Heirs For The Billionaire

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

ALYSSA EDWARDS

Family gatherings aren't my thing.

 The day that my parents died in that car accident, I knew life was never going to be the same for me and my big brother. I mean, I was starting to feel the pain and the emptiness their departure had left for us but for Frank, I knew I had to be strong.

He was thinking of me. He knew I would not be able to cope with the sudden loss and that was the more reason why I needed to stay strong for him. I didn't want him to think of me as that little girl who locked herself up and couldn't eat for days upon hearing of our parents' passing. I didn't want to be that silly little girl who thought the world had stopped spinning. I had to be strong and if not for anyone, for Frank Edwards.

As I rode my bike to work, I knew I was in for a scold because of how late I was running. The class today had taken longer than I thought and the only way and only means of transportation was that damned old bike Frank had been using back in his seventh grade but that was all I could use now.

Once I parked in front of the restaurant, inside of that little alleyway, I grabbed my bag and rushed into the kitchen in the back, and unfortunately for my luck, I ran into manager Sam.

"You're always late, Alyssa. I'm starting to regret hiring you."

I winced and grabbed an apron from the side as I escaped the waitress who was trying to pass with an order. "I'm so sorry sir. This will never happen again."

"You are not the one to apologize anyway. That stupid Sarah is the one supposed to apologize for getting such an incompetent replacement for us."

I pressed my eyes tightly at the way he referred to Sarah but I knew I had to keep my cool. 

Sarah had just had surgery and had been bedridden for days and I was lucky enough to ask her to take on her job at this restaurant temporarily because no one wanted to hire an underaged like me to work much less get such a job at this beautiful place as a dishwasher. I was grateful that Manager Sam was not considering the fact that I was qualified to be washing dishes at his restaurant and wanted to have me here. The least I could do was to be grateful to him.

"Hurry up, hurry up. We don't have much time today," Sam yelled going behind the counter to pull out some papers. 

I threw a glance at the restaurant and saw that we were super packed today. Almost all the tables were full and that meant more dishes to be washed.

My phone buzzed in the back of my pocket and I quickly pulled it out. it was a text message from my aunt.

Will you be able to join us tonight?

I swallowed hard at the text and looked away from my phone before my tears fell onto it.

Today was the death anniversary of my parents and my aunt and uncle always threw a party for them. A party I always missed because I could not bear to see them not with us anymore. It hurt to know that there is no new morning that was going to bring them back and it hurt to know that they were gone forever. Like we'd never see them again and so I tried to avoid such gatherings as much as possible.

Even though Frank throws a tantrum every time, it was not my intention to let him see through that big front that I had had to put up for him. I didn't know when those walls were going to fall because I had barely cried since then. A fall like that was going to crush my spirit.

"Alyssa Edwards, I know that face but you aren't going anywhere. You're staying here till I say otherwise." He pointed when he saw my facial expression.

I shook my head and went straight into the dishwashing center to clean some plates. I was there for only two minutes before Sam entered with his pearly white smile.

"I am working, Sam. I am working hard," I said, soaking the plates the girls had brought into my soapy bath.

"Alyssa, dear, I have to ask you for a huge favor. Abel here will do your job for now but I want you to get me something from the mall."

"But.... "

"I'll pay you for that errand, just do it for me. I hope you brought your bicycle, right?"

I breathed in deeply and took the bike's keys and left the kitchen after hanging my apron.

That's what you get when you're the only high school student working in a prestigious restaurant where adults with college degrees are even rejected. According to Sam, a college degree is needed to work at Patterson Restaurant because someone who has a degree and wants to work at a restaurant wants to work here for his or her passion and not for the money. That is why he hates the sight of me because you could clearly tell I wanted to work there only for the $20 per hour because come on, who would go on these senseless errands he sent me on if they aren't there for the little side monies he gave?

I got on my bike and took a look at the list he had given me.

Jasmine essential oil?

Blue candles?

What was he using blue candles for?

Nevertheless, I tucked the $30 he had given me as a tip and rode downtown to the mall for them. I could care less what he was using these things for. 

Once I was there, I purchased his stuff and was in the queue to pay for the things when my phone rang again.

It was aunt and after a little hesitation, I answered it.

"Hello, Aunt?"

"Where are you dear? I've prepared everything, we need to leave."

"Aunt, something came up at work so I can't make it, I'm sorry," I said.

"What? Come on, let me talk with Sam already."

"No, aunt, he's already in trouble hiring us and I don't want to put him in another tight position so please let me do this."

"Dear, why do I feel you're scared to meet your parents?"

That sentence made my heart skip a beat. "That's not true."

"Then why do you always have to do something when it gets to their anniversary? Last year you were doing some quiz in school and now work."

Tears were welling up in my eyes now.

Aunt was right. I also couldn't attend the funeral because I felt so guilty. I was somehow to be blamed for what happened to them so I couldn't go.

I was afraid everyone would hoot at me and send me away when I go there. I went to visit them discreetly after the funeral, scared of what people might think. That same incident was the reason Frank refused to relate well with me. I think he blames me too.

Who should they blame? I did it.

"Aunt, I gotta go now," I said quickly when I saw the cashier glaring at me. Everyone was mysteriously gone and I was the only one standing there.

"Oh, I'm sorry." I apologized, walking back to the counter to pay him.

"This is not the place to cry when your boyfriend breaks up with you, you're going to send customers away if you stand there and cry like that." He commented and I felt so embarrassed.

"Then what is a shop like this for, huh?" I snapped back and he just shook his head at me.

Nick and I were schoolmates and he lived in our neighborhood and it was his responsibility to always make me look bad each time we met. He handed my things over and I walked out of the mall only to see my bicycle pressed tightly to the wall by a very spotless Ferrari F60 America.

"My bicycle? Who did this?" I cried.

"Are you the owner of that hideous thing?" A deep arrogant voice asked, getting my attention.

Hideous?

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