The Bad Boy And His Baby

Chapter 4

The next morning when I wake up, it's really chilly and I regret sleeping with my makeup on. It's really damaging for my skin. I get up once I switch off my alarm and immediately head for the bathroom.

After a short, hot shower, I wrap my towel around me and walk to my room quickly as goosebumps rise on my skin. I hate showering early in the morning when it's cold. I dry myself and put my uniform on. I pull on some stockings to keep my legs warm and put on a fuzzy black jacket over my uniform.

Luckily there's a heater in Golden Ray so I can work without my jacket on. I grab my makeup bag and go back to the bathroom before applying my usual makeup look.

By the time I'm finished, it's half past nine. Bronwyn's door is still closed but I get a glass of water and two pain pills before going in her room and putting it down on her vanity desk. I close the door and grab my keys and bag before making my way to work.

There are already a line of expensive cars lined outside the restaurant with people in it waiting for the doors to open. I walk inside the restaurant and sign in before taking my jacket off and hanging it in the back room. I sit down on one of the lavish couches before my manager, Mister Grim, walks in, a cigar hanging out his mouth. All of us stand up and he walks past us slowly, checking if our nails are clean, our uniforms are clean, our hair is neat and our makeup isn't smudged before he opens the door.

People walk in and sit at the tables they reserved. I grab a menu once I spot someone sitting at one of my tables. I walk over to the person and my jaw almost drops. It's Ji.

He's wearing beige cargo pants and a black turtle neck. He has a light blue jacket that's half zipped with a few silver chains around his neck. His hair is pulled back in a bun. He looks so effortlessly handsome, it makes me weak in my knees.

"So you're stalking me now?" I ask as I place the menu in front of him. He looks up at me with a smirk. "Is that how you greet all your customers?"

"Only the ones that stalk." His eyes never leave mine. "What can I say? I needed to see you again." I can't ignore the way my heart flutters at his sentence. I've never received such attention from an attractive person and it's doing things to me. "You're here early. I thought only insane people eat breakfast at this place." He gestures to the seat across him and I quickly shake my head. "I can't. My boss wouldn't let me."

He clicks his tongue. "I was too lazy to make something so I thought I'd come here. I have an appointment at a piercing place later. You should come with."

"I won't be able to. I finish at five."

"No biggie. I'll wait." I can't help but chuckle. "We just met and you want me to go with you to your piercing appointment?"

"I need a pretty lady to hold my hand through the pain." My heart flutters at the compliment and I mentally slap myself. I shouldn't feel special. He probably talks to all the girls like that.

One of the waitresses nudge me. Her name is Lucky and she's been working here for way longer than I have. She has beautiful long blonde hair that reaches her hips although it has to be confined in a stupid bun. "Just wanna let you know that Mister Grim is watching you and he's hella mad that you're talking to this guy." She whispers as she walks past, smiling at Ji.

"Thanks." I tell her quickly but before I can go, Ji stops me. "What's with the uniform?" I look down at my dress. "What? Don't you like it?" I feel stupid for asking that. Why would he like it? It's a normal maid outfit. "Nah, I like it. It's just not your style. Yours is way different than the others."

"Quinn." I stiffen at the cold tone of Mister Grim. "I have other tables to serve. I'll be back okay?" I tell Ji. "Sure." I turn around and make my way to the kitchen to scout for any more tables.

"I'll assign Lucky to table nine. You work on your others." Mister Grim tells me on my way to the kitchen. "But-"

"Don't even think of talking back." I sigh and nod. "Yes sir." I give menus to the people at my other assigned tables. "He's a jerk." Lucky says as she walks past and I smile.

*-*-*

I sigh as Mister Grim closes the front doors after the last customers leave. It felt like such a cold day and I kept getting goosebumps even though the heater was on. Was that of the cold or Ji?

I make my way to the backroom and grab my jacket, putting it on. "New boyfriend?" Lucky leans against the wall as people walk behind her. "Huh?"

"That guy you were talking to. Is he your new boyfriend?" I wish. "No. Why would you think that?"

"He asked if we really finished work at five so he could come back and pick you up." My eyes widen. "What?" Pick me up? Like, in his car? What the heck is happening right now? That must mean he's outside now. I suddenly get the urge to run to the bathroom to check on my hair and makeup. That's if he really is here and I'm not imagining it all. "I'm sorry, I have to go." I excuse myself. Lucky brushes me off. "Sure. Go see your prince."

I walk out the room and to the doors, ignoring the way I can feel Mister Grim's gaze on me. I immediately see him. He's leaning against a shiny, white car, similar to the kind Tobias has. His hands are in his pocket and he gazes at each passing stranger on the street. His eyes fall on mine and I feel stuck in some kind of fantasy moment. I can't be crushing on him already, I barely know him.

I ignore my racing heart and walk over to him. His bangs blows in the wind making him look all majestic. "What are you doing here?" Is what I say instead of all the romantic things I was planning in my head. "Piercing appointment remember?" He answers nonchalantly. "I remember but why are you here?"

He chuckles and opens the door. "You're coming with silly girl. Now get in the car, it's freezing." I'm beyond confused and I'm at a loss for words. He gestures toward the car and I get in, watching his movement, trying to read his mind. Once I'm in, he closes the door and goes to the driver's side before getting in. "Do you want the heater on?" He asks, rubbing his hands together.

"Um no." My body is on fire right now from being so close to him. I never thought I'd have any other interaction from him other than at the party but here he is. He starts the car and we're off. The car ride isn't awkward though. "Why did you wait for me? It just seems like such a weird thing to do." I say. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he wants me to go with him to his appointment.

"Why not? You're my friend aren't you?" He has one hand on the steering wheel and the other on his leg. It's very attractive and distracting. Soft jazz music is playing in the background and I'm still in awe at how amazing this car looks and smells. It must've cost a fortune.

"So we're friends now?" I ask, raising my eyebrow. "Are we not?" He turns the volume of the radio up a bit. Bronwyn has been my only friend so this is completely out of my comfort zone. I guess friends do go to appointments together.

We soon reach a big building with ceiling to floor glass windows. Blinds cover the windows so you can't see inside but there's a sign on the door that flashes 'open'

The name of the place is called Coastal Jewel. Ji parks next to the sidewalk and unlocks the car. We get out into the chilly air. "Come on." He gestures me to follow him after he locks the car and we walk into the place. Inside it is very spacious. The walls are painted black. There are two leather couches next to each other and a front desk not too far away from it. On top of the desk is a glass tank with a freaking tarantula inside.

I have no idea if it's real or not. A guy catches my attention. It's Tobias. "Hey man." He greets Ji before he sees me. "Oh hey Quinn. Wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I invited her." Says Ji. "Hope I didn't fuck up your schedule?"

"No, don't worry about it." Tobias gestures to a big black chair for Ji to sit on and I stand awkwardly next to the spider. It hasn't moved an inch and I'm almost sure it's fake but it moves slightly and I jump. "That's my man Shark. Don't worry, he won't get out of the tank unless someone opens it." Tobias assures me. Ji makes me stand next to him while Tobias puts gloves on. I can see the needle and it's making me nervous even though I'm not the one that's gonna get pierced.

"You ready?" Asks Tobias. "Always." Answers Ji.