A Bride By Bet, Bound By Paper

Elena’s POV Glass shattered, and a man's voice could be heard talking, but all came out as a mumble to her. Elena froze outside the door, clutching her tray so hard her knuckles whitened. Her skirt rode high on her thighs. She tugged it down, sighed heavily, swallowed, then knocked. “Come in.” The voice was low, immediate and dangerous, but also inviting. She crossed herself quickly and pushed the door open, to see two men. One seated and the other staring through the floor-to-glass window. “Good evening, sirs.” Her smile was sweet, too sweet but customers had to feel at home if she wanted to be on the order list. No one responded to her and she was grateful about it. She moved toward the table, arranging the glasses exactly as ordered, she could not make a mistake. Almost done with the task when she felt someone's hand brush against her backside. Elena spun around, hugging the tray to her chest. “Sir…” Her voice trembled seeing who it was. Wyatt Harrington. The name alone was a warning. She had heard the stories. The way he 'favoured' women. The way he owned them and made them bend, only to go for the next flavourful thing afterwards. Her coworkers had been jealous when she was chosen to serve him, whispering about how he would change her life. She didn’t want that. She only wanted to keep her job. “Have I seen you before?” His lips curved, eyes sliding over her body like a predator sizing up prey. Her palms went slick. Her back went cold. “Wyatt,” the man beside him cut in, sounding tired. But Wyatt didn’t look away, his eyes burned. “James, she is the fairest of them all. Look at those legs.” he pointed to her legs Her knees nearly gave out, she swallowed almost choking up. “Do you always speak this way to women?” Elena forced out, voice shaking but sharp. “I find it disrespectful.” He smiled wider. “Really?” “Is there anything you need, sir?” She lifted her chin, forcing herself to meet his gaze. Crossing the space between them with deliberate strides. Elena stood still refusing to step back. “One night with me,” his husky voice dropped low, “and I will give you anything you want.” His hand rose toward her cheek. She shifted aside. “Is your head on the menu?” Something dark flickered in his eyes. Then he laughed. “Freaky. I love it.” The room felt smaller and stuffy to Elena, she needed out. She was beginning to lose control of her tongue and that would cost her her job. “Wyatt.” James’s voice was sharp now. “We have bigger issues. This can wait.” Wyatt blinked, but his gaze stayed locked on her as if he could hear her racing heart, “I will remember you.” Elena’s chest rose and fell in quick bursts. She had not realized she was holding her breath. “Leave.” He waved a hand. She bolted, not waiting for a moment or turning to look back. "How did it go?" "Did he fancy you?" "Did you guys do anything?" These questions from her co-workers welcomed her as soon as she entered the kitchen, without answering them, she rushed to get a glass of water gulping it down. "Was he that bad? public review says that he is the best on bed," a coworker said, making the tray in Elena's hand drop. "Are you okay?" the girls suddenly asked, sensing that something was wrong but Elena waved her hand. "Someone else can take up my turn to clear them up, my shift is over," Elena said, the memory rushing through her mind, she wondered what other girls saw in him that made them lose themselves. "It seems he doesn't like you and you are pained," a girl shot but Elena gave her a casual glance before turning the clock and walking away. She hurried back to the closet room and began undressing. She had just carried her bag when she heard her phone buzz, picking it up, her lips curved upwards, her eyes lighting up. "Yes!" she screamed excitedly seeing the email. "What happened?" The madam who was passing by rushed in. "I just got admitted into Rue Law!" Elena couldn't contain her joy as she jumped. "Congratulations but do not disturb my place, celebrate your win on your way out," she advised and walked away. Elena was grateful for the congratulations and without wasting any more time, she jumped into the streets. "Stacy, we did it" Excitement ran through her veins at the thought of passing the news to her kid sister. Still lost in excitement, she answered her phone as soon as it rang but hearing the voice at the other end, her excitement watered down. "You better hurry home, your sister is on the street until you can pay rent, she will be there and might even die before you get there," the woman at the other end hung up. Elena's heart dropped as cold wind brushed past her skin, she looked at the sky to see that it was cloudy. Running as fast as she could, she got to Rundown valley to see a little kid cuddled up beside two big bags. "Stacy?" Elena called out, seeing the pale frail kid that stared at the closed door in front of her. Elena ran to her, "I am sorry," he mumbled picking her up to notice that she was burning. "I was waiting for you, I feel so weak," the girl complained, resting her head on Elena's bosom. Elena charged at the door banging it. "Ms Kate, please. Allow Stacey in, she is sick." The more she banged, the more she felt something was wrong. Hesitantly, she looked down to see that the little kid was no longer breathing and was slowly turning blushish grey. "Stacey?”