Paid To Love

Episode 39

Paid To Love EPISODE 39

Victoria's POV

That was very embarrassing and I knew everyone was staring so I decided to spare my own blushes and get on my feet.

I glanced around checking, hoping Henry and his date hadn’t seen me but they did. Now embarrassed was no longer a word to quantify how I felt.

I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the first awkward moment of the night. My new boss came pulling my hand towards a corner near his office.

“What are you doing? Grab a broom and clean up that mess.”

"Yes, I’m on it. I’m so sorry."

I went back there with a dust pan and a broom and started sweeping it up. In the corner of my eye I could see Henry staring at me while talking to that girl. Well that didn’t help at all.

I cleaned up the mess and I had to go get myself back to shape. Seeing James and Henry with that girl threw me off a bit and I was out if it. I got to the convenience room and poured water on my face, I looked in the mirror and calmed myself down, maybe Henry was just having a business meeting? No why did it seem so casual and there weren’t even any files or documents in their hands.

I knew I would soon have to go bring some of their drinks, I brought some drinks to her and Henry was kept the gaze as I walked towards them In the black and white uniform that seemed a bit long, I guess the former owner was a bit taller than me. I got a bit tense as I walked up to their table, I didn’t know why I got jittery as I approached them, I placed their orders in front of them and tried too move back. The mystery girl ordered for more water and I grabbed her glass to pour the water from the jug. I poured the water in her glass and ad I withdrew my hand the water spilled on me. My cheeks went red, I had officially done it, I just embarrassed myself again, could this night get any worse?

“I'm so sorry. Let me just clean up..”

“It's fine. Just dry your clothes.”

The brunette replied.

I grabbed my handkerchief and pressed them on my damp skirt. As I continued to do that I dropped the jug on the table but I had only left it half on. The Jug fell off the table and landed next to my leg. Two in one night? Another glass broken on the floor and I looked down with a feeling of pain from my legs.

“Blood!” I inadvertently screamed.

Someone grabbed my shoulders and a body knelt down next to me.

"Victoria, are you okay?"

I turned my head around to see my face a hair’s close to Henry's face. My lips trembled for a moment and I had to force myself to get the words out.

"Leave me alone, Henry," I almost whispered to him. It was like I saw him every where and I kept embarrassing myself in front of him and his new found date. I was sick of how the night was going.

"Why?"

"You're should just continue pretending like we don’t know each other, it’s better that way. At least that was your plan right?. I will be fine."

"But your leg is bleeding, you are not ok." he said grabbing a tissue from the table and rapping it around my leg. He then used his handkerchief to fasting that part of my leg.

“Henry, stop she’s staring at us.”

“I don’t care... Are you ok? Lets just go home.” He said trying to help me get up.

"I told you I'll be fine!," I told him glaring into his eyes. I got up and stumbled away from the table.

"Wait" he followed me as I tried to get back to the toilet. I could here him pacing behind me.

"But you're hurt Victoria."

I wasn’t mad at him. At least I had no genuine reason to be but I was still angry, maybe about myself for screwing the night up repeatedly or for injuring myself. I turned around to look back at him.

"You’re date can see us. " I let out.

He pulled me further away and I was flinching on every step.

“Ouch my leg is bleeding if you’ve noticed.”

“I'm sorry, but she can’t see us now.”

"Yeah but she might suspect something if you spend too much time checking on me. Besides it’s just a scratch nothing serious. Now go back to your date.”

"The date was my dad’s idea anyway." he snapped.

We caught each other’s gaze for a moment till I looked away and turned away from him walking to the bathroom while limping a bit.

He walked back to his table where my boss already sent someone to go clean up the floor.

I got in the bathroom and took a look at my leg, it wasn’t even bad. Just a piece of glass got in my upper leg, the rest of the blood were from tiny fragments.

The boss, whatever his name was didn’t even come check on me. He was meant to be the manager over here yet he didn’t even bother when an employee got injured, Must be the way the rich operate. I removed the tiny pieces of glass and poured some water on my leg then went back out.

“You should probably take these and cover it up or it will just bleed again.” Reluctantly I took the first aid kit in his hands. I went back in, grabbed what I needed to clean the wound before placing small bandage on it. I got back out and gave the first aid kit back to him.

"Thanks," I said to him.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded.

"You sure? Because you don't look too good."

I sat at the bar for the first time all night I didn’t have much to do since someone already started covering for me. I stared back a Henry's date as they seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"It's fine. Blood just isn’t my thing."

"Okay. Just relax and don’t move much."

"Yeah I think that’s the best solution." I smiled at him.

The other waitress had to handle the big anniversary table with some other girls they brought for the evening.

It was just about time for the restaurant to close. I guess Henry and his date left with James earlier on, I hadn’t really noticed. I was actually taking some drinks.

We finally closed up and I was about to leave but I realised I didn’t bring my ride. I headed outside, maybe I could order an uber on something. Just as I picked up my phone to get one, a familiar face came out of a car that was parked outside. It took me a second to realize who it was. I lowered my cell phone, wondering if my eyes were working properly. Henry? What are you doing here?"

He crossed his arms over his chest. "I was waiting for you to get out."

"Why?"

"You crashed the Mercedes and I knew you didn’t come with your old car. " he explained.

"Have you been here this whole time...?"

"No. I saw Alexa off first and then came back here to make sure you would get home okay."

So, Alexa was her name— no. That wasn't the thought I should be having. Henry waited in his car to make sure I arrived at home safe. Wow, to think I'd been mad at him . What was wrong with me?

"Are you upset?"

"My dad got a bit carried away this time. And you should know how insistent he can get. I'm sorry, Victoria I didn’t tell you about it."

He was sorry? "For what?"

"You had to pretend you didn't know me because Alexa was with me. I'm sure it was weird."

"It's ok, it’s all part of the contract, isn't it?" I lied.

"By the way what when you said you were getting another job I didn’t think this was what you had In mind" he questioned.

"Why didn’t you tell your father no, how hard is it?" I countered.

"You won’t understand how far he is willing to go to get you to bend to his will" he replied.

From the look he gave me I could tell his dad was horrible. Henry actually looked scared of something.

"You have a right to be mad if you want to be but why are you acting like you’re not."

"Why would your father make you go on a date when you're supposedly dating me?" I asked him. "Your father thinks I'm your girlfriend, and yet he sent you on a date?"

"Well some times there’s just nothing I can do about him."

"Do you even need me anymore? I feel like I'm just hanging around and getting in the way."

"Of course I still need you," he responded firmly.

"You're going on dates. That's what your father wanted you to do. So you don't need me anymore, what’s the point of all the pictures we’ve been taking and the dates, all for what?."

"Wait.... My father's deal with me is still on. I still need you."

I didn't let his words get to me. "Why don't you just use that other girl instead of wasting your time with me? I guess your dad already likes her, it would be perfect and more convenient for you. You know she’s really beautiful too."

"Not merely as beautiful as you," he mumbled.

I stopped thinking, my breath stopped. He thought I was more beautiful than her?

"Ha, yeah right," I responded, trying to play it off, while inside my heart was pounding like crazy.

He stood up a little straighter, clearing his throat. "You're gorgeous," he said resolutely.

We both stood there quietly, staring at each other. A soft wind blew, ruffling my hair and caressing my skin.

I wasn't sure whose face was redder. Mine, or his.

"I'm sorry about tonight. Please accept my apology," he said sincerely and I didn't feel angry anymore.

"I... yeah. Okay. I'm sorry for being stubborn."

He smiled a little bit. "No. I like that about you."

It was then and there I decided I was in trouble. What I'd been trying to deny all night demanded to be noticed. I could pretend that I didn't know why I'd been so mad, but deep down I did know why.

I'd broke the number one rule of the contract.

I liked Henry.