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.
Williams POV That insolent little waitress had actually slapped me. My cheek still burned, a dull, stinging reminder of the humiliation. In my world, everyone bowed down. Directors, producers, screaming fans, women throwing themselves at my feet-they all played by my rules. But Jennifer Taylor? She looked at me like I was dirt beneath her shoes, and worse... she had the nerve to lay her hands on my face. No woman had ever dared touch me like that. Not once. Sitting in the back of my G-Wagon, listening to my friends try to stifle their snickers, my ego was bruised into overdrive. I didn't care about her sob story or her family's bills. I only cared about one thing: making her pay. What she did not know was that I owned that restaurant, and Pedro answered directly to me. He was just a puppet doing what I paid him to do. "Find out everything about her," I had told my fixer late last night. "Where she lives, who she owes, what breaks her." It didn't take long. A struggling father with diabetes, a mother running a tiny local bakery, and a younger sister in college. Perfect. When Pedro called her back to the restaurant, it was almost too easy. The moment she showed up expecting a normal shift, my cue was right on time. The police were waiting. The look of pure betrayal on her face when Pedro caved and stepped away was almost poetic. She thought she was clever, but she was trapped. My plan was simple. I wasn't just going to break her with a contract. I was going to play a much deeper game. I would act sweet, pretend I was madly in love with her, and make her believe she had finally melted my cold heart. Once she let her guard down and fell for the lie, I would take her to bed, let her give me everything, and then pull the rug out from under her. I would film it, laugh in her face, and humiliate her in front of all my friends-the exact same way she had humiliated me in public. Now, standing in the massive, quiet kitchen of my private estate, I watched her walk in with that rigid, proud posture of hers. She tried to hide it, but I could see the panic fluttering in her eyes. "You start work now. I am your boss," I told her coldly, keeping my voice flat. "Be careful what you say. The menu is in the kitchen. Your salary is a thousand dollars." A thousand dollars was chump change to me, but to her, it was a lifeline. I watched the calculation happen behind her sharp eyes as she swallowed her pride and accepted it. She thought she could outsmart me, play the dutiful cook for three months, and walk away clean. She had no idea what was coming. Hours later, there was a knock at my bedroom door. "Mr. Williams, your lunch is ready," her voice called out from the other side. I smirked, standing up from the bed. I had stripped down to a low-slung pair of boxers, letting the outline of my arousal press visibly against the fabric. I wanted her to see it. The door clicked open, and she stepped inside, her gaze immediately locking onto the floor as she set the tray down. Before she could pivot toward the door, I moved fast, my hand shooting out to grip her wrist. I hauled her forward, pressing her palm flat against my bare chest. Her breath hitched, hot and sharp, ghosting across my skin. "Are you sure you really don't want me to eat this lunch first?" I drawled, leaning in close. Her skin was soft, and I could feel the immediate, traitorous shiver that went through her. She was fighting herself hard. Grabbing her hand, I guided it lower, pressing her palm firmly against my cock. For a split second, she melted. Her fingers curled against me, her body betraying her fierce words. But then panic took over. She jerked her hand back, bolted for the door, and slammed it behind her as she fled. I let out a dark laugh, staring at the closed door. Keep running, Jennifer. The trap is set, and you are walking right into it. It was time for her to leave. "I will drop you off," I offered. "No, Mr. Williams," she snapped. "I already booked a cab." "Another rejection. Suit yourself," I said, shutting the door behind her. I had already dialed Joel and Vincent with a new phase of the plan. I plotted a fake street mugging, aiming to scare her out of her wits and then swoop in as her knight in shining armor. She had no idea what was coming. I instructed the guys to wear black masks and act like violent street thugs along the path she had to walk to reach her cab. Once the fake attack played out, I would roll up, play the hero, and drive her home like a concerned protector. The setup went smoothly. I drove down the quiet street where she was cornered and terrified. I stepped out of my G-Wagon, fired a warning shot into the air, and watched Joel and Vincent scramble away into the shadows. She ran straight into my arms, convinced I had just saved her life. "Get inside now. It's not safe," I told her, playing the part. I drove her straight to her house without asking for directions. When I pulled up outside, I caught the stunned look on her face. "How did you know where I live?" she asked, her eyes wide. I stayed silent, letting the mystery work on her nerves. "See you at work tomorrow. Be there on time. I don't joke with my breakfast."
Jennifer The weather changed as the rain began to pour. I watched William drive back home. Mom and Dad were in the living room waiting for me. Assuring them everything was okay, I kissed them goodnight and stormed into my room. The cold settled in so deeply that I clenched my teeth until my jaw hurt. I took a warm bath and forced myself to sleep, but I was terrified. I closed my eyes, but the attack flashed through my mind. I was so scared that I gripped my pillow hard. Were the rumors really a lie? William had saved me from those thugs; what if I had been hurt or abused? But above all my shock, I wondered how he knew where I stayed. Maybe he had asked Mr. Pedro, or perhaps my address was still on the CV I dropped off. It was raining cats and dogs outside. I turned to my side, covering my whole body with the duvet. I couldn't forget his scent, or his hot body that had made me crazy-even though he was my boss. "He is just a charming star, getting any woman he wants," I muttered to myself. I snapped back to reality, and before I knew it, I fell asleep. The next morning, I arrived at his house on time. He was downstairs on a phone call with his manager. "We leave for London next week. Our UK tour starts from Manchester," he said, looking at me coldly. "What are you standing there for? Get me my breakfast now." The menu listed for Tuesday was simple: scrambled eggs with toast, coffee, and fruit juice. Breakfast was served. He walked to the dining table, turning the fork around before tasting the eggs. "These taste salty. Make another batch," he barked. "I'm sorry, Mr. Williams," I replied, quickly fixing new eggs. He sipped the coffee. "It's too sweet. I like my coffee bitter, but creamy. Fix it." I didn't talk back. I prepared another cup to his exact preference. He was arrogant, but I needed to keep this job; it paid far better than the restaurant. After cleaning up, I started prepping the ingredients for lunch. My phone buzzed-it was Jacklyn. "Hi, sis," she said. "I'm coming home next week for the summer vacation. I can't wait to see you." "That's great," I said. "Make sure you study hard and pass your examinations." "I will, sis, I promise." Jacklyn's birthday was two weeks away, and I had promised months before she left for school that we would celebrate properly. "I have to go now." "Okay, sis, bye," she said before hanging up. A shadow passed by. William was bare-chested again, walking around the house. He walked right into the kitchen. Look how gorgeous he was; his hot body radiated heat straight into me. "Miss Jennifer, I hope you know it's almost lunch," he said, drifting closer. His scent was intoxicating, and his low-slung pants rode right around his waist. Oh goodness, I gasped for air. He opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. He knew exactly what he was doing. Get a hold of yourself, Jennifer, I told myself. He kept his gaze fixed on me. "What are you looking at?" I snapped out of my thoughts. "Nothing." "Do you like me, Miss Jennifer?" I went numb. Before I knew it, he wrapped his hands around my tiny waist. "Williams..." Before I could finish his name, his fingers were trailing down my skin. My body reacted instantly to his teasing touch. "Tell me the truth. Do you think I have the aura to drive a woman crazy?" I was completely lost for words. "Or do you think I am cheap?" His lips brushed close to his ear-close to mine. His solid body pinned me back against the wall, and one of the buttons on my shirt popped off, exposing a hint of my cleavage. I caught the expression on his face-seductive and hungry. "I could buy you the best Victoria's Secret lingerie. You would look much hotter in that." I was getting wet beneath. This man was really messing with my mental health. I shoved away from him quickly. "I will prepare lunch now." He flashed a smirk before heading back upstairs. I stood in the kitchen, the air heavy enough to choke me. I couldn't concentrate; everything had happened too fast. I wasn't going to allow him to play with my emotions. Jennifer, you are just his cook. This is William Scott, the chronic womanizer-don't let him use his charm on you. I had my dad's diabetic medication bills to cover, Jacklyn would soon be back home, and a new semester of tuition was right around the corner. I just needed to do my freaking job as a cook. Taking lunch up to his room was a terrible idea. Even if he asked for it served upstairs, I decided I would just drop it on the table and run away. A storm of different thoughts raced through my head. When I finished the food, to my surprise, he was sitting in the living room going through his laptop, reading a movie script sent to his email. My phone rang. I had just spoken to Jacklyn, so who could this be? I ignored the call. He glanced up at me, then back at his screen. "Food is served," I said calmly. He always ate breakfast and lunch at home, and kept dinner light with just fruit. Once I finished cleaning up the kitchen, I packed away a portion of the meal for my parents and turned to leave. As I moved toward the door, my phone buzzed again. "Answer your call," he said. "I will call them back later." "Is that your boyfriend or a sugar daddy?" he asked with a sharp edge in his tone. "No." "Then pick up." I pulled the phone from my pocket-it was Mom. "Hello, Mom?" I answered. "Jennifer, there's an emergency! Your dad fainted and was rushed to CNC Medical Centre." "What happened to him?" I didn't wait for a reply. "I'm on my way now!" I turned back to William. "Mr. Williams, please, I need to leave right now. My dad is in the hospital and I have to be there." He fell silent for a second before nodding. "You can leave." I tossed the apron onto the counter, grabbed my bag, and rushed outside to flag down a cab straight to CNC Medical Centre. I squeezed into the back of the cab, my chest heaving. The driver hit the gas, weaving through the wet city traffic. I stared out the rain-streaked window, clutching my bag. Please let him be okay, I prayed, panic clawing at my throat.I arrived at the Medical centre. Mom was in the room with Dad. His blood sugar had spiked, but the doctors had stabilized him. Dad was sleeping peacefully with an IV drip hooked to his arm. "He will be fine," I whispered, pulling Mom into a tight hug. Her face looked completely exhausted. Doctor Vondee walked in to check on his vitals. He handed me the hospital bill to settle at the accounts office, along with a prescription list for Dad's medications. My heart skipped a beat. It was a massive amount of money. I had literally just started my new job, I hadn't earned any salary yet, and there was no way I could ask William for an advance so soon. Dragging my feet to the accounts office, I braced myself. The receptionist looked at the paperwork, typed something into her computer, and looked back up at me. "Your bill has already been cleared, and your medications are fully paid for." I froze.