The diner is rolling in customers, my hips swaying left and right through the tight seating. I let myself sigh in annoyance when a kid squats through my legs getting a full view of my polka dot panties. So much for wearing clothes. The mother apologies profusely dragging the kid away, but the damage has been done, and I for one wish to forget this disgusting scenario. Not to mention he complimented them.

Plates balance on my forefingers as I twist and turn, almost a ballet performance like when when I was younger, but now is not the time to recall fond memories. Another ding from the food bar calls my attention back to the hot food in my hands and where I need to be, the table coming into view.

The sound is horrible when I let them clatter onto the table, my lack of fucks to give today running me thin. The blonde male gives me an eye elevator, one that I personally don't appreciate.

"Done looking? I don't have time to be entertainment today." I spit at him, the blonde recoiling.

"The name is Tyson, Tyson Wells. I was just admiring your beauty."

"Oh wow. Still don't care. I would appreciate if you admired that food and told me if you needed anything else?" I wave my hand over the steaming food, the men looking down and checking their silverware. The other more brindle haired man meets my eyes a forgotten heat shooting to my core.

"Ares Gray." He reaches his hand out keeping his eyes connected with him. I meet him in the middle giving him a firm shake a spike of electricity zipping through my body.

"Veronica Smite." The words are fused with curiosity and confusion. He smiles at me, a flash of gold coming over his eyes. I look around to make sure no one else saw it, and he draws me back into his presence.

What I wouldn't do to take this man to the storage closet.

"Well damn a hot woman with a badass name, who woulda' thought?" Tyson mumbles letting his thumb run over the edges of his chin. I run my tongue over my teeth and give him a certain face of disgust.

"Well, I'm gonna go, I do have other paying customers gentlemen." I give them my back and start to walk away the whistle of a male following me. My good friend Jessica runs by me with knives in her silverware holder, I grab a sharp steak knife and turn back to the men, "I think I forgot to bring you a steak knife."

The blonde, Tinsel, gives me a look and I smile the fakest smile I could muster, "We have burgers?"

"You never know," I use all my grip strength to stab the knife into the table it standing straight up between me and the idiot, "When you need one."

"Did she just-" He gets angry quick, but the brindle stops him holding out a hand. Tinsel settles quickly almost afraid to ignore his command.

"Well deserved, Tyson. Let her be. Thank you, ma'am."

My body shivers at his voice, the words running over my skin to raise goosebumps. It's been a long time since a man has affected me so much, the terror of a relationship frightening me enough to run from the table.

I take a deep breath whispering to myself quietly, "We only fuck and never go dutch."

"Did you really just stab a man's table?" Jessica runs up beside me, food handing off her hand, "Because that was badass bitch."

"He whistled at my ass." I grumble pinching the edge of my nose. It might have been a bit over dramatic, but man did I feel better.

"Oh honey, it wasn't the blonde that whistled."

"What?"

"And he's still staring. Maybe you should slide him your number, you seemed to be hot for him."

I roll my eyes at her and she laughs running off to take the food to its owners. I shuffle back to the kitchen where Greasy Gus stands over the stove seasoning the next few orders.

"I saw whatcha' done dids! You gotta nerve's steel!" He has a high pitched laugh, but I shrug him off pecking his cheek.

"You know I only tolerate respect and cheesecake Gus."

"And that's why I am gonna marry you's." He tracks more grease on himself flipping a burger while I toss together a salad for another table.

"Of course Gus!" We both laugh together enjoying the moment as the lunch rush settles.

While he isn't the brightest bulb in the pack, Gus was the man that landed me this job. One that while I don't make much, allows me to live in New York while I pursue my dream of doing whatever the hell I want.

Before I met Gus, my heart was shattered from the life my ex gave me. James Volga, a very old name for a very old family with some very old money. We were together for three years, me right when I turned eighteen and him being twenty five. I was groomed into being the picture perfect girlfriend that only received love when he felt I deserved it. However, my parents before they passed believed that marrying rich was the only way to succeed in life so I stayed with him. When he started controlling me is when I finally had to call it off. The twenty-first birthday car having a tracker so he could monitor everywhere I went being said final straw.

I ran off to New York leaving the keys, and everything I had, back at his place. He bought it for me anyways. He still tracks me and tries to find me, some people getting close to discovering who I am. Working at a small diner that has just enough regulars and minimum new faces makes it easy to keep in on the down low, but one day I fear it might not be enough and he will drag me back into his slimy hands.

He has enough money to buy me and my soul.

The salad comes together easily, my hands moving while my thoughts ran. I take the bowl and rush out of the kitchen tossing my gloves to the nearby trashcan. The people are slowly leaving letting me have just a few moments too slow down after I drop off the bowl.

"Ma'am?" The annoying blonde calls out again, and I shift my gaze to them tugging the check out of my book.

"Here you go!" The paper floats slowly onto the table, neither man rushing to grab it, "Did you mean it to be separate?"

The sexy beast I keep eyeing speaks first, "Business expense."

"Okay."

Ares looks at the check, and then back to me, the butterflies finding themselves back in the pit of my stomach, "May I buy you dinner?"

"Dinner?"

Tyson snickers, I force my hands to stay by my side before I grab another knife.

"Yes, Dinner. Tomorrow?" Ares holds my eyes, his intense gaze keeping me focused on him and him entirely.

"Uh..."

"I promise to keep my hands to myself."

But I don't want you too, "Leave your number, and I'll think about it. But don't expect a miracle."

"Of course, darling."

Jessica calls me from the back, I rush over to her letting myself cool down from the intimate gaze we held.

"So?"

"I plan to climb that man like tree tomorrow."

From behind me I hear the coughing up of water, my head turning to see the blonde choking on his cup, the other male smirking at his dying friend. Huh, weird.