That evening, after a long day on campus, Aurélia headed to her part-time job at a simple yet elegant restaurant. As a waitress, she donned a crisp apron and a neat cap, transforming into a poised and efficient server. Despite her natural beauty, Aurélia's humble background and her family's modest means had instilled in her a strong work ethic.
As she expertly navigated the restaurant floor, Aurélia attended to the needs of her customers with a warm smile. But then, her manager's voice caught her attention. "Aurélia, dear, you're assigned to serve the gentleman in the black leather jacket, sitting by the window near the door."
Aurélia's manager praised her,"You're an exceptional waitress, Aurélia—young, kind, efficient and beautiful. I'm not sure I can work with anyone else." Aurélia smiled, feeling a sense of pride, and carefully lifted the tray of food.
As she scanned the restaurant for the gentleman she was supposed to serve, her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my God," she whispered to herself. It was Isaiah, the guy she had clashed with earlier. What was he doing here, in this modest restaurant?
Aurélia approached Isaiah's table, her heart racing. "Sir, here's your order," she said, trying to sound neutral. Isaiah grunted, not bothering to look up from his phone.
As Aurélia turned to leave, Isaiah's voice stopped her. "Wait, waitress!" He strode towards her, his eyes narrowing as he turned her around. Recognition dawned on his face, followed by shock.
Isaiah's grip on her arm tightened. "What are you doing working here?" he demanded, his voice low and intense. Aurélia tried to shake off his hold. "It's none of your concern."
Isaiah's smile was enigmatic. "Oh, but it is. You're a student at Oakwood University, aren't you? I wouldn't have pegged you as someone who needs to work nights."
Aurélia's eyes flashed with defiance. "I earn my own living, unlike some people who are handed everything on a sliver platter." The tension between them was palpable, with Isaiah's gaze burning into Aurélia's very soul.
Isaiah's anger simmered just below the surface as he took a step closer to Aurélia, his eyes blazing with intensity. Aurélia, still clutching the empty tray, retreated backward, her eyes locked on Isaiah's. She found herself pinned against the wall, Isaiah's face inches hers.
"Don't try to mess with me," Isaiah growled, his voice dripping with menace. "You don't talk back when I'm speaking."
Aurélia stood her ground, meeting Isaiah's glare with a confident gaze. "Are you trying to threaten me?" she asked, her voice steady. "Let me make one thing clear: I don't fear you."
With a fierce glint in her eye, Aurélia turned to walk away, but Isaiah's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Aurélia!" he shouted.
She turned back to face him, her expression unwavering. Isaiah's eyes narrowed. "You're too confident, but don't think for a second that I'll go easy on you."
Aurélia returned to the restaurant, her composure regained. Meanwhile, Isaiah settled his bill with the cashier, leaving the food Aurélia had served him untouched.
As he departed, Aurélia watched him go, her expression unreadable.
Alaina, a coworker, approached Aurélia. "Hey, what happened? You looked like you were in a standoff with that guy."
Aurélia brushed it off. "It was nothing."
Alaina's curiosity wasn't satisfied. "I know who he is– Isaiah Blackwood. His family is a super wealthy and influential."
Aurélia's voice remained calm, but her words betrayed a hint of disdain. "I don't care about their wealth. I just can't stand him."
Alaina offered words of comfort. "You're always such a happy girl, Aurélia. Just let it pass."
Isaiah, now seated in his car, couldn't shake off the memory of Aurélia's defiance. No one had ever spoken back to him like that, except for his father. Her boldness left him intrigued, and he found himself wondering what had driven her to stand up to him.
Aurélia's manager called her, his expression concerned. "Aurélia, I wanted to talk to you about your behavior earlier today,"
he said gently. "You seem troubled, and that's not like you."
Aurélia sat down, her eyes questioning. "Is everything okay, Sir?"
"I consider you like my daughter, Aurélia," her manager replied. "You've had a tough day, I can tell. What's bothering you?"
Aurélia hesitated before speaking. "It's just that customer earlier... he's a guy from campus. He thinks he's superior because I his family's wealth. He always looks down us, treating us like trash."
Her manager nodded understandingly. "I know it's hard to deal with people like that, but this is our workplace. We need to maintain professionalism, no matter what. Ignoring his behavior and focusing on your work is the best approach."
Aurélia's eyes welled up with tears. "But sir, you don't understand... Isaiah's family is powerful. His father can ruin people's lives if they cross him. We're just pawns in their game."
Her manager's turned somber. "I know, Aurélia. Unfortunately, that's the reality we live in. The rich and powerful often hold the cards. But we can't let that dictate our behavior. We must rise and maintain our dignity."
Aurélia's face lit up with determination as she replied, "Don't worry, sir. I promise to maintain the rules and provide the best service to our customers. I won't let you down."
Her manager's face broke into a warm smile. "You're so funny, little girl. You've been always excellent at your job. I admire your bravery."
Aurélia's lips curved into a smile. " Thank you sir, may I go now."
Aurélia returned to the counter, a bright smile on her face. Her coworker, Alaina, looked relieved to see her friend's worry-free expression. "Girlfriend, I'm so glad to see you smiling again! I hate seeing you upset," Alaina said, as they both shared a laugh.
"What did the manager say?" Alaina asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
Aurélia waved her hand dismissively. "Nothing much. J...Just about how I reacted to Isaiah's behavior."Her face twisted in distaste.
Alaina shot her a warning glance. "Shh, don't talk too much."
Aurélia nodded in agreement. "Let's just forget about him, okay?"
As restaurant closed at 10pm, Aurélia bid farewell to her co-workers and headed out into the night. She hailed a taxi which dropped her off at her doorstep, leaving her to her quiet evening alone.
As Aurélia reached for the door handle, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to find a message from Lila. "Rory, if you're home, finish up with what you are doing. There's something you need to know. The cryptic message sparkled Aurélia's curiosity.
She pushed open the door and stepped inside, where her mom enveloped her with a warm hug. "Oh my baby girl, you must be exhausted. But I have made your favorite dish, just for you."
Aurélia's face lit up as she hugged her mom back. "I love you Mommy."
Just then her little brother Henry came bounding into the room. "Big sis, what did you bring me?" he asked his eyes shinning with excitement.
Aurélia crouched down, arms open wide, and her brother flung himself into her embrace. She squeezed his cheeks, grinning from ear to ear. "So, what do you think I brought for you, big man?" Aurélia's brother nodded uncertainly, and she chuckled. "Okay, I brought you chocolate! Go get it from my bag." Her brother's face lit up, and he planted a kiss on her cheek before racing off to claim his treat.
Aurélia turned to her mom, her expression curious."So,mom,Where's Dad?" Her mom's eyes flickered with a hint of concern. "He got a call from his company, so he had to go."
Aurélia's mom gazed at her with worried eyes. "By the way, dear, you've been working overtime and coming home late. I'm worried about you." Aurélia wrapped her arms around her mom's waist from behind, offering a reassuring hug. "Mom, I'm 19 now, and I I'll be graduating from college soon. I need to work to pay my tuition fees. I don't want to burden you and dad."
Her mom's expression softened but concern still lingered in her voice. "I understand dear, but please take care of your health and safety.okay?" Aurélia nodded, then sat down at their simple dinning table to enjoy her dinner. After finishing her meal, she bid her mom with a good night and headed to her room.
After a refreshing bath, Aurélia slipped into her cozy pyjamas, feeling relaxed and ready for a nap. But before drifting off to sleep, she decided to check her phone and respond to Lila's earlier message. The message asked if she had plans for tomorrow, and Aurélia couldn't help but smile at the simplicity of the question. She typed out a playful response, adding a silly emojis to convey her light-hearted mood. With her phone duties done, she set her alarm and snuggled into bed, letting out a contented sigh as she drifted off to sleep.