~Juliana~
.....
Juliana arrived at work, glancing at her watch with a sense of relief. 7:30. She had made it just in time. If she had arrived at 8, her spot would have been gone.
As she entered the locker room to change into her uniform, Juliana couldn't help but think about Megan, her colleague who seemed to take pleasure in making her life difficult. She had already spotted Megan sneaking glances at her, a smirk on her face, Juliana didn't know why but Megan seemed to hate her since she started work her she knew that she was despised by most of her colleagues because she had black hair and green forest eyes with porcelain skin but Megan didn't have to be so rude it wasn't like I wanted to be here I needed the money and not the attention.
Juliana changed quickly, buttoning her white shirt to the top and securing her black hair into a ponytail. She added a touch of eye shadow and makeup to give herself a more mature look. At 18, she was still underage to work at the upscale establishment, but she had managed to convince Margaret, her friend and colleague, to help her get the job.
As she approached the bar, Juliana spotted Margaret, who was expertly mixing a martini. Margaret handed the drink to another waitress, who carried it off to serve. Juliana slid onto a stool, catching Margaret's eye.
"Hey, girl! How's your mom doing?" Margaret asked, wiping her hands on a towel.
"She's getting better," Juliana replied, forcing a smile.
"I'm so glad to hear that! I was worried sick about her," Margaret said, her expression sympathetic.
"Thanks, Margaret. That means a lot to me," Juliana said, feeling a surge of gratitude towards her friend.
"So, have you seen the crowd tonight? It's crazy!" Margaret exclaimed, nodding towards the packed room.
"I know, right? I'm just hoping I can keep up," Juliana said, laughing nervously.
"Don't worry, you'll do great. Just remember, the old dude at table seven is a total creep, so try to avoid him if you can," Margaret whispered, winking at Juliana.
Juliana giggled, feeling a sense of relief at having Margaret by her side. Just then, their boss called out to Juliana, asking her to serve a drink to a special guest. Juliana's heart skipped a beat as she turned to see who it was. Her boss was standing next to a woman who looked like she had just stepped out of a luxury magazine.
"Juliana, I need you to serve a drink to our special guest on the top floor," her boss said, smiling graciously.
Juliana nodded, feeling a surge of nervousness. As she approached the pair, she couldn't help but notice the woman's exquisite clothes, flawless skin, and perfectly structured body. The woman smiled at her, and Juliana felt like she was in the presence of royalty.
As Juliana's boss signaled Margaret to send the drink, Juliana's confusion deepened. What was going on? Why the special treatment for just one drink?
The drink arrived, and Juliana took it from the waitress, her eyes fixed on the woman who had ordered it. The woman smiled, opened her purse, and dropped a wad of cash onto Juliana's tray.
Juliana's eyes widened in shock. She had no idea how much money it was, but it looked like enough to cover some of her mother's medical bills. Maybe even enough to get her the surgery she needed.
Without questioning the woman, Juliana smiled, nodded, and walked away. As she descended the stairs, she could hear the woman asking her boss if Juliana would say anything. Her boss replied that Juliana was desperate and would do anything for the money.
Juliana's face burned with embarrassment, but she pushed the feeling aside. She had a job to do. She entered the elevator, pressed the button for the fifth floor, and stepped out into a sea of flawlessly beautiful people.
The room was filled with influential businesspeople, and Juliana recognized some of them from her business studies. She spotted the man she was supposed to serve – tall, dark-haired, and handsome in a black tuxedo. As she approached him, she felt a surge of nervousness.
The man turned to face her, and Juliana's breath caught in her throat. He was even more stunning up close, with piercing ocean-like eyes and chiseled features. For a moment, she forgot herself, forgot the drink, forgot everything.
But she regained her composure, served the drink, and turned to leave. The man's voice stopped her. "Wait."
Juliana turned back, her ponytail swinging behind her. The man's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Then he said, "Nothing."
Juliana nodded, turned, and walked away, feeling like she was escaping a presence that had left her breathless. She brushed aside the feeling, focusing on the work ahead and the tip that could change her day.