The scum under the glitter
Book One—(Chapter Three)
(The scum under the glitter)
Seventh Avenue—the giant puddles of water enough to bathe a new born in, the regurgitating stench of the rotting fruits outside Old Benson's fruit shack, the barking dogs and the sound of drunk men arguing over football being watched on a mini television outside 'Estella's Diner'. Ana smiled as she walked into the little shop, ignoring the catcalls from the men outside and found her way into the kitchen.
There Estella Levinson was, yelling at Emily the 15-year old who was chopping the lettuce all wrong for the house special burger. Ana chuckled softly as she dropped the white polythene bags filled with groceries and grabbed an apron handing beside the kitchen door, Estella winced as she turned around only to see her daughter tying an apron behind her back.
'Oh no no no young lady, Emily and I have this covered'. She raised her voice in protest.
'No we don't'. Emily, the uninterested teenager who would rather be somewhere else with her friends than chopping vegetables for her mother's restaurant.
'Shut up', Estella fired and turned to Ana who was starting to smash burgers on the grill, 'Ana I said I have this—'
'Let me help Mom, it's chaotic out there and you know we can't afford to hire another cook since uncle Rucko died and the landlord increased the rent. Let me and Emily help, your health is way more important than this'. Ana cut her off, bringing up her mother's illness as she was diagnosed with minor pneumonia few days ago.
Estella's face sunken as she closed her eyes for a moment to take a deep breath, 'You have been working tirelessly at the at the club and the mall Ana, please just go have a shower and—'
'Hey that's not fair!!', Emily cried out, 'Why don't I get a break?!'.
'Shut it you little vermin!', Estella snapped, 'Your big sister is working to pay the bills and your tuition for that private school of yours. You should be grateful or else you'll go to Crimson High where all manners of hooligans f
go to'.
The words from her mother's mouth was enough to shut Emily who took her defeat and continued with the lettuce slicing. Ana chuckled as there was nothing more funnier than her mother arguing with her baby sister, who could blame Emily though? no fifteen year old would enjoy working in a small kitchen enough to suffocate a baby.
In an hour every order was served and the customers were satisfied with their foods, even tipping Ana who was working as a waitress and at the grill too.....performing at the men's club gave her a point or two on how to please people. The TV was turned off and she ignored the groaning from the men who were just at the peak of their football game, 'Sorry guys we're closed'.
'You owe us a performance Ana!'. One of them said aloud and she nodded as she finally locked the door and turned the close sign to the front. A satisfied breath escaped her as she stretched her arms to go up to their apartment which was just on the second floor—Seventh Avenue, there was no place like home.
*******
'Just pick one of your model friends to act as the woman you talked about, there's no need to panic'. Erica Wyatt said, yawning as she was awoken from her slumber by the call from her elder brother. A call from Damon himself at 7 o'clock in the morning was the last thing she expected since they haven't spoken in months ever since she left for college.
'I told them Anastasia was a woman of simplicity Erica', Damon fumed over the phone, 'All my model friends are nothing of simplicity, they wallow in constant media attention'.
Erica rolled her eyes as what she needed was her morning coffee and not her brother's share of problems, 'Why did you pick that name anyway? Anastasia?'.
'She's a performer I met at the men's club who refused to sleep with me'. Damon replied.
'Well?? Hire her to act as your girlfriend then'.
The idea instantly took him by storm, if his baby sister was home he would've kissed her hard on the forehead, 'You're an angel Erica', he rose from his chair to check his watch 'I love so so much'.
'Hmmmm'.Erica wasn't fazed by his sweet words when she knew he wouldn't call her again until he needed advice or something else from her, he hung up immediately and she went right back to sleep.
Damon paced back and forth nipping his bottom lip as he pondered over the idea of hiring Anastasia as his fake girlfriend, she checked all the verities of what he needed—technically she's a club person, she wasn't famous or the sort and all other imperfections could be brushed up to his standards to meet his parents.
He smiled as his problems was once again solved, it was like covering a load of scum with glitter—polish Anastasia and turn her to his girlfriend for a day....the problem was if she would agree to do his bidding, why wouldn't she?, he thought, after all he wasn't paying her to sleep with him—all she needed to do was stay and act pretty for his parents and all the guests at the charity gala.
'Get me Jacob Brynn on the phone', he snapped his fingers at his assistant who nodded and walked in with a phone after a minute, 'Jacob??'.
Jacob Brynn rolled his eyes as he wondered what his customer might want this time around, 'Is this about Ana?'.
'Yes'.
'I told you before Damon. Ana isn't—'
'No it's not about that', Damon cut him off, 'I just....is she performing tonight?'.
'Yes'.
A silent but triumphant yes left Damon's mouth before he returned to the call, 'Good. I'll come over tonight, there's something I need Ana for and if she's successful with it I'll make sure I give her whatever she wants....okay??'.
'Okay'. Jacob murmured with great displeasure. Damon Wyatt didn't know how to take no for an answer and Ana hates a man who can't, it was going to be a long long night with a handsome man probably dying.