Second Hand Waitress

The next morning felt strange. Breakfast, usually a chaotic rush filled with Tesah firing off tasks for the day, was oddly quiet. Her business in Medina was wrapped up, and she had less than an hour before heading to the airport. The previous night’s events hung heavily between them, adding to the discomfort.

Kira pushed a piece of toast into her mouth, forcing herself to chew and swallow it, though it felt more like sandpaper than food. She drank some orange juice, the acidic tang sharp against her dry throat. Restless, she stood and walked over to the large picture window, gazing out at the sprawling city. Medina city vibrant energy still reached her through the layer of smog blanketing the skyline.

The places she had dreamed of visiting, carefully marked in her guidebook, seemed impossibly far away now. She’d promised herself she’d return one day and explore properly, but deep down, she knew the likelihood was slim. At least she’d had this glimpse, even if most of it was from the confines of Tesah’s hotel suite and their chauffeured car.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Tesah’s voice. "Miss Samia."

She turned to face him, her knee twinging slightly as she moved. His formal tone made her lips twitch with a suppressed laugh—after everything, was he really addressing her like that? The grim set of his jaw and the determined look in his eyes told her he wasn’t in the mood for jokes. He was ready for a serious conversation, and Kira braced herself.

He had just opened mouth to start the conversation when Kira Samia held up her hand, stopping him mid-sentence. “Wait. Let me guess,” she said. “You’re about to tell me it was fun while it lasted, but now it’s over, and we’ll pretend it never happened. Am I right?”

Tesah Clover’s expression remained unreadable as he replied, “You’ll need to sign a nondisclosure agreement.”

Kira’s heart sank at his words. She hadn’t expected this—being treated like some kind of liability. She stared at him, a mix of disbelief and hurt. “What if I don’t sign it?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “Aren’t these things usually done before the...incident happens?”

“Yes, they are,” Tesah admitted curtly. “But the situation escalated quickly. I didn’t anticipate anything happening between us. You’re not my usual...type.” He trailed off, realizing his words sounded offensive even to himself.

Kira’s lips thinned. “I see. You didn’t think someone like me would end up in your bed, so you didn’t bother protecting yourself.”

Tesah’s jaw tightened. “That’s irrelevant. The agreement is for our mutual privacy. You’ll sign it.”

“Do you make all your partners sign these agreements?” she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm.

“Yes. It’s standard practice,” Tesah said, his tone clipped.

Kira couldn’t hide her disdain. “That’s such a cold, transactional way to start a relationship. Do all your ‘usual types’ accept this without question?”@@novelbin@@

“My relationships are private, and my partners understand that. This protects both parties. I can’t risk anyone exposing my personal life to the media.” He avoided her gaze.

“And you think I’d do that?” Kira shot back, her voice trembling slightly. “Is that what you think of me?”

“I don’t know you well enough to say,” he replied, his tone dismissive. “And I don’t intend to find out. This agreement ensures that nothing about our...interaction ever comes out.”

Kira’s hands balled into fists at her sides. “What if I refuse? Will you fire me?”

Tesah shook his head. “Your job is secure. This isn’t about work. But signing the document would show me that you value discretion.”

“And what about your discretion?” she countered, her voice sharp. “How do I know you won’t brag about this? Maybe you’re the one who’ll talk.”

Tesah’s gaze turned icy. “The agreement works both ways. It protects you as much as it does me. But if you don’t sign, I’ll have no choice but to protect myself. That might mean painting a less-than-flattering picture of you.”

The threat stung, but Kira refused to back down. “You’re willing to destroy my reputation just to protect yours?”

“If necessary,” Tesah replied coldly. “But signing the agreement avoids all of that. It’s a simple solution.”

Her vision blurred with unshed tears, but she refused to let him see her cry. Gripping the pen with shaking hands, Kira scrawled her name across the document. She handed it back to him, her hands trembling with anger and humiliation.

Without another word, she turned and walked out, determined to put as much distance between herself and Tesah Clover as possible.