Page 1 of Pretty Girl

Chapter One

Eclipse was an upscale restaurant, but not too expensive that catered solely to insanely rich individuals. Clean, simple, and high-quality services. The restaurant appealed more to romantic fine dining experiences rather than casual eatery and family gatherings.

Sophie rotated her sore ankles from her chair in the breakroom. Her white button-up uniform stretched across her back as she leaned her forehead on her folded arms that was resting on the wooden table.

She wanted to remove her required two-inch heels along with the tight black skirt and sheer black stockings. If she had a choice, she would be at home with a bowl of cereal and binge on episodes of television.

Of course, all the staffs were there from morning to evening because Valentine’s Day was one of their busiest days.

There she was, fully clothed in uniform that was given to her when she first worked at the high-end restaurant.

Women and men donned in fine clothing, sipping expensive wine, and laid on the thick seduction under dimmed romantic lights. Classy and beautiful, it was the only thing Sophie could describe them as, except the rare occasions of drunk guests and their slur of entitlement and superiority.

She remembered one woman, face flushed and shoulder strap slipping, angrily listed all the influencers she knew and how they were on her side if she were to sue the restaurant for discrimination. She ranted on about how women can drink better than men, and they could take care of themselves. Then her heels gave out on her and she tumbled across the floor rather gracelessly.

Sophie had to call a cab and help the injured woman into the car before paying for the fee when the woman grunted out her address. She shuddered at the memories when the woman’s acrylic nails dug into her arms when she helped her, all the while screaming of women equality and cheating men.

That was also the day she met Alec Lafayette.

A man that reeked of power and danger. His presence demanded respect and Sophie swore the man she was serving chugged down his glass of champagne as if it was water to quench his sudden thirst to throw himself at the newcomer.

He was tall, well over six-foot, and strongly built from the broad chest to the even wider shoulders. The black suit tailored perfectly to his frame while the mop of dark hair slicked back so messily that it was sexy.

What Sophie noticed before all his other assets was his intimidatingly cold blue eyes.

His strong jawline was next but that was not the point.

It was hilarious when she thought back on it. Women tossed their hair around so obnoxiously she wondered if it picked up food on their plates, sultry eyelashes batting, and uncomfortable breasts enlargement through locked arms. Men smoothed out their suits, straightened their sitting position, and Sophie thought she saw a tie thrown on the floor.

A waitress, loose buttons and erotic breathing, asked if he would like to be seated.

Sophie tried not to laugh because she felt embarrassed for the waitress when the man ignored her, then she tried for his attention again with a provocative expression.

It wasn’t funny when she realized his eyes was on her from the beginning.

She felt like a prey under his heavy gaze, she had to awkwardly avoid eye contact because no matter how attractive his face was, the prickling sensation under her fingers demanded her to look away.

Then the owner of the restaurant came flying out from the kitchen and she could tell by the tone that the man was an important guest.

Another reason to not accidentally get on his wrong side with her staring.

In theory, the more experienced servers take on their regulars and the important guests. She didn’t understand why the owner had suddenly ushered her to the most expensive private room where it was only reserved for special guests.

The owner told her that the man was her only guest for the rest of the night and serve him whatever he asked for with the utmost respect and professionalism. It wasn’t like she wanted to serve him, but the man had specifically demanded she only serve him and to leave them undisturbed.

She thought she was going to have gray hair from all the stress when she gets home.

Turned out it was just her imagination. Mr. Lafayette was extremely well-mannered, kind, and went easy on her.

Maybe he could tell she was new there.

He also left her a tip bigger than the cost of his meal. She had been so flustered when she saw the amount and repeatedly tried to return the amount because she was not going to have the owner think she was running an escort business in the back of his reserved VIP room.

Mr. Lafayette only smiled, slipped the tip in her small hand, and said she was such a sweet girl for catering to his whims.

The rest of the night was just red cheeks and wild heartbeats.

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