~DEALING WITH DESTINY~

~Life is a canvas, painted with moments of light and darkness. Every snap of the shutter captures a piece of our story, a fragment of our soul~

- Sophie

Song - Beautiful things by Benson Boone.

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Sophie wasn't sure if the order she wrote was correct. She double-checked the scribbled notes on her notepad, making sure she hadn't missed anything. "Okay, so that's... um... one large pepperoni pizza, extra cheese, right?" she asked the customer on the phone.

The customer's voice crackled through the line, confirming the order. Sophie let out a sigh of relief, jotting down the final details before hanging up. She ripped off the top sheet of her notepad and handed it to her coworker, who was busy prepping the kitchen for the dinner rush.

"Order up!" Sophie called out, hoping she'd gotten everything right.

Her coworker, a harried-looking teenager named Bobby, snatched the order from Sophie's hand and scanned it quickly. "Looks good to me. Thank God you didn't mess things up this time," he sneered at Sophie, while chewing gum.

Sophie folded her arms and forced a smile. "I know my job, weirdo."

"Whatever," he said and rolled his eyes, before turning to shout out the order to the kitchen staff.

Sophie breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. She had only been working at Pizza Palace for a few weeks, and she was still getting the hang of things. She packed her curly hair up in a bun and gulped down a bottle water.

As she turned to answer another phone call, Sophie's mind began to wander. She had always dreamed of doing something more creative with her life - maybe writing a novel or working in a big firm. But for now, she was stuck taking pizza orders and trying to make small talk with the regular customers.

The phone rang again, shrill and insistent. Sophie picked it up, pasting a bright smile on her face. "Pizza Palace, this is Sophie. How can I help you?"

Night drawled in, and Sophie's shift was over. It was time for her to weave her way to One Bottle Casino, downtown.

As Sophie clocked out and said her goodbyes, the neon lights of the city seemed to pulse with a newfound energy. But Sophie's heart wasn't racing with excitement - it was sinking with dread.

She had a job interview at One Bottle Casino, downtown. Not by choice, but because her aunt had been breathing down her neck, demanding that Sophie bring home some real money. The Pizza Palace gig just wasn't cutting it, according to Aunt Mildred.

Sophie sighed, shouldering her bag. She had no idea what to expect at the casino. The rumors about Julian Saint, the enigmatic owner, made her nervous. But she couldn't afford to say no - not with Aunt Mildred's constant nagging.

As she walked to the casino, Sophie rehearsed her interview speech, trying to sound confident and capable. But her mind kept wandering back to her aunt's disapproving face, and the pile of unpaid bills on the kitchen counter.

The bright lights of One Bottle Casino loomed ahead, casting a gaudy glow over the sidewalk. Sophie took a deep breath, smoothing her hair and straightening her shoulders.

Time to put on a show.

She walked into the entrance, getting halted by a bouncer.

The bouncer, a towering figure with arms as thick as tree trunks, blocked Sophie's path. He lowered his sunglasses, eyes narrowed, scanning Sophie from head to toe.

"Can I help you?" he growled, his deep voice firm but polite.

Sophie stood tall, trying to project confidence. "I'm here for a job interview," she said, fumbling through her bag for the crumpled printout of the job posting.

The bouncer raised an eyebrow. "What's the job?"

"Um, I think it's a... a waitress position?" Sophie ventured, hoping she got it right.

The bouncer's expression softened slightly. "Okay, let me check." He stepped aside, revealing a sleek black podium with a phone and a clipboard. He picked up the phone, dialing a quick number. "We got a Sophie here for a job interview... Yeah, okay." He hung up, his eyes flicking back to Sophie. "Someone will be down to escort you. Wait here."

Sophie nodded, feeling a mix of relief and nerves. She glanced around, taking in the opulent decor of the casino's entrance. The air was thick with the scent of perfume, cigarettes, and something else... something sweet and alluring.

Sophie couldn't shake the feeling that she was stepping into a whole different world. One that was full of unknowns, and maybe even dangers. But she pushed the thought aside, squaring her shoulders. She was here to get a job, and that's exactly what she was going to do.

While Sophie waited, she couldn't help but notice the eclectic mix of people flowing in and out of the casino. There were businessmen in tailored suits, glamorous women in designer dresses, and even a few individuals who looked like they had just stepped out of a tattoo parlor.

The bouncer, who had been watching her with a curious expression, nodded toward the elevators. "You can go up now. Someone will meet you on the top floor."

Sophie's heart skipped a beat as she stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut behind her, and she felt a rush of adrenaline as the elevator soared upward.

When the doors opened again, Sophie found herself in a luxurious foyer. The walls were adorned with lavish artwork, and the floor was covered in plush carpeting. A stunning woman with piercing green eyes and raven-black hair stood waiting for her.

"Welcome, Sophie," the woman said, her voice husky and confident. "I'm Lily, the casino's events coordinator. Mr. Saint is waiting for you."

Sophie's eyes widened as Lily led her through a maze of opulent corridors. They finally arrived at a sleek black door with a silver doorknob in the shape of a snake.

Lily pushed the door open, revealing a spacious office with a breathtaking view of the city skyline. A man stood behind the desk, his back to Sophie. He was dressed in a tailored black suit, and his dark hair was slicked back, revealing a sharp jawline.

"Ah, Sophie," he said, turning to face her. "Welcome to One Bottle Casino. I'm Julian Saint."

Sophie's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met. There was something about Julian Saint that seemed to draw her in, like a moth to a flame. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to a plush leather chair in front of his desk. "We'll get started with the interview."

Sophie sat down, trying to compose herself. She couldn't believe she was actually sitting in Julian Saint's office, about to interview for a job at One Bottle Casino. It was surreal, to say the least.

Julian Saint leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "So, Sophie, tell me a little bit about yourself. What makes you think you're the right person for this job?"

Sophie took a deep breath, launching into a well-rehearsed speech about her experience as a waitress, her excellent communication skills, and her ability to work well under pressure.

Julian Saint listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers. When she finished speaking, he nodded thoughtfully.

"Impressive," he said. "But I have to warn you, Sophie, working at One Bottle Casino isn't for the faint of heart. We're a high-stakes establishment, and our staff needs to be able to keep up."

"I'm not afraid of hard work," she said, meeting Julian Saint's gaze. "And I'm definitely not afraid of a challenge."

Julian Saint smiled again, his eyes glinting with approval. "Are you sure you want to work as a.... waitress? The pay is small."

"What do you mean?" Sophie arched a brow.

Julian Saint chuckled, opening his drawer and taking out a liquor bottle. "I'm just saying, the waitresses here don't get big money. Why don't you go for something else? I mean, you're beautiful." He smirked, taking a sip from his liquor.

Sophie knew very well what Julian Saint was getting at, and she would never. Not in this short lifetime, not ever!

"With due respect, sir," she grimaced on the word sir. "Count me out of such...jobs."

Lily gasped at Sophie's response. Such confidence. No one has ever talked back at The Julian Saint before, and she was afraid Sophie might end up regretting it.

"So how much are we talking about here?" Sophie asked, leaning on the desk. She didn't care about anything but her money, every other thing could go to hell for all she care.

Julian Saint, still astonished by Sophie's earlier bravery, took another sip of his liquor, while peering at Sophie. "Fifty."

"Fifty thousand?" Sophie beamed. It was more than expected.

"No. Fifty dollars."

Sophie's facial expression changed immediately. "Fifty dollars?! Are you kidding me!" She yelled, abruptly standing up. "That's too small, at least make it one fifty."

Julian Saint laughed, while Lily joined him. "She said...oh my gosh," he guffawed.

Sophie stared at them both in anger. What was so damn funny?

"I told you the pay was small," Julian Saint said, recovering from his laughter. "Waitresses don't really do much, they just serve."

"What?" Sophie bawled, clenching her fist.

"I advice you go for -"

"Like I said before, NO! Capital NO! A big fat hairy blunt NO!" Sophie spat angrily. "You better increase my paycheck, else I'm out of here."

Julian Saint took another sip from his liquor, but no liquid touched his tongue. He furrowed his eyebrows, realizing the bottle of liquor was exhausted already. "Arghhh!" He threw the bottle to the floor.

He sighed, then faced Sophie with a serious look. "Fine, I'll give you a hundred dollars, every week. That's the least I can do. Don't expect one fifty, when you're just serving drinks."

Sophie did some calculations. One hundred dollars every week, plus her income from Pizza Palace, equals - being able to pay the rent.

Not what she wanted, but she took it anyway. "Fine."

"I think you'll fit in just fine here, Sophie," he said. "Lily will show you to the staff area, where you can fill out the necessary paperwork. And then... well, we'll see how you do."

Sophie groaned inwardly, grabbing her bag. She stood up to leave, but Julian Saint's voice stopped her.

"Oh, Sophie?" he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Yes?" she replied, turning back to face him.

"Don't forget to read the fine print," he said, his smile growing wider. "We have a... unique work environment here. And not everyone who starts out with us makes it to the end."

Sophie felt a shiver run down her spine as she met Julian Saint's gaze. She had a feeling that she was stepping into something much bigger than herself, something that could potentially change her life forever.

And with that thought, she followed Lily out of the office, ready to start her new job at One Bottle Casino.

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Murmurs filled the atmosphere, as Sophie tried to get herself together. This was the disadvantage of working at such a dangerous place. Getting assaulted on her first day was already enough reason for her to quit, but she couldn't. She needed the money. She felt a tingling sensation on her lips, as a result of the kiss the drunk dude forced her into.

"What's wrong with you? Why did you hit him?" Lily growled at Sophie, in the kitchen.

"Didn't you see what he did?" Sophie asked in rage.

Lily chuckled, folding her arms. "It's normal, get used to it. That's if you want to keep your job." She scowled at Sophie, before walking away.

Sophie brushed Lily off, she wasn't what was on her mind at that moment. Her mind was on the sharp pain she suddenly felt under her abdomen. She winced, staggering to her bag to take out her pills. When she succeeded in that, she heaved, hugging her stomach. She took out a bottle water from the fridge behind her, then she gulped down a pill.

Glancing at her watch, she realized it was about time she went home. She already mentioned in the form she filled, that she'll only be working from 8PM to 11PM.

She shouldered her bag, and sauntered to the casino's secretary, Vivian.

"Sophie, are you okay?" Vivian asked her, narrowing her eyes to Sophie's stomach, since Sophie was hugging it with one hand.

"Actually, I don't feel so good. It's 11:14, I can leave, right?"

Vivian nodded, bringing out a book and a pen. "Here, sign out." Sophie took the pen and signed on the staff book.

When that formality was done, Sophie walked out of the casino and hailed a taxi.

She slid into the taxi, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. As the taxi pulled away from the curb, Sophie glanced back at the casino's neon lights.

The taxi ride was short, and soon Sophie was standing outside her aunt's small apartment building. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the confrontation that was sure to come.

As she walked into the apartment, Sophie was greeted by the familiar sight of Aunt Mildred lounging on the couch, watching TV with the cat purring contentedly on her lap.

"Sophie," Aunt Mildred said, not even bothering to look up. "How was your day?"

Sophie hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It was fine," she said finally. "I got the job at the casino." She walked closer to the couch, placing her bag down.

Aunt Mildred's eyes snapped up, a greedy glint in their depths. "That's great, Sophie," she said, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "Now, how much money did you make today?"

Sophie felt a surge of resentment, but she tried to keep her cool. "I didn't get paid today, Aunt Mildred," she said. "I just got hired."

Aunt Mildred's face darkened, her eyes narrowing into slits. "You're lying to me, Sophie," she spat. "I know you got paid. Now, hand it over."

Sophie took a deep breath, trying to stand her ground. "The only money with me, is my pocket money. Aunt Mildred, I really need the money for my cancer treatment," she said, hoping to appeal to her aunt's better nature.

But Aunt Mildred just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You're not going to die from cancer, Sophie," she sneered. "You're just using that as an excuse to keep the money for yourself."

Sophie felt a stinging sensation in her eyes as tears began to form. She knew that her aunt didn't care about her, that she was just using her for her own gain.

But Sophie refused to give in. She stood her ground, looking her aunt straight in the eye. "I'm not going to give you any money, Aunt Mildred," she said, her voice firm. "I need it for my treatment."

Aunt Mildred's face twisted in a scowl, "Just get out of my face," Aunt Mildred spat, before turning back to the TV.

Sophie let out a sigh of relief, feeling a small sense of victory. She walked over to the small desk in the corner of the room, where her college applications were spread out.

She had always dreamed of attending a top-tier university, studying psychology, nursing or economics. But with her aunt breathing down her neck, demanding money for who-knows-what, Sophie wasn't sure if she'd ever be able to escape.

She picked up one of the applications, scanning the pages with a mix of excitement and trepidation. NYU, Harvard, Stanford - the possibilities seemed endless, but the competition was fierce.

Sophie's heart ached as she thought about all the what-ifs. What if she didn't get in anywhere? What if she couldn't afford the tuition? What if Aunt Mildred never let her go?

She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. She had to get out of this toxic environment, no matter what it took.

With newfound determination, Sophie began to fill out the application, her pen moving swiftly across the page. She was going to make a better life for herself, no matter what Aunt Mildred threw her way.

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A/N

I hope you enjoyed this chapter? Please don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts on Sophie.

CiCi 🌹