This book is set 3 years ahead of Book 1. 

Chapter Two - Red

"What? Miller doesn't pay you enough?" He smirks coldly before rolling his eyes when I stare at him in disbelief.

"Fuck you, Hunter!" I snap and march off to the break room where I ask Mia to take their orders instead.

I squeeze my eyes shut and take deep breaths to control my short temper. I can't help it! That man makes my blood boil and I can't believe he's here! But while I'm trying to calm myself down Mia rushes in with a grave expression on her face. I frown in confusion and my eyes widen when she tells me what happened. Hunter had ended up asking for the manager and told Grant about what I did. I curse under my breath because I know Grant is going to have a field day with this.

"He's calling you."

"Lovely!" I mutter before trudging my way to the front.

I walk up to Grant uneasily. His eyes are practically gleaming in excitement over me messing up before tucking me into his side and squeezing my waist tightly. I wince in pain only to cover it up with a shaky smile when he looks down at me.

"I heard you've been a bad hostess to our customers here, Zoe. What do you have to say for yourself?" He asks in a stern tone but I hear the glee in it loud and clear.

"I-I apologize. I was having a bad day and you guys didn't deserve it. I'm sorry." My voice shakes in fright as I look at them and catch Hunter's narrowed eyes.

"Your meal is on us. I apologize for the terrible treatment. This is certainly not the standard we uphold around here." Grant smiles sickeningly sweet before calling Mia over to take care of things while he grabs my elbow.

That free meal is coming straight out of my pay check and I'm going to be paying more for what I just did. Why was I born with such a short temper?! I groan mentally. I whimper when he drags me out to the back and pins me to the wall. His hand grabs my jaw and squeezes it tightly as I struggle to push him off me. He chuckles when I'm too weak to do so which causes tears of frustration to brim my eyes when he pushes his body against mine. My eyes widen in horror and disgust when I feel his excitement against my thigh.

"Get off me!" I cry and shove him as hard as I can.

He backhands me in response before his face turns red in anger. "Or what? You need this job, Zoe. You messed up and now you're going to pay for it!"

I hiss in pain when he yanks my hair and shoves me to my knees. He starts unzipping his fly and my body starts to tremble in all consuming fear. But he doesn't get very far with me struggling to break free of the hold he has on me. I let out a cry and scream for help before his hand covers my mouth.

"Shut the fuck up!" He snarls before yanking on my hair again and making me look up at him. "If you make one more noise I'm going to –"

But he doesn't get to finish his sentence because he's thrown off me with a punch so hard that it knocks him to the floor with blood spurting out of his nose immediately. I gasp before scooting back to the wall and hugging my knees to my chest. Hunter kicks him in the stomach before knocking him out cold. Taking out his phone, he calls the police and relays the situation to them before hanging up and turning to my huddled form.

"I'm so sorry, Zoe." He murmurs softly before taking a step closer to me.

I rest my head on my knees and burst into tears. Quiet sobs escape me no matter how hard I try not to let them. I hear him curse loudly and then he's kneeling before me and wrapping his arms around me tightly. I knew Grant was bad but I never expected for him to go as far as assaulting me. The incident scared me to death.

"I-I'm sorry...your s-shirt." I blush in embarrassment when I see the wet spot as I pull away.

"It's okay, Red." He chuckles while still stroking my back.

"Red?"

"Yeah..." He replies, although a bit distractedly as he plays with a strand of my hair. "Red."

The police arrive then and take a statement from me about what happened before questioning Hunter. I end up pressing charges against him, mostly because of Hunter pushing for it and backing me. Looks like he's not so shitty after all, I think to myself while watching him handle everything with the officers.

Mia takes me inside so that I can fix myself up in the bathroom before I change out of my uniform and take a seat in the break room. Everyone checks up on me from time to time as the police wake Grant up, take his statement, check the security camera before arresting Grant and leaving. I start packing up my things and have just zipped my bag shut when Hunter stands at the threshold of the room.

"Thank you...for helping me." I state quietly as my fingers nervously fidget with the hem of my jumper.

"I'm sorry that happened." He sighs before beckoning me forward. "Do you need a lift home?"

"Uh no, it's okay. I don't live far, thank you though." I reply as I try and mask my expression.

I did not want another person seeing where I live and taunting me about it. For some reason though I have a feeling that Hunter won't do that but I don't know him all that well to trust my gut instinct. I smile shakily as I swing my bag over my shoulder and walk past him with a soft goodbye.

The entire journey back home the incident keeps playing repeatedly in my mind like a broken record. As soon as I get through the door to my apartment I can't take it anymore and rush into the bathroom. Stripping, I get into the shower without even waiting for it to get warm and start scrubbing myself. Tears slip out of the corners of my eyes and mix in with the water as I try to rid the feeling of Grant's hands on my body.

When it doesn't work I let out a sob of frustration and fear. I let myself cry for a little bit before pulling it together and getting back to scrubbing my skin. You're fine. You're okay, I think to myself reassuringly.

Eventually, when my skin has turned red from how hard and incessantly I've been scrubbing at it I step out of the shower. Drying my body and hair off, I go through the motions of removing my makeup and applying lotion as if in a haze. Once I've changed into my pajamas I head into the kitchen only to see that there's not much food...as usual.

I grab the packet of ramen and cook them but can hardly eat as much. The silence is unnerving and it's allowing my brain to keep thinking back to what happened. I always knew Grant was a sleazy man but never did I think he had ill intentions too. Sighing, I set down my bowl and flop back on my bed in agitation. I need to get over it and now.

As if God decided to answer my prayers right then and there my phone vibrates and I shoot up with a confused frown. When I unlock it, I see that I've received a text from an unknown number which reads, Hey Red, it's Hunter. I hope you got home okay?

My eyes widen in surprise before they narrow in suspicion as I type back quickly. How did you get my number?

Mia gave it to me. Now, answer my question. I groan in annoyance at how Mia just gave my number to him.

I'm home, thank you. I sigh heavily before placing my phone on my bed while turning onto my stomach. But just as I've closed my eyes I hear another vibration and my eyes pop open in surprise. I wasn't expecting him to keep talking.

Picking it up, I read his message. I'm sorry about what happened today, it was my fault. I can help you look for another job if you'd like?

I glance at the clock to see that there's five hours to go until my shift starts at the bar. A yawn escapes my lips as I type back. Showers always make me sleepy and if I don't wrap up this conversation soon I'm going to look and feel like a zombie tonight. No, it's okay. I'll find something but thank you for offering. I have a second job to keep me afloat for a while.

I feel my eyelids droop of their own accord as I lay down and pull the blanket over my body. I keep the phone in my hand but at some point it slips out and lands softly on the bed somewhere under the covers. I can't be bothered to grab it when I feel another vibration and let my eyes shut fully as sleep welcomes me to dreamland.

Update schedule is: twice weekly whenever I find time!

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