Being an heiress was an easy life. Rachel could get anything her heart desired at the snap of her fingers but she wasn’t one of those ultra spoilt girls. Her father Richard Whitaker was the multibillionaire, oil baron who had his clout not only in UK but the entire world.

She considered herself lucky to be brought up by such a caring family. Her parents were literally crazy about her. Rachel was the only daughter and Richard loved to spoil her to bits but he made sure she had a responsible head on her shoulders. He did not want his daughter to be one of those classified children who took everything for granted.

No. Not his Rachel.

She was brought up with diligent care and made aware of her privileged circumstances. She grew to be a compassionate, beautiful woman. Rachel was made to slog through university. She acquired her degree in business administration from Stanford. Now, finally she was back in London.

Yes, Richard had a very good reason to keep her away from the hindering spotlight. His wife, Maria made sure that her beloved daughter would not be harmed by the unfailing paparazzi. Due to these reasons, Rachel was never made privy to media.

She was pure and untouched in every sense.

Richard did however realize that with power came responsibility. He did not ever want to curtail her passion which was operating a chain of restaurants.

He was very willing to support her as he knew- only passion could create unparalled satisfaction and startling success.

Right now, he was engaged in a very heated discussion with his gorgeous daughter over her choice of her first ‘real’ job as Maria sat on the sidelines enjoying the freely flowing intelligent banter. He wanted her to join his already established chain of restaurants- ‘The Rachel’.

But, there was a very big but.

Rachel was very excited by the prospect but was insistent that she wanted some outside experience before joining her father’s group. She did not consider her natural gift for organization, detailing, and management were any substitute for experience.

Her father wanted to train her with his group. But, she baulked at the idea, explaining she wanted to work in a small establishment where she would be judged fairly on her work. She did not directly want to be a manager, she wanted to start at the very basic level- learning all the nitty-gritty’s of the job.

Rachel wanted to see the problems faced at each level of the organization and that could be best gauzed at the lowest level- being a simple waitress. She wanted to know the qualms of the very establishment before considering taking over her own chain.

Rachel was determined to be a worth employer, “I don’t just want to be my father’s daughter,” she ruefully expressed her argument.

Her father was impressed and very proud as he looked over his wife and winked at her. He knew they had done a credible job in raising their only child. Rachel made him proud, she was a magnificent child.

Her resemblance to her mother at times moved him. She was stunning with her mother’s piercing blue eyes.

As a child she was literally akin to a porcelain doll and now at twenty two she retained her dazzling aura that literally pulled everyone towards her. He always thought he would have his hands full as her beautiful daughter was bound to attract the opposite sex. But, she never gave him any opportunity to worry.

Richard kept tabs on her but was very rarely disappointed. He knew, she knew the implications of her decisions and hence, was smart enough to figure out what was good for her.

He thoroughly approved of her bearings, “That can be easily arranged. I will get you the top managerial position at the ‘The Hilton’.”

“No. I want to start as a waitress in a mere small café.”

“What?” her father looked at her incredulously.

“Yes. That is where I am starting whether you like it or not, “ Rachel met her father’s stare.

Her father laughed, “Are you serious, with a degree from Stanford and all the experience and knowledge, you want to start as an anonymous waitress?”

“Being an anonymous waitress would give me an opportunity to delve in the world and see every aspect from a very different view which will in turn help me build my perspective,” Rachel smiled at her father as she lifted her hand to brush her long red mane out of her eyes.

Richard knew he was beaten. He just had to see those steel blue eyes of his daughter to realize she had already made up her mind. She was so much like her mother. And he knew by experience how persistent Maria could get.

He looked over at his wife and there she sat daintily smirking at him knowing he was losing the battle of wits.

God, he loved that woman.

He knew no amount of persuasion, gentle or otherwise, was going to change Rachel’s views.

She had already interned in his office and inter alia impressed everyone including him with her knowledge, skills and quick, unfazed mindset.  He loved his daughter and agreed to her rightfully debated demands.  

Rachel immediately applied forth the vacant position at ‘The Pri’ café. When she filed her application she gave her name as Cassandra Morgan, well aware the city would not leave her in peace if they ever got to know she was the charming Oil baron’s only gorgeous daughter.

She had already made a lot of friends in London and enjoyed a full social life filled with delightful evenings; she had long ago resolved not to tell her friends about her work as a waitress. Not that she was ashamed but she did not want any hindrance.

Despite her protests from her father, she left their sprawling mansion to live in a flat seated in the high flying area, gifted by her father on her twenty-first birthday.

Rachel never had any time for relationships, she was too busy enjoying life, building her resume and proving to her parents, she was a blessing. She loved her father unconditionally and was happy and always thankful for it being reciprocated.

She soon started her work at the ‘The Pri’. The girls usually worked in a system where they were paired and manned tables amongst themselves. Her strategy included rising up till the post of manager in the next few months. Her entire idea was based on the observation of how fast she could tackle the various positions within a limited time period of eight months.

She was challenging the normal hierarchical procedure via her competency and countering the ‘favoritism’ with her on the job appeal.  It would lead her to analyze the various mundane aspects and the supposed corrupt practices involved in picking of ‘age’, ‘beauty’ and ‘name’ over  capability.

Rachel worked that to her advantage by choosing the laziest girl in the café as her partner. This arrangement suited both of them. Her choice was a gorgeous, physically enhanced, unenlightened blonde Trina who preferred to file her nails and ogle at men rather than work and this suited

Rachel’s needs as she did not want any curious eyes to see her file her daily reports, jotting her analysis of the pros-cons, work environment and solutions.

The girls soon became comrades without actually becoming friends. Rachel learned from her partner how to avoid work without being spotted by the floor manager and also to pick up the ‘best’ men.  They laughed as Rachel worked and Trina colored her nails.

……

Rachel spent her last three months there on the ground floor. Her duties now included stock checking, managing cash counter, supervising the team.

Her owners were thinking of promoting her to the managerial capacity. Her work was efficient and impressive. Her ideas refreshing and her beautiful face with that striking body- an attraction to the men. They knew she would do well for the café.

She had not yet informed them that she would be leaving soon to join her dad’s business.

As her months drew closer, she began to think what would happen to the young girl Trina who entirely relied on her. Maybe she will offer her a job. Trina may be pea brained but her knowledge with respect to slacking of work could be turned into an effective supervisory role.  She was a valuable asset.

One evening when Trina was waiting on a nearby table, she pulled her aside and whispered, “What do you think of that man?’’

Rachel glanced towards the said man. He was well built, over six feet tall and ruggedly handsome. The black suit he was wearing fitted him like a second skin and made him stand out. He was well-groomed, seemed very well to do and exuded power and authority. His personality screamed; he got what he wanted. A man who was confident and yet charming. It was hard not to feel protected in such a man’s presence with his broad shoulders and vast, muscular chest.

She openly gazed at him, her usually reserved emotions in upheaval.  She was almost envious of Trina.

“They only want one thing, Trina,” Rachel whispered back. She did not like this man who was making her feel things she was not yet ready to experience.

The man turned towards them. Their eyes met, and Rachel suddenly felt something she had never felt before as she gazed into the blue-violet eyes. There was a look of gentleness about him, a man who was at home in the wild country of the West as well as the comforts of city life. No man had ever moved her this way before, certainly not on the first meeting. Ah! Not even a meeting but a mere sight.

“Yes. And he can have his wicked way with me,” Trina giggled breaking Rachel from her trance.

“All yours,” Rachel prodded Trina and watched as Trina sashayed her way, flipping her blonde hair en-route to cater to that gorgeous man. 

All yours- Her conscience screamed at her. No. I want him for myself.

Rachel berated herself for such a wanton thought. Trina had set her eyes on him. She better back off. She was not the one to encroach upon someone else’s territory even if the man in question was sinfully gorgeous and made her heart beat faster.