Chapter 1 The Rejection

Jennifer's POV

Lily woke me up-the alarm my dad bought me on my twentieth birthday. It was time to get ready for work. Today is Friday, a good weekend for making extra money. Most rich customers leave tips, enough to buy dad's diabetic medication and mom's small bakery are not enough to foot the bills. My little sister, Jacklyn, is in her first year in college. ​I took a cab to the restaurant, changed into my uniform, and started taking customer orders. ​"Waiter!" a man sitting at the corner yelled. He looked familiar. I walked over. "Get my friends and me your expensive wine," he said arrogantly. He took off his spectacles-yes, it was him. The actor and pop star, William Scott. I had heard rumors he treats women like trash. ​"Is that all, sir?" I asked politely. He scanned me up and down like I was an experiment. I left to get the wine. ​I brought the bottle over. He glanced at it, then at me. "I asked for white wine, not red, dummy." ​"I'm sorry, sir." I went back and exchanged it. ​"I didn't ask for this brand. Get me an expensive Italian wine. Are you this dumb? And the glass-is that even a wine glass?" They burst into laughter. "She is so dumb." Anger flared inside me. I looked him straight in the eyes. "Please, sir, can you be specific with your order? I have other customers to attend to." ​"What, are we some statues? Aren't we customers too? Get the fucking wine now." ​He was getting on my nerves. I brought a different Italian wine back. "Sir, here you go." ​"I don't like the wine glass. Change it." ​I started to walk away. He got up and grabbed my wrist. "Are you walking out on us? Get us a proper glass." ​"Another waiter will get it." ​"I want you to get it. Unless you want to lose your job." ​My job paid the bills and covered Jacklyn's fees. I got him a glass usually reserved for government officials. "Open the wine and serve us. Do I have to teach you your job?" ​I ignored his insult, poured the wine, and walked away. ​"Hey girl, what's wrong?" Diane asked. ​"He's full of himself." ​"You mean William Scott? He comes here whenever he's in town. Stay away from his trouble. He can make things tough." ​"To hell with him. I will not allow myself to be insulted." ​Just then, he yelled, "Waiter!" ​I didn't go. Diane went instead, but he asked specifically for me. I walked over, holding the bill. It came to two hundred bucks. ​"How much for a night with me?" he asked. "I will pay you well. I need to have a taste of you." ​This was enough. "I am not a prostitute, sir. Why don't you look for one?" ​He glared at me, furious. "Do you know who I am?" ​"I don't really care." "I can make you lose your job just because you turned me down." ​"You're a mean person." I stepped closer. "How many girls have you slept with using that cheap threat? I don't sleep with men to keep my job. Because I'm not cheap like you." ​"You're no different from the girls I've slept with. You should count yourself lucky, bitch." ​I took the remaining wine in the glass and threw it right in his face. "This is for calling me a bitch." ​"You're done. Manager!" he roared. ​Mr. Pedro hurried over. "Fire her now." ​"Sir, please calm down, she poured wine on me-" ​"If you don't fire her now, I will post the video of your staff attacking me." ​"Jennifer, how could you do this?" Mr. Pedro stammered. ​"I'm sorry, Mr. Scott, please let's settle this-" ​"No settlement. Fire her now." ​"You are fired, Jennifer! You should have just ignored him." ​I ran into the back room, changed, and shoved my uniform at Pedro. "You can eat this. To hell with you all." ​I walked out and headed home. That bastard made me lose my job. I should have scratched his face instead. I didn't want Dad to worry-his sugar levels could spike. ​I walked toward the nearby internet cafe to update my CV. A black G-Wagon crept along behind me. The faster I moved, the closer it got before suddenly swerving to block my path. ​The door opened, and William stepped out. ​"Look who we have here. The sharp-tongued girl who just lost her job," he mocked, laughing. "It's not too late. My offer still stands. Warm my bed, and I'll pay you. That money is more than enough to feed your family." "I don't need your filthy money." I turned to leave, but he cut me off. ​"Not so fast. There's no one here to help you." ​"Let go of me." ​He pushed me closer, his hands locking around my waist. He was handsome, but his personality was vile. ​"You're at my mercy now," he whispered, his finger tracing my jaw. "I get whatever I want." ​"That's William Scott, the most handsome celebrity in the country!" one of his friends called out from the car. ​"Let go of me, you coward!" ​His grip tightened. Suddenly, he crashed his mouth onto mine in a rough kiss. Shock hit me, followed instantly by pure fury. I reared back and slapped the hell out of him. ​"Don't you ever touch me again!" ​The loud crack of the slap echoed down the empty street. His friends went dead silent. ​"Damn, William... did she really just do that?" ​William stood there, hand pressed to his cheek. I didn't wait around; I turned and ran, desperate to escape. ​By the time I finished printing my CV, dropped off copies at different restaurants, and headed home, I was exhausted. I decided not to tell Mom and Dad just yet. ​The next morning, a message popped up on my phone from Pedro: You have your job back. Come early. ​It had to be a trap. I ignored it and headed out to look for work. ​Then my phone rang. It was Pedro. "Jennifer, come back to work. Your position is restored." ​"No, Mr. Pedro. Tell him his trap won't work." ​"Trap? What are you talking about? Mr. Scott called. He said he was unfair to you yesterday and was just having a rough day." ​"I still won't come back." ​"Well... your salary is doubled." ​I went silent for a second. "I'll get ready now." ​When I arrived at the restaurant, Pedro was pacing outside. ​"Officers, that's her! That's the lady who abused me yesterday," a voice called out. ​William stepped out, pointing right at me. ​"You set me up, Mr. Pedro!" I cried out. ​"I'm sorry, Jennifer, my business is at stake," Pedro muttered, looking away. ​I glared at him. "I hate you." ​William flashed a smug smile and drove off, leaving me to the officers. I was shoved into custody. ​"Miss Jennifer, Mr. Williams wants to settle if you cooperate," an officer announced. ​I knew he wanted sex. I would rather rot in prison than spend a single night with him. ​"That's not what he wants," the officer corrected. "He wants you to work as his personal cook for three months. Refuse, and this goes to court." ​I had no money for a lawyer, and my family was counting on me. ​"I accept," I muttered. ​Ten minutes later, William strolled in. He didn't look at me until he finished signing the release papers. "You can go now." ​I bit my tongue to stop myself from slapping him again. ​He drove me to his house. It was massive and isolated-just one of many luxury properties he owned. He parked, leaving me staring at the sprawling, empty estate. ​"You start work now. I am your boss," he said coldly. "Be careful what you say. The menu is in the kitchen. Your salary is a thousand dollars." ​A thousand dollars. It was a fortune for my family. I decided I could tolerate his arrogance to save that much money. ​Hours later, lunch was ready. "Mr. Williams, your lunch is ready," I announced, knocking before walking in. ​He wore only a low-slung boxers, the heavy outline of his arousal hard to miss. My body reacted instantly, but I forced my gaze away and set the food down. ​As I turned to leave, he grabbed my hand and pressed it flat against his bare chest. His breath scorched my skin. ​"Are you sure you really don't want me to eat this lunch first?" he drawled. ​His warm skin sent a dangerous jolt through me. For a second, I was lost, especially when his hand guided mine lower, pressing it right against his cock. ​Panic hit. I snapped back to reality, ripped my hand away, and bolted out of the room.