Rise of Luna Chandria

CHAPTER 28 : Hustling

Turning my back, my heart started to pump fast.

‘Not now, Sabrina please.’

“Sierra, could you look at them for me? I’ll just call Mr. Scott,” Sabrina whispered after she stood beside me.

“Uhm, Sab…” I called her. Was it possible for her to realize that I didn’t want it without saying anything?

“Come on Sab, you’ll give Sierra those rude customers? Give her a break, I’ll do it.” Kevin suddenly intervened before winking at me and going straight to the counter area. It was a relief, but it felt like there were eyes lingering still around me, penetrating from a distance.

“I’m sorry Sab,” I whispered, genuinely apologetic as I met her gaze. I mean what she was asking wasn’t that hard, it was just that those customers happened to be my parents.

“No, it’s fine Sierra. Not a big deal. You should at least give Kevin a chance, huh.” She shot back and smiled teasingly before she left me. I quickly followed her, not minding them, who were probably thinking I was weird for not even facing them.

“Hi, Harold, can you do me a favor…”

“Are you hiding from those people?” He asked, completely cutting off my words with his blank face, and I barely saw him this seriously. I was about to ask if we could exchange our shift today as I’ll handle the kitchen, though I have only trained here once, but I’d rather get scolded than my parents see me.

But he’s now asking me that question. I’m doomed then.

‘Was it too obvious that I was avoiding them?’

“Uhm…”

“I’ve been watching you earlier. And you seemed not comfortable with their sudden appearance, you looked shocked and didn’t have any idea what you had to do when Sab called you.”

“I-It’s just that…”

‘Should I tell him that they were my parents? And that I ran away from home? That sounded a good idea, right?’

“Silly. You don’t have to explain anything, it’s your life. But Kevin seemed to be a lifesaver, did he?” He chuckled and continued on with what he was doing.

“R-Right. Thanks, for not asking much.” I retaliated and chuckled awkwardly. My nervousness isn’t fully easing yet, because unfortunately, my shift isn’t over yet and I have to go back there. There is an eighty percent probability that I might bump into them or, worse, serve them their orders. If that happens, then I’ll f*ck up.

“Can you do an errand for me?” Harrold suddenly asked.

“There isn’t much customer. Just be here before nine.”

A smile escaped my lips as I slightly nodded, “S-sure.”

“Please deliver this to the address below. They ordered it online, and Milo isn’t here to do the job.”

Harrold handed me a paperback with our restaurant's logo on it. And an iced coffee drink to be carried in my other hand.

“Thank you, Harrold,” I uttered; he knows what I am grateful for.

“You owe me one, Sierra.”

I took the cap and black shades before I went out of the store. It’s to protect myself from the scorching sun, at the same time for them not recognize me. I have my wristwatch with me, so I don’t have to hurry back thinking about the time. I still have half an hour to deliver this and get back to the restaurant, hopefully with my parents being gone.

‘Of all the places they will really stop by here in Chicago?’

‘I wonder if our paths will cross again?’

After pushing the doorbell button, I waited for a couple of minutes, yet no one answered or opened the door. I tried to knock thrice but none, until I heard the sound of people shouting inside.

“I said I don’t want to go there, Dad!”

My forehead creased, can they at least open the door first? I waited for them to finish quarreling but they didn’t seem to have plans. I alternately hit the doorbell and knocked on the wooden door, slightly pissed, as I was running out of time when the door suddenly opened. Or I must say, it wasn’t locked in the first place, and due to my continuous knocks, it opened.

I slowly sneaked my head inside, “Good morning Sir, Ma’am. Your order is here!” I exclaimed, but unfortunately, they probably went upstairs hearing their voices there. Giving me a void presence in the whole area of the first floor. Sighing in annoyance, I didn’t have any option but to barge in. This meal is worth 500 bucks, and there’s no way I’ll pay for it or I’ll let my salary decrease because of it.

My jaw literally opened when I got a broader view of the interior of this mansion.

“Dad, please spare me this…”

A woman of my age suddenly erupted at the top of the stairs, as she paused her words and surprisingly stared at me.

“I apologize if I went inside. I’ve been calling you guys out there for fifteen minutes, and I have to get back to my shift as soon as possible. And I don’t have any option at all, I hope you…”

“Oh my God…” She suddenly uttered, I bowed my head.

“I-I’m really sorry, I hope you won’t sue me for trespassing.”

Maybe I should’ve waited outside patiently, or just paid for the amount of this meal. I think being imprisoned will cost me much more than this.

“No, it’s fine.” I was startled when I wasn’t able to notice that the woman was in front of me already when I moved my head.

And what made me stunned was to see how she smiles mischievously, from her enraged aura earlier, it’s kinda weird for me.

‘She isn’t a psycho, isn’t she?’

“T-thanks. 500 bucks for this.” I politely uttered and handed her the meal. She took it but her gaze didn’t leave mine.

“Dad, she’s perfect!” She suddenly exclaimed all of a sudden, and her grin became wider.

‘Oh no, seems like I’m in another problem again.’

“Britanny, stop it. She’s a delivery…”

“Oh, cut the nonsense Dad, we both knew that I would never attend that freaking masquerade party, right?”

“And I think this girl right here is perfect as my substitute.” She added, making my eyes widen in shock.

“W-What?”

“You’ll be Britanny Williams’ tonight, daughter of William’s Company CEO.”

“And you have no right to decline my offer, Sierra.” She smiled wickedly as she had a short glance at my name tag, before taking my hand, and taking me upstairs.

The man in his fifties seemed to have given up and didn’t bother to say a word after his daughter said that full of finality.

“W-Wait please at least let me go back to my shift, I don’t want to lose my job,” I uttered when she dragged me inside of her dressing room.

“Don’t worry, I’ll call your manager.”

‘W-What?’

“You know I’m sick of this. I know dad wants me to attend that party to set me up for a blind date with his business partner’s son.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay you triple of your month’s salary after that night.”

She’s indeed a daughter of a CEO. Seemingly, I have left no choice. I don’t want to waste such money; this will be just for a night. Maybe I could talk to Mr. Scott, my manager tomorrow, or use my payment from Britanny to cover my monthly expenses while I look for another job.

After a few battles with my head, now fully convinced, I just watched myself in front of this vanity mirror where my face was being fixed by two women that Britanny called minutes ago.

‘There’s no turning back, Chandria. Just do your job tonight, and a thousand bucks await you.’