Destiny's POV
I had been working at the restaurant for more than one month, and I feel so happy that my life has become peaceful and drama-free. I love my fellow workers because they treat me well and welcome me as if I belong to them.
They didn't know who I was, and I didn't tell them because I didn't think it was necessary since my father already disowned me and I no longer belonged to his household.
I couldn't deny that most of the time, I would be thinking about my first love, and I wondered when I would forget about him. And, of course, it hurt me so much to believe that I no longer have a father I can call my own.
My dad used to call me every day wherever he went, even if he was so busy with his work, and he made sure I was his first priority. I wondered what had gone wrong and why everything had changed between us, even if I already knew the answer, and it was because he remarried. I have no right to dictate to my father what to do with his life, but I wish he had chosen someone better.
"I heard you are a degree holder, Destiny, and. Suma Cum Laude. Is that true?" Pia asked during our break.
"Yes, I graduated with a BS in Economics with an MBA," I replied, and her eyes widened.
"Wow! But why are you working as a waitress?" She asked with curiosity, and since Pia was the one I was close with, I told her everything.
"Oh, no! I couldn't believe you were Alejandro's daughter. I thought Carmie was his biological daughter since I served them once; they came more than a month ago with your stepmom and heard your stepsis calling your father daddy." She declared, and my face fell, and I suddenly felt alarmed.
"Sir Alejandro is a friend of the owner of this restaurant, and your father rented the whole place that time; I didn't know what the occasion was, and I guess the hot and handsome young man was Red." She declared, and I averted her gaze, afraid she would see the flicker of pain that registered in my eyes.
"I am sorry, Destiny, I didn't know what you have been through. I have been curious about you. You are different from all of us in one glance." Pia added, and I creased my forehead as I glanced at her.
"You walked with grace and poise, and the way you behaved with proper decorum was quite intriguing. There is always this vibe around you wherever you go, telling me you are not a commoner. It seemed like you are a real princess in disguise." She added, and her description of me made me laugh.
"Ha! I could never be a princess, Pia." I answered, shaking my head.
"But I wondered why you want to stay in the kitchen washing the dishes instead of serving the customers. You are so beautiful that most of our fellow servers are jealous of your natural beauty. And the guys are crazy about you, but they can't easily talk to you since you kept a barrier between us." Pia indicated, and her words shocked me.
"A barrier?" I asked, confused.
"Yes, you always stayed late or ahead of us and never joined us."'She responded, and I was left speechless as I sat up from the bench under a big tree at the back of the restaurant.
I always sat and stayed here during our breaks because the freshness of the surroundings always helped me clear my mind from unwanted thoughts.
"This is my life now, and I am happy," I stated after a long silence as I tried to mask my real emotion.
"I wish one day you will get back everything," she said.
"What I want the most is to bring back my father's love. Truthfully, I don't care about the money, but I didn't want my stepmom and step-sister to abuse the wealth of my family." I responded without telling her it was my mother's fortune they were enjoying.
"I think let us head back; our break is almost over," I added as I looked at my watch.
"You're right!" She replied as she stood up, and we walked back to the main restaurant using the back door.
As usual, the restaurant was packed with elite customers. There were times I almost encountered guests from my father's circle of friends. I was glad Pia was always there to back me up, and I ended up washing the dishes in the kitchen.
I worked from cleaning the tables to washing the dishes, but most of the time, I opted to be in the kitchen to avoid encountering people from our society. However, it would be hard since this restaurant is one of the best in the city.
"Destiny," I heard Pia's voice behind me, and my smile faltered when I saw the worries on her face.
"What is it, Pia?" I asked, trying to calm myself.
"Someone out there at table number 8 was requesting for you; she didn't want anyone to serve them except you," she responded, fidgeting while I dried my hands with the towel. I slowly pulled out the apron over my head and faced her.
"Is it Carmie?" I asked, and she nodded her head.
"Don't worry, I can take care of her," I replied without showing any indication of fear.
"Just be careful," she mumbled, and I gave her a reassuring smile before I turned my heels and walked out of the kitchen.
"Bravo! That uniform looks good in you," Carmie said with mockery right after I came to their table, and her friends laughed at me. She was surrounded by her social climber friends.
"Are you now ready to order, Ma'am?" I asked with a menu sheet and pen in my hands, ignoring her insult.
"Wow, it felt so nice to hear that word coming from your mouth. Mom and I gave you one month to work here as a server, yet you survived. I thought you wouldn't last a day washing the dishes and carrying heavy trays." She responded, and I lowered my head.
I didn't want Carmie to see the daggers of fury in my eyes as I held the pen tighter around my fist. I knew I had to make eye contact with the customers when taking orders, but she wasn't an ordinary customer, and I was sure she came to make a scene and not to dine.
"Enjoy your remaining hours of working here, Destiny." She added as if she held my future in her hands. I didn't say a word as I raised my head and looked at her in the eyes with a big smile on my face.
I saw how her face grimaced as she stared at me, and it took a lot of willpower not to slap her face. I had been dying to do it after she faked her injury and framed me for it.
I didn't know they planned it all; I should have avoided her by running away as fast as I could after I saw her at Lucas's building.
"What do you want to order, Ma'am?" I asked again, and she snickered as she glared at me before she turned her gaze to the menu book.
Carmie's friend, who was wearing a white sleeveless blouse and khaki pants, was sitting on her right side and ordering their food. I blinked my eyes as I stared at her, and without a doubt, she was the one who covered my body with the bath towel on the day of the scandal.
She was looking at me without judgment, and I knew she was different from them, and I wondered why she was friends with Carmie.
I excused myself while Carmie was looking daggers at me.
"Are you sure you want to bring that to their table?" Pia asked, and I was stunned when she took the tray from my hand.
"Pia, you can't," I complained. She just waved her hand before walking out of the kitchen, and a moment later, she was back with the same tray in her hands.
"Carmie wanted you to serve them everything; I am sorry, I didn't know she was a psycho," Pia said, and her face was red from anger.
"I told you so. Thank you for trying your best to help me, Pia; it means a lot to me," I replied with a wink.
I hurriedly walked to table number 8, afraid the soup would get cold and Carmie would make a big deal out of it. I was careful with every step, knowing she watched my every move and was ready to strike any time.
I was near their table and ready to put the tray when she yanked it with force, making the soup serving bowl, and the soup bowls flying in the air, and she shrieked as the serving bowl landed on her lap, wetting her dress, making other customers from other tables looked in our direction.
"You, stupid waitress! How could you be so clumsy, huh!" She yelled with anger as she stood up and slapped me on my face from left to right with so much force that I could see some stars.
My rage made me slap her back in the same manner she hit my face, which she didn't see coming. Her friends gasped in surprise, and Carmie became more furious with me while I took a back step, unable to believe I lost control.
"I want to see your manager!" She demanded loudly, and I knew my career as a waitress was over in one blink of an eye.