My Weakness

by Alison Mello

  “It’s okay. I will just find you another job. I don’t want you working at that place anymore.”

  “No, Ashton, I can’t. I worked hard to get my job there and I am fine staying. It is not a bad place to work.”

  “Layla, you wear booty shorts and a tight shirt. I don’t want you there,” he said, his voice becoming hard. This man already thinks he can tell me what to do. I am not letting that happen.

  “It is fine,” I said, even though I knew he was right. It was weird wearing such revealing clothes at such a fancy restaurant, and I didn’t like showing my ass off to strangers but it was the only place I could get a job that pays enough for my side of the rent. “Sorry, Ashton, but I can’t go tomorrow…and I have to go to bed. It’s late. Thank you for a good day and good night.” I quickly ended the call and set my phone down in my lap. Did I just hang up on Ashton Miller? I’m in deep shit now.

  “Layla, what just happened?” Kacey asked, bringing me back out of my thoughts.

  “I may have just hung up on Ashton.” I stared at my phone in my lap.

  “What was he asking that made you hang up on him?” she wondered.

  “He wanted to take me out tomorrow but I have work. So, I told him I couldn’t then he went on about how he doesn’t want me working at the restaurant anymore and that I should quit.” I turned toward her. “Kay, I can’t just quit my job. It’s the only one I have and it pays the rent.”

  “Lay,” Kacey said, shaking her head. “He is right, you know. That place is all the way across town, you have to wear a ridiculous outfit even though it’s considered ‘fancy,’ and no one ever tips you. Maybe Ashton is right and you should quit and look for another job.”

  The idea of quitting sounded appealing, but I’m not the kind of person who just gives up. I hate my job, yes, but I just can’t quit when I have nothing else to fall on. Kacey must have read my face because she put her hand on my arm.

  “Just think about it, okay? You don’t have to make a decision yet.” I nodded at her and shot her a small smile. I knew that the conversation had turned one hundred eighty degrees, so Kacey broke our tense silence. “Now about you shoving me on the couch.” She glared at me.

  ***

  Ashton

  Everything that had happened today was better than I had anticipated. I found myself enjoying Layla’s company and loved talking to her. She wasn’t like my other hook-ups. She was smart, quiet, reserved, shy, and funny. After I had dropped her off at her apartment, I couldn’t stop replaying kissing her in my mind. Her lips were so soft and warm. I would have kissed her forever, but I had found myself pulling away from her. The way she looked up at me with hooded eyes and swollen lips almost made me claim her lips one more time, but I knew if I did that I wouldn’t stop until I had ravished her completely, making her mine.

  Whoa. Where did those thoughts come from? I wondered to myself as my driver drove me home. I just barely met the girl. I could not be thinking about making her mine only. Shaking my head at my thoughts, I tried to think of something else. The harder I tried to not think of Layla, the more I did. There was something about her that was addicting to me. Maybe it was her stubbornness, or that look in her eyes that shown sadness and pain, or even the way she talked back at me like no one had in a long time.

  Thanking Clark and sending him home for the night, I walked into my penthouse suit making my way to my bedroom unbuttoning my shirt along the way. After changing into some more comfortable attire, I walked toward my kitchen. Even though I am a millionaire, I like to do my own cooking. When I bought this hotel/suite, I made sure the kitchen was exactly how I wanted it. Most say it’s weird for a guy to like cooking, but for me it reminds me of when my mom would ask me to help her cook dinner, teaching me everything she knew. Ever since I was eight years old, I helped my mom cook meals and when I could, I made my own as well. Everyone had to have their favorite hobby, and mine was cooking.

  I took everything out that I needed to make myself a grilled cheese, which was something I made when I didn’t want to cook something big for just myself. While waiting for the pan to warm up, I got the bread out and buttered both sides lightly and got to cutting pieces of cheese. About ten minutes later, I had myself two grill cheese sandwiches. I walked to my office and sat down, doing some stuff that needed to be done for tomorrow at work.

  Just because I’m the CEO of my family’s business does not mean I don’t do any work. Anything that goes on I know about, and I fix it. My company, Miller Enterprises, was well known for having great workers, and great outcomes to whatever we do. The company was passed down to me by my father, John Miller, when he stepped down at the age of fifty-five due to health issues. My father built our company, plus all the others that have expanded over the country, from the bottom up.

  All through high school and college, I knew I was expected to take over the company whenever my dad decided to step down, but at the time I actually wanted to do something different. Like be a chef or a fireman instead of a business man, but with all the pressure from my father and his partners, I graduated college with a business degree and immediately started working under my father getting trained to take over. Now, three years later, here I am doing just that. My sister got out of having to follow our father, but instead had to follow our mother.

  My mother, Claire Miller, is one of the highest paid lawyers here in New York. She came from a small poor family and grew up on the outskirts of the city. After working hard all through high school, my mom got a full-ride scholarship to Harvard to become a lawyer. Determined to make something of her life, she worked hard and became a great attorney. My mother was not a workaholic though. Growing up, she was there when we needed her and if she had to choose her children over work, she would. Now, at the age of fifty-two, she was thinking of retiring and letting my sister take over her job.

  My sister, Ariel Miller, followed in my mom’s footsteps and worked hard all through high school and college, and was now a pretty successful lawyer at the age of twenty-three. She was the youngest to make partner at her firm, where my mother also works from time to time. My sister is the best. She is one of my best friends and is always annoying me, but I love her.

  Suddenly, the ring of my phone jerked me out of my thoughts and work. Grabbing my phone, I saw it was from Layla.

  To: Ashton

  From: Layla

  Hey. What are you up to?

  I couldn’t stop the smile from forming on my face. Layla already missed me. I stared at the phone for a few minutes trying to decide what to text back. An idea popped into my head. I should take Layla out again tomorrow. But this time I’ll take her to the zoo or something, maybe let her decide. Just the thought of seeing Layla again tomorrow made me grin wider. Wow, I’m starting to act like a girl. Shaking my head at myself, I picked up my phone and called her.

  “Hello,” Layla answered, sounding breathless. What is she doing? I wondered.

  “Hello, Layla? Are you okay?” I asked.

  “What? Oh no, I’m fine, just doing some…exercising,” she said, her breathing turning back to normal. I chuckled and shook my head.

  “Anyways, I’m picking you up tomorrow around nine a.m. so be ready.”

  “Sorry, I can’t…I have to work at seven.” I could hear regret or sadness in her voice.

  “Just quit.” For some reason, just the thought of her in those booty shorts and that tight shirt made me clench my jaw. I could just imagine men’s eyes on her body.

  “Ashton, I can’t just quit. It’s my only job.”

  “It’s okay. I will just find you another job. I don’t want you working at that place anymore.”

  “No, Ashton, I can’t. I worked hard to get my job there and I am fine staying. It is not a bad place to work.” Her voice was firm.

  “Layla, you wear booty shorts and a tight shirt. I don’t want you there,” I said, getting irritated. I was not going to budge on this.

  “It is fine.” There was a pause. “Sorry, Ashton
, but I can’t go tomorrow…and I have to go to bed. It’s late. Thank you for a good day and good night.” She hung up. I stared down at my phone with a raised eyebrow. Layla just hung up on me, but for some reason, I wasn’t mad at her. I was just amused.

  Layla Kingston, you don’t know what you got yourself into. When I want something, I will get it.

  Chapter 11

  Layla

  “Miss, excuse me!” a voice yelled two tables down from where I currently was. Sighing under my breath, I turned and shot a smile at the customer.

  “Yes? How can I help you?” I asked, acting polite when all I wanted to do was yell. It was eleven o’clock and I was ready to go home.

  “I ordered medium rare for my steak and it is well done.” The man held up his plate and stared at it like it was a live octopus or something. He wasn’t even my table, I thought bitterly.

  “Oh, I am sorry, sir. I will go and get you another steak properly made,” I said, grabbing the plate.

  “Yes, you will and I will not be paying for it either,” the man said rather rudely. I just nodded while biting my tongue. I walked to the kitchen and asked the cook to make me another steak and made sure it was rare. Five minutes later the bell rang and I grabbed the steak. After dropping it back off at the rude man’s table, I made my rounds again seeing if anyone needed anything. Just when I thought I had a few minutes of freedom, Kayleen, the hostess, called my name.

  “Layla, I hate to do this to you but Kim can’t come in today. I need you to take her shift,” Kayleen said, her eyes pleading for me to say yes.

  “What’s her shift?” I asked, sighing.

  “Eleven to four.” I inwardly groaned. Great, just great.

  “Yeah, fine, I will,” I said even though I knew I would regret it.

  “Thank you, Layla, you are the best! Her tables are two, four, six, fourteen, and seventeen today.” Nodding at her, I wrote them down my little notepad and got back to work.

  Four hours had passed and I was so ready to go home. My feet hurt and my head was pounding. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my tray full of food and left the kitchen, heading to my table. Just as I set the food down and was heading back, I felt a big hand grab my ass. Whirling around, I saw a man at one of the tables smirking at me. I narrowed my eyes at him. He wasn’t too bad looking with dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a strong jawline, but there was something about his smile that wasn’t right.

  “Excuse me,” I bit out and turned back around. Inside, I was fuming.

  “Little lady, where are you going?” the man called out. I ignored him and kept walking. I didn’t get too far until a hand wrapped around my wrist. The man spun me around and pulled me right up against him. “You can’t walk away from me, pretty little lady.”

  “Let me go,” I hissed, feeling people starting to stare at us. I didn’t want to cause a scene, so I tried pulling away from him but he had a good grip on me.

  “You can’t go walking around in those sexy little shorts and not expect someone to notice.” These kinds of moments really made me hate my job. I felt like I was a stripper at some club instead of at an expensive restaurant. With the guy’s hold on me tightening, I could feel myself starting to panic. I did the only thing that came to my mind even though I knew I would get in trouble for it. I brought my knee up and kneed the man in the groin. His hold instantly loosened as he fell to the ground holding his junk. I took a step back feeling myself shaking slightly.

  “Don’t ever touch me!” I hissed loudly at the guy. As I opened my mouth to say something else, a loud voice boomed over everyone’s sudden chatter. I gulped and turned around seeing my boss, Joseph, standing there and glaring at me. Shit, I thought. When my boss jerked his head, I knew he wanted me to follow him to his office. Putting my head down, I weaved my way through the tables and to his office. Out of all the days to be here, Joseph had to come in. He held the door open for me and I slid inside and took a seat in a chair.

  “Ms. Kingston, or can I call you Layla?” Joseph asked, sitting down across from me behind his desk.

  “Layla is fine,” I almost stuttered out.

  “Layla, what you did back there was unprofessional. We do not hurt our customers.” I opened my mouth to protest but he lifted his hand to stop me. “I don’t care what he did; you should not have kneed him. Now one of two things can happen right now,” he said, looking straight at me. I watched as his eyes traveled down from my face to my chest, and if the desk weren’t there, they’d probably go even lower. He flicked his eyes back up to my face and leaned back in his chair.

  “You need this job pretty bad, don’t you?” He intertwined his hands in front of him.

  “Y-yes sir,” I stuttered out.

  “Well, in order for me to let you stay here after hurting a special customer, I’m going to need you to do something.” The longer he stared at me, the more uncomfortable I felt. Something didn’t feel right about this. “You see…I am a lonely man and every once in a while, I need someone to take care of me.” He drew out the word “care.” I instantly knew where this was going from the hungry look in his eyes.

  “Are you asking me to sleep with you?” I asked, curling my hands into fists in my lap. This man really wanted me to sleep with him to keep my job?

  “I wouldn’t say it that way; it’s more of an agreement to help one another out.” The way he said it was like he was proposing a deal to a big investor. Suddenly, a wave of anger washed over me. I quickly stood up, feeling my face turning red with anger.

  “Listen to me, Joseph.” I spit out his name “I will not sleep with you to save my job. I don’t need it that bad. I am done with this place. I don’t need some disgusting, fat, old, perv trying to make me sleep with him just because I was defending myself from being touched. I quit!” I yelled at him. Turning on my heel, I stormed out of his office and toward the workers’ lockers to grab my stuff.

  My body was shaking from how angry I was. Ripping open my locker, I grabbed my bag and slammed it shut. Too mad to say goodbye to my friends here, I walked out the door glad to be done with this place. The further I walked, the more my eyes started to water and before I knew it, I had tears rolling down my cheeks. With shaky hands, I reached for my phone. For some reason, I called the person I least expected to call. I tried to stop my crying as my phone rung but they wouldn’t stop.

  “Hello?” answered a familiar deep voice.

  “A-Ashton…I need you.”

  ***

  Ashton

  I got up the next morning and headed to work slightly later than normal. The whole ride there I kept thinking of Layla and what I was going to do when I saw her next. I was seriously tempted to drop by her work today and talk to her, but I knew that would just piss her off even more by doing that. Since when have you cared about other people besides yourself? Ignoring my thoughts, I walked onto the level where my office was.

  “Good morning, Mr. Miller,” a feminine voice said to my right. Standing next to me was a small blonde woman who I think worked in marketing, but I had no idea.

  “Good morning,” I greeted her. She was wearing a very tight pencil shirt and an almost see-through white blouse with a bright pink bra underneath. Her face was caked in makeup, making her look like a stripper or something. Normally I would flirt and sleep with her before ignoring her, but ever since I met Layla I couldn’t look at another woman without comparing them to Layla, and none seemed to match up. Walking past her, I headed to my office.

  “Morning, Judy,” I said, smiling at my receptionist. Judy had been my receptionist since I came on board with the company. She was in her late fifties and had a few strands of gray in her hair. She was almost like a mother to me, making sure I was on time for everything and always keeping me in line.

  “Good morning, Ashton.” She was also the only person I let call me Ashton at the office. “How are you?”

  “I am doing good. How are you? How is Bill?” I asked. Bill was her husband and they had been married for forty ye
ars. They met in high school and married soon after graduating.

  “I am good, as is Bill.” She smiled up at me. “Oh, you have a board meeting in fifteen minutes.”

  “Okay, thank you, Judy.” I smiled back and headed inside my office. My office was pretty big and had an incredible view of downtown New York. The view was even better at nighttime when the whole city was lit up.

  The day flew by pretty fast and soon enough, it was three o’clock. I had meetings all day and each one was something different. I finally sat down at my desk and rubbed my forehead. I could feel a headache forming. I looked down and checked my phone wondering why I hadn’t heard from Layla today. All day I kept glancing at my phone, making sure I didn’t miss anything from her. Maybe she is really mad at me. Just as I picked up my phone to send her a text, my phone started buzzing in my hand. Seeing Layla’s name pop up, I answered it.

  “Hello?” I answered. I heard sniffling through the phone and immediately straightened up.

  “A-Ashton…I need you,” Layla whispered. Instantly I was up and out of my chair, grabbing my suit jacket.

  “Baby, where are you?” I asked, not liking the sound of her crying.

  “Outside of w-work.”

  “I’m on my way.” I hung up and left my office. “Judy, I need you to cancel anything else for the rest of the day,” I said over my shoulder as I walked to the elevator. After I pressed the button multiple times, the doors finally opened. Not giving a chance for anyone else to get on, I pressed the close button and waited as it carried me down to the lobby. On the way down, I called Clark and told him to meet me downstairs in two minutes. Once the doors were open, I walked briskly to the front doors and saw Clark waiting there. Sliding inside of the car, I practically shouted at him.

  “To The River Cafe and hurry.” Clark nodded and drove to Layla’s work. I ignored the annoying voice in my head telling me I was stupid for rushing for to see if Layla was okay. Before I knew it, Clark came to a stop in front of The River Cafe. I jumped out and looked around trying to find Layla. I turned to my right and saw a little bit ahead of me was a hunched-over figure. It moved and I saw a flash of brown hair. Next thing I knew, my legs were carrying me over to Layla quickly.