The Girl He Craves

Sophie’s pov
I parked on the side of the curb, my old car coming to a stop with a loud screech and a shud der.
“D**it.” I snarled as I jab at the seatbelt to free myself.
Mila burst into fits of laughter as she watches me struggle with the seatbelt.
“Ha ha. Of course you’re all giddy and amused because at least you’re not stuck.” | groaned, jamming my fingers on the red
release button on the seatbelt.
Mila taps her hand on the dashboard. “Mary is really about to give up on us.” She snorted.
I bought that car when I knew I needed my own transportation to bring Ash around. It was al ready old and looked ready to
collapse, but it was at a reasonable price and that was all I could budget. It did the job anyway, even though half the time it’s a
struggle to get out or startit.
“You’d think that naming her Mary she’d be lucky.” Thuffed, rejoicing silently when the release button finally works.
I was already contemplating if to grab a hold of the scissors I had in the compartment and just snip the entire seatbelt around
me.
Mila giggled and then suddenly goes silent. “Uh oh.”
I snapped my head to her in confusion. “What?”
She nudged her chin slightly at the opening of the diner where I could see Ressa, Mila’s aunt and also Ria’s mom, bounding over
here. Her black hair wipes behind her.
“Oh s**t.” I winced when she knocks her knuckles on the passenger’s window. Mila rolls the glass down and it makes an awful
screeching sound.
Ressa’s dark glaring eyes are more visible now as the dirty glass goes lower. “You two are late.” She snaps. “I’m here running
this thing on my own. You know how busy this s**t gets in the morning.”
“You know we have to drop off Ash first at daycare Ressa. We’re here now.” I said while look ing at the road behind me to be
sure that a car wasn’t coming. When it was clear I opened the car quickly and got out.

“Oh right. How’s that little b**er? I haven’t seen him in a while.” Ressa chuckled, “I miss his cute face. You have to bring him here
more often Soph, he attracts me more customers.”
“Leave it to you to still talk about getting more customers. You’re a living bank aunty Ressa.” Mila snorted as she got out of the
car. The door screeches when she closes it.
Ressa scoffs. “If I was a bank child I’d already own a mansion. You don’t see mansion print ed on my forehead now do you?”
.
“I don’t see stick up the a*s printed on your forehead either, but you sure walk like you have one.” Mila retorted with a laugh.
I snorted out a giggle when Ressa sent Mila a death stare that had her throwing her hands on her knees and laughing even
louder.
were significa “Just get inside you two.” She grumbles, walking away from us. My eyes fall to her legs.
kali pertama. “Hmmm. What do you know? She actually walks like she has one lodged up there.” I joked, siihen making Mila
laugh even more.
Ressa opened back the door and the little bell chimes. “Any time now you two!”
Mila and I pass on amused looks at each other before walking to the diner.
“Your favorite customer is here.” Mila teased, stopping beside me.
I looked up from cleaning the table and my eyes dart to where he always sat. Mr. Bernard.
He was a man nearing age fifty-five and he had been a loyal customer for two years now. He was a very nice man and would talk
to me about his home and family life. I consider us friends.
I smiled when his brown eyes meet mine across the room.
“I swear if that man was younger and not married, I’d definitely give him a chance.” Mila joked, turning around to fully face Mr.
Bernard.
I shook my head, grinning. “He can be your dad Mila.”

She looks at me over her shoulder. “Which is why I said if only he was younger.” She snorted stressing on the word if.
“Mila get back to work!” Ressa yelled, coming out from the back where I was sure she was counting the money she just made. It
was just lunch time and I should be on break in about ten minutes.
Mila pokes out her tongue at Ressa and turns to me. “Stick up her b***le lady is forcing me to do her bidding.” She rolls her eyes
and skates away leaving me giggling at her parting words.
When I was done cleaning up the mess a family of four left on the table, 1 skated over to Bernard who was waiting for me
patiently. “How’s your day been Sophie?” He asked with a cheer ful pitch in his voice.
Bernard thought of me as his daughter, it didn’t help that we looked so much alike. Unfortu nately, I would never get to meet her
physically since she was no longer alive.
I took out the little notepad and then pull out the pencil behind my ear to write down his or der. Apart from how busy and noisy
and a bit stressful working at the diner can be, the friendly and kind customers made up for it. One of them happens to be
Bernard.
“Busy. A lot. I got ketchup sprayed on me by a five year old who thought I needed a touch of red.” I pointed at the red stain that
was still so visible on the light pink uniform we were assigned to wear.
Bernard chuckled while awaking his head. “Kids these days huh?”
I beamed and nodded.
“Speaking of, how’s Ash? Did he like the bunny I bought him?” He asked with high hope. Bernard met up with Ash countless
times when Ash wasn’t in daycare yet and I had to bring him to work when I got no babysitter.
I nodded and smiled. “You have to stop spoiling him Bernard.”.
Bernard scoffs. “No way. This is nothing Sophie. Ash deserves more than that. I was actually planning to buy him those big toy
cars he-”
I shook my head quickly. “Oh no no no. You don’t have to keep buying him stuff Bernard, es pecially so expensive.
He then sighs. “I’ve told you many times Sophie, I just want to do this for Ash. There’s no huge dent in my bank account. I’m
buying him those cars.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not accepting it.” I threatened so he’d rethink his decision.
But Bernard only chuckles and grins, “We’ll see about that.”.
Shaking my head at him, I asked. “Are you ready to place an order Bernard?” I smiled, the point of the pencil on the blank paper
already.
Black coffee, four donuts, and some churros. If I knew Bernard as well as I thought, then that will be his exact order.
He nods. “Black coffee, four donuts, and some churros. Give me those churros to go, I need to eat something sweet while
dealing with that arrogant Ceo today.” He huffed.
Bernard always complained about his arrogant boss who supposedly was always so furious and nitpicked at everything.
Everyone hated him, well the males hated him, but the women saw him as nothing more than someone who was walking sex on
legs. Well, at least that’s how I remembered Bernard de scribed him as.
I gave him a pity-filled smile not bothering to jot down his order since I’ve already memo rized it.
“Well, I’ll be back with your order Bernard, soon,” I told him and skated away.
When I got back, Bernard was deep in thought and hadn’t realized I was beside him until i placed his order in front of him.
My brows furrow in worry. “Are you okay Bernard?”
He looks up and his dark gaze swept over my face. “Do you like working here Sophie?”
Confused and startled by his question, it takes me a while to answer him. I nod. “I do. It may not seem much, but meeting
friendly people is the highlights of my day.”
“But the work?” He asked, searching my eyes.
I look away from him.
Working for eight hours a day literally on my feet the entire day wasn’t fun. But it was not like I can just get up and leave and find
a new job.
M

.
Who would hire someone who didn’t go to college and only had a high-school diploma? This was New York, I needed more than
a high-school diploma to get a decent job that can feed both Ash and I properly, pay the bills and provide food on the table.
It was not like the diner was a bad place to work at. It was just that, this wasn’t where I envi sioned working three years ago.
M
The other small jobs around here that would maybe hire me, were not child friendly. By that I mean, I’d have to push in more
work and not get enough time to spend with Ash.
I turn to Bernard, extremely confused. He had never asked me those questions before. And by the gleam in his eyes, I knew that
he wanted to ask me more.
“Why are you asking me this Bernard?”
He looks nervous but then lets out. “My secretary will be leaving in a week. She’s relocating to another state. The spot is vacant
Sophie, and I want you to fill it.”