Fallen~ A Mills guide to wooing Brom
He was possibly the meanest man in Sleepy Hollow…the world; but that was not going to stop Jenny Mills from trying to make him smile…human by using her sister of course.
~Warning~ there is strong language in the first few chapters. Abraham is not a saint…yet
Chapter I
"Son of a bitch, what the fuck is this!" His voice was unmistakably harsh and it sent everyone within the sound of his voice scurrying for cover. Jenny Mills jumped at the sound of his menacing tone. Her eyes were those of someone who was guilty as they moved from left to right looking for an escape. They were to deliver the letter after lunch when she would leave not before lunch. She had really stuck her neck out for everyone in the office this time. Abraham Van Brunt was notorious for parking where he should not. So far, no judge had really stuck it to him. However, Judge Leena Reyes was a friend of Jenny's mother and she asked her for a favor. Everyone in the office just wanted two weeks of peace and as long as he was there that would never happen. Working at Van Brunt Tower was amazing but being around their boss was not. He was an evil, mean, rude bastard. He needed someone to pull him from his high horse.
Jenny placed the plastic top back on her salad bowl and gathered her things. She crawled around her desk and when the other secretary cowering in front of her desk nodded that, she was past Van Brunt's viewing spectrum Jenny stood up and made a run for the door.
Frank Irving the unfortunate and only vice president of the company slumped his body in his chair before he got up and walked down the long hallway towards the huge mahogany doors of Abraham "Brom" Van Brunt's office. The cursing billionaire turned the paper upside down and held it up to the light searching for a secret message. Frank sighed and walked on the expensive zebra wood floor towards the huge mahogany desk. Abraham slammed the paper down on his desk and looked up at Frank's smug face. "What the hell does this mean as part of your community service you have to work at Hawley's diner?"
Frank leaned over, picked up the paper, and read it. He nodded and then he lowered the paper. "It means that as part of your community service you have to work at Hawley's diner for two weeks."
"WHAT!" Frank's ears rang as Abraham snatched the paper from his hands and balled it up, then opened it and started ripping it to pieces. Abraham threw the pieces on the floor and then knocked everything on his desk on the floor. Frank stood there silently as his boss went on his tirade. He was in shock. He never thought anyone would have the balls or ovum to do something like this. Work in a dirty and greasy diner. He could not wear a suit and work he had to wear a… uniform. When he was finished with practically destroying everything on his desk Frank looked up at his boss. Some of his long blonde hair had managed to escape his top knot. He was deeply into his samurai training. Frank was sure that temper tantrums were not part of his training. He was breathing hard and his face was a shade of red that Frank had never seen.
"You start tomorrow."
Those outside the office cringed when they heard the breaking glass and curses that followed. Frank walked out of the office and closed the door behind him. He wore a small smile on his face as he walked back down the long hallway towards his office.
*()*
Abbie laughed at the retired doctor Henry Parrish as she poured him another cup of coffee. He always came during her shift and left when it ended. She was his favorite person in the entire town. "If I was younger you would not have a choice but to love me."
Abbie chuckled again as the others in the diner took exception to the doctor's words.
Nick came out of the back frowning. "Hey gramps what did I tell you about getting Miss Mills all hot and bothered before the lunch crowd."
Henry frowned at the owner and continued talking. "Anyway, I heard that some real piece of work is coming here to work off some community service."
Nick walked over to the doctor. "Now how would you know that before me? This is my establishment."
"People like me and the Judge is a personal friend of mine. She really wanted him to suffer by sending him here." Those in the diner laughed. Nick Hawley ran a clean place in part because his staff loved working there and loved the patrons that ate there. Their desire to have a nice place had nothing to do with the owner's son.
"What is that supposed to mean? He will learn some manners here."
Henry chuckled. "Yeah if you let Abbie train him,"
Abbie smiled as she walked away from the arguing men. This was a typical Monday. Nick and Henry always started it off with a bang. "Maybe he just needs someone to listen to him."
Henry shook his head and leaned over to his left so that he could see her instead Nick standing in front of him. "Oh no he's a real asshole."
"What's his name?"
Henry picked up his paper and sipped his coffee before answering one of the other patrons. "Abraham Van Brunt,
Silence filled the diner for the first time in 30 years. Abbie looked around as everyone stared at Hawley's owner. Nick trembled at the thought of having all that raw rage in his diner. He knew why this was happening to him. Make the mistake of calling the Judge's daughter a whore and then this will happen to you. Nick looked over at Abbie and smiled. If she could not tame the man called Brom by…no one that lived to tell about it, she would come running to him for help.
"Go ahead use her like you always do. If it were not for her, you would be on the street like the bum that you are. If she ever leaves this place so will everyone else and I mean the customers too."
Nick smiled at Henry, as he moved closer to the counter. "Let me tell you something, you old piece of shit. Abbie is never leaving me. She is going to be with me forever."
"Stop talking to me as if you have a shrine in her honor in your bedroom. You are nothing like your father. He worked for a living you just lie off it. You don't know anything about hard work. Even this guy coming here knows what hard work is."
Abbie walked over to the conversation and smiled. The two men could not help but smile back. "Luke needs you in the kitchen."
Nick just stared at her. God she was beautiful even in the white and blue waitress uniform with her thick long hair pulled back into a bun. He spent most of his time looking at her ass and legs and dreaming of being the lucky man that took the Mills cherry. He had already tried to woo Jenny but she threatened to kill him. He needed someone a little more balanced. They were the daughters of Shotgun William Mills. He would shoot anyone that even thought about touching his daughters. He brought them up with a sense of fear. Everyone knew how violent the man was to strangers and his own family. He was the reason the Mills girls avoided men. They did not need a man to validate them. Jenny was always mean. Abbie was another story. She was sweet, kind and loyal. Nick wanted to be the one to witness her love every day but so far, he was falling short. Abbie treated him as her boss and nothing more. He had to change that.
Nick stared at her a little longer until she smiled and shook her head as she walked away.
Henry ruffled his paper to get Nick's attention. "Get your ass in the kitchen and be a manger not a stalker."
*()*
Why was everyone so afraid of this Abraham Van Brunt? Abbie thought as she sat on her sofa wrapped up in her grandma's afghan and eating chicken noodle soup. Why was he coming to Hawley's diner was her second thought? There were plenty of places to send someone like him why there? Her phone rang and Abbie smiled at the name on the ID.
"You usually call right when I get home not at six."
"I just want to say that I am sorry. I had no idea that she would send him to you." "What,"
"I mean I asked her to but I was joking because she always said you could make the devil purr."
Abbie set her soup down and stood. "What are you talking about?"
"Abbie I did it. I asked Leena to send him to Hawley's diner. Well not really but…yes I did it please forgive me."
"He can't be worse than Daddy."
Jenny was silent and then she hung up the phone. Abbie's heartbeat increased and caused panic in her body. She had never been afraid of anyone but she was starting to get a little worried. What had this man done to make her sister afraid? Their father had a shotgun what did this man have to bring fear into everyone that mentioned his name. Abbie took a deep breath and decided that she would do as she had always done. She would be herself and let the chips fall where they may. No one was going to make her change.
*()*
Frank rode in the back with Abraham that morning as they drove downtown towards Hawley's diner. He had finally stopped cursing for two minutes for Frank to tell him that the judge would frown upon cursing of any kind. She could extend his time if she saw fit. Abraham let another tirade fly as Frank stared straight ahead. Claude pressed down on the gas pedal to speed up the torture.
They stopped in front of the diner and Abraham just sat in the car staring at the clean window and the people inside laughing. "I bet the inside of this place is caked with so much grease that my arties harden the minute I open the door."
Frank looked at the diner. "The Hawley diner has won many awards this year including the cleanest and healthiest diner in the city."
Abraham turned and stared at his vice president. Frank continued talking. 'You will be expected to adhere to all the rules and regulations of this establishment. You are ordered to be civil and kind to your crew and your direct superior."
Superior...fuck that!"
Frank pulled an envelope from his pocket. "Your progress will be monitored."
"By who,"
"I was not informed of who it was for my safety."
Abraham sneered at him as he exited the car. He was enjoying this Abraham could tell. His robotic tone seemed cheerful all of a sudden. Claude too seemed ecstatic he never drove that fast in all his 70 years. Abraham reached into his breast pocket and pulled out his five hundred dollar sunglasses. Claude opened his door and he stepped from the car. Frank waited for him at the door. Claude opened the diner door and the bell at the top of the door rang. All liveliness inside the building stopped the minute Abraham crossed the threshold. All eyes focused on him. Frank smiled and began greeting people as they slowly made their way towards the front counter.
"What are you doing?" Abraham asked frowning at his Vice president. Frank continued smiling at everyone as he answered his boss.
'It is customary to greet people as a sign of friendliness."
Nick stared at the approaching party. His eyes moved towards the big man wearing the Armani black suit and sunglasses. He looked as if he wanted to destroy him. Henry cleared his throat waiting for Nick to say something.
"Are you going to say something or just stand there and drool all over the counter?"
Nick glared at the old codger with murderous intent on his face. The bell at the top of the door rang again. Abbie walked in with loose hair and regular clothes on. "Sorry Nick I'm late but Miss Henderson's car would not start so I had to drop her off."
She walked towards the counter. Frank smiled at her and said good morning. Abbie returned his greeting and returned his smile with one of her own. Abraham said nothing. He did not even move his head but his eyes followed the dark skinned woman all over the diner.
"That's alright…Abbie this is Mr. Van Brunt Lisa is going to train him."
The waitress in question suddenly realized that he had said her name and looked over at Nick.
"What."
Abbie raised an eyebrow. Why had he suddenly changed his mind? Did he know something she did not? Lisa was not strong enough. She barely talked. Was he trying to punish Henry because Lisa was his granddaughter? Abbie nodded and then turned towards Abraham. She extended her hand towards him. The man never shook anyone's hand. He stared at her for a moment before extending his hand forwards. Abraham's hand swallowed hers. Abbie smiled up at him.
"Welcome to Hawley's Diner, we will treat you well here."
Frank waited for Abraham to return a polite greeting. When he saw none coming, he looked at his boss. Abraham sighed and mumbled some words. "Thank you. I am sure that I will not enjoy it."
Abbie laughed. "Okay,"
She pulled her hand away from his, grabbed her things, and walked to the back. Lisa slowly walked up to the counter with her head down. "Mr. van Brunt Will you come with me please."
Abraham ignored the woman. Frank showed him the envelope and then handed it to Nick his superior. He knew that Abraham had a scowl on his face as he glared at him. Lisa continued looking down at the floor as she waited for him to comply with her words. Abraham turned his attention to Lisa as she shrank before him and then started walking towards the back.
"Claude will return at…when does his shift end?"
Nick smiled reading the letter in the envelope. "Five,"
"He will be here at five, please have a good first day." Frank watched the scowl on his face grow.
"So this says that he has to work the whole two weeks unless I say otherwise."
"Yes." Frank faced the owner and studied him. His research told him that he and Abraham would clash…brutally. The man had no work ethic. His employees were the true owners of the diner.
"How rich is he?"
Frank felt another pair of eyes on him and looked at the old man sitting on the stool. "Henry
Parrish."
He extended his hand and Frank shook it. "Never mind the idiot we'll take care of gargantuan while you're gone."
Frank raised an eyebrow at the man's choice of words. "Mr. Van Brunt is very capable of taking care of himself but I understand your meaning."
Nick frowned when Frank returned his attention to him and then walked away from the counter heading for the door. "What the hell are you doing Henry, insulting the guy's boss like that?"
"What in the hell are you doing asking about his money? That is so trashy?"
Nick smiled and walked away from the counter. "One of these days I am going to throw you out of here."
"Yeah you and what army, "Henry yelled as the others snickered at their bickering.
Lisa stood outside the employee changing room shaking like a leaf. Abbie finished putting her hair up into a bun and then placed the hair net over it. She walked up to Lisa and placed her hand over the girl's arms. "Lisa are you okay?"
"Abbie I can't do this. He does not even look at me. He looks through me. I can't do this. I'm going to quit."
Abbie chuckled and pulled the scared girl into her body for a hug. "You can't quit you have school loans to pay off. Besides Henry's your kin and you would never hear the end of it. Look I will take over."
Lisa pulled away from the embrace. She did not want Abbie in trouble. "But Nick…."
"I'll talk with him. Go take my tables." Lisa nodded and then hugged her again. When she heard the door opening Lisa ran away. The blonde haired giant stepped from the dressing room wearing a specially made uniform of dark blue pants and a white shirt. He held up the black hair net and looked at it as if it were some alien creature.
Abbie chuckled at him and Abraham looked down at her. She smiled up at him. "It's a hair net.
You have to wear it."
He did not look swayed by her words. Abbie chuckled again at his you got to be kidding me look. "Come on bend down and I will put it on for you."
He stood as still as stone. Abbie continued smiling up at him. "I will be gentle I promise."
Abraham slowly leaned down as Abbie took the net from his hands and gently placed it over the long blond hair in the top knot. She stepped back and Abraham straightened.
"Now you look like a Hawley employee."
"Fucking awesome," His voice was monotone. He saw a frown cross her face for a moment and made a note of it. She did not smile at him as she led him towards the time clock. Nick walked back towards the clock with Abraham's time card and a scowl on his face.
"Abbie what are you doing? Lisa is going to train him."
"Really Nick, Lisa is afraid of everything."
"Well I need you on the floor."
"There is no one out here Abbie."
Henry's voice made Nick let a curse fill the backroom and Abraham saw Abbie hide her smile. "How does that piece of shit know what we are talking about from way out there when he can't hear a word that you say sitting next to him."
Abbie took the time card and began explaining it to Abraham. "Listen Lisa is coming back to train him."
"Can you not talk while she is explaining this to me I can't hear her over your yelling."
"Listen I run this place not you so you better get your high and mighty attitude out of your voice right now. I am your superior."
Abbie looked up at Abraham as he stood his full height. "You know the other option was jail. I could still go there because of what might transpire back here."
"Kick his ass… We won't tell."
Nick looked towards the front again hearing Henry's voice. He returned his attention to Abbie and Abraham when heard the other patrons laughing, "Alright you can train him today but tomorrow Lisa is back on the job."
Abbie saw the stare down begin again between the two men and decided to defuse the situation. "Thank you Nick,"
Nick heard her sweet voice and looked down at her beautiful smile and everything else. Abraham noticed that his eyes lingered as Abbie turned away from him. Nick met his eyes smiling at him before walking out of the back.
*()*
Henry watched the giant walk around the diner as if he were killing roaches. He was used to doing things his way and screwed up several times making coffee. Abbie just smiled at him and encouraged him until he got it right. Henry smiled at her gentleness even with the bumbling idiot Nick. He still did not understand why she just did not slap the guy for the way that he looked her. If he were younger, he would punch Nick in the nuts. Abbie walked away from Abraham to go to the back and Henry motioned him over to him.
Abraham frowned at the gesture but walked over to the old man that was still reading the same section of the newspaper. "What are you in for?'
Abraham raised an eyebrow. "Being me."
Henry chuckled. "How's that working out?"
A very slow smile appeared on Abraham's face. "It has afforded me wealth."
"Don't forget the hairnet."
Abraham continued smiling. "How could I forget that?"
Nick looked over at the two of them talking civilly and anger grew inside of him. That was not what he needed the richest guy in the world making friends with Henry Parrish the devil's spawn. He could not allow that to happen. He did not want anyone making this giant feeling comfortable here. Nick walked over to the two.
"Abraham why don't you come over here for a second to continued your court appointed training."
Abraham and Henry looked at the smiling Nick as he pointed at Abraham.
"You only have to deal with this for two weeks I got the rest of my life."
Nick glared at the old man as Abraham snorted and walked away from him. He slowly made his way around the counter keeping his eyes on Nick in case he drew a weapon. Oh, how he wished he would draw a weapon. Nick watched Abraham as he slowly walked up to him as if he was planning to attack him. Nick stood beside the broken ice cream machine. "Have you ever made an ice cream cone before?"
Abraham gave him an irritated look. Nick smiled at him. "Well the best way to learn is to jump right in."
Nick handed him a waffle cone. Abraham took it from him and stepped closer to the machine as Nick curiously moved back. Abraham grabbed the lever that would release the ice cream down the tube and the white liquid sprayed from the tube onto the front of Abraham's pants.
"NICK! I told you that that machine is broken." Abbie turned the machine off when it did not look as if Abraham was capable of it because he was glaring at her boss.
Nick fought hard to stop the laughter growing in his body. "When did you tell me that?"
Henry looked at the giant steaming with anger. He dropped the waffle cone and advanced towards Nick but Abbie gently grabbed his arm. "We have extra uniforms for you in the back."
Abraham looked down at the gentle hand on his arm but could not pull away. He did not want to hurt her. They were very close to Nick she would be in the line of fire. Why did she care if he killed this man? It was apparent to him that no one cared for Nick. He would be doing them a favor. He could survive in jail. Her tugging on his arm became annoying and finally Abraham gave up trying to wait her out. He followed Abbie pass Nick staring at him the entire time.
*()*
Abbie let her hair down and sighed with another day complete. Abraham was probably her worse trainee yet. He was rough and uncaring but she knew that if Nick left him alone he would bend… maybe a little. She heard a noise behind her and saw Nick standing there. A frown crossed her face. "How did you get in here so fast?"
"You were too deep in thought over the giant."
"His name is Abraham." Abbie closed her locker. Nick's eyes travelled down her body the tight dark grey shirt just showed off her wonderful big breasts and those jeans accented her ass. Her long midnight hair hung over her shoulder and down her back with a slight curl at the ends. She was an angel.
Abbie looked up and saw Nick staring at her as if in a daze. He always looked at her like that and it was beginning to annoy her. Another sound behind Nick drew her attention. Abbie leaned to her left and saw Abraham standing there in his black Armani suit. He looked very powerful except for the hairnet on his head. Abbie smiled and walked towards him.
What did she want? Abraham crinkled his brow as she came closer. Why was she always smiling? If she knew what her piece of shit boss wanted, she would not be smiling.
"Bend down." Abraham took his sweet time lowering his head. He heard a soft chuckled come from her as she removed the hairnet.
"Top knot,"
"Yes,"
Abbie continued smiling up at him. "Do you train?"
Nick cleared his throat. Abbie turned and faced him. "Are you staying to help plan the menu with Luke and me?"
Abbie sighed. 'I can't I have to take Mrs. Henderson home."
"Abbie this is sort of important."
"Luke can do it by himself he always does. He is a master chef."
"Okay don't feed his cock too much Abbie."
Abraham saw her body jerk at Nick's words. She turned around with a frown on her face. "You have great people here Nick and you don't appreciate them at all."
"I appreciate everyone. I pay you guys don't I."
Abbie returned her gaze to her smiling boss. "You don't think we can go elsewhere for more pay?"
Nick lost his happiness and then thought about what she was saying. "I did not mean that you guys are not worth more. You all are invaluable to me."
Abbie turned away from the fumbling man and smiled up at Abraham as she walked past him. Nick watched her go and frowned. "She is everything to me. She just does not know it yet. She is getting too mouthy lately. I know that is Henry's influence though. Still I am going to have to tell her what's what. I am the alpha here but can be my beta."
Abraham said nothing as the man rambled on about his power. He could care less about what he was saying. Nick faced at him. "What are you waiting for Fabio?"
"My shift is over."
"Oh you want to fight. You are still inside my establishment."
Abraham frowned at the man's constant smile. "Then walk yourself outside so Fabio can kick your ass."
Claude appeared in the doorway. "Ahh damn looks like I am going to have to give you a rain check for that Abe."
Claude stepped further into the room and Abraham turned and left. He walked to the car seething with anger. He could not wait for tomorrow to come. Nick Hawley had no idea what he had just started and with who.
Author's Notes
Hope that you enjoyed this chapter. I did some editing to correct some errors. Frostbytefire
