Chapter 1 001

• The tray was stacked high with empty cups as she passed through a fully stacked bar. It was on a Friday night so of course, both regulars and non-regulars would come over to one of the best local bar in town.
• "Ella, over here. A pint of beer and a bottle of American whiskey. Hurry!" A colleague yelled out over the loud, blaring music.
• Isabella Rodriguez, newly turning twenty five, pushed her way through the crowds as she held on to the tray firmly. This was a normal day for her as she was used to the hustle and bustle of the town. Nothing about her life had ever been orderly. It was always chaos.
• Adjusting her short skirt that clung to her curves and stopped below her round curvy ass, she tied an apron around her tiny waist and grabbed what had been ordered. A pint of beer and a bottle of whiskey.
• She was used to getting compliments about her beauty and her body but that's just about that. They never went beyond words. Except for one drunk who thought he could do whatever he wanted.
• "Hey, sexy. Why don't you bring that ass over here after you're done?" The people on his table bursted into laughter.
• Ella scoffed as she eyed him scornfully before responding, "Haha! Very funny."
• But what happened next could not have been predicted. She felt a loud smack on her bum and not only did she grit her teeth from the pain but the intensity of her anger brought colour to her face and before she could stop herself, she hit his head with a bottle.
• Chaos erupted across the bar as she rushed towards the back of the counter for safety. Her colleague and friend, Benita, showed up and led her out through the back door.
• "How could you? How dare you?" Mr. Shelby, the boss, a portly round man with a protruding belly asked as he stood up from behind the desk, irritation clouding his face as he walked over to a visibly scared Isabella.
• "He assaulted me sir..." She tried to defend.
• "He was trying to have a nice time! How is that wrong? If you knew you would be against the entertainment of my customers, why bother working here?" He shouted at her.
• Ella's jaw dropped in absolutely surprise as she looked at the man before her. He had tried to get her in his bed for a long time now but she refused, contrary to what most girls in the club did just to get little favours in attending to the rich customers.
• And he had shown his displeasure to her refusal many times by treating her less and making her work more. Now, he wouldn't even arrest the man who touched her inappropriately.
• "What are you saying?" She asked.
• He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "What I am saying is, you're off the job."
• "But, Mr. Shelby..."
• "Incase, I wasn't clear. I meant, you're fired! Get out."
• All her pleas fell on deaf ears and soon, she found herself dragging her legs as she walked down the road. The quiet, dark road offered a moment of self reflection and she thought about her pathetic life during that moment.
• First, she had dropped out of college to work double shift to take care of her sick mother and her brother. College was taking up more than half of her income so she thought it was best to drop it. But nothing worked.
• Her expenses kept expanding and had thought of taking another job where she became a nanny in addition to waiting tables. It was a decent pay but with the bar, it was enough to get by daily and buy her mom's daily medication. Now, she is off the job. She needed comfort now more than ever.
• Her boyfriend, Sammy, was the first that came to mind. A cold shower, ordering pizza and a movie night didn't sound bad. Picking up her phone, she dialed Sammy's number as she stood beside the road, hoping he would come and get her. After several rings, Ella frowned and decided to stop a taxi, giving the driver Sammy's address.
• She wondered why he was not picking her call which is very unlikely of her boyfriend. Even if he's buried himself into work, he would always pick her calls and now that she needed someone to vent to, he seems to be off the radar.
• But as she got to his apartment, she could hear the soft music playing in the room, Ella slid her personal key into the door and entered, she met with something totally heart breaking. She saw clothes sprawled across the living room, heels ana a pair of bra belonging to a woman and a loud moan coming from the bedroom as she slowly walked towards the door. The female moans Louder that the soft music playing.
• Fearing the worst, she pushed the door and there she saw her best friend, Violet, riding her boyfriend furiously with the kind of reckless passion she had ever seen.
• Her bag fell to the ground, as a loud gasp erupted from her, and only then did the two notice they weren't alone. Ella is there looking at them with absolute shock. Her eyes filled with tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.
• "Ella! Why didn't you knock? Weren't you taught manners?" Sammy roared at her as he pushed violet off him, clutching the duvet to cover his nakedness.
• She was more than shocked as she looked at their faces void of remorse. "But Sammy, we were supposed to get married this year. How could you do this to me?" Ella said, with a sob, as the tears began to flow.
• He scoffed, gathering whom she thought was her best friend into his arms. Violet gave her a knowing smile, letting her know they have been doing this behind her back for a long time. "Listen, I found my soul mate, all thanks to you. I'll forever be grateful for that. But what I won't appreciate is you interrupting our intimate moment unannounced "