Trading Revenge For An Heir

Chapter 6

Chapter 6:

“This burger stinks.”

One of the most annoying customers at Randy’s Diner barked out, making Riley flinch as she tried her best to ignore the itch of wiping her face, seeing how he seemed incapable of talking without spitting in the other person’s face.

Riley was pretty sure it was a problem. Probably something he couldn’t control. But that didn’t make it any easier to survive the disgusting torture. Not to mention, the man complained a ton. Like, seriously a ton, and it annoyed her and the other diner staff just as much, if not more.

“Would you like me to get you a different one?” she asked politely, despite him openly mocking her in front of the two dozen people currently enjoying their dinner in the diner.

“Of course, that’s what I want, b***h. What else do you want me to do with it? Eat it? Do you want me to get sick?”

Riley reminded herself to stay calm. The diner couldn’t afford another fight breaking out any more than it already had. The cops didn’t appreciate the attention the diner brought upon themselves, and her owner didn’t like giving out free dinners to keep everyone quiet.

“No, sir. Absolutely not,” she said hurriedly, leaning forward to retrieve his plate and bring out a fresh burger. However, the moment she reached for it, the man surprised her by grabbing her wrist.

“Now, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” he sneered, looking angrier than he had any right to be.

Riley twisted her hand to break free, but the man was obviously strong, and God knew she hated that. She hated that men were stronger. She hated that they never hesitated to take advantage of it. She hated that…

“Is there a problem, sir?” a voice interjected, and Riley instantly recognized it. It belonged to the other waitress, Britney. The sassy Britney, that’s what everyone called her behind her back. Not that Britney seemed like the kind of person to mind being called sassy. If anything, Riley was pretty sure the woman enjoyed the attention.

“Yes, there’s a problem. This f*****g waitress doesn’t know how to do her bloody job.”

Riley wanted to say that she could handle it. Surely, it wasn’t the first time someone was making a complain, or talking s**t, or trying to be the boss of everything. In the past two years, Riley had seen it all. There was nothing that surprised her anymore.

However, before she could open her mouth, Britney pushed Riley aside and placed her hand on her hip. “Aha, is that it?”

But the man didn’t care. He simply grew more annoyed, his nostrils flaring.

“Yes, and apparently you don’t know how to mind your own f*****g business.”

Riley shook her head. She knew what was about to happen.

Here we go, she thought.

“Listen here, tough guy,” Britney snatched the fork from the table and aimed it at his eyes, her voice laced with a hint of steel. “I may not mind my own business when it comes to dealing with disrespectful pricks like you, but I damn sure know how to do my job. Now, if you want your problem solved, you can either quit your whining and let Riley get you a fresh burger, or you can take your sorry ass elsewhere. Your call.”

The man’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback and probably wondering how quickly the tables had turned. He glanced around, perhaps realizing that he had drawn the attention of the entire diner.

For a moment, there was silence as everyone awaited his response. Then, with a grumble, the man relented. “Fine, just get me another damn burger.”

Riley did just that.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Riley sounded grateful as she met Britney behind the counter. The crowd in the diner was starting to thin out. It was usually around this time when they could catch an actual breath and lean their back against something hard.

Britney tightened her ponytail and gave Riley a smile. “Oh, please. That man was being a d**k. And when it comes to dealing with d***s, apparently, I’m the best p***y around to put them in their place.”

There was no doubt about that. Not that Riley would phrase it that way…

Riley chuckled, shaking her head. “Either way, thanks. But just so you know, I could have handled it.”

“Of course, you could have, sweety,” Britney winked, before walking away to wipe the table. “I was just in the mood for it tonight.”

Riley couldn’t hide her smile.

Two years. That’s how long it had been since she left Hampton and came to NYC. It was the only place she could think of after what happened. The only place where she had a school friend with whom she now shared a small apartment.

It wasn’t much, but it was something. Something to hide herself in and grieve what she had lost because of one stupid mistake. Because of trusting one wrong person.

But she wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. That was for sure. She was never trusting anyone. Not without a very good reason. Not until she was absolutely sure they weren’t about to stab her in the back.

In the middle of her pondering, she heard the sound of the diner doors opening and the chime that followed.

Riley let out a sigh and glanced at the clock. It was almost midnight and the kitchen was closed. There was no way they could entertain another hungry customer. She turned around to break the bad—but obvious—news.

“Sorry. We’re closed for the night. But there’s a*****e just around the corner. They’re open 24 hours…”

She was reciting her usual spiel for customers who arrived after closing time when she spotted the man standing on the other side of the counter. His familiarity caught her off guard, and also the fact that he seemed to be taking much more room in the diner than it was humanly possible. Not because he was fat, but because he had that kind of air. The air of unmatched masculinity and presence.

Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and for a second, she paused to regain her thoughts. The man was clearly older than her, probably by a decade. But that didn’t change the fact that he was absolutely well put together.

He was tall, handsome, and dressed in a similar business suit from earlier. If Riley were to be honest, he didn’t seem like someone who would casually walk into a diner like Randy’s just because he felt like it.

In fact, he looked out of place. Like he had mistakenly stepped into a different reality.

Riley clamped her mouth shut, trying her damn hardest to not show how uncomfortable he was making her. He hadn’t even said anything, and yet, she felt like something was wrong with him being there.

“Uh… like I said. We are closed.” She finished, glad that her voice hadn’t shaken.

“Yes, I saw the sign,” the man said with a charming smile, one hand in the pocket of his well-tailored pants while the other casually propped on the counter.

Riley looked around, wondering where Britney had disappeared to. Wasn’t she just here a minute ago? Did she go back to the alley for a smoke? Couldn’t she have waited for them to close so they could all go home and get some sleep?

“I’m not sure if I can help you with anything else,” she stated, finding the situation increasingly awkward.

The man raised a brow but maintained that effortlessly suave smile on his face the entire time. “Of course, there’s something you can help me with.”

Riley frowned, uncertain where he was going with that. “Uh, okay. Let’s hear it then?”

The man chuckled, and Riley could swear it did something to her stomach. She felt silly, as if butterflies were fluttering within her.

Leaning forward, the man looked her in the eye, the corner of his perfectly sculpted mouth turned up. “Well, for one, you can come with me.”