The Billionaire’s Biggest Regret

Poverty is the root of all evil. What other reason could there be for staring death in the eye and begging him to take me along? In that moment, as pathetic as it might sound, I truly believed that hell would be kinder to me than this life. Slap! My head snapped to the side, as I gasped out in pain . A sharp, searing burn. The kind that told me her nails had dug deep into my skin. I wouldn’t know for sure. Her nails were always red, like the color of fresh blood. I fell to the floor, my chest heaving, my vision blurry from how hard the slap was. A bitter, metallic taste filled my mouth- I’d bitten my tongue right when she hit me. I couldn’t see straight. My head throbbed and pounded, like a drum. My face was on fire, the pain so real and intense that I couldn’t even breathe. And yet, I stayed there. On the cold, dirty floor, where I belonged but still… “I. Didn’t. Steal.” I grunted out. We were in the middle of Golden Skillet, one of the most exclusive family restaurants in Crestfield. A place with polished marble floors, chandeliers that shimmered like diamonds, and rich customers who never spared a glance at people like me. I had fought hard for this job. Worked myself to the bone because it paid more than three part-time jobs combined and—most importantly—it fed my sister and I. For someone like me, that was reason enough to endure anything. The restaurant was part of the Vanderbilt empire, one of the wealthiest families in the city. And standing just a few feet away from me, with her arms crossed and a glare sharp enough to cut bone, was Vivienne Vanderbilt—the third daughter, the manager, and my current nightmare. Everyone was watching. The other waitstaff. The kitchen staff peeking through the double doors. Even the customers, some staring with openly, others quickly looking away, pretending like this wasn’t happening. But no one stepped in. Nobody messes with the Vanderbilts. Vivienne took a deep breath, trying to manage her temper but I could see her hands were shaking in anger. The way her icy blue eyes narrowed at me like she could skin me with her bare hands. She stretched out her hand and a waitress, standing obediently by her side, placed a delicate diamond bracelet into her palm. The stones sparkled under the restaurant’s golden light, blindingly beautiful. Vivienne lifted the bracelet between her two fingers, her lips curling in disgust. “Explain this.” I didn’t answer. “This,” she continued. “was a gift from my big brother. Do you have any idea how expensive it is? Even if I sold you and your wretched family fifty times over, you still wouldn’t be able to afford it.” The room felt colder. I felt colder. “Halfway through the workday, it disappears from my office. Then—surprise, surprise—it turns up in your locker.” She tilted her head. “Unless it magically grew legs and crawled in there by itself, I’d say we caught ourselves a lowlife thief.” Everyone started murmuring both the staff and customers. Thief. The word sank into my skin like a branding iron. If word got out, no one would hire me. Everyone in Crestfield would shun me and my family and if my father found out- I stared at the bracelet. “I’d never seen that bracelet before in my life. I really don’t know how it got there, Miss.” Vivienne scoffed. “Oh, of course you don’t. Just like you don’t know how to keep your hands off things that don’t belong to you.” “I didn’t steal it!” My voice cracked. “I know I’m poor, and that is why I am working so hard here. I would never steal, I have dignity!” Vivienne turned to the onlookers, spreading her arms dramatically. “Who else could it have been?” She pointed to me. “She was the only one who went in to clean my office today.” She turned back to me, her lips curling. “And conveniently, a few hours after my bracelet goes missing. We find it tucked neatly inside your locker. Care to explain how that happened?” I shook my head quickly. “I swear, I don’t know. Someone must have put it there—” “How predictable,” she sneered. “Blaming someone else for your mistakes. You’re pathetic.” I could feel my face burning, not just from shame, but because of the fact that I knew that no matter what I said, no one would believe me. I turned to my coworkers, my eyes quickly looking for my best friend Sarah but she was not there. Not even one sympathetic face. I needed just one person to speak up for me. Nothing. Some looked away, avoiding my gaze. Others simply watched, their expressions blank, indifferent. Even the customers—they either looked at me in fascination or whispered among themselves. I was alone. I bit down hard on my trembling lip. “Please,” I whispered. “I didn’t do it.” “I should call the police. Honestly, that’s what you deserve.” I started panicking. The police? If they arrested me for theft, I’d have no way to prove my innocence. No money for a lawyer. No one to call for help. Vivienne smirked at my silence, clearly enjoying the fear on my face. “Unless…” she smirked. “You beg.” “What?” She leaned in, lowering her voice just enough for only me to hear. “Get on your knees. Beg me not to ruin your miserable little life.” I felt the floor sway beneath me. My pride warred with my desperation. My entire body screamed against it, but I knew what would happen if I refused. I had nothing. No money. No power. No one was on my side. If I wanted to leave this place without the police being called, I needed to beg. I sniffled, shakily sinking to my knees. The restaurant was silent now. Everyone was watching. Vivienne folded her arms. “I’m waiting.” “Please… don’t ruin me.” Vivienne screamed. “Louder!” I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palm. “Miss Vanderbilt, I beg you please. Don’t ruin me,” Vivienne smirked. “You really are worthless, I hear your father was fired for receiving bribes as a cop.” She snorts. “Like father, like daughter indeed. I can’t let trash like you work here. You’re fired.” A sharp gasp ran through the room and everyone started whispering again. “A thief and the daughter of a disgraced cop? No wonder she turned out this way.” “Didn’t she practically beg for this job? Guess she fooled them all with that pitiful act.” “Probably thought she could steal a little on the side. How stupid can you be?” I sat there, frozen for a few seconds, her words were like a death sentence. No job. I was doomed. “I always knew there was something off about her.” “She looks so pathetic right now, it’s almost funny.” “Almost? It is funny. Look at her, kneeling there like a kicked dog.” I had lost everything. No, what was I saying. When had I ever had anything to begin with? Shakily, I pushed myself to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me as I walked to the door. I just needed to leave. To disappear before I shattered completely. But before I could take another step, a cold hand clamped around my arm. “Where do you think you’re going?” She tugged me back, her nails digging into my skin as she eyed me up and down. “Still wearing the Golden Skillet uniform? You’re not thinking of stealing that from us too, are you?” Stealing the uniform? Was she really going to take this even further? I swallowed hard. “But…” Vivienne didn’t let me finish. She didn’t care what I had to say. She grabbed my shirt and—in front of everyone—tore it right off my body. The rip echoed like a gunshot. Everyone gasped. If not for the fact that I was wearing a singlet, she’d have left me topless for the whole restaurant to see. Then my life would truly be ruined. I gasped grabbing the shirt even then I couldn’t hold my tears anymore. I was a crying mess. I couldn’t stop sobbing, staring at Vivienne in shock as she simply smirked. “There. Much better.” She turned to the remaining staff. “Let this be a warning to all of you, if you steal in this establishment, you won’t be able to understand how I’ll deal with you.” She hissed before glancing at me. “Get out.” And just like that, she turned away, as if I were nothing. While I stood there, half-dressed, humiliated, shaking. I couldn’t take it anymore, with the last shred of dignity I had left, I ran. I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. Because if I did… I might never be able to pick myself back up again.