Chapter 3

The next day, I showed up at the bar where Joyce worked, following the address she'd given me.

The manager, a man in his thirties, already knew I was filling in for Joyce.

He handed me a black bar uniform and told me to change into it.

Then he said, "This job's a piece of cake. Top students like you will have no problem. Bring whatever the guests order to their room. If you run into something you can't handle, come to me."

I quickly checked out the layout and came up with a game plan in my head.

Sticking to my game plan, I got the hang of things fast.

I settled in quickly. Except for the ridiculously tight uniform, the job was super easy.

The manager, half-joking, half-serious, said, "Sophia, why don't you take a job here? I'll pay you 30% more than anyone else."

I shook my head. "No, thanks. I don't have the time."

Then, someone rushed over to the manager and told him the VIP suite guests had arrived.

The manager's face turned serious. "Sophia, the VIP suite is your responsibility. Head over there now.

"Those people are not to be messed with. Stay sharp. If anyone causes you trouble, come straight to me, okay?"

I pushed open the heavy door to the VIP suite. Under the dim, colorful lights, the room was filled with a mix of men and women, all lounging around and mingling.

A woman was bawling her eyes out into the microphone, singing like her whole world had ended.

I crouched down and set the drinks from my tray onto the table one by one.

A lazy voice drawled, "Who brought her here? Make her shut up. She sounds like she's at a funeral."

Someone immediately snatched the mic from her hand. "Ryan says stop singing."

The woman instantly fell silent.

I looked over and met a pair of sharp eyes. It was Ryan.

Though I'd only seen him twice in my previous life, thanks to my great memory, I recognized him right away.

I quickly turned away and kept setting the drinks on the table.

Ryan chuckled softly. "Hey, you know who I am?"

I knew he was talking to me, but I had zero interest in getting involved with him.

I acted like I didn't hear him, got up, and headed for the door with my tray.

Someone blocked my way. "You're pretty bold. Ryan talked to you, and you ignored him?"

I recognized this guy from my previous life. He was Ryan's sidekick.

I replied coolly, "Move. Answering questions isn't part of my job."

Ryan's sidekick was shocked by my attitude. He grabbed my arm. "Got some attitude, huh? Don't you know who Ryan is? Come have a drink with him, and maybe he'll forgive you."

I slammed the tray into his face. "I don't need anyone's forgiveness."

With that, I yanked the door open, ready to walk out.

Suddenly, someone slammed the door shut. "You hit someone, and think you can walk out?"

I was shoved in front of Ryan.

Ryan was lounging on the couch, his legs propped up on the table. He looked up at me with a smile, but there was ice in his eyes.

"Interesting. Haven't seen someone this gutsy in a long time," Ryan said with a smirk.

He slid a bottle of liquor in front of me. "Down it, and you're free to leave."

I locked eyes with Ryan. "This is illegal detention."

Ryan burst out laughing. "Go ahead and sue me."

The whole room cracked up with him.

Then, the bar manager burst in and stepped in front of me. "Ryan, I'm really sorry. This girl has only started today. She didn't mean to offend you. Please, don't hold it against her."

"So she's new, huh? But if I let her walk out, that'd make me look bad in front of everyone," Ryan said.

"I'll send you a bottle on the house," the manager offered.

"You think I care about your free booze? Have her apologize and beg for forgiveness. If she doesn't, I'll wreck this place tonight, believe it or not," Ryan sneered.

The manager sighed quietly, looking at me with a troubled expression. "Sophia, why don't you apologize to Ryan?"

I shot Ryan a cold look. "You're a sad little bully, and your glory days are almost over."

In my previous life, Ryan acted like the big shot of the Carter family, but he ended up as a cast-off. If the Carters hadn't been pressured by public opinion, they never would've forced him to marry Emily.

Later, his half-brother Lucas Carter took over the family and cut him off completely. He could only barely survive on a monthly handout from the family fund, waiting for his life to run out.

"What did you say?" Ryan shot to his feet.

The room went dead silent, like time itself had stopped.

Ryan's eyes flashed with a predatory glint, like a wolf sizing up its prey.

His hand closed around my neck, veins standing out on his skin. "Say that again, I dare you." His grip kept tightening.

I could barely catch my breath, but I spat out each word. "Ryan, don't you wonder why Victoria Carter keeps letting you run wild?"