Paths Crossed!!

 Episode 11

   

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        Emily's house 🏘️

  

Emily rushed out of her bedroom, her briefcase in hand. 

      "Mom, I've got to run! Wish me luck!" she called out as she hurried past the dining room.

Mrs grace, looked up from her coffee. "Emily, slow down! Don't you want some breakfast before you go?"

"No time, Mom. I've got to catch the bus." She said rushing to the door.

Her sister, smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. "You'll do great, Em!"

 Zander and Ash, looked up from their cereal.

     "Mom, good luck!" Zander said with a smile while ash waved her hand excitedly.

Emily smiled and blew them a kiss. "Thanks, guys! I'll see after school, okay?"

She rushed out the door, her heart racing with anticipation. She had been preparing for this interview for weeks, and she was determined to nail it.

As she walked to the bus stop, she went over her notes and practiced her responses. She felt confident and prepared, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of nervousness.

*

*

* " Wait sir! Please wait! Sir!!" She yelled waving but the bus already zoomed off

*Oh no what to do am late...gosh why didn't I wake up early enough* she thought  

Soon a taxi droved by and she waved it down, relieved to have made it just in time. But as they approached her destination, the cab suddenly sputtered and came to a halt.

"No, no, no!" Emily exclaimed, looking at her watch. She was going to be late!

" Am sorry miss but you gat to take another cab"The driver apologized and got out to take a look. Emily didn't have time to wait, so she grabbed her briefcase and started running.

As she sprinted down the sidewalk, a car turned the corner too quickly, splashing dirty water all over her clothes and briefcase. Emily's anger flared up, and she yelled, 

        "Watch where you're going! Idiot!"

The driver, a sheepish-looking young man, got out of the car and approached her.

         "I'm so sorry, miss. I'm really sorry. I didn't see you there."

But Emily was having none of it.

      "Sorry? Sorry isn't enough! Look at me! I'm covered in mud and water. I have a job interview in 10 minutes, and now I look like a mess!"

" Am really sorry mam but I didn't see you, you see my boss is in a hurry and he's really late so..."

Emily's eyes flashed with anger. 

     "You're late? You're late? I'm the one who's missed my interview because of your careless driving! I'm the one who's been splattered with mud and water!"

Emily continued to fume, looking down at her mud-stained clothes, when The owner, a tall, imposing figure dressed in a tailored suit and dark glasses, stepped out and asked, 

    "What's going on here?" He asked coldly

The driver explained the situation, and the owner quickly pulled out his wallet. "How much do you want for compensation, miss?" he asked Emily, not even bothering to apologize.

Emily's anger boiled over. "You think you can just buy your way out of this? You can't even be bothered to apologize, and you think a few bucks will make it all okay?"

The owner counted out a few hundred dollars and handed it to her. "Here, this should cover dry cleaning."

But Emily was having none of it. She took the money and threw it all over him. "To hell with your money! You think that's going to fix everything?"

The owner's face turned red with anger as he removed his glasses. "What's your problem, lady? I'm already late for a meeting, and you're still standing here yelling at me?"

   Emily turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger. But as she looked into his eyes, her expression suddenly changed. Her face went white, her mouth dropped open, and she looked like she had seen a ghost.

Ryan piercing gaze seemed to freeze her in place. Emily's mind raced as she stared at him, her thoughts tumbling backward in time. She hadn't seen those eyes in years, but she knew them instantly.

"It's...it's you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Emily's eyes locked onto Ryan's and she felt a chill run down her spine. She recognized him, but she didn't know his name. Memories of that fateful night came flooding back - the pain, the fear, the helplessness. She had never forgotten his face, and now, here he was, standing in front of her.

Emily's body began to shake, and she felt her legs tremble beneath her. Then Ryan, took a step closer, concern etched on his face. 

        "Are you okay?" he asked, but Emily's mind was racing.

She saw flashes of herself shouting, screaming, trying to escape. She felt the same fear and panic rising up again. Ryan's face was the last thing she wanted to see.

"Don't come closer!" Emily shouted, stepping back and losing her balance. She fell to the ground, her briefcase and papers scattering around her.

Ryan looked confused, but Emily didn't care. She quickly gathered her belongings and scrambled to her feet, backing away from him.

"Don't touch me!" she yelled, turning and running away as fast as she could.

Ryan stood there, looking bewildered, as Emily disappeared into the crowd. He turned to his driver, who shrugged and said, "I don't know what just happened, boss."

   " Hmmm just get into the car and be careful " he said and got into the car.

    * What a strange lady*he thought

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  Taste & Table Restaurant

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*Kitchen

Landon expertly chopped the fresh carrots, his hands moving in rhythm with the sizzling pans on the stovetop.

"Hey Maria, have you put the vegetables in the walk-in fridge?"he asked

"Not yet but I'm on it," replied Maria.

"Okay, uhm tom, Have you done the prep work for the sauces?"

"Yes, chef. They're all ready," said Tom.

"What should be the main dish today?" Maria asked

"How about the grilled salmon? We've got a fresh batch coming in today," he suggested

"Sounds good to me. Let's go with that," tom nodded with a smile

 Meet Landon Bliss, the owner and head chef of Taste and table.He was a tall young man of 29, he has a warm smile and a passion for cooking.Landon is also Emily's childhood friend.

A few minutes later, his phone rang, breaking the rhythm of the kitchen. Landon wiped his hands on his apron before answering with a smile

"Oh, look at that smile, I bet It's Mam Emily again!" Maria teased

The other chefs chuckled and started making jokes. " Chef's got a crush!" Tom whispered, making everyone laugh.

Landon's face turned slightly red, but he couldn't help the smile. "Shut up, guys. It's just Emily."

He answered the phone, trying to sound casual. "Hey, em what's up!"

There was silence on the other end. "Hello?" Landon said again,  

Finally, a whispery voice replied, "Landon..."

Landon's instincts kicked in. Something was wrong. "Emily, what's going on? You sound scared."

Emily's voice was barely audible. "Landon...I..i need your help."

 "Hey, hey, it's okay. What's happening? Tell me, and I'll do everything I can to help."

Emily's voice cracked as she started to tear up. "I...I just need to see you. Please, Landon, I need some one right now." 

His heart broke when he heard her voice . He could tell she was trying to hold back tears.  

        

  " Okay just give me the address and I'll come to you....hmmm, alright...I got it" he quickly removed his apron.

       

   " Just stay where you are okay am coming to get you...hold on Emily." He hanged up and grabbed his car keys.

        

   " Tom you're in charge okay am going out it's an emergency"

        " Okay got it chef!" Tom responded. They all looked at him as he rushed out of the restaurant hurriedly.

        

        " Gosh he looks scared... maybe something happened to mam Emily " Tom said and maria hit him on his back.

        

        " Ouch!...what was that for!" He shouted rubbing his back

       " Stop saying nonsense and let's get back to work geez such a gossiper" maria said walking away

     " Huh?...hey who's in charge here huh...what are you guys looking at get back to work" 

    " Yes sir" they answered

        " Gosh that hurts... what's her hand made of anyway" he muttered still rubbing his back.

        

 Tbc.....