I Am Not Your Maid! (On Hold)

Chapter 16 - Lesson Learned?

Chapter 16

Lesson Learned?

Dash left as soon as I brought the cappuccino and cake to Mr. Osaka’s table.  It was as if he had sensed that something was up and he had to get out while the getting was good.

Coward!

I tried not to let it get to me, but it wasn’t easy.

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders when I gave her a puzzled look.  But she didn’t say anything.  I hoped that my appearance wouldn’t intimidate her as well.  It was meant purely for him.  I approached her when we had a quiet moment later that evening and informed her that I was angry at Dash and that this was my way of informing him that he had crossed a line.

“Yeah, he told me that he had done something to upset you, but he didn’t know what it was,” she admitted, wringing her hands together in front of her, her head bowed and eyes lowered.

I rolled my eyes and walked away in a huff.  I didn’t want to talk about him anymore.

He would have no clue.  He completely ignored me!  What kind of a jerk does that?

A super duper jerk, that’s what!

I don’t know what I was expecting.  An apology?  Yeah, that would have been nice, but was it really realistic?  This was Dash, after all.

For the most part, the night went smoothly.  A few of the younger customers liked my gothic Lolita maid outfit so I catered to them and Elizabeth looked after the older customers who weren’t keen on the look.  Not that I blamed them.  They came here for tea and cakes and cute girls to wait on them hand and foot, not look dark and ominous.

My temper lessened as the evening drew to a close.  By the time I got home, all clean and normal-looking, I was drained from all the energy it took being angry for so many hours.  It was almost as bad as worrying extensively before a big exam.  The only difference was that I wasn’t used to stewing in my own inner hateful monologues while trying to appear calm and collected on the outside.

Swirling around my mind were also thoughts of what I should have said to him at the café instead of just putting on some dark, heavy makeup.  I should have said something that would have embarrassed him, or at least forced him to listen to me.

Yes, I should have embarrassed him in front of Elizabeth… maybe then he’ll stop pursuing her and leave me alone!  Ugh, I’m such an idiot!

I’ve always heard that you should never go to bed angry.  That was advice I should have taken.

Even in my dreams, he chased after me, taunting me with his words, his damn cheeky grin, and striking blue eyes.  I wanted to scream at him, but he kept trying to seduce me with his good looks and insatiable kisses.  

Needless to say, I spent much of the night tossing and turning. 

In the morning, I rose, my hair a bird’s nest from all of my rolling around, but I vowed to have the upper hand at school.  I now knew his angle and I had to match it.  I couldn’t allow him to take advantage of me any more.  I knew I had to somehow twist the situation into my favour.  No more Miss Nice Girl.  If he wants to play hardball, I’ll give him hardball.

Or, at least my attempt at hardball.  How difficult could that be?

I didn’t see him in the hallways before first period started, but I caught him later when lunch began.  Or rather, I purposely bumped into him outside our classroom.

Allowing my books to tumble out of my hands, I fretted as the clumsy girl who couldn’t see two feet in front of her. 

“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, raising my eyebrows in surprise upon making eye-contact with him.