Chapter two
1164 Words
Morning crept in with the sound of traffic outside, the city never slept not even through her paper-thin walls.
She lay still, staring at the ceiling, last night kept replaying in her head, clear as if it had just happened.
Adrian Blackwell
Even his name sounded expensive, people whispered it like it belonged to someone untouchable and she had spilled wine on him she held both hand on her face as she began to blush, she squeezed her eyes shut Why couldn’t it have been anyone else?
Her phone buzzed against the nightstand, rattling against the wood. She groaned, reaching for it. A text lit up the screen Sophie again.
“Morning my dear sis, don’t forget, the school fees deadline is next week, enjoy your day I love you”
Catherine’s chest tightened; responsibility pressed against her ribs like an anvil. No matter how tired she was, no matter how humiliating last night had been, she couldn’t afford any distractions. She needed every extra shift, every tip, every hour of work to keep her and her sister afloat and try and pay off their previous loans.
Still, as she prepared for the day pulling her blonde curls into a neat bun, smoothing her simple black dress for the morning prep shift she found her thoughts drifting. Not to overdue bills. Not to exhaustion. But to the gray eyes that had looked straight through her body to her soul.
The restaurant was way quieter in daylight. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, bouncing off chandeliers that looked less glamorous without the night to set them aglow. Catherine tied her apron, moving through her opening tasks with muscle memory having done them every day for almost two years polish the silver, set the tables, fold the napkins into neat triangles.
“Cathy,” a fellow waitress hastily rushed toward her with wide eyes. “You won’t believe this.”
“What now Evelyn?” Catherine asked, distracted, balancing a stack of plates.
“Adrian Blackwell called” Evelyn said, eyes wide, eyes wide “and guess who he asked for? you Cathy.”
The plates nearly slipped from Catherine’s grip. “That’s not funny, you know”
“I’m not joking.” Evelyn shoved a slip of paper into her hand, scribbled with a number. “The manager said you’re to contact him directly.”
Her pulse skittered. She stared at the digits, the ink smudged slightly at the edges as though someone had written them in a rush.
“Why… why would he want me?”
Evelyn smirked. “Cathy, if I knew the answer to that, I’d be the one holding that paper.”
It took Catherine hours before she gathered the courage. During her break, sitting at a small table in the corner, she hesitated before dialing, her hand shook so much she nearly typed in the wrong number.
The line clicked.
“Hello” His voice came warm and unhurried, as though he had been waiting.
She froze. “Mr. Adrian, um... hi”
“You sound nervous, Catherine right”
“Well, umm yes, are you busy” She winced at herself smooth very professional.
To her surprise, he chuckled, low and deep. “I suppose I am. I wanted to thank you for last night.”
Her brow furrowed. “Thank me? I literally ruined your shirt, that’s not something worth thankful for.”
“You made my night… interesting” he said amused “that’s doesn’t happen often” He paused, letting silence linger just long enough for her heartbeat to quicken. “Have dinner with me.”
The words slammed into her like a tidal wave “Dinner?” she repeated, stupidly.
“Yes, tonight my driver can come pick you up after your shift.” His tone left no room for debate, yet carried no arrogance it was simply decided.
Catherine’s throat went dry. “Mr. Adrian, I don’t think I can” she was cut off briefly “Adrian,” he corrected smoothly. “Call me Adrian”
She bit her lip. “Adrian this isn’t a good idea, look at me am just a waitress and you’re you”
“That’s exactly why it’s a good idea,” he replied. “You don’t treat me like a prize you looked me in the eye last night when most people can’t and that intrigues me.”
Her pulse roared in her ears, simple Logic screamed at her to decline, to walk away before this could spiral into something dangerous, but curiosity slowly took over, something hotter, sharper slowly clawed its way to the surface.
“Say yes, Catherine” he murmured, his voice dropped, in a way that made her pulse jump
The word slipped out before she could even stop it. “Yes”
“Good” he said simply “Seven o’clock, be ready and don’t worry I spoke with your manager to not give an extra shift”
The line clicked dead.
She stared at her phone, breathless, heart pounding so violently she pressed a hand to her chest.
What had she just agreed to, is this not going to be a disaster?
Dinner with a billionaire, dinner with that billionaire, what was she even thinking, as she folded the paper slip and tucked it deep into her apron pocket, Catherine felt the first flicker of something she hadn’t allowed herself in years, something she was afraid of maybe this time it’s not going to be a huge mistake.
By the time Catherine’s shift ended, her nerves were so frayed she could barely untie her apron strings. She’d spent the afternoon replaying his voice in her head, bold, steady, commanding, impossible to refuse.
Dinner with me was not a request, but an absolute certainty.
Now, as she stood outside the staff entrance, the evening air carried the faint bite of autumn. Streetlights blinked awake, casting halos of gold on the pavement. Catherine pulled her thin jacket tighter, wishing she owned something more elegant, something that didn’t scream paycheck-to paycheck or screamed cheap, then she saw it.
A sleek black car, polished to a mirror shine, glided to a stop at the curb. The driver stepped out a tall, immaculately dressed in a black suit and opened the back door without a word. His gaze flickered briefly over Catherine, assessing, then softened into polite neutrality.
Her throat bobbed. “Hi, you must be James’s right”
He inclined his head. “Miss Catherine, Mr. Adrian is expecting you.” As he gestured with his hand for her to enter.
Her feet carried her forward before her mind caught up. The leather interior enveloped her in warmth, smelling faintly of cedar and something darker, a lot more expensive, intoxicating. She smoothed her dress, heart hammering as the city lights blurred past the tinted windows.
“Mr. Blackwell doesn’t take no for an answer” James said with his gaze still focused on the road.
- Writer
