Hate To Love You, Love To Hate You

You Do Your Worse, I Will Do Mine

Austin didn’t react. He just narrowed his eyes for a second at me before he averted his eyes away. I glanced around the table. He can’t be himself around these men. Maybe, today he will not be in my way. I exhaled and walked to his table. I smiled at them as I served them white wine. I didn’t want to serve it to Austin, but I don’t have the privilege to deny it, so after serving everyone else, I walked to his side. He was on his phone. I glanced at the screen to see he was just scrolling aimlessly from app to app. I took the glass and was about to put it in front of him on his table when he purposefully nudged my hand with his elbow, making me drop the glass on him.

I gasped in horror. This motherfucker! “Oh no,” I heard Danny panic. I glanced at him before I looked at Austin, who had wine all over his clothes and his phone. I looked around the table – all eyes were on me. They must all be waiting for me to apologize, but why should I? He is the one that knocked on my hand. He made it drop it! I wish I could prove my innocence, but I can’t. I am in no position to do so. Even if Austin had visibly pushed me down the stairs, I am sure it would be me who would have to apologize. That’s how this society works.

I gulped and picked the wine glass from his lap, “I am so sorry.” I apologized without looking him in the eyes. I quickly grabbed the napkin from the table and passed it to him. He passed me an annoyed glance and snatched it from my hand. He wiped the drink from his clothes. “I should have been careful. I am so sorry.” I added. This is what I was trained to say if I ever spill anything during my shift here.

“Uh – sir, um – we are very sorry.” Danny intervened as well.

Austin glanced at him and raised his eyebrows, “Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do it.” Austin replied before he looked at me. Danny worriedly glanced at me. He nudged me with his elbow. I know what I had to do. I had to apologize again.

I looked at Austin, “I am very sorry. I should have been careful. Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked. It was my job. I have to act as if I care.

Austin didn’t look too pleased with my apology. Good. He should know I don’t mean it. He knows what he did. It was his fault. He did this on purpose to make me look incompetent. He knows that I will be scolded for this mistake. These are some of the most important customers and I just spilled wine on one of them.

Austin huffed and put the napkin on the table, “Show me the facilities,” He ordered me while standing on his feet and scrapping the chair behind him.

I nervously glanced at the other men that accompanied Austin. A few of them offered me a soft smile while the others just ignored me. I respectfully bowed my head to them before I led Austin toward the facilities and left Danny to deal with them.

I jogged to Austin, who strode towards the facilities. He already knew where it was, but he still told me to take him there. I glanced at him as he unbuttoned his gray jacket. I could see wine stains on his pants, jacket, and white undershirt. I led him to the men’s room, which was empty, and waved my hand for him to go in. Before glaring at me as he opened the door and walked in.

I thought my job there was done, but Austin wasn’t done, making it difficult for me. “Get me some towels.” He barked another order at me.

I squinted my eyes and clenched my jaws as I glared back at him. When I didn’t move, Austin snarled. “Are you going to do as I say or do you want me to report to your manager? One complaint from me, and you are fired.” He snapped his fingers in front of my face as he flaunted the power he had over me.

I gritted my teeth and curled my hands into fists. I wanted to punch him repeatedly until that smirk that just pulled on his lips disappeared, and then knock his head against the wall until the wall was painted with his blood. Yes, that’s how I feel toward him. I didn’t think I was a violent person until I met Austin! But of course, I couldn’t afford to do any of it. I know if I try to fight him right now – he will get me fired.

“I will get you the towels,” I distastefully replied.

Austin smirked as he took his jacket off, “Good.” He muttered before he slammed the door in my face.

I let out a silent groan and furiously stomped my foot on the floor. Oh, how much I wish I could just snap his neck in two! Even if he doesn’t report me to Kim. I am going to receive so much scolding from Kim. She is not going to assign me to any table with important customers. I am going to lose so many good tips. All for something I didn’t even do! “I hope he slips and breaks his neck in there.” I cursed at him under my breath before I rushed to get him his towels.

Luckily, I didn’t bump into Kim on my way to fetch the towels. I collected a couple of clean white towels and rushed back to the men’s room. I knocked on the door and waited for him to open it. I should have asked Danny to bring Austin the towel. It felt weird to stand outside the men’s room. When Austin didn’t answer, I knocked again.

“Excuse me?” I called out.

After a few seconds, he answered back. “Come in,” My eyes widened at his demand.

“Umm, I can’t come in. It is a men’s room. I brought you the towels you asked for, please take them.” I replied.

There was a short pause, “I said come in.” He pressed and paused – maybe he was waiting for me to walk in, but when I didn’t, he spoke again. “Either you bring me the towels in here, or I am reporting you to your manager.” He threatened me.

I bared my teeth and let out a silent string of curses at him. I blew my cheeks out and realized that there was no way out for me. It would be so weird if there were other men in there. I poked my tongue against my inner cheek and opened the door. As soon as I opened the door, the first sight was Austin standing in front of the sink – half naked.

When I say half naked, I mean half naked. He was only wearing his gray pants. His upper body was completely bare. While I was bringing him the towels, he managed to take off his shirt along with the jacket.

I was not surprised to see him in incredibly good shape. I always imagined him as a playboy sort of man, with a good body, good face, and dad’s money to show off. Till now, he is exactly as I perceived. I noticed he had small tattoos here and there on his upper body. I didn’t hold my gaze on him longer to see what those tattoos were about.

I gulped and averted my gaze as I offered him the towel, “Here are the towels you asked for.” I muttered.

“Hmm,” He hummed and took them from my hand. My work here is done. I was willing to leave, but Austin didn’t let me. “Wait,” he said without looking at me. He glanced at me through the mirror as he drenched a towel with water and wiped his flat stomach with it. I couldn’t help but watch the wet towel stroking his skin. I realized that I was staring. I cleared my throat and looked away. I am such an i***t. Why was I even interested in seeing him wipe his body with a wet towel? Sure, he's got an extraordinary body, but he is still Austin.

I have never been a lucky person, probably that is why Austin caught me staring at him. He smirked and turned around to look at me. I rolled my eyes. Here we go…

“Like what you see?” He teased me with a sly smirk on his face. He slowly started to take small steps toward me.

I scoffed, “No.” I shook my head. “I have seen better,” I shrugged – trying to act as nonchalant as I could. I lied to him. I didn’t see a body as fine as his.

Austin raised his eyebrows. He didn’t stop advancing toward me, “Oh, interesting. How many better bodies have you seen?” He smirked. He knew I was lying and he was having fun mocking me about it.

I chuckled, “Why are you so interested?” I shot back at him.

Austin stopped hardly a few inches away from me. His tall figure towered over me. His challenging gaze was down on me, and mine was looking up at his. “Why would anyone be interested in you?” He tried to insult me. “I am just curious,” He tilted his head.

“How is that any different?” I questioned.

Austin smirked again, “Believe me, it is different. I am just curious to know why would anyone with any kind of body, sexuality, or identity be interested in someone like you.”

I sniggered, “It is okay, sweetie, you won’t understand. It takes good taste to appreciate me.” I shot back at him. I did see his smirk flattening. That’s it. That was my win. It was my time to smirk at him. That little success gave me a boost of confidence. I glanced down at his body and hummed, “Seven.” I said to him.

He narrowed his eyes, “What?”

I raised my eyebrows, “I’d give your body a seven out of ten – that too if I am being generous.” I stroked him. I lied though, his body was so well in shape. He was lean yet he seemed jacked. He doesn’t have extra muscles bulging – he has maintained his body perfectly. Of course, I was not going to tell him that.

I read somewhere that men with such perfect bodies are more fragile about their appearance than women. I decided to practice the theory. He didn’t look furious, but I could tell I had struck his ego. I smirked and leaned to him, “Just a little advice, work on your personality as much as you work on your body, maybe then Claudia will heap some attention on you, or else I am sure Theo will get her – that too if he wants her. He is better than you in every way.”

That’s it. I hit the right spot. The smirk flattened out completely. He clenched his jaws and pressed his lips thinly. His nostrils flared. I hit him where it hurts. I know Andrew asked me not to mess with Austin, but at the moment I didn’t care. I just won this round. I loved seeing the look on his face.

I scoffed and turned around to walk away, but before I could walk out of the men’s room. Austin grabbed my arm and slammed me against the door. I gasped as my back hit the door. If anyone was around they must have heard my body banging against the door. I lost the smirk on my face as well. I gritted my teeth and opened my mouth to snap at him, but he beat me to it. His body pressed mine.

“Stay away from her. I am warning you.” He glared as he threatened me.

I raised my eyebrows and challenged him, “Or else what?”

“Luna, don’t tempt me. Don’t get on my bad side or I am going to ruin you. I will bring you down to your knees.” He threatened.

I huffed at his empty threat, “As I said before, do your worst.”

Austin snarled, “Someone like you who lives off the scraps shouldn’t be so open to her ruins.”

His words were like salt to my wound. I poked him where he was hurting, and he poked me where I was hurting. I imagined I saw a mere second of guilt on his face when he spewed those words at me. I gritted my teeth and pushed him away from me. I didn’t let him speak more.

“Go ahead, do your worse. Let me get you a head start. Yes – I don’t like Claudia. I am plotting something. I will be a sweet b***h to her face to get what I want. She has always been a dumb one, and I will feast on her stupidity this time. Go ahead, be her knight in shining armor. I am not scared of you, or people like you. Just because you hold a higher place in society doesn’t make you a better person. Go ahead, you do your worse and I will do mine.” I challenged him.

Austin narrowed his eyes at me. I didn’t give him a chance to speak. I pushed him one more time before I turned around and stormed out of the men’s room – leaving Austin alone in there.