Chapter 9
Chapter 9: Handsome Adonis
Arrogant and definitely not her type, was the thought Arianna had when he finally spoke. The fact he was this handsome – more good-looking than her – was a stab to her woman pride. Weren’t women supposed to be prettier than men?
He must have many women drooling over his features wherever he goes, she would not be another addition to his endless list. Moreover, he was probably a one-time customer. There was no need to make him feel important.
“Excuse me?” was her response to his comment.
“Is your customer service this poor?”
“I don’t understand, sir,” She tried to be nice having no clue why he was trying to stir up trouble – it’s enough her day started badly already.
She watched him press a finger to his temple and rubbed there as if trying to soothe a headache. Was he not feeling fine? Why does she even care?
“Take that blood away from my sight as well,” he said, waving her away from him as if she was an annoying fly.
.....
This time, Arianna’s brows furrowed into a tiny frown, “What blood?”
“Great,” He heaved, “You’re dumb too,”
It took everything in Arianna not to punch that asshole at the moment. It was not unusual to get rude and troublesome customers sometimes but this was her first time meeting one so infuriating. She made a mental image of hurling him up to his feet and punching him across that playboy face but that would result in her being fired and she couldn’t afford that at the moment. She needed the money. 𝐟𝗿𝚎𝐞𝓌e𝒃𝑛𝒐ѵ𝒆𝑙.c𝚘𝓶
So, like a professional service provider, she said, “I apologize if you’re not satisfied with her services rendered,”
He didn’t even say a word to that. Such arrogance. However, Arianna continued, “Perhaps, when you’re done, you can put down what aspect of our services you’re not satisfied with in the feedback box over there,” she pointed to the small box attached to the wall leading to the entrance.
Arianna watched his lips curl and she couldn’t tell if that was a sneer or a smirk. He was unreadable.
“I’ll be more comfortable complaining to your manager,” he said, sipping his coffee and all the same time, holding her gaze.
Arianna didn’t back down either, she held his gaze. Is that a threat? Her eyes communicated.
Before Arianna could come up with a smart retort, she caught sight of her boss coming out to supervise them and she composed herself at once. The stranger must have followed her line of sight because he laughed this time.
Asshole. He knew she couldn’t do anything and there was more room to fulfill his threat.
So Arianna bowed instead and as well put on a show for her boss who had turned in her direction, scrutinizing her action, “Have a nice time here, sir,” she added under her breath, “I hope you choke on your drink, pretty face,”
As if Arianna jinxed his luck, he choked on his drink as she desired with some of them spilling down his shirt and she had to fight against the urge to laugh at him – her boss would kill her for that.
So she did what was expected, Arianna grabbed a tissue from the next table with,” Excuse me,” and began to help him wipe his clothes – her boss would be so awed by her concern towards the customers.
Arianna gulped when her hands accidentally pressed too closely to his body and felt his toned chest. This man definitely worked out a lot. She could help but wonder what he did for a living?
Fitness instructor? No, he was too harsh, no sensible trainee would want to be under him. Although women would surely be drawn to that face. A soldier then? No, he was too pretty to be one. Oh God, Arianna shut the hell up and stay away from this stranger.
And that was what she did.
However, before she could move away, he whispered into her ears, the warmth from his breath almost burning her skin, “People who touch me without permission gets their hands cut off,”
Arianna turned and their gaze met, her heart almost jumped out of her chest. She shivered, not because of attraction, but the coldness she saw there. It was like winter season in June. But then, he blinked and the coldness vanished like it never came, replaced by his smile – a mask he wore.
“Like what you see?” He winked at her.
Arianna gulped yet assumed a neutral expression, she took the tray and left – ran for her life. Unlike what people thought of her, she had seen and done things that could land her jail time. And she knew that look in those eyes – the look of one who had taken a life.
Marcel smirked from his table, all he did was show her a bit of the demons hidden deep inside of him and she scampered away in fright. But then, she was interesting – and lovely as well.
He groaned as his member twitched, he wanted her – like the many other girls he wanted. Don’t be mistaken. He never does love. His line of work doesn’t need emotion. Emotions blinds, then kill. It is a poison to his soul. One that accumulates over time and then rips him from the inside out.
So he let her be, although occasionally stealing glances at the counter, searching where she went. Good girl. She was smart to run – if she loved her life. She was innocent and didn’t belong to the sinful side of his world. Although he felt the urge to taint her, would she still retain that innocent glint in her eyes? He doubted so.
It didn’t take long for him to finish his coffee and he stood to leave. He has stayed too safe in this safe cocoon, it was time to return to his world of demons. Marcel intentionally made his payment at the counter, going to get a glance of her once more – the one who had brought a little smile to his face, even for a moment.
But then, he was met with the other lady, the one who wanted to imprint his face in her memory – it annoyed him, surprisingly.
“Give it to her,” Marcel slipped some notes to her after his payment. It was a tip.
“Her?” She seemed surprised.
“The red hair,” He winked at her and she blushed. Yeah, that is it. He was sure the money would reach her hands now.
Then he left.
“Hey!” Arianna winced when Mimi called her name. She was busy cleaning the dishes in the backroom – and avoiding that strange dude.
“You’re blessed!” The girl hugged her to her irritation and then brought out some notes, waving them in her face
“What is this?” she couldn’t understand.
“What do you think, silly girl?” Mimi hit her at the back of the head.
She hissed in pain, “Hey, that -” 𝙛r𝚎𝐞𝑤𝚎𝗯𝗻𝗼𝐯e𝚕.𝒄𝐨𝓂
“The handsome Edonis tipped you!”
“What?” Arianna was stunned. Then she rubbed the spot at her ear where Mimi touched when she hit her. Did she have a wound there? Claudia must have injured her there.
“Even I haven’t been given a tip this much since my history of working here,” Mimi cried out.
“Then you can have it,” Arianna said indifferently while wondering why that asshole would tip her. She didn’t even do anything special for him except infuriate her. Maybe he was mocking her?
“Hey, Ari!” Mimi was shocked by that response, “How can you refuse money? Since I know you, you have never fit once rejected....”
Mimi still gushed out when Arianna’s phone rang and didn’t get to notice the way her friend’s countenance changed at that call.