Chapter 1

Skylar

“Sky hurry up or you’ll be late for your first day on the Job”? Ivy yelled from the top of the stairs.

“I’m coming hold your horses”, I said making my way up the flight of stairs to the dorm rooms. It was my second semester at the prestigious Havenwood college. Ivy was my roommate; she was easy to get along with seeing as We’re rarely in the room with each other and she didn’t ask many questions. My first semester here she gave me a rundown of who was who, who to be wary of, who to steer clear of and what not to do.

I was all but itching to get a Job so I spoke to the dean, He said he would speak to the scholarship donor that gave me my scholarship to see if they approved. That was a few weeks ago before semester break. Earlier today he called me to his office and handed me a badge. He said they approved and that was all I needed to hear.

I was five nine in height, relatively short compared to most students and what made me stand out even further were my blue eyes and Long silver hair which I couldn’t change. I wasn’t a model or anything, but I could turn heads. Being a sophomore made it worse because someone was always trying to ask me out. I didn’t need that what I needed was a job and now I had it. That was all that mattered to me.

As I walked into the room, we got changed hurriedly and left. As Ivy and I headed to work, four black Tinted SUVs passed us.

“That’s probably Dorian Sterling, she said dreamily

“Who”?

She looked at me with a are you serious look.

“Seriously Sky? What am I going to do what you. Dorian Sterling, as in the CEO Hunk of Zenith Cooperation. The company that offered you your scholarship. You’re in your second year and still don’t know the prominent families of Havenwood yet”, she said looking horrified that I didn’t know this detail.

“Sorry Ivy. But all I’m interested in is Making money and getting top grades. Nothing more. Besides I haven’t been walking around Havenwood looking for these prominent families as you call them”,

We walked through the gates of the country club. Which was twenty-five minutes away from the college campus. When we walked in a woman who I guessed was the manager was standing by the door waiting for us.

“Oh, thank God you’re here. Is this her”? she asked Ivy who nodded like a little kid.

“Darla this is Skylar. Sky this is Darla, the manager of the country club”, She said looking at us.

“Hello Darla. Ivy said you had some vacancies”,

“We do. Ivy, your section is full go on, I’ll take care of her”, Darla said smiling at me and leading me towards a door at the end of the hall. Once there she sat down behind her desk.

“Okay so. I’m sure Ivy didn’t explain anything to you. This is the only country club in the city of Havenwood, there are many restaurants, but the club is owned by a wealthy family so it’s more known for hosting elite families. All the elite families dine here. There are different sections, there are private dining rooms and the main dining hall”.

“You are quite attractive and I’m sure that’s why Ivy brought you here because if you’re pretty enough the dinners especially the men leave you large tips. Have you even been a server before”? she asked, looking hopeful.

“I have a lot of experience”.

“Great then let’s get you out to the floor. I’ll introduce you to the kitchen staff and start you out today”, she said, smiling.

She led me to the back, we waked into a massive kitchen and introduced me to everyone. Everyone seemed okay but I saw the looks and stares I received from some of them. She gave me my uniform and explained everything and assigned me a room. I changed into my uniform and headed into the private dining room. I made my way over to the table. It was all men, five of them.

“Good evening gentlemen. I am Sorry for the delay, what can I get you”.

“Oh, my goodness, it seems Like Darla has been hiding you away from us”. One of the men said.

“Fuck she’s beautiful”, another one said.

I could feel my anger rising but I’ve tolerated more than this.

“God damn I wouldn’t mind tapping that”, another said

“That’s enough”, One said, his was voice low and commanding and held authority, the minute he spoke the others went silent. I didn’t look at them. After I took their orders, I left and headed to the kitchen.

After they were finished and ready to pay, I returned with the check. They were all gone except one. As I was about to hand it to him, he stood up before me and I stepped back.

“You’re new”, he said, his voice was sharp and cold.

“Yes Sir”,

He took a step towards me, and I stepped back.

“You’re not from Havenwood are you”? he asked

“No”,

“Look at me when I speak to you”, he said, his voice was no longer commanding it was like Ice.

What the fuck did you get yourself into Skylar, I couldn’t help but think to myself. I lifted my head and looked at him. He was wearing sunglasses which hid his eyes, black hair framed his well sculpted face, the hardness of his jawline. His features were sharp and angular, a testament to his powerful nature.

This man had power that much I knew. He kept staring at me. I guess he was waiting for me to go weak in the knees.

“Is there something I can do for you sir”?

“Is that your real hair”? he asked, and I was stumped for a second by the question and by the tone in which he asked.

“Yes, it is”

“What is your name”?, he asked.

I didn’t answer him, I kept staring at him, it was sort of a silent stare down. I wasn’t going to be intimidated by whoever he was, and it seemed like he had the same thought. A knock at the door caught his attention and he looked away, he walked towards the door, as he was about to leave, he stopped and looked at me.

“Welcome to Havenwood”, he said with an amused tone and walked out the door.

I let out a breath of relief. Jesus that was intense. Who the hell was he and why should I know or care. After I caught my breath, and my heart stopped racing, I began cleaning up the table. That’s when I realized he left a tip of three thousand dollars. I was looking at the money when Darla came in and stood looking at me.

“So how was your first Service”? she asked

“Umm”, I showed her the money. And she began laughing.

“These rooms, these are the high rollers. They are the wealthiest of all in Havenwood and this is nothing, just don’t tell anyone how much tips you make”, she said

“But I mean”,

“Sweetie as long as the bill is paid the rest is yours. I’ll give you a key for a locker so you can leave your tips there. I’ll give you some envelopes”, she said

“Umm actually Darla can I ask you to keep it for me. I can’t, I don’t want to keep this much money on campus”,

“I understand that. Here’s what you can do. I’ll write the date, time and amount on the envelope and lock it in the safe. I’ll help you get a bank account just like I helped the other girls”, she said smiling

“Thank you”.

When we left that night at Twelve Alex one of the cooks gave us a ride back to the dorms, from the conversation he and Ivy had it seems Like they were close. I had Some studying to do so after a shower we sat and were having dinner.

“Tonight was a good night. I made Fifteen hundred in tips. Did you make any tips”, Ivy asked.

I wanted to tell her but at the same time I don’t think she would appreciate that I made more than her and especially that I earned that much on my first day. I learnt at an early age that not all friends are friends.

“It was okay. I made six hundred “

“See, I told you working at the club would be good. You don’t need to work three different Jobs”, she said smugly.

“Yea”, I replied half-heartedly .I felt terrible lying to her, but I just didn’t want to make her angry. After we finished, she went to bed, and I began studying. The next morning, we headed to classes together.

This was the way my life went. The first Month at work was miserable. Two of the servers, Maya and Daphne, were mean as hell. Darla shifted me around, from the private rooms to the main dining halls and they didn’t like that my section was always full. They complained to Darla but all she said was ‘She’s bringing in more customers and more money’. After that they became more vicious.

The idiot that accosted me on my first day showed up many more times after that, but I just ignored him. He didn’t say anything to me either, but he still left the same amount in tips, and I couldn’t help but wonder if that was normal for them or what.