Chapter Three

One week later

She was nervous; it's been years since her last interview and even then it'd only been for an internship. She was also mortified; from the world of fashion to the fast food industry, she thought bitterly.

She couldn't understand how this had happened; her parents always have given her money no matter what with no strings attached. All of a sudden they tell her she has to have a job to get 'help' money.

Yet, here she was, sitting there waiting for her name to be called. She was one of the ten other people there waiting for their interview.

She looked around, mentally sizing up her competition. One guy was missing two teeth, the women next to him had the worst spilt ends, and the next girl had a horrible perm (did she think this was the 80s?), the next was balding; the next could use some make-up, the next…..

She blinked.

Oh god, she thought to herself, not him, not here.

Deciding she could simply call her parents and explain her situation: she just couldn't even get anyone to interview her, she got up and started heading for the door out. When she passed him, she ducked her head and angled her body away from his.

When she got outside the hallway she and the rest of the hopeful employees to be were, she all but tried to run out of the restaurant.

Just when she got a good, face pace built up, she felt someone grab her arm.

"Back off you cree-," She stopped when she saw it was a manager who works there, "Sorry, you scared me," she said, hoping that he'd believe her.

"Aren't you here for an interview?"

No. "Yes," she admitted.

"Where are you going?" He asked with one eyebrow raised.

"To get some fresh air," she lied, "I'm kind of nervous and started to feel claustrophobic in there."

He looked at her skeptically not really believing her lie, but he nodded, "Alright, I'll send someone out for you when your name is called."

"Thanks," was all she could manage to say. She couldn't believe that not only did she just lie to one of her potential bosses, but she had to stay for the interview now.

Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, he walked out.

She heard him using something along the lines of what she said.

"Gabi!" She then heard him yell.

She cringed, then turned around and put on a fake smile, "Troy! What a coincidence! But please, call me Gabriella." She politely corrected him.

He ignored her, "So why you here? Rich girl like you should be at some place with caviar right?"

She kept her smile to keep herself from crying, "Magazine article," she lied, "It's a story about changing the uniforms of the fast food industries. How hard it is you know?" Lame lie, she thought to herself.

He seemed to accept it, all he did was nod.

"Um, why are you here?"

"Don't you know?"

She shook her head, lost.

"You're so fine, you make me want to go out and get a job."

She rolled her eyes.

"Where do you get your pick-up lines? www. I-can't-get-a-date. com?"

"Good one, where do you get your comebacks? www. I-can't-lie-for-shit. com?

He could see the emotions running across her face: anger, sadness, anger, frustration, more anger.

She didn't say anything.

"Yeah princess, I may not be a spoiled rich kid, but I'm not dumb, you really think I was going to believe that magazine line? What happened, mommy and daddy cut you off?"

"Why you littl-," she started to say. He stopped her.

"Were you about to curse? Well we can't have that, I mean think about what your manner's coach would say?"

"Shut up."

"Oh, did I offend you? Well we can't have the princess offended, shou-,"

"Get the hell off my case! You don't know a damn thing about me. You call me a hypocrite? Well look in the mirror, you're just as bad."

"Was that an insult?" he said faking being offended.

"You better f***ing believe it was! Out of all the guys I know, you are without a doubt the biggest asswho-," she was cut off.

With no preamble, he took her by her waist and pulled her towards him, at the same time crushing his lips against hers.

At first, taken by surprise, she didn't do anything. After a moment, instead of fighting back, which was what her brain wanted her to do, she found herself opening her mouth for him to let him kiss her deeper.

When she finally got some of her sense back, she pushed at him. When he let her go she hit him with her purse.

"What the hell?" He asked rubbing his arms.

"I should be asking you the same question."

"Well, I was kissing you, and you seemed to like it."

She scoffed at that, "Are you on crack? I could consider that sexual abuse you know."

"No, I'm not high, merely just intoxicated by you." He replied ignoring the second half of what she said.

She rolled her eyes and walked away, knowing it was futile to fight with him.

"Wait!"

"What?"

"You're forgetting something."

She looked down to see if she had her purse, yes.

"What?" She finally asked him.

"Me."

She turned around and continued walking. Her phone started to ring.

"Hello?"

"Ella, we have some bad news."