BOUND BY HIS BILLION-DOLLAR VOWS

CHAPTER ONE "The Day I Lost Everything." (Ariana POV) If I had known that one error would change my life, maybe I would have stayed home sick that day. The diner smelled like grease, burnt toast, and exhaustion. The coffee machine hissed in protest for the tenth time that hour, and my manager, Dale, was already shouting from the kitchen. “Ariana, order up! And smile this time customers can hear when you’re miserable!” I forced a grin that didn’t reach my eyes. “Yes, sir.” The truth was, I was miserable. My mother's hospital bills were due again, and my second job at the diner barely covered rent. I used to think that everything would be different when I graduated from fashion school, had my own line. But dreams didn't cover medical bills, and reality wasn't concerned with passion. The bell above the door jingled, and Tessa, my coworker, nudged me. "Incoming eye candy.". I glanced up and froze. A guy in a charcoal suit had just entered. He didn't belong here. Everything about him screamed money and power from the cut of his jacket to the confidence in his stride. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his gray eyes swept over the room like he owned it. He sat in the rear corner booth, the stool that belonged to locals who had no other option and yet, the booth now belonged to him. "Who's that?" I whispered. Tessa shrugged. "No clue. But I'd serve him. He looks like he'd give better tips than what you'll get from Dale. You could use the money." Tips. Sure. I grabbed my notepad and walked over to him, steady steps despite the strange tightening in my chest. "Good morning sir," I said, trying to be cheerful. "What can I get you sir?" He didn't look up, his eyes on his phone. "Black coffee. No sugar." "Anything else, is that all?" "No." The voice was curt, impatient, the kind that made you wish you weren't there. "Sure thing." I went to the counter, muttering to myself, "Guess charm isn't part of the suit." When I came back with his coffee, I was still seething at him, at my life, at the universe. My hands were trembling slightly with fatigue as I set the cup down. And that's when the unthinkable occurred. Someone bumped my elbow from behind and the coffee spilled. Not on the table. Not on the floor. Down his immaculate white shirt. "Oh my God," I cried. "I'm so sorry sir!" He leapt to his feet, his face black. "Are you blind?" "Like are you mad, why did you pour that on me." "No, I swear, someone pushed me from behind." "I don't care who pushed you," he snapped, his voice cutting through the diner like a knife. "This shirt costs more than your paycheck." A few customers turned around. Heat seared up my neck. "I said I'm sorry please," I stammered, snatching up napkins, trying to blot the stain. "It was an accident." He recoiled. "Don't touch me." pushing my hand away. The humiliation stung more than the scalding coffee. "I'll pay for the shirt," I mumbled. He let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, really? With your diner tips,?" Answer me. Something inside me broke. "You know what..., Mr. Fancy Suit?" I said, my voice shaking but loud enough for the whole diner to hear. "You can keep your expensive shirt and your attitude. Some of us actually work for a living." What arrogance. There was silence in the room. Dale's face turned red behind the counter. The man's jaw tightened. I could see something flash in his eyes, shock, maybe even guilt, but then it was gone, covered up with cold contempt. "Apparently," he said, his voice low and cutting, "you're not very good at it." Tessa grabbed my arm. "Ari, don't But I couldn't stop. "Maybe if you tried kindness instead of cruelty, your coffee wouldn't be so bitter." He stared at me, unreadable, before slapping a hundred-dollar bill on the counter. "For the mess. And the entertainment." Then he was gone. The bell above the door jingled again this time sounding like the end of the world. Dale hurried over, face red. "Ariana Brooks, my office. Now." "Dale, it was an accident" "You embarrassed a customer! A paying customer!" He pointed to the door. "He could've bought this place for all we know! You're done here." My heart dropped. "You're firing me?" "Effective, immediately." I was frozen for a moment, surrounded by the smell of coffee and shame. Tessa said under her breath, "Ari, I'm sorry." I swallowed hard, reaching behind me and pulling off my apron tie. "Don't be. I guess the universe just decided whether I was going to have to find a new job or not." I walked out with my head high even though my chest was caving in. The cold air hit my face, and I didn't know whether to scream, cry, or laugh. In the span of a morning, I'd lost my job, my sole and only stable source of income, and whatever pride I had left. And all because of him. that cold, arrogant man in suit. oh! God, what am I going to do now, how am I suppose to pay my mother's hospital bills, my rent, my ...? At this point, I could not hold back my tears. "Mr suit, you most suffer for what you did to me," I said, looking towards the direction he went. Whoever that arrogant stranger was, he'd just turned my world upside down in just a minute. I glanced down at the coffee stain spread on my sleeve, a souvenir of the worst day of my life. While I was walking to the bus stop, I was saying to myself, "I hope I never see you again." Because, if I do, i will pour all my frustrations on you. what happened in there will not be compared to what is coming next.