Scandal in his arms

The doorbells jingled for the eightieth time that morning. The time was now fifteen minutes past eight. Everyone stared at the handsome man who made such a noise entering the restaurant. He simply sat at a table and crossed his legs while reading an article on his phone. Everyone still stared at him for different reasons. Some stared because of his face. Some stared because of his body. Others were forced to stare because of the clothes. But a few people like Abigail had to stare because of the cold aura he was emitting. Abigail gulped and closed her eyes. Yep, the manager was walking toward her hurriedly. He was coming to say the exact words Abi had memorized ever since the suspicious man started coming to the restaurant. “Abi! What are you still doing here? Hurry up and go serve Mr. Leo over there,” the manager said with a frown. “Yes sir,” Abi replied and began to make the coffee the man always came for. She looked at Riley, a fellow worker who had become her friend. Riley smiled at her, giving her that same funny look she always gave whenever the man was around. Abi knew what it meant and ignored her. Riley was crazy, so what could she expect from a crazy person? The first time Mr. Leo came to the restaurant, Riley had been the first person to interrogate Abi after she served him. “So, how many heart attacks did you get?” Riley asked. “None,” Abi hissed. “What?” Riley sneered. “I know you don’t want to tell me that you like a boy already. That nerd you like doesn’t count as a man, so… duh,” Riley rolled her eyes dramatically, and Abi laughed. “Well, I didn’t feel anything for your crush, so let me be,” Abi said and walked away quickly. She knew that if she stayed a second longer, Riley would talk her ears off. Riley was talkative and funny. She was also crazy and got what she wanted by all means. She was working at the restaurant because her family had asked her to prove herself worthy of being an heiress. Riley was a rich b***h and a lavish spender. She decided to work at a restaurant for three months to prove her family wrong for calling her a spendthrift. After working at five places for a month, she almost gave up. Then she stumbled upon the restaurant she was working in now and decided to push through for the three months. Abi had been the one boosting her spirit and motivating her all along, or else she would have quit a long time ago. Apart from that, her motivation came from hot boys and dramas. The restaurant, *Rhyte Taste*, was popular with many dramas happening every day. Mr. Leo had been the one reason Riley came to work every day. “He may come today.” That was her anthem every morning when she woke up. Riley was an extrovert and liked doing things extravagantly. She hadn’t been friends with Abi initially because of the way she was brought up. She wasn’t taught to mingle with lower-class people and kept to herself. But that made her an easy target. Her so-called friends came to *Rhyte Taste* one day and began to make fun of her after seeing her as a waitress. They thought her family’s company had hit rock bottom and laughed at her. Abi had been the one to stand up for her. She bad-mouthed them and called one of her former friends a “divorced frog.” Riley became friends with her quickly, and they grew close. Riley had to live a simple life for three months, or she wouldn’t get the position of heiress. She winked at Abi, who took a deep breath and held the tray containing the coffee with shaky hands. Abi raised her chin and dragged her feet toward the man who was staring into her soul as she walked toward him. *Why can’t he look away?* she asked herself and bit her lip. “Ahh!” she cried out, eyes widening in shock. She was on the floor and looked at the man in horror. “Are you okay, Mr. Leo?” The manager ran to him with a pack of serviette papers. “Clean his hand now!” the manager yelled at Abi. She quickly got up and took one of the serviette papers from him. She grabbed Mr. Leo’s hand and began to wipe it furiously. She kept her head down as she cleaned his hand. “What are you doing?” the man asked with a deep voice. Abi froze and bit her lips. *Did he just talk to me? Is that his real voice? Why is he talking like—* “Are you deaf?!” the manager screamed, then stopped when Mr. Leo raised his hand. “Look at me,” Abi heard his voice again. The man waved his hand, dismissing the annoying manager. The manager bowed and walked away quickly. “Are you hurt?” the man asked, holding her hand. Abi pulled her hand away immediately. It was cold and large. *Why did he touch me?* She shook her head and muttered, “I’m sorry.” She gathered the chipped cup and tray from the floor and disappeared from his sight. She was sure someone had tripped her. She looked around and hissed. It had to be Zoe. She’d always been jealous of Abi from day one. The jealousy must have peaked for her to do this. She’d once told Abi she loved Mr. Leo and asked her to stay away. But how could Abi, when the manager always made her serve him? Abi walked back to the counter with guilt. “Oh my gosh! What’s with the redness, Abi?” Travis asked. He was the only guy close to her in the restaurant after being rejected as a partner by her. He was the only one who really cared about her—apart from the ones who just wanted to get in her pants. “Are you blind?” Riley snapped at Travis, who frowned at her. “What?” Travis rolled his eyes. “Oh my Travis,” Riley sang, hands on hips. “Where were you when she fell with the tray?” “What do you mean ‘fell’?” he asked. “She fell, okay?” Riley pursed her lips. “Are you okay?” Riley and Travis chorused. “I’m fine,” Abi lied and dropped the tray. “Zoe tripped me,” she added. “Really?” Riley smirked and met Abi’s eyes. “No,” Abi said quickly. She knew that look. It meant *revenge.* Riley wanted to get back at Zoe. And the last time Riley took revenge for her… it was bad. --- *[Continued in next message — due to length]* **(Chapter One Continued — Edited)** --- Abi had once told the workers that she was looking for an extra job. One of the girls, Samantha, told her about an opportunity they could do together. Abi hadn’t seen a problem with it and accepted the offer. Abi was working hard to pay off the loan her father had taken before running away with another woman. They went to a decoration job for an event. Abi was the main decorator because her mom had been one too. Samantha was just there to hand her pins and fabrics. Some guests loved the decoration and approached Samantha for contact details. They wanted to hire them for future events. Samantha gave them *her* number and left Abi’s contact out. Abi split the payment anyway because Samantha had brought the job. Later, Samantha worked with other decorators when those guests hired her. By the time Abi found out, it was too late. She was mad, but what could she do? Samantha later confessed that the clients didn’t pay much and were unhappy with the work. Abi told Riley, and Riley swore revenge. Samantha was planning to get married soon. One day, at a party where she was drunk, Riley seized the chance. She took Samantha’s phone and sent a message to her fiancé: **‘Hey baby. I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll be quick. I’ve been lying to you. I’m pregnant and married. Three months now. I’m sorry. Move on. Don’t forget to invite me to your wedding.’** Shockingly, the fiancé believed it. Samantha had a reputation, so he wasn’t surprised. Samantha was furious with Abi, even though Riley had sent the message. She quit *Rhyte Taste* and relocated. Abi warned Riley never to try something like that again. It was a cruel joke. That’s why she saved Riley’s name in her phone as **‘Evil Witch.’** --- “I wasn’t going to, okay?” Riley smiled at Abi. “You’re fired, Abigail,” the manager returned, angry. “What?” Abi stared at him in shock. Why was she being fired? “I said you’re fired. Take your things and leave. Don’t you know who Mr. Leo is?!” he yelled, scoffing. “Ah! Of course, you don’t. You don’t even have a phone! All you do is watch silly news in your leisure time and cook your life away,” he spat. “At least she’s useful,” Riley muttered. “What did you say?” the manager turned to her. “She said—” “Shut up! I heard her,” the manager hissed at Travis. “Take your things and get out. I don’t want to see you when I return,” he declared, then walked off.