As the day proceeded, you put Tom to work, making him rearrange fruits and vegetables, cleaning anything that "wasn't" already cleaned the day before. He had to wipe down all the windows and sweep the floor while you sat behind the register, writing and glancing up at him every now and them, suppressing your laugh. Tom groaned and swore under his breath every step of the way but he was determined. You would give him that. He was determined to not give up so easily.

"It has to be lunch, right?" Tom groaned as he approached the register after the only customer in the store left.

You check the time on your laptop and look up to him. "Depends," A sly smile crosses your face. "How clean are the floors?"

"They're clean." Tom scoffs.

You roll your eyes. "I watched you." A laugh falls from your lips. "You don't even know how to sweep correctly!"

"If I was doing it wrong, why not help me?" Tom challenges.

"It was funny and I was bored." You continue to laugh but Tom is not having it.

"This is cruel and unusual, ya know?" Tom's face tints a shade of red with his anger.

"Fine, you can take your lunch but you have to take something with you." You hop down from your stool and go under the cabinet, Tom watching with a quirked brow, ready to clock out and dart out of there. You walk around the counter and hand him a flashlight.

"Why the hell do I need this?" Tom's eyes narrow as he takes the flashlight from you.

"So you can lighten up a little." Sarcasm dripped from your mouth as you bit your lip.

Tom shook his head, a smile creeping across his face as he tried to fight it off. "You think you're cute." Tom says, handing the flashlight back, a failed attempt at keeping his smile at bay on display.

You shrug one shoulder. "Nah, but you do."

Tom licks his lip and gives a soft nod. "Yeah, but the feeling's mutual." He scrunches his nose and cocks his head to the left.

You laugh and walk back to your seat. "Sure it is. Go take your lunch."

Tom's eyes widen and the sly smirk that had crossed his face vanished. "You don't think I'm cute?" His voice isn't hurt, rather it's offended as if he'd never heard anything so absurd.

"Are you gonna take your lunch because if not, I will." You state, dodging his question.

"C'mon, why not?" Tom urges, leaning his arm on the counter.

"Your face is nice," You start and Tom's face brightens right back up. "But you're arrogant, lazy, rude, narcissistic, a drunk, a mooch, and quite frankly, I don't think you're a very good person." Your words fall casually as if you were describing the weather.

Tom's jaw falls open as he just stares at you while you were now looking over your writing as if you didn't just insult Tom. No one had ever insulted him like that before. Sure, he's been called a dick and lazy and all of those things and then some before but never by someone he's never actually done anything to. Hell, no one has even said all of that in one breath before. It floored him to say the least. Who were you to go around and make those kinds of assumptions? You don't know him well enough to have those opinions. But, that's why first impressions matter.

"Am not!" Tom stands up and crosses his arms.

"Uh, yeah you are." You say, your voice remaining casual.

"Yeah? And what makes you think that?"

You look up from your computer and blink at Tom for a few seconds, partially in disbelief. Maybe you should have added 'oblivious' to your list of insults.

"Arrogant, you walked in and knew you'd be hired no matter what and you were late brushing it off. I did say you would get the job but any normal person would have been ready for a real interview. You've been complaining since you got here and this isn't even hard work. I hear you kick girls out in the morning. You're mean to them. It amazes me anyone even goes home with you, actually. You-"

"Alright," Tom puts his hands up to cut you off. "Ever think you've caught me on bad days?" Tom offers and you aren't buying it.

"No." You scoff and look to your laptop again. "Not after you spent the night on my bathroom floor."

Tom sucks on his teeth still only recalling waking up on the white tile floor. Maybe he did say something to you to piss you off but if that were the case, why offer him a job? Nonetheless, Tom wasn't going to focus on that mostly because it made him look like a fool and the thought of him spilling what lead him to that night terrifies him. Everyone has a chapter they don't read out loud. Hopefully drunk him kept it to himself.

"C'mon, lemme prove it to ya." Tom gains a tempting grin, pushing his thoughts into a box in the dark depths of his brain.

"Prove what?" You look back to him and the tempting grin is actually doing a good job of swaying you and you don't even know what for yet.

"I'm not everything you just said." Tom's eyes roll and you sigh.

"Why?"

The thing with Tom is that he likes to prove everyone wrong when they're speaking bad on his name even if it's true. He'll maintain this job for as long as Harrison will keep harassing him and he'll be out to prove he's not some jackass like you're painting him to be. Not to mention, girls don't just turn him down. He's not about to let some girl who works in a corner shop be the first.

"Because." Tom offers a soft smile.

He's tempting. He is so smooth with his words and he's cute. His hair is perfect and he's so damn endearing, it actually takes strength to turn him down. There's a feeling in the pit of your stomach telling you to say no, which you'll listen to because you always do. But, there's a tiny little pull in your veins, the idea of seeing what Tom could possibly do to prove you wrong. Almost like adrenaline.

"Why though?"

"Why not?" Tom challenges.

"Can I add difficult onto that list?"

"Only if you agree." Tom wiggles his brows with the words.

"How do you plan on proving me wrong?" You sigh and push your laptop to the side showing your peaked interest.

A confident smile is back on Tom's face. "Guess you'll have to wait and see, darlin'."

"What'd I say about calling me that?"

"Sorry, sorry." Tom puts his hands up. "Y/n." He corrects himself and your stomach starts to swarm with the smalls bits of butterflies with your name leaving his mouth accompanied by his accent.

You look him over and you know he's a terrible decision but you did just tell him to lighten up and maybe you need to lighten up a little, too. It's not like you have much faith Tom will prove you wrong. And on the off chance he does, it couldn't' possibly end terribly on your end. And if he is exactly who you expect him to be, the person you've seen, you won't be let down, rather you'll be the one on top. You'll have proved yourself right and have the satisfaction and maybe, just maybe, it'll teach him a lesson.

"Lemme prove it to ya. What'd ya got to lose?"

"My dignity." You retort causing Tom to squint one eye in displeasure. "Okay," You take in a deep breath and nod your head. "Fine, I will allow you..." You move your eyes to the ceiling, biting your cheek in thought. "About a week to prove me wrong."

"Three weeks and when I do?" Tom's arrogance makes its appearance all over again.

"Two weeks. Bragging rights. Your whole M.O. is that you want to prove people wrong so there ya go."

Tom nods and his chin wrinkles. "Alright, so what's your motive then?"

"The satisfaction of being right." What should be a sarcastic smile that crosses your face is actually soft and sweet.

"That all?"

"Yep. Nothing more to gain when you prove me right."

Tom scoffs as he licks his bottom lip. "What're the stakes?"

"You're going all out, huh?"

"Hell yeah." Tom nods, his arms still crossed as he gestures one out for you to go on.

"Hmm, okay." Your voice remains soft and sweet. "All you have to do is prove that you're not some arrogant jerk who only cares about getting laid and-"

"Are you saying no sex?" Tom's quick to cut you off, eyes wide causing you to burst into laughter.

"Go wild." You state, your eyes widening to mock him. "But you gotta be respectful when you kick them out in the morning."

"Fair." Tom says. "What else?"

"Well, we have to hang out in order for you prove anything to me." Tom nods, hanging onto every word. "So, whatever you do, you're not allowed to fall for me."

Tom chuckles and sticks out his hand. "Not a problem."

"Two weeks." You take his hand, sealing the deal.