Chapter 6 Fired

• River’s POV
• “Girl, come here.” Angel pulled me over to the corner of the counter while we waited for a customer’s order to be ready. I knew her well enough to know what was coming anytime she wanted to spill the “tea,” as she called it, she’d pull me aside for a quiet chat.
• The aprons secured around our waists were the only things that tagged us as waitresses. Angel’s hair was pulled up in a tight bun, and she was wearing tight jeans and a loose top. I had on a pair of baggy pants and a medium_sized top, with a cap holding my dark hair together, keeping everything low-key. To a casual observer, we could have been just two people passing through. But the big logo stamped on our aprons gave us away as employees.
• “What?” I asked, trying not to sound too interested. Today, I wasn’t really in the mood.
• “Miss Gold is on a firing spree,” she whispered, ignoring the scowl on my face.
• My expression softened immediately, her words sparking my curiosity. “What do you mean?”
• “She just sacked two people for the tiniest mistake,” she emphasized, a look of worry deepening on her face.
• My hand flew to my mouth as a shock jolted through me. Losing this job was the last thing I needed, especially after Mr. Kent’s warning about my rent this morning. I could feel anxiety knotting in my chest at the thought.
• “So, I’d advise you to be on your best behavior,” she said, just as the bell rang, signaling an order was ready. I hurried over to grab my tray and delivered it to a young woman seated near the window. Once done, I drifted back to the corner, keeping a careful eye on the door for any new customers—while also keeping an eye out for Miss Gold. Her reputation for being ruthless was no exaggeration.
• Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Angel returning with an empty tray. She discarded it, then sidled up next to me again, her mouth already curved into a smirk.
• “What do you think has her so worked up?” I asked as she got close.
• “Well, apparently, Ava, her assistant, loves to gossip. She told me Mr. Handsome stood Miss Gold up,” Angel said, her sense of humor creeping back into her tone.
• “Mr. Handsome?” I repeated, blinking in confusion.
• “Yeah, Mr Rico,” she said,and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine at the mention of his name. Unsettling memories flashed back, the intense look in his eyes, the tension I felt between us, and the way his hand had remained on my breast, making my pulse quicken. The memory alone was enough to make my heart pound.
• “River? Earth to River.” Angel’s fingers snapped in front of me, startling me back to the present.
• “Yes, yes, continue,” I mumbled, forcing myself to focus on her words.
• Angel’s expression changed, her gaze turning serious. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I heard something else about Mr. Handsome, River. He’s not who you think he is.”
• “What…what do you mean?” I tried to steady my voice, already bracing myself for what she might say.
• I knew Rico wasn’t exactly an ordinary guy; he had armed men around him, had been shot, and treated it all like just another day. But hearing Angel’s ominous tone stirred something unsettling inside me. Just how dangerous was he?
• She leaned in even closer, her eyes glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. “He’s a Mafia lord, River. Not just anyone, but one of the most powerful bosses out there. They say he kills people…for sport.”
• Her words froze me. If I had been considering confiding in her about what happened between me and Rico, those thoughts disappeared. How could I tell her I had been touched by a man like that, a man covered in violence? Shame settled over me like a thick blanket, making it hard to breathe. The thought of his hand on me, his gaze, suddenly felt wrong. And the worst part? I’d let myself be drawn to him, had even enjoyed it.
• “Hey, you! Come here now!” a sharp voice sliced through my thoughts. I looked up, my heart racing, to see Miss Gold glaring at us from across the room, her lips pressed into a tight line. Angel’s face mirrored my own shock. She looked back at me, her eyes wide. The woman was like a storm ready to explode.
• We hurried over, each step making my stomach twist with dread. Miss Gold didn’t say a word as we approached, but the look on her face was enough to tell us this was serious.
• Oh Lord,I can't afford to loose my job, Miss Gold herself has deprived me of my hard earned money made from that party and now the decision lies in her hand if I still have my job or not, I hope the latter isn't the case.
• “What exactly do you two think you’re doing, standing around gossiping?” she demanded, her voice low and cold. The anger simmering just beneath her words was unmistakable.
• “We were just waiting for orders, ma’am,” Angel said, her voice trembling slightly.
• “Waiting for orders?” Miss Gold repeated, her eyebrow arching. “Funny, because to me, it looks like you are wasting my time and slowing down my business.”
• I forced myself to meet her eyes, swallowing back the wave of fear heightening in my chest. “We are sorry, Miss Gold. It won’t happen again.”
• “Oh, you’re right about that.” She crossed her arms, her gaze like steel. “I’ve tolerated enough from the both of you. First, my customers complain about slow service, and now I catch you both whispering on my time? Unacceptable.”
• I felt a chill run through me, a feeling of awareness that she was about to do something harsh.
• “Both of
• you,” she snapped, her voice laced with finality. “Are fired.”