f o u r
incoming shit storm..
•.•.•$•.•.•

"Its fucking gorgeous!" I breathed out, my forehead leaning onto the shop window of my favorite boutique- well, ex-favourite. I couldn't shop there anymore, you only look at the price tag when your piss poor.

"It's £4,000! Are you crazy?" Lia asked, folding her arms looking at what I was drooling over.

A year ago, I would buy it in a heart beat.

"It's beautiful, Damn those shoes would work so well with some vintage Dolce." I uttered completely high and dry on the red glittery red bottoms slowly turning like a chicken on a skewer, tempting me to have a taste and buy it.

We were on break and decided to walk around for a bit, so we didn't have to handle Slimeball Steve, and somehow had been lured to the more luxurious area in town.

It was a Friday lunchtime and also a lovely hot summer day. Most people had work and those who would recognise me from around here would be to scared to say anything to my face- I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been purposely avoiding coming here, but it seemed today I didn't care. I would pretend I didn't know anyone if I bumped into my old posey- I wasn't in the mood to face embarrassment in seeing my ex friends having the satisfaction of seeing me like this and run.

I'd stand my ground.

Especially my ex-best friend, Hailey Goode.

If I ever did bump into her- I don't think her face would ever be the same. I may not have been a saint-actually if I'm being honest, I was a right bitch, but I wasn't fake.

I was popular, and I knew not everyone liked me- but honestly I didn't care what you had to say to me if your didn't bring something worthwhile to our relationship.

That didn't mean I was materialistic, you didn't have to be rich, popular or pretty to be my friend. I befriended Lia while we would come here on Fridays and she would take the extra shifts at Vinci's. I just knew who I vibed well with and who I didn't.

And when I didn't, I cut you off.

What's the point of developing relationships with people who you clearly didn't like.

But...when I see you as a friend that's what you will always be until you prove me otherwise.

Say what you want about me being a entitled rich girl- but I was always a loyal friend.

So imagine my surprise when I went to seek help from those that I though I would have my back. I mean I was always there- so naturally I assumed they would stick by my side too.

But nope.

The worst was Hailey-the-no-Goode-whore.

I looked in awe at the shoe again...they would match so well with my hair pin my father had bought me and a simple little black dress.

I bet you Hailey would have bought those shoes in seconds with her fathers borrowed money.

The money he borrowed from my father, just before he tricked him and stole and sold his business away.

No, I didn't hate her for her dad being a asshole.

I'm not that petty.

But she actually tried to ruin my life, showing her true colours much like her father.

When we went bankrupt she was obviously over the moon.

Now that I was poor, she figured she could take my place; date Henry- my boyfriend. Make everyone abandon me and never talk to me again. Spread vicious rumours about my father and me- not to mention ruin any chances of me attending The Broadwalk School of Art institution for Fashion and Design.

That conniving little piece of work heard about my scholarship and sabotaged to make sure I didn't get in. How insecure and low. Even I never made that much effort to bring someone down.

"Shouldn't we head back?" Lia asked, looking at her watch.

I nodded, smiling as we walked back to the bus stop. The restaurant was two stops away, but who was bothered to walk in this heat. We arrived- with 5 minutes of our break left, heading into the staff room.

"You seemed extra happy this morning." Lia commented, fixing her hair.

"Let's just say, the days are looking better. What about you, you weren't late today!"

"Sl-Steve told me to come early today." She said grimly.

"Oh? Why?"

She shrugged, looking uncomfortable before closing her locker and turning back to me.

"When are you finishing today?"

"Two more hours! Thank god."

"Really! That's early for you!"

"Yeah, my sister asked me to come home early- she wanted to spend some time with me alone."

"That's too cute."

I smiled at her, before tightly shutting my locker and heading out to handle customers at the lounge area. The afternoon was slow and not many people came in today- probably due to scorching heat. I was surprised to see Lia working out front again- not mopping toilets and on bin bag duty.

Even she was having a stroke of luck.

Honestly today was just a good day- thank the heavens. With the idea my dad could be getting back on his feet again giving me a new found purpose, work was almost bearable now.

I even cleaned up after those annoying 5 year old boys, who kept jumping with ice cream in the lounge area, and not want to shove those ice cream all over their faces.

Dispute all these good vibes, somewhere, I felt it.

You know like a storm was coming.

It felt like things just seem to be going too well and the world was out to trick you so your surprised for the unexpected.

Call me a delusional pessimist, but I felt it.

The clock neared to three, and there where no customers in the restaurant, just when the storm happened.

And it wasn't just a storm.

It was a fucking typhoon.

I was just tidying the place, tucking in chairs and fixing napkins, when a tall clean cut man in a suit, with beautiful light green eyes and a dominating presence walked in.

He was...kind of hot.

Did I mention very tall?

"Welcome to Vinci's." I said with a smile approaching him, before grabbing a menu by the entrance where he was standing.

He stared at me with raised brows and I felt the heat rise to my face as I gulped nervously. I couldn't help the feeling we had met before.

He caught it, and lowered his eyes to my name badge.

"Gabby. I would like a table for 2." His deep familiar voice says as he honed in on me with his hands in his pockets before suddenly looking around the place, analysing everything.

"Right this way." I say as I led him towards the nice seats by the corner next to the window.

"Here you are." I say, placing the menu next to him. When he sat down I got into the zone, faced him after slapping a smile on my face.

"Would like to order now, or wait?" I ask as he skimmed the menu in his big hands before placing it down.

"What would you recommend?"

"Today special is Lobster Lumière. A delicacy here at Vinci's." I began. Opening one of the pages in the menu to the dish of the day page.

"The lobster is hand prepared and shelled lightly bronzed on the flames served with asparagus and kidney beans with rice on the side." I say calmly as he nodded.

"..and to drink?" He asked.

"Would you like a alcoholic beverage?" I asked as he nodded.

"To enjoy the lobster- a mango martini? It's fruity and as the dish has many ingredients it can even out the taste." I say confidently from experience. I don't know why I felt like this was some sort of test, but I sure as hell passed.

The man nodded, handing the menu back to me.

"For now, I'll have your Cesar salad and some white wine...any will do." He says, as I take out my pen and paper writing it down before nodding.

"I'll be right back with you drink sir." I say, walking towards the kitchen to place the order before moving back out to the bar.

I was opening a bottle of white wine when Slimeball Steve appeared.

"Gabby...a word." Manager Steve the Snake calls me from the other side.

"Yes sir, can I give this drink first as-"

"I said now!" He spit at me.

I saw the guy in the suit by the window look up with a blank expression, eyeing us from across the room.

I felt myself get embarrassed as my anger rise from being talked down to in such a way.

"I'm serving a customer sir, I'll only be a moment." I grit out as I ignored him, pouring the wine into the glass.

I almost dropped the bottle when I felt Steve the snake behind me, placing his hands on my waist.

I stood there in shock and silence as the disgusting fucking pervert began working his way from my waist all the way up...and up...

"If I was you, I'd let go right now..." I say as he snorted.

"You need to be taught who's the boss around here, you dark faced ape." he breaths into my neck, bringing with him the strong stretch of alcohol.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Was in the 1920s? Did he just... call me...

"What did you just call me?" I asked in shock.

"You heard me..."

I gritted my teeth in anger as I was about to take the wine glass and smash it on his head when I heard a deep voice break into my thoughts.

"I suggest you remove your hands."