CHAPTER FIVE

AVA’s POV

‘Welcome to La Table d’Elise,’ I turn to the couple who just sat down. ‘I will be your waitress today. These are your menus.’ I place them on the table when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and my eyes move to the clock first, 11:29, and then to Mr. Oliver.

‘Sir?’

‘Follow me’ Sorry, Sir, Mam, a new server will be with you immediately, he says with a warm smile and spins around.

I immediately follow him into the locker room where he stands, his arms crossed over the other, his feet tapping the floor.

‘Uhm, Oliver, what’s going on? Did I do something wrong?’

‘You’re fired, Ava. I’m sorry, but this came from the owner. You have to pack your things and go now; this is your last paycheck.’ He hands me an envelope while I stand in shock and process what just happened.

‘I don’t understand. What did I do?’ I stutter

‘I don’t know either, dearie, but you’ve been dropped’. He shrugs, tapping my shoulder in pity, and walking out of the room.

My heart skips a bit when my phone rings, pulling me out of my misery.

I turn the phone around to see it’s the 11:30 alarm I set. I pay no mind to it, thinking about the job I just lost.

I need to find a new job, and fast, I think, the money in my hand won’t last. Immediately changing, I walk out of the restaurant. Maybe The Pearls of Monte Carlo will be hiring? Maybe I could see what that letter is about?

Curiosity killed the cat, my mind reminds me.

I frown, staring at the letter in front of me. I think it’s a joke anyway; I don’t see a car with my name written on it waiting outside for me.

Too soon to speak, a car pulls up right in front of me, and the driver gets out, ‘Miss Ava?’

I look around, and sure enough, he’s speaking to me.

‘Mr. Leonardo awaits you, Mam’. He opens the back door for me, and the sight of luxury stares back at me.

I hit my lip. Should this be a decision I should be taking? Randomly entering a stranger's car after getting a letter and maybe a rose from an unknown stranger? What if I’m being kidnapped?

Kidnapping a girl deep in debt with such a luxury car wouldn’t happen, even in my wildest dreams, I think.

‘Miss Ava?’ The older man calls on me again.

Fuck it, I pull myself into the car.

The man starts the journey immediately, like we’ve wasted time already.

‘Mr uh’

Williams, he answers me immediately, and I notice his British accent.

‘Mr. Williams, may I know who is waiting for me at the end of this ride?’ I frown, nervousness creeping into my bones now. I can’t believe I just got into a random car.

He frowns. ‘That's what I’m not allowed to say. May I turn on the radio for you?’ He changes the topic.

I shake my head as a non-verbal gesture, and 20 minutes later we make it to the restaurant.

The Pearl of Monte Carlo restaurant is breathtaking; I think that’s the only adjective I could use to describe this restaurant. It's already 12 p.m., the sun is out, and I can hear the waves from the sea crashing and the sound of seagulls, but weirdly, the restaurant is empty.

I frown as I walk towards the deck; the chairs are all empty except one, and a waiter walks towards me. ‘Miss Ava's right this way, mam’ He walks me towards the table near the sea. Have a seat, and ‘Mr. Leonardo will be with you soon.’

I frown. Okay, I’m not being kidnapped. What if I’m being offered to be some sex worker? I’ve heard stories of girls traveling abroad and suddenly living lavishly but can’t leave the country. I frown about to stand up when the two men from last night enter my line of sight, but this time a third man with them.

I almost forget about the two large men who scared me shitless the night before due to the handsome man in the center, decked in a white loose shirt, tucked into black trousers. The first two buttons open lightly to reveal his chiseled chest, and his olive skin tone spreads across his body right to his face.

His face, with a dark stubble of hair, a mustache, and black shiny hair, jelled back to reveal his olive-green eyes and pointed nose. His mouth is set in a straight line, seeming angry, I think. That pulls me into focus, and I immediately jump from my seat when I realize the gesture shadow, who was with the two scary men with a gun from last night.

‘I didn’t say anything. I swear,’ I raise my hand in fear, my eyes coated with tears already. I swe..ar. I didn’t say anything to anyone. I stutter, my heart beating fast in my chest. Maybe I can jump into the sea.

He frowns, taking a seat opposite me, the men static, not a word breaking through them. He turns his eyes to me, dropping the angry look, his features softening. ‘Miss Ava, I’m Mr. Leornado Falcone, and I have a deal for you.’ His deep voice echoes in my ears and his face, and that voice almost makes me melt on the spot.

‘You’re safe, Miss Ava. Have a seat. I think you would want to hear this.’ He gives off a small smirk, almost impossible to spot like I amusing him.

I frown, the accent sounding familiar and homely. Wait, ‘Leornado Falcone? The Mafia man?’ I say out loud.

‘Rumours that you could confirm or dispel if you would take a seat Ava,’ he says this time, his tone less formal, and it sends a shiver down my spine.

‘What would Leornado Falcone want with me?’