The Devil's Disguise

Chapter 8

Two Months Later

"No!" I laughed, shaking my head at Paige. "You do not understand. He's a complete sweetheart, and I do not compare him to anyone."

"You're a liar, and you're lying," she replied, grinning. "I'll be the one who decides it. By his face."

"He's very cute."

"I'll see." She smirked.

I looked around once more, and finally saw spotted him entering the coffeehouse. A smile stretched across my lips, and I lightly smacked Paige's arm. "He's here. Be nice." I stood up just as he reached our table, and he pulled me into a hug. "Hi, sweetheart."

"Hello, my love," he replied, kissing my cheek. He pulled away from me, and took Paige's hand. "You must be Paige."

"Nice to finally meet you, Aaron. All she talks about is you."

"And you, when she's with me," he sighed, shaking his head at me.

I rolled my eyes, grinning. Aaron pulled my chair for me, and I sat down, while he took the seat beside mine.

"So, what were you guys up to?" he asked, resting his elbows on the table.

"Oh, nothing. I was just about to ask her if she watched Rafael Knight's latest interview," Paige said.

 My chest tightened slightly at his name, but I did not let it show on my face. It had been two months since I had last seen him, but our deal was still going on. I was paid automatically at the end of each month, and not having to stay up all night dancing for men, I actually got a good amount of free time on my hands. I had met Aaron during one of those nights of enjoyment, and we had really hit it off. 

I did feel guilty about the whole ordeal, and I had tried to contact him once, to tell him to stop sending me money, and that I'd find a different job. But there had been no reply on his end. So, naturally, as someone who needed that money, I let it go.

"What about it?" Aaron asked, his hand taking mine. He intertwined our fingers, and I smiled again.

"He's getting married."

My face fell. "What?"

It was instinctive. The disappointment in my tone, the shock on my face. All of it. I was not expecting her to say that.

"Yeah," she replied. "He finally found a redhead bimbo."

"Not all redheads are bimbos," Aaron countered, gesturing to my hair.

Paige laughed, and I forced a smile.

But there was nothing about this that I found amusing. Nothing at all. And I didn't know why.

Maybe it was the fact that his fiance and I had the same hair color. Maybe I was annoyed. I even tried to tell myself that I was worried for whoever that girl was, but in all honesty, I was only lying to myself. It was selfish, and stupid, but I really did not like the thought of him getting married. I had no right to feel jealous, not when I had Aaron, but a part of me couldn't help it. A small part of me even went ahead and assumed that the only reason he was marrying a red-haired woman, was because she reminded him of me.

 Rafael Knight was the most gorgeous man I had ever interacted with, and since we were still, somehow, connected through that deal, I couldn't just brush this whole thing aside.

"Lara?" Aaron gently squeezed my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell me you're heartbroken because he's getting married. I think there are enough single girls to feel sad about him," he teased.

I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "Of course not. I was just thinking about something. Paige, when was this interview?"

"It happened today," she replied. "In the morning."

"Hm. And who is the girl?"

"I don't know. Some chick called Clea. He didn't reveal the full name, and he didn't reveal a picture. When someone asked if she's beautiful, he said she's a redhead, and that she's so pretty, he'd sacrifice all his cars for her. Whatever that is supposed to mean." She snorted.

I froze, a chill going through me. "For the kind of beauty you possess, I'd sacrifice a thousand cars like these." His voice was still clear in my head. God, why is this happening?

"How childish and spoiled is that man?" Aaron scoffed.

"He's not spoiled," I muttered before I could stop myself. "I mean, isn't he self-made?"

"Not entirely," Aaron replied, going through the small menu. "Anyway, what do you want?"

"Huh?"

He smiled. "Iced tea, or iced coffee?"

"Coffee," I replied.

"Alright, perfect."

- - - -

I couldn't get my mind off of him the entire night. One would assume I was thinking about my boyfriend, but no. I, like a complete and total i***t, was thinking about the man who I had met not more than four times, two months earlier. A man I hadn't even dated, or gone out with. A man I hadn't even kissed.

I let out a loud huff, and grabbed my phone to watch that interview. 

It was a mistake.

Because he looked just as handsome as I remembered, with those blue eyes and dark hair. I didn't know how someone could be so perfect.

But didn't I know that he wasn't? Rafael was anything but perfect. That thing he had done after calling me over to his house... it still sent shivers through me. How could I even like someone after they did that? And yet, my mind and heart were completely conflicted. It had been two months, so my heart had decided to forgive him. If it weren't for him, I would still be dancing at a club in a skimpy outfit, and getting hit on by creepy old men.

My phone started to ring, pulling me out of my thoughts once again. The caller was an unknown ID, and I frowned before picking it up.

"Hello?" My voice was barely a whisper, as if my heart already knew who was going to be at the other end.

"Hello, Ms. Dames." 

I sucked in a breath, sitting up straight.

"Mr. Knight," I said softly, my free hand fidgeting with my top.

"How have you been, darling?" His voice was as deep as I remembered.

"I'm doing great. You?"

"As good as one gets. Anyway, you don't have to worry, I didn't call you just to chat. There's something important I want to talk to you about."

"Sure?"

"I believe you may have heard that I'm getting married."

"You are? That's great," I feigned oblivion.

"I am, yeah. So, uh, my fiance found out about you. I was telling her how Dr. Burke has helped me multiple times, and I happened to mention your mother. And then she's a curious little cat, so she kept fishing for details until I told her, well, everything."

I gulped, not liking whatever direction this was taking. "Uh-huh."

"She kind of threw a fit. About why I still send you money. She even demanded to see my account records and everything, to know if I'm keeping you somewhere, like my, well, mistress."

I clenched my jaw. "I see. So you're calling to inform me that you won't be paying me anymore. Is that all?"

There was a short silence on his end. "Yes."

"Alright, Mr. Knight. Thank you for all you've done for me in the past. I had tried to contact you a month ago, for exactly this purpose. It wasn't fair, that you were paying me even without any services. But I couldn't reach you. So I'm glad that we could clear this out."

"Uh, yeah... I guess. But I'll have you know, that my offer for the day job still stands. Until further notice, at least. Feel free to reach out to me on this number if you ever need anything."

"Thank you," I said, not wanting this conversation to be any longer than it needed to be.

"It was nice talking to you again. I hope I'll see you at my wedding."

"Likewise. Good bye, Mr. Knight."

"Good bye, Lara."

I quickly hung up the call, before tossing my phone to the side. I pushed my hair behind my ears, trying to register what I was feeling. Mostly, I was worried. I'd need a new job again, because the coffeehouse didn't pay me enough to take care of a sick woman, as well as a house and other bills. I was also worried about being disliked by the city's future billionairess already. Rafael's fiance hated me, and I hadn't even done anything. What if she turned out to be one of those vamps, who sought out all the women related to their husbands in any way, and made their lives hell? God, I really hoped not. I didn't have the time or energy to deal with that.

I took a deep breath, and stood up, going to check on my mother. She was fast asleep, quietly snoring, her nostrils flaring every time she breathed out. I smiled, before returning to my room, and snuggling into bed myself. 

At least, now I didn't have the guilt of taking his money weighing me down. I could finally sleep guilt-free, after a good two months of scolding myself for having no self respect. If I were rich, or had a good job, I would have absolutely returned him everything he had spent on me. But I didn't have that luxury, and Rafael didn't really seem to care.

So I closed my eyes and pulled my blanket over my head, letting out the softest of sighs.

- - - - 

"Hey, Paige. Could you manage for two minutes? Aaron is calling."

"Yeah, sure," she nodded. "Go ahead."

I was about to pick up the call, when Drake, another one of our waiters, walked over to me.

"Hey, Lara?"

"Yeah?"

"Boss wants to see you."

I frowned, glancing at the screen. "Now?"

"Yes, now."

"Okay." I declined the call, and left him a quick text, following after Drake. 

I gently knocked on the door to his office, tapping my foot impatiently.

"Come in."

"You called me, Sir?" I asked, closing the door behind me.

"Oh, yes, Lara. Please have a seat."

"Uh, I would, except I'm in a bit of hurry. I get off in five minutes."

"I know," he replied, nodding. "But I insist. Please sit."

My eyebrows furrowed, but I obliged to his request. "Is everything okay, Sir?"

"Yes, yes. Everything is... well, not for you, no."

"What do you mean?"

He shifted his chair closer, leaning his elbows on the table. "Lara, I am so sorry."

My heart sank. "For... for what?"

"The coffeehouse isn't doing too well lately, and we really have to cut down on the expenses."

Tears sprang to my eyes sooner than I could blink. "You're letting me go?"

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

"But why?" I asked, sniffing. "There are waiters who are newer than I am. Why are you kicking me out? Have I done something wrong, Sir? You know my mother is sick, I really need this job--" my voice cracked towards the end, and I looked away from him.

"Lara, I am so sorry," he said again, standing up from his chair and making his way to me. He placed his hand on my shoulder. "You're just not doing us a lot of good lately. But I promise you, as soon as things get better again, I'll give you a call. Alright?"

"This isn't right," I muttered, wiping away the tears that had left my eyes. I stood up and untied my apron. "This doesn't feel right."

"There really isn't anything I can do for you. I'm sorry," he said again.

I placed the apron on the chair, before slowly nodding. "Right. But don't call me back if you need me, or even if things get better. I don't need to work at a place where I am not respected. You fire me in the middle of the month, without giving me an explanation. I can see what this is."

"You have no idea," he said softly, staring at me with pity. "Take care, Lara."

"Screw you, Sir." I stormed out of the room, hot tears rolling down my cheeks, and my heart raging in my chest.

What the hell was I supposed to do now?

- - - - - -

What do you think will happen next? Are you enjoying the story until now? Let me know in the comments!

This story will be updated every alternate day. I'm sorry, I'm really not in the daily updating zone at the moment. I always end up missing days. Thank you guys, for bearing with me. Stay tuned! Love you all!