The Contract

CHAPTER 1: Drowning

You know when people say the word 'drowning', the first thing most people would think of is 'water'. As in, drowning in water, suffocating, lungs filling up with water, both a life source and a weapon or your worst fear.

Me? I think of 'bills' or maybe 'money'. Why? Only because I'm drowning in them, going underneath them and trying to claw my way to the top by working my ass off, and eating less and less.

It started when my mother died, no when my father, no sperm-donor left us before I was born, when he got my mother pregnant.

It ended when an offer I counldn't refuse came along.

An ending always signals a beginning, for this ending it signalled the bells...

I'm Krista Roberts, this is my story.

(A/N: This was supposed to be my blurb but I was just like 'Meh..')

_______________

"I'll have the Café Bombón and your blueberry muffin." the woman says, pausing from her conversation on the phone.

"Yes ma'am. Coming right up." I say, plastering a smile on my face and walking towards the counter.

Honestly, I don't get why the hell the restaurant owners don't want to put up a register. I mean come on, this is a damn coffee shop for god's sake. Would it kill the people to just walk 3 meters across the shop and wait for their coffee?

"Ben! One Café Bombón and one blueberry muffin." I say.

"Anything for you sugar." Ben says, winking at me.

Ben likes to flirt with all the female employees even if he's dating anyone at the moment, and he can get away with it because he's the one in charge here. It's both annoying and cute at the same time.

But for some reason, he flirts a lot more with me. I mean sure, I may be easy on the eye, inheriting my mom's slim physique and my sperm-donnor of a dad's stormy grey eyes and dark brown hair. But, that doesn't give him an excuse to flirt a storm up!

"If I'm sugar, then what are you? Wait no let me guess, salt." I say, jokingly.

"Ah, but sweet and salty go together, so I say we get together to make other people happy."

"Just get to work Ben."

He salutes me and hands me a plate, "Table 4, it's Will. After you serve that you can go on break."

I chuckle, everyone knows that I like talking to Mr. Reynolds (that's Will/William), he always tells me such nice stories about his kids. The twins, Madeleine and Nicole, Christian, and the youngest, Alexander.

I walk over to his table, "Here you go Will, your usual. One Café mocha and Chocolate Mousse Cake."

I take a seat while he dunks two sugar packets into his drink. "Yeesh, Will don't you think that's enough sugar."

"Don't judge me," he says while taking a sip. "Besides, don't you have work."

I shake my head, "I'm on break."

He chuckles, "What story do you want to hear now?"

I think about it. Do I want to hear a story of Alexander's music (The kid's a prodigy), of Madeleine and Nicole's paintings (They have an artistic feud to see who can earn the most money selling their paintings), or of Christian's company (R&R Incorporated)?

Maybe I'll go for a more humorous story, "Who won this week?"

"Madeleine did, Nicole's throwing a drama fit again." Will says, chuckling.

"I swear that girl belongs in drama class." I say.

He nods, "The only problem is that she can't keep a straight face even if her life depended on it."

I laugh, "So what did Nicole do this time?"

"Well, she threw a lamp at Mads' head. Then when Christian asked about it, she got all red and stormed out of the room muttering, I swear I heard 'I'm gonna kill that website'. And she..."

I laugh as he describes all the things Nicole did to Madeleine. My god, who the hell screams at all the people who buy paintings on their own free will?

Answer: Nicole Reynolds, the craziest person I somewhat know. (I've never met her in person)

*-*-*-*-*-*

I sit down on my couch (not the comfiest one around) and start up my laptop to pay my internet bill online, and of course check my balance in the bank account.

I worriedly glance at the pile of bills on the table, I hope that I'll be able to pay them off soon.

That pile started when my mom died, I could only afford...

Never mind.

There must be at least 4 envelopes there: water bill, internet bill (the one I'm paying for now), electricity bill and possibly a parking bill.

I open the internet app and go to the site I'm supposed to go to and wait, the internet may be really slow but it's possibly the only one I can afford without starving.

The computer immediately says 'There was an error in loading this page.' so I refresh it and come up with the same result.

A few hours later, after trying everything I know to fix the internet (that's including turning the router on and off) I finally call my internet provider.

"I'm sorry ma'am but we've cut you're internet off because you're going a bit behind on paying your internet bill. If you could just pay it then we could turn it back on." the lady says.

"Yes I was about to do that, but then I realized that my internet wasn't working." I say impatiently.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but it's not in my power to turn you're internet back on." she says with an apologetic tone.

"Well you're supposed to, you work there don't you?"

"Yes Ma'am, I do."

"Then you should be able to turn my internet back on."

"Ma'am-"

"Look if you just turn it on, I'll pay the bill then I'll be out of your hair."

"I sorry ma'am but I can't, you can just go to the nearest franchise and pay. I'm sorry but I can't help you."

I sigh, "Alright, thank you for," nothing "helping me."

I hang up and sigh.

This is going to be a damn long day.

_______________

YAY! Finally done typing this in!

Anyway exams are done so I'll be able to use my laptop wihout having to print some reviewer out so my parents won't be suspicious (and let me tell you, my parents are damn smart).

Teaser: Special customer coming, and it's not a good one...

Also, Ashley Greene as Krista (picture on the side)

HAPPY READING!

XXX

Althea