ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond
Chapter 57: ★Heart stopping smile★

Chapter 57: ★Heart stopping smile★

~Chapter 57~

Wiping off the counter at the cafe, I glanced over at the clock for what felt like the hundredth time.

Anticipation gawking at every cell in my body. Today was going to be a pivotal day, and I couldn’t help but day dream about what lay ahead after my morning shift.

Last night’s events were still fresh in my mind. Marcus, the creepy club manager, had finally gotten what was coming to him - a brown slip.

Yeah you heard it right, I couldn’t believe it too. After all the times he’d bullied and belittled me, after all the times he’d made my life at the club a living hell in just two days of starting the word, he was now sacked.

He lost his job as the club manager and Diana, our main boss, had given me a stern warning: shape up and stop getting distracted at work.

I knew I’d been struggling to keep up, but it was hard when you had a boss like Marcus breathing down your neck.

And then there was Michael. Ah, Michael. He’d been a surprise ally in all of this. Not only had he stood up to Marcus and defended me, but he’d also somehow managed to convince Diana to give me a day off.

I’d had to decline, of course - a day off meant no pay, and I couldn’t afford that. But still, it was nice to know that someone had my back.

Michael persistence had been cute, but when he saw the serious look on my face, he knew better than to push the issue further.

He’d nodded, a hint of a smile still playing on his lips, and said, "Alright, no day off. But I’ll pick you up after your shift at the cafe, before you head to the club."

I’d nodded, couldn’t say no with how my heart was jumping. And the rest of my night at the club had passed relatively smoothly, with me spending most of my time attending to Michael’s needs and fending off Ja’s attempts to fill me in on the latest gossip about Sandra.

But as the night wore on, I’d found myself growing more and more comfortable around Michael.

He was easy to talk to, and he seemed to take a genuine interest in getting to know me. I’d caught myself laughing and smiling more than once, feeling a sense of ease that I hadn’t experienced in a long, long time.

The bell above the cafe door rang out, and my eyes moved towards the entrance. My heart skipping beats upon beats as I saw Michael walking towards me, a smile spreading across his handsome face.

He looked even more handsome than I remembered with that smile of hia. I felt a flutter in my chest, and my face growing warm as I smiled back at him.

Taking a glimpse over at the wall clock. My shift was officially over and Michael didn’t even wait for a few minutes to pass; he showed up right on time, if not a little early.

"Hey," he said, walking up to the counter and dropping his arm onto the surface.

"Hi," I replied, feeling a little shy but also happy to see him. I wiped my hands on my apron, some nervous energy building in my chest.

Snap out of it, Micheal isn’t like them, he wouldn’t turn on you.

I hung the waiter apron on the hook behind the counter, marking the end of my shift. John didn’t bother me that much today but I can feel his burning eyes glaring at the back of my head.

Michael’s eyes roamed over my face, and I felt like he could see right through me. But instead of making me feel uncomfortable, it made me feel like he truly saw me.

"Ready to go?" he asked, smooth and I nodded. "Yeah, just let me go take my bag from the back." Michael nodded back to me.

I turned and ran to the back door, grabbing my worn bag from the hook and slung it over my shoulder.

Walking back out to the counter, where Michael was waiting for me with a smile that reached his eyes.

"Ready?" he asked again.

"Yeah, I’m ready." I whispered softly, to which Michael’s smile grew wider as he reached out and gently took the worn-out bag from my hand and I quickly drag it back to me. The bag wasn’t that heavy, not much is even inside the bag, so I couldn’t carry it.

But Michael protested, "No, no, it’s alright, I can carry it," he said, taking the bag from me, his fingers brushing against mine in the process. It was a fleeting touch, but it sent shivers down my spine.

Michael slung the bag over his shoulder and walked out of the cafe with me by his side. We strolled slowly, the warm sun beating down on us, and I began to feel a little self-conscious about my worn-out clothes and messy hair.

I quickly tried beating down some tangled strand back into my bun and as we walked, Michael glanced down at me. My face grew hot, and I looked away, dropping my hands to myself.

We stopped in front of a sleek black car parked by the curb. The vehicle was stunning, I had no idea what make or model it was, but I could tell it was expensive - the kind of car that only the wealthy could afford.

Michael opened the passenger door and turned to me, "Your chariot awaits," his tone was low and teasing and a giggle rise up in my throat, but I suppressed it, trying to play it cool.

Be a cool girl.

I walked over to the car, totally awestruck by the luxury vehicle. Michael helped me in, his hand on my elbow guiding me into the seat.

He strapped me in with the seatbelt, his face inches from mine. He closed the door behind me, and like pampered child I leaned more into the seat.

This feeling feels so strange and unfamiliar, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

The driver’s door closed with a soft thud, and Michael dropped my bag onto the back seat. He turned to face me with that heart-stopping smile again.

My pulse quickened as he asked, "Music?" I shook my head, No, I love the peace and quiet. The soft hum of the engine and the gentle inhale and exhale from Michael, I was happy to simply sit in silence with Michael and the sound of his breathing.