Chapter 36 - Awkward
Rory nodded. "It's me."
Hayes braced one hand against the edge of the sofa. "What are you doing here?"
At the question, Rory bit her lip.
She looked almost ashamed, quickly rubbing her cheeks.
Rory!
You're earning your own money with your own two hands. That's way more impressive than those trust fund kids burning through their parents' money!
You are not allowed to feel ashamed!
With that thought, Rory's tone went firm when she spoke again. "I work here part-time."
"Oh. Part-time."
Hayes poured a glass of wine, took a couple sips, and sank back into the sofa.
Part-time work. For the Sterling young heir, that was a world away.
Rory pressed her lips together. "Don't worry. I'll pay you back that ninety thousand."
Hayes sat up again, eyes half-lidded as he stared at her. "You don't need to."
"I do." Rory was stubborn. "That kind of money might not mean anything to you, but to me, it's an insane amount of money. I can't owe you that much with a clear conscience."
Hayes went quiet.
He stared straight at Rory.
Even in the waitress uniform, she was beautiful. Fresh-faced, like a natural beauty untouched by the world.
Her big eyes were bright and shining, full of sincerity and stubbornness.
Hayes's lips curled. "You sure you can pay it off?"
Rory bit her lip, looking almost insulted. "I'm still a student right now. I can't pay it all yet, but I'll grow up and work hard and earn it."
Hayes was silent a moment. "Why don't you ask your parents to help?"
"This is my problem." Rory's voice caught. "I don't want my parents to know."
"Why?" Hayes suddenly thought of the love child at home. The one who showed up at the door with his hand out whenever he was broke.
Rory wiped the corner of her eye and said, "Because I think kids are just kids. They shouldn't demand money from their parents without a shred of guilt. Parents already gave us life. That wasn't easy."
"..."
After she finished, Hayes didn't say anything for a long time. He just stared at her with those deep eyes. She rubbed her nose, a little self-conscious, and asked quietly, "Why aren't you talking?"
"Nothing." Hayes snapped out of it. A smile crept onto his lips. "I just think you made a really good point. Got lost in thought."
Rory pressed her lips together. "Why are you upset today?"
Hayes tipped his head back and drained his glass. "My dad's love child showed up at the house today."
Rory gave a quiet "Oh."
She thought, so even trust fund kids had this kind of trouble.
Looked like the universe was fair.
"Don't be too upset." Rory patted his shoulder. "You've got to look forward."
Hayes never expected Rory to be the one comforting him.
A girl from a poor family, someone he barely knew.
His cold heart felt like someone had warmed it with their hands. He curved his lips and said, "Thanks for the comfort."
Rory's cheeks went a little pink. She thought, this young heir actually said thank you.
She pressed her lips and said, "You seem like you've had too much. Want me to call Luna?"
Hayes's expression went cold instantly. "Call her for what?"
Rory clenched her hand. "She's your fiancée."
"My parents' arrangement." Hayes scoffed. "You want to call her so she can come humiliate me?"
Humiliate...
Rory said, "Luna seems pretty understanding, though."
Hayes took a sip of wine, his tone distant. "You're overthinking it. Not all girls are like you."
Rory froze for a second. A little spark of secret joy in her chest. "Maybe it's because I've been through a lot since I was a kid. I can empathize and put myself in other people's shoes."
Hayes curved his lips and crossed his legs. "Get your manager over here."
Rory's eyes went wide. "You're not going to complain to the manager, are you?"
Hayes was so exasperated he laughed. "Just call him over and you'll see."
Rory gave him a hesitant look, then went to find the manager.
The manager was a man in his thirties, wearing a suit.
He hurried over looking vaguely irritated at being interrupted.
The moment he saw Hayes Sterling sitting in the booth, the irritation vanished.
He slapped on a smile. "Well, if it isn't the Sterling young heir! Why didn't you give us a heads-up?"
"I came alone. Wanted some peace and quiet." Hayes said, "Open ten bottles of wine. Put it on her tab." He pointed at Rory.
Rory was baffled.
The manager, who usually bossed her around, shot her a smiling glance and nodded quickly. "Right away, right away."
Ten bottles opened in one go, the manager was practically beaming.
At that point, Rory still didn't know she'd earn a two-thousand-dollar commission per bottle.
She just looked at Hayes with pure gratitude. "Thank you. You're the kindest rich person I've ever met."
Hayes curled his lips, feeling thoroughly pleased with himself.
-
By afternoon, the news that the Sterling family's eldest young heir had opened ten bottles of wine at a bar for a waitress had reached her ears.
The intel came from Mila.
Mila was a bit carefree, but she loved to read the drama.
BuffTheQueen: [What's your take?]
Luna rubbed her chin, thought for a moment, and replied: [Too stingy. Only ten? If it were me, I'd start at a hundred.]
BuffTheQueen: [Boss Luna, so generous.]
SadSweetie: [Keep it low-key. Keep it low-key.]
At dinner, Charles was home for once.
For the first time, the three of them ate together.
Luna still had terrible posture at the table, one leg propped up on the chair rung. She shoveled a couple bites of rice, then turned to look at Leo.
He'd slept nearly the whole day. The dark circles under his eyes had finally faded, and his looks had bounced back.
"What?"
Leo was already used to Luna's random outbursts.
"Any plans tomorrow?" Luna asked, mouth half full.
"..." Leo's chopsticks paused. "No plans."
"Then come to the amusement park with me." Luna said.
Leo blinked. "Sure."
"Great." Luna beamed.
Charles watched the smile on his daughter's face and couldn't help asking, "You're that happy Leo's going to the amusement park with you?"
Leo looked indifferent, head down, eating. But Luna noticed his grip on the chopsticks had quietly tightened.
She knew what was bothering him. So she said, her tone perfectly certain, "Yeah. Really happy."
Charles smiled. "Alright."
Through the whole meal, Leo was unusually quiet.
Luna thought, her brother was an awkward kid.
Liking, caring, happiness. He never said any of it out loud. You had to be patient enough to look for it.