My Alpha's Elusive Heart

Chapter 9 Getting Fired

Ivy stood there with a pack of werewolves, staring me down like prey. I clutched the menu in my hand and turned on my heels to walk away.

"So, is this how you treat your customers?"

Minutes later, the manager called me out and scolded me. "Claire, how could you be so disrespectful to a customer? Now, go apologize and promise it won't happen again, or you can say goodbye to your paycheck. Got it?"

"I'm sorry." I tried not to look in the direction where the mocking laughter was coming from, eager to retreat into the kitchen.

Ivy flashed me a smug smile. "Wait a second. I want her to serve me personally."

The manager glared at me. "Get over there, now! And if you mess up again, you're fired!"

I bit down on my lip and slowly approached their table. "Hello, may I take your order?"

I kept telling myself to hold on a bit longer, just get through this month so I could send the money to Maria.

Ivy picked through the menu with exaggerated disdain and ordered a bunch of random things. "Alright, I want all of this in five minutes, though I'm sure it'll be just as cheap as you are, Miss Fake. Oh, by the way, this peasant uniform suits you better than those fake designer dresses."

"What does that even mean?" one of the werewolf boys beside her asked with feigned curiosity.

"This Cinderella here thought she could fool people at the party with her knock-off brands." Ivy sneered, glaring at me once over with disgust in her eyes.

The group burst into laughter.

Ignoring them, I kept my expression calm, plastering on the professional smile I'd perfected over time. "Sure, ma'am. I noticed your right hand seems injured, so I'll be sure to bring you an extra straw and spoon to make things easier."

Their laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by snickers from other tables.

Ivy's face flushed with rage, but she gritted her teeth and said nothing more.

But I knew she wasn't going to let this go.

*****

Within five minutes, I had their table piled high with food.

"Enjoy your meal," I said, trying to leave before things escalated. But Ivy grabbed a bowl of soup and deliberately smashed it on the floor.

"Oh my! How could you serve such filthy food here?" she exclaimed theatrically.

The manager stormed over, glaring at me. "What's going on here?"

"I don't know. I just served the food..." I began to explain.

Before I could finish, Ivy stirred her spoon through the plate and revealed a few cockroaches. "Look at this! Are you feeding customers cockroaches now?"

The other customers recoiled in horror, pushing their plates away.

The manager stammered in disbelief, "That's impossible, ma'am. We have strict hygiene standards..."

"Oh? Then someone must have put these on my plate on purpose." Ivy accused, her eyes fixed on me.

The manager turned to me, eyes blazing with accusation. "Claire, did you do this?"

"Of course not!" I snapped, just as furious.

Ivy waved her phone smugly. "Looks like I'll have to report this."

"No, please, ma'am," the manager interjected and then shouted at me again, "Claire, apologize now!"

He stared me down, leaving me no choice but to mutter, "I'm sorry, Ms. Silvers. Can we let this go now?"

"I might consider it," Ivy said, pointing to the plate. "If you eat it."

Another wave of laughter rippled through the restaurant as everyone waited to see me humiliated.

I locked eyes with Ivy. Her smugness was unbearable. I knew she wasn't going to stop. My anger surged as I pressed my lips together.

"Claire, what the hell are you waiting for? Do it, or you're fired!" the manager barked, his words dripping with venom.

I took a deep breath and asked, "So, you're not going to stop, are you?"

"What do you think?" Ivy tilted her head, giving me a sweet yet fake smile.

Then I slapped a bowl of soup off the table, sending the scalding soup splashing onto Ivy's chest.

"Ah!" Ivy screamed and then lunged at me, her hand closing around my throat as she pinned me to the wall. "b***h, how dare you?"

Her golden eyes and sharp fangs terrified the other customers.

I struggled for breath but managed a defiant smile, whispering, "You started this, Ivy. I wonder how the Silverclaw Pack would react to their future Luna, Alpha Leon's fiancée, caught in a scandal like this? Or would you prefer to have another heart-to-heart with your uncle? I'm sure he wouldn't mind breaking your left hand."

I cast a glance at her injured hand.

Thankfully, my bluff worked. Ivy's eyes flickered with fear before she released me, hissing her final threat as she left. "This isn't over. I swear, you'll never find a job in this town again."

*****

As expected, I got fired because of Ivy.

"I told you, this is only the beginning. Watch your back."

Remembering Ivy's venomous taunts about ruining my job, I clenched my fists in frustration.

After I recounted everything to Adele, she exploded in anger. "That b***h! Just because she's the daughter of a werewolf elder, she thinks she can do anything?"

"Keep it down." I sighed, tugging her arm. "The real issue now is that I need to find a new job."

"I can lend you some money," Adele offered. "And I'll ask around about part-time gigs."

"Thanks, girl, but no." I appreciated her offer but turned down the money. "But if you hear about any jobs, that would be great."

A buzzing sound filled my ears as I pulled out my phone to search for job listings. Voices, unfamiliar and hushed, sounded nearby. "I heard she's here. Let's go find her."

My instincts flared. No time to explain. I quickly said goodbye to Adele, climbed out the window, and jumped into the flowerbed before bolting toward the edge of campus.

I had to get the danger away from my friends. My thoughts flashed to the poor driver from last night. I couldn't let that happen again.

As I reached the street, a truck came barreling toward me at full speed.

"Damn it!"

There was no time to move. Terror seized me as the truck drew closer, and I closed my eyes, bracing for impact. But the White Wolf came crashing into me at the last second, knocking me out of the way.

I tumbled to the roadside, watching in shock as the truck swerved onto the sidewalk, slamming into a wall. 'If it wasn't for White Wolf, I'd be dead.'

People screamed as the truck driver hesitated for a moment before speeding away. Trembling, I got to my feet, ready to run. But just then, another car screeched to a stop beside me, its door swinging open, and I was yanked inside!