Chapter 8 Part-time Job At Night


    Mary had the night shift in her part-time job at a convenience store. It was not arge store, but it


    was a busy one, since it was located in a bustling road near the most luxurious Love Bar in the city.


    There was always a steady stream of business every night.


    She arrived at half past eight that evening.


    "I''m sorry!" she called immediately as she entered. "I know I''mte, it won''t happen again," she


    added, as she rushed towards the counter.


    Peter, the son of the store manager, waved a hand. "Don''t worry about it, Mary. It''s not thatte."


    "Thank you for your understanding. I promise, this is a one-time thing," Mary assured him. She


    patted down her hair, hoping it looked neat.


    "Okay, good," said Peter, smiling. Mary went into the back room to change her clothes.


    She emerged wearing her uniform and went to stand beside him. "By the way, where''s your father?


    Will he being in today?"


    "He had something important to take care of, so he won''t be here. Why? Do you need to talk to


    him?" Peter asked curiously. Mary hesitated, then nodded. "Well... yes, sort of, " she admitted.


    "You can tell me," said Peter. "I''ll make sure to inform my father as soon as I see him."


    Mary considered it. "Sure," she agreed. He looked expectantly at her, waiting.


    She took a deep breath and said apologetically, "Peter, I''m afraid I''m nning to resign soon. I''ll


    probably be able to stay until the end of the month, then I won''t be working here any longer."


    "What? Why?" eximed Peter, looking startled. There was a trace of disappointment in his eyes as


    he asked, "Don''t you like working here?"


    "Of course I do!" Mary said hastily, eager to reassure him. "You and your father have been very kind


    to me. It''s because... Well, because I got married." Seeing his eyes widen, she added, "Also, I need


    to take care of my mother. She has not been in good health, and she needs apanion."


    But Peter barely heard thest part. He was focused on her astonishing news. "Mary, you got


    married?" he said, unable to hide his disbelief. "I''ve never heard you mention anything about an


    engagement, much less a wedding."


    Mary flushed. "Well, it all happened very fast. I wasn''t really nning it, but you know how these


    things go. I was so busy with everything that I didn''t have time to inform everybody."


    Peter sighed. "Ah, I see. Mary, I have to admit, I''m upset to hear about your marriage. I was hoping


    you''d wait for me to grow up, then the two of us could get married."


    Mary giggled. She said lightly, "Oh, Peter, you''re in high school. You don''t want someone as old as


    me. You''re a kid, and I''m ten years older than you."


    "Age is not a problem!" Peter said, sounding offended. He puffed out his chest, and Mary couldn''t


    help herself. Sheughed again.


    "Mary, can I still call you even after you leave?" Peter asked worriedly.


    "Of course!" Mary replied, smiling. "Anytime you want to talk, just let me know."


    "Won''t your husband be jealous?" Peter asked in a serious voice.


    Mary was surprised, then she pressed her lips together, trying to keep a straight face. "Don''t worry


    about that. I''m sure he won''t," she told Peter. ''William is not the jealous type, and even if he were,


    why would he be jealous of a high school boy?'' Mary thought to herself, suppressing her smile.


    Peter nodded. "Oh, I see. That''s good, then."


    Around half an hourter, Peter left. When he had gone, Mary was left alone in the


    convenience store. During the midnight shift, there was still a trickle of customers that came in,


    maybe two or three every hour. In the past, when there were no customers in the convenience


    store, she had used the time to catch up on her work for her day job. Now that she was married to


    thepany CEO, and the handover was almostpleted, she had no tasks toplete. She felt


    restless without any work to do.


    The bell chimed as the door opened. Mary was absently straightening up the counter when a


    customer walked in.


    "Hello, wee!" she said brightly, turning to greet the customer. But the smile died on her lips


    when she saw who had entered.


    It was Victor. What was he doing here?


    The shock on her face was mirrored in Victor''s expression. Was that Mary? What was the wife of


    the CEO doing, working in a convenience store like this? For a moment he just stood there. Then


    he recovered, grinning wickedly, and walked up to the counter. He pulled off his sunsses and met


    her eyes.


    "Why, it''s the CEO''s wife!" he said. He gave her a dazzling smile. "This afternoon you left in such a


    hurry with your husband that I didn''t even have time to say goodbye."


    Although they were separated from each other by the counter, Mary could smell the alcohol on his


    breath and clothes. It seemed as though he''d just been heavily drinking at some bar.


    "Why would you bother saying goodbye? We''re not that close," Mary said coolly. She made a show


    out of checking her watch. "Well, it''s three a.m., and the store is about to close. If you''re going to


    buy anything, please make it quick and then you can leave."


    "Certainly," said Victor, sounding amused. He nced at the nearby merchandise and picked up a


    pack of mint-vored chewing gum. "Here, I''ll take this. I''ve been drinking all night, I could use this


    for my breath."


    Mary sneered and took the gum from him. ''Why drink so much if you know it makes you smell bad, ''


    she thought, mentally rolling her eyes.


    Victor paid for the gum, then asked casually, "Why are you working here? I can''t imagine why your


    husband would allow it."


    Mary ignored the question. "All right, we''re closing up now. Please go."


    "Wow!" Victor whistled. "You have a temper, don''t you? I kind of like it," he said, smirking. Mary


    didn''t answer. Victor leaned forward. "If you''re leaving, why don''t youe with me? I''ll take you


    home."


    "No, thanks."


    "Why not? It''s not safe for you to go home alone at this time of night."


    His tone had suddenly turned serious, and Mary turned to nce at him. The smile had


    disappeared from his face, and he actually looked concerned.


    "No, thanks," said Mary again, but her tone was less cold. "You have to leave now. If the paparazzi


    hears you''re here, thepany will have to do damage control again."


    "Hmm," said Victor musingly. "It almost sounds like you''re worried about me." Before Mary could


    reply, Victor gave her a small smile and walked out of the convenience store.


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Mary let out a breath. What was that all about? She''d never seen Victor in this area before. Why


    would he walk into this store, today of all days?


    She closed up everything and turned off the lights. Grabbing her bag from the counter, she locked


    up behind her and walked towards the street. She felt a jolt of surprise when she caught sight of


    someone leaning against a car parked on the curb. It was Victor. He seemed to be waiting for her.


    Mary frowned. ''What does he want now?'' she thought.


    She needed to pass him to get home. Sighing, she walked towards the car. Then she walked right


    past Victor, ignoring him.


    "Wait," said Victor, reaching out to grab Mary by the arm.


    She tried to pull away, but his grip was firm. She gave him a cold re. "Let go. I don''t know what


    you intend, but if you''re nning to use me against William in some way, I assure you that''s


    impossible."


    "What?" he said, sounding genuinely confused. He released her arm and said softly, "I don''t have


    any ns. I just don''t want you to get hurt. " Once more, she was unsettled by his tone.


    "I know you didn''t n on running into me tonight. Why are you so concerned?" she asked. "Why


    would I get hurt?"


    "Get in the car," said Victor, opening the passenger side door. "Then I''ll tell you."


    "I don''t need a ride home," Mary said.


    "You have a car?" Victor asked, sounding skeptical. He looked around. "Where is it?"


    "It''s behind your car," she said.


    Victor quickly walked to the other side of the car, then burst intoughter. "That''s a scooter!" he


    said.


    Mary''s face turned red. "Yes, so what?" she snapped, angry that she felt embarrassed.


    "Come on, just let me drive you home," he said, still chuckling. Before Mary could respond, Victor


    lifted up the scooter, preparing to put it into the trunk of his car.


    "Hey, what are you doing?" Mary demanded. She rushed towards him and grabbed at her scooter,


    trying to pull it away. "Will you stop being so stubborn? Just ride with me," said Victor, refusing to


    release the scooter.


    Victor and Mary didn''t realize just how much attention they were attracting as they argued by the


    side of the road. They were so engrossed in their fight that they failed to notice the conspicuous red


    Lamborghini down the street, on the other side of the road, where two men watched their every


    move.


    "Wow, not bad for your newly married woman. She''s gotten close to Victor very quickly," said the


    first man innocently. It was Frank, seated on the passenger side, an eyebrow raised as he watched


    Victor and Mary.


    William sat in the driver''s seat, his eyes dark and hooded. After a moment, his hands tightened on


    the steering wheel, and he said coldly, "Let''s go."


    He drove away, and Victor and Mary didn''t see the red car leaving.


    "Why do you still let Victor be your employee in thepany?" Frank''s eyes were filled with


    coldness. "He is just someone who makes money with his face."


    "Enough, Frank!" snapped William. He shot Frank a grim look. "What you have done to Victor is


    inappropriate. I will indulge you up to a certain point, but you have to restrain yourself."


    Frank softened his voice. "I''m sorry, William. It must seem like I''m paying too much attention to


    Victor, but I promise you, you are the one who fills my thoughts. I want to spend the rest of my life


    with you."


    William sighed and reached out to sp Frank''s hand in his own. "I''m sorry too. I don''t mean to


    me you, I just want to remind you..."


    "I know," said Frank soothingly. Then, to lighten the mood, he shed William a sly smile. "So, do


    you want toe over to my ce tonight?"


    William nodded. "Yes."