"Dev! Get out!" Faith yelled. "Out! Out!" Sheila yelled too, determinedly pushing Devlin out of the room. "You shouldn't be here. Don't you know that it's a bad omen to see the bride before the wedding?"Devlin groaned. "Come on! I don't believe in superstitions. Can I just see my lovely wife?""She's not your wife yet, mister. Not until the ceremony is complete. Plus, you saw her last night. You too idiots slept in the same bed. I don't understand why you can't stay apart for even a second." She got him out the door and slammed it shut in his face."Done," she declared, dusting off her hands and returning to Faith. There was a short knock at the door and it opened again.Sheila turned around in exasperation. "Devlin, if I have to tell you one more time--"But it wasn't Devlin who stepped in. Adele squealed and rushed over to Faith, pulling her into a hug. "Oh my gosh, honey, congratulations!"Faith hugged her back. "Thank you, Adele. I'm so glad you could fly in.""Girl, I wouldn't
"Next!"The next customer slid up to the register, a girl about Faith's age. She was dressed in black from head to toe, the only splash of colour was her pale face. Even her lips were painted black. She had tattoos running up her arm and several rings adorned her ears and nose.Faith smiled brightly and cocked her head to the side just like she'd been taught at the Moon Cafe employee training. "Welcome to the Moon Cafe. What can I get you today?" The girl gave Faith a dour look. Obviously, she didn't appreciate the chirpiness. After working here for a month, Faith had come to learn that several customers were actually annoyed by it, but try telling that to her manager. Already, her cheek muscles were starting to hurt from straining to stay in that position."Iced Americano." The answer was short, quiet and sharp. Faith would have missed it if she wasn't listening intently. She could imagine the hell that would break loose if she had to ask this customer to repeat herself. She sig
"I said I want you. Why? Don't you come on the menu?" He nodded towards the menu board hanging over her head.Faith wasn't sure how to answer that. She looked the man over. He was dressed in a navy-blue three pieces suit that she couldn't afford with her three salaries combined. He stood tall, shoulders straight and looked her straight in the eyes--so different from Ernie a few minutes ago."Hello?" He snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. Faith caught a glimpse of his watch, half-hidden underneath his jacket sleeve. She felt her brain drop. "Anybody there?"Faith bristled. "I don't understand what you mean, sir. My question was 'Is there any drink I can get you?"She was confused. Was he a student? He looked a little old to be a student. He also looked a little young to be a lecturer. Perhaps a Teacher's Assistant? The suit was much too expensive for that though. Maybe he was just a visitor to the school. "Well then, if you insist, get me one.""One what?""One of everything."
Cassius, as she'd come to learn that he was called, had carefully placed the drinks in the back of the car and ushered her into the passenger seat before taking his seat beside her.Her initial evaluation of him had been proven right. He was a very sweet guy, despite the way he looked.He'd insisted on carrying all the drinks himself, a gesture she appreciated for two. One, it was very gentlemanly of him. Her second reason was not very ladylike. She and all the other ladies in the cafe had spent the short few minutes it took him to ferry the boxes of drink to the car drooling after him with their eyes. He was definitely aware of the effect he had on them. She caught a slight smile on his face on one of the trips.Now she was locked into a tight space with this force of a man. Even though the air conditioner was on, she felt hot. The heat was coming from his body and pressing over her. She cleared her throat and discreetly fanned herself.He looked over at her and grinned. Yup, he de
"Delivered her safe and sound boss." Calcius casually walked up to the screen desk and dropped into one of the chairs facing the man."Good job." His voice dripped with sarcasm. Calcius didn't respond. He simply pulled out his phone and typed away. So much for the camaraderie she was expecting."I figured you'd come after all." He said with a smirk.Faith huffed and folded her arms. What could she say to that?"I take it you don't think I'm a kidnapper or rapist anymore then."Cassius snorted. The man eyed him. Calcius didn't look up from the screen."How would I know?" Faith scowled at him."So let me get this straight, you still aren't sure that I'm not a kidnapper or rapist yet you came all the same?"Again, she didn't answer."You're more interesting than I thought.""You didn't give me much of a choice! My manager was going to fire me, remember?""So?""So!? So!? I need that job, you assh*me."He seemed taken aback by her outburst. "Why not just quit?"Faith shut her eyes and cla
Faith was on cloud nine. She practically floated back to her hostel. Honestly, she wasn't entirely sure how she got there. All she knew was that she'd entered a cab and was dropped off at the University gate. Her body hadn't even registered the walk to her hostel.She walked the Halls of the hostel blankly. This time, she didn't stop to think about the fact that a single room here was more luxurious than her entire house back home.When her parents and siblings drove down to drop her off at the start of the semester, she could tell that they were all exceedingly jealous of her even if they didn't say it. She didn't blame them for it.She'd felt guilty and awkward standing in front of them, knowing that she would now live here with the rich people she'd so desperately wished she were a part of from childhood while they would have to go back to their shabby home. She was officially the one that made it out. She felt guilty about that. The least she could do was finish well, get a good
"You know him?" Faith asked with surprise. She looked over at Adele who was also gaping at her."Who doesn't know him?" Sheila shook her head at Faith. "Girl, have you been living under a rock?""No, just living under a lot of work."Sheila rolled her eyes but didn't make any comment about that. "He is one of the richest, most successful people in the country.""It's true. He owns a tech company." Adele chipped in. "I can't believe you don't know him. He's always in magazines. He was voted most eligible bachelor by the Star Magazine last year.""So he's like a big deal?""The biggest deal. I can't believe that he's schooling here and no one knew till now. They really worked hard to keep it out of the media." Sheila shook her head."You seem to know him quite well.""More like I know of him. My father does some business with him so I've met him a few times. Nothing deep."Faith gulped. If her super-rich friends were acting so wonderstruck, just how important was this Devlin character.
"This is Devlin. Here's my direct line. See you at 6 on Monday for our first session. Address attached."That was the content of the message that had turned her stomach to a sludge pudge for the past four days.From the moment she read the message, she was filled with apprehension. At first, she didn't understand why. After all, this was not her first rodeo. She'd tutored all through high school for the extra bucks.But this time, the stakes were higher. She wasn't tutoring for a few bucks anymore. This job was now her lifeline especially since she dramatically quit two of her jobs over the past few days.She recalled her encounter with Anthony the manager just two days before. She'd come in to work as she was scheduled and gone in the back to inform him that she wouldn't be working there any longer.He did not take that information well. "You can't quit now! Where do you expect me to get a replacement? The session is already underway.""Perhaps you should look in the same place you