The Billionaire’s Hundred-Day Bargain

HILDA I was wet. Completely soaked. My fingers trembled as I cupped my cheek painfully writhing from the impact of the slap. Wine droplets drip down my hair as I stand frozen in the spot. My body shook and my face reddened from anger. “What… what was that for?” She snarled, her lips curling in disgust and her voice dripping with venom, “That? That is for being useless. Do you want to kill me? How could you serve me this disgusting food? Huh? It’s too salty.” Silent tears rolled down my cheek as I struggled to contain my emotions. I hastily wipe it away, furious at myself for crying in their presence. My heart raced and my throat constricted, but I can’t let them see my tears! Yes, they can’t see me weak. By now, a crowd already formed around us and some of my colleagues were laughing and making a video. I know it won’t take time for my boss’s attention to be drawn here. This was not how I envisioned my night shift. I wanted a peaceful one so my boss wouldn’t get any complaints about me and deduct my salary since it was close to payday… and I have only one strike left until I am fired. A surge of shock ran through me as her palm connected with my cheek for the second time this night, the sound of the slap echoing in my ears, my head jerked to the side and the skin on my cheek stinging from the force of the blow. A scream tore out of my throat as the slap was more painful than the first one, my eye felt like it’s going to spurt out of its socket. I held my swollen cheek taking a step back as she took one forward. “Do you want more? I’ll be happy to oblige since you couldn’t answer the question.” My eyes followed all my colleague including the one, who was the reason I got into this trouble in the first place, Amber. Pleading with them to help me but they just snickered. Guess I am on my own. “ma’am, I am so sorry, if I mix-up your order but I am certain, this is what you ordered.” I brought out my writing pad to show her but she flung it away. “Are you accusing me of lying? Do you know who I am?” as she raise her hand again to hit me. My eyes flustered shut waiting for the slap, which never came but the booming voice of my boss. “What’s going on here?” he asked no one in particular. His eyes accessing each and every one of us till they landed on the customer and his lip pull up in the biggest smile I have ever seen on his face since I resumed working here. His arm stretched for a handshake, “what a pleasure Miss Adam. I didn’t know you’ll be in town, I'd have arrange a small banquet for you. I am guessing you got the best treatment from my staff.” “Yea, I sure did. When your waiter tried to kill me.” She replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. My eyes widened at her accusation before meeting my boss’s cold glare. I tried to defend myself, “Boss, it’s not true. The table wasn’t…” “Boss, I told her to be careful with Miss Adam’s order since this is the first time she’s serving her but she told me it can’t be that bad.” Amber butt in, glaring hard at me, daring me to say otherwise. Even the rest of the waiter turned to look at her with wide eyes but none even came to my defense as they were all scared of her. My boss’s face smoldered with resentment and I could feel molten anger rolling through him. He motiones for the securities available and they came forward and started dragging me to his office. I kicked and yelled but it was of no use as they overpowered me. They slammed me on the cold ground of his office and left. The hair on my nape rise, goose bumps crawling on my skin from his intense stare. My boss’s face loomed over me, still looking very angry. “Look at me.” His commanding tone vibrated throughout the room. “I said look at me Hilda,” his hand drum on the table, making it rattled. Knowing what would happen if he repeat it the third time made me raise head, my eyes meeting his. “You know this is the seventh customer that complain about your attitude in three days.” He remark, scrolling on his computer and he reads out. 1. Euphoria, you better fire that waiter or else me and my family will never dine at your restaurant no more. 2. The waiter named Hilda is so rude. Imagine, she almost burnt my son’s hand. Euphoria, you better do something about her. E.T.C. “And do you know who they are?” he still, twirling a pen in hand before he continue, “they are all top-tier, who have invested hugely to this restaurant.” My eyebrow furrowed in confusion because I don’t remember any of them. “But sir…” “Trying to defend yourself won’t work this time. Just go to the locker room, pack your bags and go home. You are fired! I am tired of making excuses for you every day.” He declared, his voice dripping with condescension. “Sir, you… you can’t fire me… not like this. You know I need this job. You know how important this job is to me, sir.” I beg but it fell on deaf ears. His expression was a mask of sympathy, but there was a hint of relief. He was glad to be rid of me. “Hilda, you can go.” He stood up and left the office. For the next few minutes, I sat on the cold marble, feeling like I’d been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. My voice caught in my throat as sob racked through me, I hugged my body trying to comfort myself. My legs wobbled as I step out of the office and heads to the locker room to do as he said. Whispers and laughter fly around me till I was in the locker room. I furiously shoved my things in bag, cleaning the tears running down my cheek, I followed the backdoor so no one would see me and ventured into the night. The street is mostly empty with just one or two people. Stopping a cab, I realized my wallet was empty as I’ve used my money to buy Grandmas medicine. Lightning struck the sky, thunder rumbling and soon it starts raining like the weather was reflecting my emotion. My feet ran as fast, eyes darting around trying to find a shade to take cover. Until I saw the close store around the corner and ran towards it. The heavy rain kept pattering the ground, wetting the fresh grown leaves, the scent of wet earth and grass gave me comfort. Flyers scattered on the door caught my attention and I moved to take a closer look, hoping some miracle will happen. But they are all random advert until a particular one caught my attention. It’s about some family looking for a domestic house help, I quickly took out a note and scribble down the email to send my application.