CHAPTER FIVE - *BILLIONAIRE ENCOUNTER

Anna found herself moving towards them, her usual poise momentarily shaken. As she approached, Erik's piercing blue eyes met hers, and she felt a flutter in her stomach. "W-welcome to Ivory Tower," she managed, inwardly cringing at her stutter. "Table for... six, is it?" Erik's lips curved into a charming smile. "Yes, thank you. And you are...?" "Anna," she replied, acutely aware of the warmth spreading across her cheeks. "Anna Petrovic. I'll be your server this evening." "Well, Anna Petrovic," Erik said, his voice smooth as velvet, "I have a feeling this is going to be a memorable evening." As Anna led the group to their table, she could feel Erik's gaze on her. She took their drink orders, her hand trembling slightly as she wrote them down. "And for you, Mr. Fairchild?" she asked, meeting his eyes. "Surprise me," he replied with a wink. "I trust your judgment, Anna." Throughout the evening, Anna found herself drawn back to Erik's table more often than necessary. Each time she approached, her heart raced a little faster. During one visit to refill water glasses, Anna's fingers accidentally brushed against Erik's as she set down his glass. The brief contact sent a jolt through her, and she nearly dropped the pitcher. "Careful there," Erik said, his hand steadying hers. "We wouldn't want to make a mess, would we?" Anna mumbled an apology, her skin tingling where he had touched her. As she turned to leave, she heard one of Erik's friends chuckle. "Quite the effect you have on the staff, Erik," the man said. "Should we be jealous?" Erik's response was too low for Anna to hear, but she felt his eyes follow her as she walked away. As the night wore on, Anna couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation from Erik's table. They spoke of million-dollar deals, exclusive parties, and far-flung destinations she could only dream of visiting. "The new tech startup in Silicon Valley," Erik was saying at one point. "I think it's worth investing in. The potential is enormous." Anna found herself fascinated by the glimpses into Erik's world. It was so far removed from her own life of study and work, yet she felt an inexplicable pull towards it. When it came time for Erik and his friends to leave, Anna felt a mixture of relief and disappointment. As she handed Erik the check, he held her gaze for a long moment. "Thank you for a wonderful evening, Anna," he said, his voice low and intimate. "I hope we'll see each other again soon." As Erik walked away, Anna felt a shiver run down her spine. She watched him leave, her mind swirling with thoughts and emotions she couldn't quite name. The next day, as Anna arrived for her shift, she was immediately ambushed by her coworkers. "Spill!" demanded Mia, another waitress. "What was it like serving Erik Fairchild?" Anna tried to shrug it off. "It was fine. They were just customers like any others." "Oh, come on," Mia pressed. "We all saw the way he was looking at you. And don't think we didn't notice you making extra trips to their table!" Anna felt her cheeks grow warm. "I was just doing my job," she protested weakly. "Sure, sure," laughed Tom, one of the bartenders. "And I'm sure it had nothing to do with those baby blues of his, right?" As her friends continued to tease her, Anna found herself both embarrassed and secretly thrilled. The attention from someone like Erik Fairchild was flattering, even if she knew it probably didn't mean anything. That night, after finishing her homework, Anna found herself opening her laptop and typing Erik's name into the search bar. Pages of results popped up, filled with articles about his business ventures, philanthropic efforts, and social life. She clicked through photos of Erik at galas and charity events, admiring his easy confidence and impeccable style. One article detailed his rise from a middle-class background to billionaire status, and Anna found herself impressed by his drive and ambition. As she delved deeper into Erik's online presence, Anna's fascination grew. His Instagram account was filled with images of exotic locations, luxurious parties, and glimpses into his daily life. She hesitated for a moment before clicking the 'Follow' button, her heart racing as she did so. The next few days passed in a blur of classes, studying, and work. Anna threw herself into her routines, trying to push thoughts of Erik to the back of her mind. But every now and then, she'd catch herself daydreaming about his smile or the way he'd looked at her. It was during a particularly busy shift at the restaurant that reality came crashing back in. Anna was juggling multiple tables when she overheard Mark, her coworker, muttering to another server. "...thinks she's so special now," Mark was saying. "Just because some rich guy flirted with her." Anna felt a flash of anger, but she pushed it down, focusing on her work. However, as the night wore on, Mark's attitude became increasingly hostile. Finally, as Anna was picking up an order from the kitchen, Mark confronted her directly. "So, Anna," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Planning on quitting soon? Now that you've got a billionaire admirer and all." Anna took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Mark, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just here to do my job, like everyone else." Mark scoffed. "Oh, please. We all saw you fawning over Fairchild the other night. What, do you think he's going to sweep you off your feet? Take you away from all this?" "That's enough, Mark," Anna said firmly, her patience wearing thin. "My interactions with customers are none of your business." "It is my business when you're using your looks to get better tips and more attention!" Mark snapped, his voice rising. "Some of us actually have to work for a living, you know!" The kitchen fell silent, all eyes on Anna and Mark. Anna felt a mixture of hurt and anger rising in her chest. "How dare you," she said, her voice low and controlled. "I have never used anything but my hard work and professionalism to succeed here. If you have a problem with me, take it up with management. But don't you dare accuse me of not earning my place here." Mark opened his mouth to retort, but was cut off by Mr. Vega's stern voice. "Both of you, in my office. Now." As they followed Mr. Vega, Anna could feel the eyes of her coworkers on her back. She held her head high, determined not to let Mark's accusations get to her. Once in the office, Mr. Vega fixed them both with a disapproving look. "Would either of you care to explain what that was about?" Mark jumped in first. "Mr. Vega, I'm concerned about favoritism in shift assignments. It seems that certain servers are getting preferential treatment based on their... appeal to high-profile customers." Anna couldn't believe what she was hearing. "That's completely untrue! I've never-" Mr. Vega held up a hand, silencing them both. "Mark, those are serious accusations. Do you have any evidence to support them?" Mark faltered. "Well, no, but-" "Then I suggest you keep such thoughts to yourself," Mr. Vega said firmly. "Anna has consistently been one of our top-performing servers, and her shift assignments reflect that. If you have concerns about your own schedule, we can discuss that privately." Turning to Anna, his expression softened slightly. "Anna, I apologize that you've had to deal with this. Is there anything you'd like to add?" Anna shook her head. "No, Mr. Vega. I just want to do my job to the best of my ability." Mr. Vega nodded. "Very well. Mark, I expect you to apologize to Anna and to maintain a professional attitude going forward. If I hear of any more unfounded accusations or hostility, there will be consequences. Understood?" Mark nodded sullenly. "Yes, sir."