Chapter 1
Daphne! Table 3! Five fried chickens, Four chicken burgers - no onions and Two roasted potatoes. Make it fast darling customers are losing their cools"
Tony, my colleague at the fried chicken restaurant yelled at me through the tremendous uproar in the kitchen whispering the last few words.
I'm the one losing my cool.
I sighed as I wipe the beam of sweat making its way to my cheekbone.
I hate Saturdays.
Saturdays are the days of the week I dreaded the most since getting into college.
Naturally, Saturdays are supposed to be days for resting after a long tiring stressful week, but who says I was normal?
I could count the days I rested on my fingers. After getting into college I have been stacking myself with a ton of part-time jobs. And this was one of my worst.
Lucy's Fries.
I hated Lucy's Fries like no other.
Stacked.
Noisy.
Rough.
A bunch of disrespectful customers who think letting out to us would do anything to solve their problems.
I tried my possible best to quit but I couldn't I got the highest pay from Lucy.
Life,they say is not a bed of roses. Yeah, it's a bed of thorns. My life is a bed of thorns.
After having to work 50 hours a week I still couldn't afford to get myself a new pair of shoes.
I sighed as I picked up the worn-out sneakers and tucked the sole into the toe cap as I lazily found my way out of Lucy's Fries. When Tony told me earlier that my shift was over I almost jumped for joy.
The delights whenever my shift was over is never-ending.
A gentle smile played on my lips as I remembered seeing a text earlier from Carson announcing that he would be picking me up from my workplace. The smile grew wider when a headlight flashed to my face and Carson's similar Honda Civic pulled up to me. The door jerks open and Carson's handsome face comes into view.
Carson flashes a heartwarming smile and his ocean blue eyes glimmer.
My favourite thing about him - His eyes.
One of the things that attracted me to him.
I ran over to him draping my hands around his neck to pull him into a tight hug.
I took in his familiar vibrant coconut scent.
I hadn't realised I missed him this much until this moment.
His scent, His masculine voice, His smile.
Carson had just completed his internship as a Narcotic detective and I couldn't be more proud of him.
This has been Carson's dream since he was 13. Carson had strongly believed that he would become a narcotics officer even though he failed his UPSC Civil services exam multiple times. And now seeing him completing his internship made me feel more proud. He was so ambitious and that again was another reason I had been so attracted to him.
I withdrew from his warm hug and his addictive scent was out of reach.
"Hey, you look weary let's get you home" His warm palm cupped my cheek, stroking it seductively.
I flashed him a tired smile and walked up to his honda civic, jerking down into the passenger seat, Carson shut the door behind me and in seconds was behind the steering wheel.
He turns the ignition and the car kicks off immediately to my surprise.
"Did you fix it?" I shifted to a comfortable position and I fixed my gaze on him.
"Yeah, no one would buy it for a reasonable price anyways" Carson said pulling into the busy road. Carson's Honda Civic had a starting issue and we had spent a whole year's worth of salary to repair it but all was to no avail.
Hearing it got repaired left me in huge surprise.
"So how are you putting up with your cocky boss?"
I gawked at his side profile as he fixed his pretty ocean blue eyes on the road his glossy black hair styled in a middle centre curtain.
"Is there a workplace without a cocky boss?"
Yeah, he is right. For someone that has worked for nearly 15 bosses, I can testify there isn't.
"So what about yours?" He threw a glance at me.
"Which one of them? Lucy? Noah? Nassé?
Carson started chuckling at this.
" You see? I was right" he said between chuckles his head moving back and forth.
"The one that's currently getting under my skin is Lucy. Her boyfriend cheated. She stomped into the shop looking like a demented patient right then I knew it had happened again hell is about to break loose"
Carson was already cracking up,his eyes shutting up in the process I followed suit as I recalled the scene again.
"Seriously, you should have seen the sight she looked like Krusty"
Carson laughed hardly at this hitting the steering wheel constantly.
We are currently stucked in the traffic and people are randomly stealing weird glances at us probably because Carson's laugh was seriously audible.
My favourite thing was making Carson laugh even though his laugh was louder than a hyena's, I love to hear it.
Carson had been through a lot since high school and whenever I make him laugh it feels like I had done a great job.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
There are two types of sleeping pills - one was the normal pills and the other is a history class. The latter is more effective though.
History class was my biggest chance to snooze away the stress I had gone through during my work shift.
I always deliberately walk up to class late, find a seat at the back, rest my head on the desk and forget I'm in a class.
Miss Freya would of course always jerk me up and ask me to stand before the whole class - one of the embarrassing moment I have surprisingly gotten used to.
Though I always hated that moment Miss Freya knocks me out of one of my greatest pleasure but I didn't really give a shit so far I get sleep even for just few minutes.
This time around the bell wakes me from sleep.
I yawned tiredly as students scurried past me out of the class.
I swung my bag to my left shoulder and made my way out of the class.
"Hey girlfriend!"
I heard the familiar voice call out to me from behind. I heard her jog towards me and sprawled her long pretty hands around me once she was beside me.
"I missed you girlfy" she started planting kisses to my cheek.
Ugh! Lyra and too much skinship.
"You saw me yesterday" I pulled out of her grip and finally took a glance at her.
Her hair was dyed again for the 100th time this quarter!
She really is lucky she can dye her hair with any color and not worry about looking like a four year-old birthday cake.
Someone here is talking about herself.
I know if I had half the things Lyra had, I would only have to work at Freddie's bar and earn what a professor earns every month.
It was a family gene they said, but I don't know what went wrong with me.
She had the face of a model.
A body of a model.
A charisma of a model.
A model that would pass as Premier's magazine top models.
And me? Well, I think a female Rudolph will best describe me.
There was my annoyingly thick blonde hair, my unnecessarily big eyeballs - though Lyra said it was normal but I dont trust her judgement - my too-flat body and my always tired-looking eyes.
"You look good."
I gave her an half-baked smile. I hope that didn't look defeating?
"Yeah, of course I do. I paid a thousand dollars to look good for that fucked-up backstabber and he had the nerve to bring that squawk and introduce her as his fiancée to my face???!!!"
I squashed my face and moved my heads backwards when I saw her drool fly out of her full painted lips.
"It took every angel in me not to fling a bat to the bastard's face"
She formed a tight fist and I was pretty sure she was gritting her teeth because her jaw were hardening.
Yikes, must have really hurt pretty bad.
"Thought you said he was your GUAP?"
"Yeah, he was."
"Dosen't sound like it"
"Well, I guess I might have just wanted something serious in the relationship but the douchebag ruined his chances"
I rolled my eyes as I held the door open for both of us and match down the stairs towards the car park to Lyra's car.
"And that's why I would never EVER FORGIVE HIM EVER! I really hated that bitch eyes! I almost pulled it out with my fingers."
She jumped into her car and probably waited for me to climb unto the passenger's seat before she resumed her blabbing.
Jesus! When will I get out of this??
"Really Daph. You almost used all your part time jobs pay to bail me out yesterday"
She pulled out of the school car park.
"And you almost spent half of your lifetime in prison for assault "
She chuckled at my savage reply.
And there was a moment of silence...
Not something that constantly happens whenever I'm with Lyra because she is always blabbering on and on about the latest club, her latest one night stand, her latest clothing accessories purchase, and everything so girly which I'm so not always interested in.
She shoves this topics down my throat that I began to find myself checking out the latest clothing accessories, following her to night clubs and hooking up with some really hot guys not until I met Carson.
I drew back into my wayward-free life.
Lyra clears her throat drawing my attention back to her.
"Tommorow is your 8th year anniversary anything planned for the day?"
My face brightens at the question. Lyra almost don't talk about Carson or my relationship with him.
She said she doesn''t like him and he is the too-good-to-be-true type of guy in a bad way?
Didn't really get what she was pulling at then.
"Carson is asking me out for a dinner date Lyra!"
I squealed excitedly but Lyra was unimpressed. I thought she would be excited for me... for us.
Since that was part of the many reasons she never liked Carson.
"And why does that sounds like "Carson is asking me to PROM"?"
She laughed, mimicking my tone.
"Fuck off Lyra" I scrowled at her.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
50th dress I tried on and yet nothing. I knew it was going to be a bad idea raiding Lyra's wardrobe for a dinner night but I had never imagined it would have being this worst!
Lyra's wardrobe is like a pornstar's.
You would actually think they were her underwears and not her actual dresses.
I released an exasperated sigh as I slurped back into the bed where Lyra's dresses were sprawled all over.
I glared at Lyra who was busy with her laptop, turning her back to me.
She had promised to help me fix something for the date and the way she had said it, you would think she was going to take me to a big boutique to buy every single dress but now she is ignoring me like I ain't alive.
"I gave you a suggestion already,lower your eyeballs girl"
She typed into her laptop firmly her back still turned to me.
"Seriously? You know I ain't your type of wants-to-attract-a-man-with-my-cleavage girl"
"Then go choose from your don't-want-to-attract-a-guy-with-my-cleavage wardrobe"
She was still busy with whatever it is she is busy with on her laptop.
"You know my wardrobe is only filled with work clothes and who would want his date to show up in a t-shirt and sweatpants??"
"Then just choose the yellow dress I suggested!"
I groaned in frustration sitting up to see Lyra already facing me.
"Lyra! How many times do I have to mention this? Its too sex appealing"
I yelled a little to loud pointing at the direction of the dress.
"So? Isn't that what the dinner date is for? To finally get his dick inside of you?"
She asked like its no big deal. Of course it can never be a big deal to her considering her one night stands are the number of times Lucy scolded me.
"No! Carson doesn't want to now. He isn't ready and so I am!" I scooted closer to her. "Wearing this dress would make him think I broke the promise I made to him not to have sex till our wedding night"
Lyra shaped her face in disgust.
"That sounds like not having water till I get married"
She stared at me for a while before she got up and walked up to her wardrobe putting her clothes in one by one.
"Fine. I would help. I have a friend who owns a boutique, we can go pick one or two dress suitable for you. Okay?"
I jumped out of the bed and threw myself at her.
"Thanks so much cousin! I love you"
I kissed her cheek, disappeared into the bathroom and began to undress.
"Don't touch my shampoo bitch!" Lyra shouted from the bedroom.
"Too late!" I shouted back as I squeezed a large quantity of the shampoo into my palm.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The cold, frosty night breeze brushed against my bare mid-thigh as I made my way to the four-star restaurant Carson texted to me earlier.
When I googled the restaurant earlier my eyes had almost fall out of its socket.
I almost didn't believe Carson could afford a four-star restaurant but then he is a narcotics detective so there were possibilities.
A proud smile formed across the corner of my lips as I sited the restaurant.
I quickened my pace and walked into the restaurant.
The restaurant was bigger than I saw in those pictures.
The restaurant was placed atop to catch the beautiful glimpse of the Quebec city light.
It was dark and only the wall lamp was on which made it look romantic.
The restaurant was empty and I saw Carson sitted at the far end of the restaurant.
Wait, Carson reserved the whole restaurant? No way.
Tears threatened to fill my eyes but I pushed it back as quickly as it came.
The moment he saw me approaching him, he stood up adjusting his red shawl label velvet suit.
His middle center curtain hair now slicked back. His sight was so breathtaking, my heart was at a fast pace when he flashed me a welcoming smile.
This now looked like a proposal was about to be manifested. My heartbeat went into a fast speed as the thought flashed my mind.
PROPOSAL???!!
Yeah, this might actually be a proposal!
It made a whole sense! The whole atmosphere was right for a proposal to happen!
When I walked up to him Carson was already pulling out the chair for me in which I sat shooting him a full-hearted smile. Carson eyed me as he sat on the chair opposite me. I melted under his intense stare.
"You look so good, Daphne."
"Thanks" I muttered and mentally gave myself a pat.
This purple dress was my pick though Lyra strongly disagreed that it was too bland.
Whatever. Carson says I look good how does an opinion from an antifan of our relationship matters?
"You prepared all of this? For me?"
The waiter walked up to us and settled the menu before us.
"Yeah, I wanted to make up for all the years I have being such a boring patner"
He smiled but I couldn't place the meaning behind the smile. Was it a sad one?
Boring? Who told him that? Oh right, Lyra.
"Thank you Carson. This means so much lot to me."
I looked around again. This most have cost him a lot. I suddenly felt sorry for making him spend a lot just to prove he wasn't a boring boyfriend. I was so touched.
"What do you want? There is chinese food too there." He stared into his menu. "And please don't consider the price. I know that's what you're looking at right now. If I wanted us to go for something cheap I wouldn't have brought you here."
Jesus, how could he read my mind? I was looking for something cheap on the menu already.
But seriously, the meals are very expensive. The lowest price for a meal was $500 which is just a plate of salad. Great!
"Anything you pick"
I put the menu away.
Carson signaled to the waiter and when he appeared Carson ordered cassoulet, flamiche and Bordeaux for both of us
Wait, Bordeaux??? That wine cost a fortune! OMG! This might actually be a proposal. Carson hasn't spent this much on himself not to talk of on me.
OMG!! Lyra is going to hear a BAD news today! Carson is going to propose!
The waiter appeared again and settled our order between us, pouring the Bordeaux wine into each of our glasses this whole time Carson was staring at me with his billion dollar smile being flashed to me.
The hair on my neck stood at the thought of Carson bringing out a box of ring and asking me to be his wife.
"Do you like it?"
He threw me out of my imagination as he took a bite from his cassoulet.
"Yeah, taste good. Thank you once again Carson."
And finally! Finally! Carson gently placed his fork on his plate and gave me that 'about-to-propose look.
"Uhm, Daphne I have something very important to say"
The moment is here!
The moment I had imagined one billion times In my 8 years relationship with Carson.
The moment I see in movies!
The moment he pulls out a ring and kneels down before me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
"Yeah?" I took a bite from my cassoulet not wanting to make it obvious to Carson that I had already known what would come next.
Though the cassoulet refused to go down so I used the wine to push it down.
He clears his throat. OMG! Breathe Daphne ! Breathe.
"But before I do know this Daphne - I trust you so much Daphne. I trust you so much to entrust you with something my life so depends on"
I creaked my forehead. What is he saying?
He adjusted in his seat.
"Daphne, I was nominated for promotion in my work place but I have to solve a case first before I can acquire that promotion"
Huh? Okay, now this doesn''t sound like a proposal.
"There is this drug lord the police have being trying to catch but it hasn't been quite easy for them due to lack of evidence. They want me to do it, Daphne. They said if I'm able to catch this guy, I would get promoted."
He sipped his wine as if he is making sense but to me he isn't.
"The chief made this offer himself and you know what that means, right?"
No, I don't. I don't understand shit from the things you have been spewing.
"Daphne, this guy is very vigilant and that's why the police hasn't being able to get him." He scooted closer.
"Okay, so?" I finally spoke throwing him a confused look.
"That's where you'd be needed"
"What?"
"Listen, you just have to seduce him, make him fall for you and get as many as possible evidence."
WHAT?!!
Am I hearing right??
Seduce a Druglord?
Make a Druglord fall for me?
A fucking Druglord??