Second Hand Waitress

Kira gritted her teeth, trying not to get too worked up. She had to focus on her job and keep her temper under control. She’d done enough dumb things in her life, and she wasn’t going to let this be another one of her failures. Working for Tesah Clover for only a few hours had pushed her to her limits, especially since she hadn’t had to deal with him much until now. But she wasn’t about to let him ruin this opportunity.

This job had a lot of potential for her. Tesah had hired her temporarily to replace his assistant while she was on maternity leave, and her manager Mr Geo, had promised they’d find a permanent position for her after in the biggest hotel of Clover's hotels. Kira wasn’t sure this was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, but it was a job. She had to make it work. It was the first stable position she’d had in a long time, offering job security and benefits. It was more than what she had before, where she bounced from one temp job to the next. She had to stop relying on her best friend every time she messed up.

Ramon was getting married soon, and though his fiancée Becky was kind and understanding, Kira couldn’t keep burdening him. She couldn’t keep staying with him whenever she couldn’t pay rent. He didn’t mind, but she didn’t want to keep doing that, especially now that Ram was probably going to start his own family. Kira couldn’t go running to him all the time. She already felt like a failure, and sleeping with her boss had only made that feeling worse.

Baking had always been her passion, and it was the only thing she had ever felt truly good at. But after an accident, her dreams of a professional Baking career were shattered. Doctors told her she’d never bake again, and she struggled to accept that. Without baking, she felt lost and unremarkable. All she had left were her sharp mind and her quick wit, which often got her into trouble. Her intelligence kept her employed, but she couldn’t seem to keep a job for long.

She glanced at Tesah, who was focused on his tablet, and forced herself not to roll her eyes. She couldn’t deny that he was incredibly handsome. Tesah Clover had smooth, golden skin and dark hair styled perfectly. His eyes were a striking honey-brown, framed by long lashes. His lips, a perfect balance of full and thin, always wore a cynical smirk whenever she was near. His features were flawless: high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a perfect jawline. It was almost unfair, really. If he had a little flaw, it would make him more approachable, more human.

And his body? It was just as perfect—muscular, toned, and well-defined. He knew exactly how to use it, and it was no wonder his ex-girlfriends kept hanging around. He was the kind of man women couldn’t forget, not just because of his looks but because he knew how to please.

Kira, however, wasn’t going to fall into that trap. Amazing sex wasn’t enough to make her swoon over a guy. If it was, she’d be in serious trouble right now. Tesah Clover may have the looks, but his personality made him anything but appealing.

To distract herself from the uncomfortable tension in the car, Kira shifted her focus to the city outside the window. The streets teemed with life, filled with pedestrians going about their day. She chuckled when she spotted a man dressed as a panda crossing the intersection. The oversized panda head bobbed above the crowd, utterly ignored by everyone around him. She quickly grabbed her phone and managed to snap a photo of his back as he disappeared. Amused, she took a few more pictures of the city, then turned the camera on herself. She carefully angled her phone to capture as much of the vibrant background as possible, posting her best shots on social media. Feeling playful, she positioned herself for a few exaggerated selfies, pouting for the camera as their car paused at a busy junction.

Tesah, engrossed in the dense statistics on his tablet, didn’t immediately notice the repetitive clicking of kira's phone. But when the sound finally broke through his concentration, it grated on his nerves. He turned his head and saw her snapping pictures, her lips pursed in an exaggerated duckface. She adjusted her pose, chin tilted to one side, and clicked again. The noise became unbearable.

“Do you really not have anything better to do with your time?” he asked, his voice sharp with irritation.

Startled, kira jumped, and her phone slipped from her hand, bouncing off the seat before landing between his polished shoes. Muttering a soft curse, she leaned forward to retrieve it, her movements awkward in the confined space of the car. As she maneuvered closer to the floor, her hips swayed near Tesah, who clenched his jaw and kept his hands firmly at his sides, resisting the temptation to touch.

“Careful,” he snapped when her elbow came dangerously close to his lap. He grabbed her arm to stop her flailing and guided her back to her seat.

“What on earth are you doing?” he demanded, his voice laced with frustration.

“I dropped my phone,” she replied, cheeks flushed and hair disheveled. She tugged at her blouse, trying to button it back up as she avoided his gaze.

“I could have picked it up for you. Instead, you nearly caused an accident in here.” His sharp eyes scrutinized her face, taking in her frazzled appearance. She looked flustered, almost like someone who’d just been thoroughly kissed. That thought sent a flicker of suspicion racing through his mind.@@novelbin@@

“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked bluntly, his tone cold. “Wasn’t last night enough? If you’re looking for more, just say so. But don’t mistake this for anything beyond a fleeting moment. We can repeat it after this deal is wrapped up, but that’s all it will ever be—just sex. Don’t expect anything more from me.”

Kira stiffened, her face heating in a mix of anger and embarrassment. “Wow, you really are full of yourself, aren’t you? Let me make this clear: I don’t like you. Last night was a mistake, one I’m not planning to repeat. It might have been good, but once was more than enough for me.”

Her words were sharp, leaving no room for doubt. She pointed at the floor between his feet. “Now, would you mind picking up my phone? I’d rather not repeat the earlier fiasco and give you any more ideas.”

Tesah's jaw tightened, his honey-brown eyes locking with hers. “You seem to think you can talk to me however you please just because of what happened last night,” he said evenly. “Let me remind you, we are not friends, and we are certainly not equals.”

Kira arched a brow. “No, we’re not equals. You’re my boss, and I’m your employee, though I doubt that’ll last much longer after this conversation. Since we’re on the topic, maybe I should speak my mind now while I still have the chance.”

He narrowed his eyes, suspicion darkening his features. “You think I’d fire you because of one night? I don’t mix personal matters with work. In this car, I’m your employer, and you will treat me with respect.”

“Respect goes both ways,” she shot back. “But fine, I’ll save my opinions for after-hours. Does that mean I can call you arrogant in my free time?”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “What you think of me in private is your business. Just keep it to yourself.”

Kira smirked, leaning back in her seat. “Glad we cleared that up.”