The Billionaire's Obsession

Chapter Two

Ava’s POV

I knew I was in trouble the second Maria yelled my name.

“Ava!” Maria’s voice snapped me out of my daze. It was sharp and angry.

“Mendez! What are you doing just standing there? We have two hundred guests!”

I blinked. Reality rushed back. “Sorry, Maria. I’m coming.”

I shoved the card deep into my apron and ran. My sneakers squeaked on the marble floor. It was too loud and too cheap. I could feel people staring and judging. The girl who spilled wine. The girl who didn’t belong. They weren’t wrong.

The kitchen hit me like a furnace. There was heat, noise, and chaos everywhere. Steam poured from ovens. Pots clanged, and chefs yelled in different languages. Servers rushed past, almost knocking me over.

Maria pushed a tray into my chest. “Desserts. And if you drop this one, don’t bother coming back.”

“I won’t,” I whispered, almost to myself.

Twelve plates. Chocolate desserts with gold dust on top. Each plate probably cost more than my groceries for the week.

My hands steadied. I’d done this before. A thousand times. I could do it again.

The card pressed against my hip. It felt heavy. Like a secret. Like a threat. I pushed through the doors into the ballroom.

Everything had shifted. People were sitting now. They were eating and talking softer. The music had changed. I could hear violins. Slow and smooth. I moved between tables.

“Enjoy,” I muttered whenever I served anyone.

My voice stayed pleasant and forgettable. Most people didn’t look up. That was good. I enjoyed being invisible. I smiled, thinking everything was going fine.

“Miss.”

A hand waved at me. Sharp nails. Big rings.

“Yes, ma’am?” I said.

“This has nuts. I’m allergic,” the woman said, her tone sharp.

I looked down. I didn’t see any nuts. But arguing wasn’t worth it.

“I’m sorry. I’ll replace it,” I said.

“You better,” she snapped.

She waved me away and turned back to her friend. I took the plate and returned with another.

She didn’t acknowledge me. Not a word. Not even a “Thank You”. But what was I expecting? I shook my head and moved on to the next table.

The night blurred, and my feet screamed. My shoes were trash. My back burned every time I bent. My fingers cramped around the tray. But I kept going. Because I had to. I had bills to pay. Rent was due. Tuition was waiting. My mum and younger sister needed me.

Somehow, I felt hopeful. Hopeful that the next day, around two o’clock, things might change. But only if the job offer was real. Only if Dominic Vale wasn’t playing with me. And only if rich men ever did things without a reason.

Near midnight, people started leaving. The most important ones first. They walked out like royalty. Drivers opening doors. Black cars waiting. Then we cleaned up after them.

Half-eaten food was scraped into trash bags. Even perfect meals. Untouched. All thrown away.

I looked at my coworker, James. He was smiling. The kind kind. The easy kind. He was the nicest person at the place I worked. I liked calling him Jamie. He was quiet and skinny, with tired eyes that didn’t match his age and a habit of pretending he was fine when he wasn’t. I knew he was just as tired of this place as I was.

“Are you okay, Jamie?” I asked.

“Yeah. Just tired,” he replied. “That wine thing earlier… I thought you were done. But I saw him hand you something. Was it a business card?”

“I thought I was done too,” I chuckled. “He wants me to work with him. I’ll see how it goes.”

“It can’t be that bad, working for a billionaire. And the guy didn’t even yell. You got lucky,” James said.

“Lucky?”

“Yeah. I think you did.”

“Yeah. Guess so,” I said.

“You working Friday?”

I met his eyes. “I don’t know yet.”

“Hope you are. Nights go faster with you.”

I forced a smile. “Thanks.”

We finished cleaning. The air outside was cold. October cold. The good kind—if you weren’t exhausted. Maria handed out pay envelopes at one-thirty.

“Ninety dollars,” she said flatly.

I counted under the bright light. Ninety. That was it.

I took the subway home. It was almost empty. A man slept across the seats. Two kids kissed like the world didn’t exist.

My stop was Queens Street. The doors opened. The city felt different here. Quieter. Rougher. I walked fast. Keys ready. Eyes forward.

By the time I got home, my legs shook. The apartment was dark. I turned on my phone’s flashlight. Clara was asleep on the couch. Books everywhere. Scrubs folded on a chair. She had class at seven.

I moved quietly. Washed my face. Brushed my teeth. I stared at my reflection. I looked worn out. Older than twenty-six. Dark circles. Dry lips. Unwashed hair.

This was my life. Two jobs. Night classes. Social workers. Deadlines. I paid my younger sister’s tuition and my own. I didn’t want her to work. I wanted her to focus on school. I didn’t want her to end up like me.

I changed and pulled out the card.

His name stood out in bold letters. Dominic Vale. Raised. Clean. Heavy.

My laptop sat on the floor. I opened it, then froze when I saw the email I had been avoiding. My chest tightened.

I typed a message. I was about to send it to Mr. Vale.

Mr. Vale,

This is Ava Mendez. We met tonight. I’d like to learn more about the position you mentioned.

I read it again. And again. It sounded calm, professional and not desperate. Even though I was.

I hit send.

The reply came fast. Too fast.

Tomorrow. 2 PM. My office. Bring your resume.

That was it. I checked the time. 2:47 AM. Tomorrow was today.

I smiled, then reality hit. I’d miss my coffee shift. Risk getting fired. For a job I might not get. For a chance I couldn’t ignore.

My phone buzzed and I jumped.

Unknown number. One message.

Stay away from Dominic Vale.

My fingers went numb. Another message followed.

This is your only warning.

My heart slammed against my ribs. How did they have my number? Who was this? What did they know?

I stared at the screen, then set the phone face-down. Tomorrow, I will walk into Dominic Vale’s world. And someone out there didn’t want me to.

I lay back on my bed, wide awake. Because somewhere between the warning and the offer, I knew one thing for sure.

Whatever waited for me at two o’clock wasn’t just a job. And once I stepped into his office, there would be no turning back.