Aurora’s P.O.V
Next week came faster than anticipated, and on a Tuesday evening, I bid goodbye to my little brother as he happily skipped over to his friend’s family, to be greeted by his mother fondly before they got into their car and drove off to their house.
I had indeed underestimated how popular Riley was in his class. After all, just because the entire town hated me because of my father, didn’t mean that they felt the same about my five year old brother.
After heading to work around two in the afternoon, we quickly got to work preparing the bulk order, since everything was to be delivered fresh. After packing and loading up the van, the three of us dressed in the uniform that Jeremy had gotten especially for us and set out to our destination around ten thirty at night, since that was the time allotted by the customer.
It was a midnight party and the three of us were to stay to serve the customers until it ended, so we were all prepared for a rough night ahead.
The grand houses on either side of the road were an immediate indication that we had entered the posh area of Blue Hill. The beautiful architecture and the immaculately cut lawns were lit with several lights, so that the flowers were visible even in the dark.
However, I knew something was wrong the second we stepped out of the van and were stopped at the gate to the humongous estate at 146 C Loudon Street, around eleven o’ clock at night.
“You have an invite?” One of the two guards stationed at the gate asked us, their brows furrowed as they looked us up and down in disdain.
“Yes,” Hayden took out the card from the envelop he was holding and handed it to the guards. “We’re here to deliver food.”
The guards exchanged questioning looks as they both came forward to study the card. They were both tall and muscular and dressed in black jackets and pants, more like the people who served VIP clients and not ordinary guards that guarded doors at large estates. Once they had studied the card, one of them turned towards us with a sigh.
“Look, this is a private party, and this is a fake invite,” he looked back at our van and then back at us. “I don’t know who did this or if you got pranked, but we can’t allow you inside. It’s best if you just leave peacefully and not make a fuss here.”
My jaw was literally on the floor.
They couldn’t allow us inside? After ordering a hundred fries and burgers each? They wanted us to leave peacefully?
“We have a receipt of a $500 advance payment.” Roan came forward then, handing the guard the receipt that he had saved and as soon as the guard saw it, a stream of curses escaped his lips.
“Wait here.” He said and went back into his booth to make a call, while the three of us stood facing each other, our worry growing by the minute.
“What the fuck is going on?” Roan looked at us both, his brows drawn in anger. “Is this some kind of a joke? They made us prepare all this food and now they want us to leave? Without even paying us?”
“Who the hell could have made such a joke?” Hayden snapped angrily, his hands balled at his sides. “This isn’t funny! People are starving all over the world and now they want us to waste food? Jeremy is already selling stuff cheaper than other restaurants! If this order bounces…he’ll have to take a damn loan to keep the place running!”
Loan? Jeremy’s been struggling?
Even the thought of it made me freeze up in fear. All this time…he would give us all the extra orders and leftovers; even though his own place was struggling…it wasn’t something I had ever thought of.
What was going on? Who on earth could have played such a prank on us? Don’t they realize just how bad their idea was?
But while the three of us had been discussing the issue, someone had walked up to the gate then, and had been observing our suffering with a gleeful smile. And it was the person that I loathed and detested the most, aside from my father.
“Lookie what the dogs dragged in!”
Startled, all three of us turned towards the gate…to find Shane Matthews standing in a golden suit jacket and black pants, with a black shirt underneath. His dirty blonde hair was gelled back and his grey eyes looked at me menacingly as a sly smirk formed on his lips.
Dread settled in the pit of my stomach as I realized what was going on. We had been tricked. Shane took his sweet revenge, not just on me but the restaurant I worked at by placing a false order. He had only paid five hundred dollars…but Jeremy would lose triple the amount if this order got rejected.
“You!” Roan stepped forward at the sight of Shane. “You placed the order in front of me! Why are these people telling us to leave now?”
“Because we don’t need food from your low-class restaurant, you fool.” Shane laughed, the sound cruel and full of satisfaction. “We have Michelin star chef’s preparing our dinner for us. But if you want to blame someone, blame that useless bitch right there, for slapping me in front of everyone.”
Both Hayden and Roan turned to face me, realization dawning on their faces. I looked down at the ground in shame, unable to face either one of them or their disappointed looks. It was my fault! If only I had kept my enduring a little while longer…if only I had never spoken to Caleb…
“You did this out of spite?” It was Roan’s angry voice that had me looking back up at the scene unfolding before me. “You spoiled little brat! You think money grows on trees? But of course, you wouldn’t know, would you? Your parent’s probably never had time to teach you decent etiquette!”
A sound escaped Shane’s mouth that almost sounded like a dog’s growl. His face changed from a smirk to pure, unadulterated anger as he pushed open the heavy metal doors as if they weighed nothing, and strode ahead to stand toe to toe with Roan. Surprisingly, Shane was bigger than Roan in every way possible, towering a few inches above him and with muscles that was showing through his jacket.
However, Roan didn’t flinch back either. I was surprised to find him standing his ground despite the intimidating aura coming off of Shane that made every cell in my body scream at me to ‘run’!
But then, Shane looked back at me, and that smirk returned to his lips.
“Five thousand dollars.” He told Roan, placing his hands inside his pockets. “That should be enough to cover the cost of the food and services and add a good tip. I’ll even give you the opportunity to take back the food and do whatever you want with it. Fuck, go end world hunger for all I care. But in return…she stays back and serves all night.”
Both Roan and Hayden looked back at me in surprise, but I clenched my hands into fists by my side as perspiration began to bead on my forehead. Something wasn’t right…Shane was playing a trick on me, on us all! But five thousand?
I dared a look at both Roan and Hayden and as I had expected, they both looked hopeful and torn at the same time. They knew that something was wrong, but the offer was too high. It was a lot of money…money that would be used to trample on my self-esteem if I accepted the offer.
But if not…it would affect Jeremy in the worst way possible…
‘Just one night…’I thought to myself, even as my stomach twisted with nerves and my mind went blank from fear of what was to come. ‘Just one night, Aurora…you can survive this can’t you? Just one night…’
But then I remembered what Hayden and Roan has said only a few minutes ago. If this order fails…Jeremy would have to take a loan…he wouldn’t be able to pay… and I didn’t want his business to go under, no matter what the cost.
Out of all the people in this shitty town, Jeremy had been one of the only people who had stood beside me at my lowest. He had given me a job when no one else was ready to trust a fifteen year old with a two year old child on her lap and a gambler father renowned for his reputation.
He had been giving me food to eat every single night that I had been working for him. He hadn’t fired me when my father had found out that I was working for him and had gone out to ask Jeremy to hand him all of my hard earned money; instead, Jeremy had threatened to skin him alive if he showed up at the restaurant ever again.
This was my chance to repay him for all his kindness…this was my chance to help him for everything that he had done for me.
“I’ll do it.” I spoke quietly, my voice trembling as I closed my eyes to take a deep breath.
Both Roan and Hayden’s face broke out into a hopeful smile at my acceptance. I knew they were both worried about me, but they didn’t know Shane and his friends like I did, so they didn’t know what to expect.
“But…” I added, looking Shane right in the eyes. “You will pay the payment you promised in full. This time, no one is getting fooled.”
“Fine,” Shane smirked and took out his wallet, before counting the bills and handing them over to Roan. “This should be enough, right? Now…fulfill your part of the deal…bitch!”
Roan looked back at me with eyes full of concern, and I tried to give him a reassuring smile. But only I knew the truth. This wasn’t going to be an easy night for me. This was going to be the start of a disaster. A disaster that Shane had been planning for weeks in advanced, from the second I had slapped him at the restaurant.
I should’ve known that every action I made would have a consequence. My only hope was that I survived the night, and had the courage to face the consequences of my unintentional actions.