.
"Sir I have a really good explanation for this, it wasn't my intention to be late," I said rapidly and bit my lip in anxiety when his frown deepened.
His frown turned into a creepy smile, "Of course, you always have an explanation for being late"
"I-"
"Oh-oh, lemme guess," he said with faux happiness as he lifted his hand in the air flailing it. "You woke up late? Have you had a serious headache? there was a lot of traffic?"
He brought his face closer to mine with every word he said, throwing droplets of his spits on my face, I cringed and leaned back the more he came closer, my nose scrunched in disgust. Someone forgot what a brush and toothpaste are.
; He took notice of how my nose was scrunched up because of his bad breath, he clenched his jaw presumably in anger, and immediately threw his monstrous hand around my waist drawing me closer to him in the process.
My eyes widened, I brought my hand up to smack the hell out of him but the sound of a beautiful voiced stopped me.
"What's going on?" Miss Rita's soothing voice sounded from far behind us.
Mr. Dominic thankfully released his tight hold on me immediately he heard her voice, he cleared his throat and scratched his almost bald head, "Nothing" he said with clenched jaws probably annoyed Miss Rita interrupted him.
Rita slowly approached us raising a speculative brow at both Mr. Dominic and me, "What's going on here?" she curiously asked again.
Mr Dominic cleared his throat turning to meet Rita "no-nothing" he stuttered trying to avoid her burning gaze.
"Was just scolding her for being so late to work again" he quickly added wiping his sweaty palms on his faded jeans, I didn't miss the fact that he was nervous.
; Mr. Dominic was peculiarly scared of the middle-aged woman for some unknown reasons, he always did whatever she asked him to do, she was perhaps the only woman whom he had respect for. Rumors had it that, Rita had connections with his parents, in that way she could report to them if he did anything foolish.
; I smirked at how uneasy he looked in front of Rita, cat-like grey eyes slowly sized him up, she rolled her eyes at how weird he was acting "Don't worry about it, I would take care of the situation, you can go back to your office" she sternly stated and gestured to his office door, Mr. Dominic nodded meekly and started for the door leading towards his office.
He pulled the wooden door open not before looking back at me over his shoulders with a wide evil smirk on his lips, I lowered my eyes as the door slammed shut indicating he had entered.
Rita pushed a stray lock of her short blond hair behind her ears and sighed deeply, her tired grey eyes met mine as she gestured for me to follow her to her office which was right beside Mr. Dominic's.
Rita always made me work a few extra hours after my shift ended as punishment for coming late to work, I never complained because it was way better than being jobless. I quickly followed her, the clicking of her heels interrupting the silence.
I followed after her into her small office as she pulled the door open, it screamed cozy with its white walls somehow lightening up the place, she had a small mahogany desk with two leather high chairs perched at the center of the room, she had a walnut bookcase lining half the left-hand wall and not to forget the small leather sofa with a fur rug over the back and a cozy blanket draped on the arm situated right in front of a flat-screen TV on the wall. I always wonder whether she sleeps in here because it could pass off as a living room.
; She walked over to her desk and switched off the radio which had been playing soft music and settled comfortably in her seat "You can sit down Miss Taylor, I don't bite" she said intertwining her fingers on the desk.
If you were to judge Rita without knowing her you could say she was a rude and hot-tempered person but she was actually the opposite of that when you get to know her.
I quickly walked to the seat opposite hers and sat down, not before knocking one of my knees against the hardwood, I almost whimpered due to the sharp pain that shot through my knee, I caught Rita's eye and smiled tightly, trying to conceal the pain. I mentally rolled my eyes at how clumsy I could be.
Rita somehow took notice of my predicament as her infectious light chuckle filled the room, I clamped my mouth with my palm as I tried to stifle my laughter.
She cleared her throat "So what happened this time?" she gently asked, a soft smile still playing on her lips.
I let out a long breath and began "I went to the club on Saturday, had a concussion and surprisedly slept past the whole of Sunday I swear I thought I set my alarm at 7 am" I ranted, playing with my fingers in nervousness. I know I shouldn't have spilled all that but I needed her sympathy.
She shook her head and sighed "Look Brianna, this needs to be the last time you come late to work, I can't keep covering up for you, even though I like you very much as a person I can't keep doing this because it wouldn't be fair to the others.
"I promise this is going to be the last time" I said in a panicked voice. I could not lose the job, it was my source of living.
"OK then, as much as I hate to say it Bri remember this is your last chance, I wouldn't tolerate this anymore if it happens again and I hope you know the consequence if it does happen again," she said sternly her pale face hard in seriousness.
My eyes widened a fraction and a shiver wormed its way down my spine as her words slowly sunk in, I gulped and nodded meekly with a weak smile etched on my face "I promise this would be the last time Rita" I said, my voice sounding hoarse.
"OK go and begin your shift now, and remember you are working till 12 today as your punishment"
I nodded, "Thanks Rita, I promise this won't happen again", i said and gave her a genuine smile. Rita had always been of great help to me since I started working here, she had sort of been my saving grace whenever I fell into Mr. Dominic's trap, I couldn't thank her enough. I understood the blonde woman was doing her job and I was grateful even though she had given me one more chance, I guess she couldn't stand my tardiness any longer.
She waved it off " Don't worry about it"
I rose from my seat and started for the door, but I froze in my steps when Rita's voice resonated in the room "I hope you don't mess up next time"
______
It was past midnight and my shift was finally over, I trudged into the locker room and changed out of my work outfit quickly, I had been dreaming about my soft queen-sized bed throughout my shift which resulted in me checking the clock every second to see if time was finally up. Liam had decided to help me with my extra hour shift which I was grateful for since Madison had left an hour ago. I took out my comb and run it through my curly tangled hair, seeing as my tangled her broke the comb, I groaned finally giving up and tossing it into the trash can, I put my hair in a bun and shut my locker.
"Are you ready"
I jumped back, almost hitting my poor head on the locker as Liam poked his head through the door, I placed my hand on my chest trying to calm my erratically beating heart.
I threw him a glare "You almost gave me a heart attack" I said in an unstable voice still trying to calm myself down. Can't people just learn to be polite?
"Opps, sorry, it wasn't intentional" the small smirk that was taking over his lips told me otherwise.
I scoffed and walked to pick up my bag which I threw across the room in a panic.
I turned and was immediately faced with an awfully close Liam's chest, his leathery scent filled the space between us and I had the urge to deeply breathe him in, I shook the urge away, shifted back awkwardly, and cleared my throat. I looked up at him and saw the smirk playing on his thin lips, he shoved his arm towards me his lips twisting into a huge smile "Can we?"
I felt the heat slowly find its way up my neck to my cheeks when I realized he wanted me to take his arm, I rolled my eyes at his tendencies to be a dork at times (one of the things I liked about him) and slipped my arm into his, my scarlet cheeks now apparent.
"Someone's on fire," Liam said, a knowing chuckle escaping his lips as we walked out of the locker room.
My cheeks heated up more as I lightly punched his arm which I had my own in "It isn't my fault you can be a dork sometimes"
"Hey, we both know very well that I am not anything close to a dork" he protested his face etched into a playful frown.
"Yes you are," I said in a singsong voice trying to put across the fact that he wasn't going to change my mind.
He pursed his lips when he realised I wasn't going to give in to him.
The smile slipped off my face as fast as lightning when I heard the familiar groggy voice of no other than Mr. Dominic.
"Brianna, you forgot to empty the trash"
Liam and I were almost near the door to the exit, I removed my arm from Liam's, and stiffly turned towards the demon. I let out a throaty sound and sighed, his eyes were sparkling with mischief with the trace of a small smirk on his chapped lips. I instantly had the urge to throw up all over him.
I just wanted to get this day over with, besides my bed was calling out to me.
I turned to Liam who had a serious expression on his face simultaneously tapping his phone screen. I wanted to tell him to go on without me but I didn't bother since what he was serious about seemed important.
I averted my gaze towards where Mr. Dominic was and realized he was already gone. I trudged towards where the bin was, groggily picked it up, and headed towards the back where the dumpster was.
I frowned deeply as I emptied the trash, my nose scrunched in disgust as the stench took over the air I was breathing in. Mr. Dominic is no doubt my demon sent whole-heatedly from satan, I wish he would get hit by a bus or go into a coma for a year, at least by then I would be out of this shit hole disguised as a restaurant, I mean I am not that impish but who the hell wouldn't wish such things for someone who's been harassing them for so long.
Finally done, I picked up my bag from the floor and slipped it over my shoulders at the same time rummaging through for my hand sanitizer, before I could get the damn thing out, the back door was suddenly pushed open.
I froze and rose my head slowly, I practically peed in my pant as almost dark eyes stared at me mischievously and smugly. Can't I have a freaking normal life?.