3: Enigmatic Fear

Rose's POV:

"Of course, what's wrong may I ask?" I queried, inspecting her face for something unusual.

"Nothing," she uttered as a sad, almost cryptic smile made it's way on her face, "The restaurant is crowded a bit and Tina informed me that a very wealthy man has booked his reservation in the place. He was so nosy! And so annoying! He was asking which glass cleaner do we use! Can you believe that?!"

My jaw dropped open.

Who does that?

"And he also said that he wanted everything in it's place, he was barking orders like he owned the place. He seemed a bit paranoid."

I narrowed my eyes as sparks of anger slowly began to shot inside my body.

Who the fuck did the man think he was?

If you don't like our restaurant just get the fuck out of there.

"What is he?" I seethed, my fists clenching, "Fucking god?"

"Rose," Mama narrowed her eyes as she hit lightly on my back with the rolling pin, "At least respect your mother and don't curse in front of me."

I huffed, I barely cursed but some people tended to grate on my nerves.

Rolling my eyes, I let myself out of the bed, "Whoever this god is, we will make him eat his words. He is so gonna regret it."

"Just don't go near him," Mama sighed as she watched me brush my teeth, "He is a Victor."

My eyebrows scrunched as I met her eyes through the mirror, "The Victors?"

She nodded.

"Why would Victors come to our restaurant?" My voice was muffled as I looked back at her, "They're rich and super snobby. They don't eat in local eatella."

"I don't know why..." She sighed as she shook her head, "I guess we have to make the decorations extra fancier for him. Think of the bright side Roseline, like I taught you, maybe it can help our restaurant and we can open that branch we always wanted to."

My blood boiled but I only nodded, not wanting to think of the elusive yet enigmatic Victors, a family that had their influence all over the London.

___________________

It wasn't long before I arrived at the restaurant along with mama. I was dressed in my best waitress outfit which fitted my body like a perfectly embroidered glove and my hair was tied up in a ponytail. I draped over the long black woolen coat over my body and secured myself with a shawl around my neck.

"The VIP should be here for the second sitting," mama mumbled as we entered the restaurant. It was freezing outside, thankfully, it didn't snow all that much last night- otherwise, it would have been a problem. The restaurant was now almost empty, indicating that the first sitting was over.

I fidgeted with the hem of my dress as I took in the guests, most of their posture were relaxed, which made me content. We only served the best food to our customers.

I smiled at the waitresses as they took orders, observing everything. My eyes drifted to a couple that was sitting around the corner with their child who was smearing sauce all over his face.

A sad smile lit up my face as I took in their perfect family.

If only I had a better family.

I had mama but....

"Roseline," Tress' voice snapped me out of my reverie, "Did you arrange the flowers?"

"Yeah...." I sighed, "It was hectic as fuck."

My eyes fell over to table 23 which was currently empty, the table reserved for the Victor.

I scoffed.

I couldn't bear arrogant motherfxckers. They gave me allergies.

Was it because he sounded like an arrogant, rude bitch? Or was it his threat that I could feel just through my mom's statement?

Probably.

I have a tendency to over think things.

Huffing, I walked over to Rosanna, who was helping with decorating the dishes. I provided her a hand, throwing her a smile and taking the scissors from her hand, cutting the basils.

Being an waitress was definitely not an easy task easy here, because, my mama had took a loan last year and to give it back, we had to get rid of most of our workers. I, along with three other waitresses and one receptionist was now working here, among whom, I was the only one mama didn't have to pay.

Placing the last leaf in it's proper place, I sighed in relief. My eyes scanned through the restaurant, inspecting for any misplacement or imperfection.

Beige curtains were draped over the windows, letting only a necessary amount of light in, even though the only light that was outside was the one that was being reflected from slight snowfall. The ceiling was adorned with a huge chandelier that illuminated soft light. The huge room was neat and the tables were perfectly groomed. Fresh peonies were ordained in the antique vases.

Everything seemed perfect so far.

"Rose, please inspect the kitchen. Your work is finished here. The second sitting will be arriving here soon," mama informed me as she continued dusting the tablecloths.

I nodded as I made my way into the kitchen. My heart thumped loudly in my ribcage as I sweated profusely. It was probably from exhaustion. The labour I had gone through was enough to make me weary, an apt insinuation of my out of the shape state.

Should I hit a gym once in a while? I mean, I wasn't fat, quite contrary to that, I was extremely anorexic, but still, it didn't change the fact that I was out of shape and I did have some adipose in my lower stomach.... it jiggled whenever I took a walk. It also made me look like a disfigured fish, which I clearly wasn't.

I just had some extra fat in my lower abdomen.

Groaning, I concentrated on the dish that was in front of me. I took a small bite from the pulpo a la gallega in front of me. I swallowed with much hardship as the spicy flavor of the octopus hit my taste bud. The texture of the octopus was delicate yet firm, chewy. It was cooked perfectly, but food in general didn't appeal to me.

I was busy in savouring the dishes, I didn't notice Stella, one of our waitresses running inside the kitchen.

"Rose!" She whispered loudly, "He is here! Can you please re-check everything briefly?"

My eyes narrowed as my heart rate picked up in anticipation.

That probably old, bald, spoiled rotten, rich, prideful, arrogant son of a bitch was here and I remembered that I had to make him regret the words he had said to my mom.

Squaring up my shoulders and tightening my ponytail, I retouched my gloss. Taking up the menu, I proceeded towards his table.

Table 23.

That was his table.

I examined his back profile. Hm.

He was here with another woman with whom he seemed to bicker about something. His shoulders were broad and powerful. He did not have a bald head and he most definitely was not old.

The other pseudonyms I used for him however, seemed legit when parts of their conversation started making their way into my ear.

"You know what I want to talk about....." the woman stated, "Did you visit the doctor this month?"

Doctor?

None of my business anyway.

".....The doctor spews bullshit my love....." Upon hearing his endearment for the woman, I took a quick glance at her left ring finger.

There sat a big, green diamond proudly, letting the world know of it's owner's relationship status.

Engaged.

The man was probably engaged to her.

See, it was none of my business but I couldn't help but burn my ears a little bit. I am curious by nature, sue me.

I cleared my throat as I stood behind the man. They immediately stopped their conversation.

"May I take your order, sir?" I asked gravelly, feeling small next to his gigantesque frame.

The man whipped his head toward me, his eyes blazed with fury.

I flinched, casting my head downwards.

Why did he seem so angry?

The brief look I had had of that man, told me he was beautiful.

If I said that the man wasn't a piece of art, it would be an insult to arts.

The man had the most gorgeous profile I had ever come across. He had the most mesmerizing pair of turquoise eyes I had ever seen.

I felt his eyes weighting over me as I clicked the pen on the white board, silently awaiting whatever they had to order.

I wanted them to go away.

His gaze alone seemed to create a hole in my skull as he glared at me. 

I looked up to his supposed fiancée, who was studying me with a enigmatic smile yet her eyes held a hint of sadness.

Was that recognition I saw in her eyes?

Okay, not creepy at all.....

I diverted my gaze back to the gorgeous man.

The man now had an obnoxious look plastered on his face, one that screamed his rage, which made him look fatal and.....

I gulped as I muttered, "Orders sir?" I repeated, my voice wavering.

"Whatever your best is," the man rasped, his voice laced with slight accent.

Italian or French? Maybe it was Greek?

I looked at the woman, silently asking for confirmation. The last thing I wanted was to be the cause of couple fights.

The woman nodded as if to confirm me. I nodded, scribbling down their orders furiously. I strode to the kitchen, an unshakable feeling of a burning gaze boring into my back the whole time I was in his peripheral vision loomed around me.

My heart was beating like crazy and beads of sweat was making their way in my forehead.

The man.... There was just something about him I couldn't pinpoint...

Something scary.

Something magnetic.

Did I see him somewhere before?

He is a Victor.... Did I see him on TV? Or maybe 

I was not a weak person, but, his look screamed crazy.

I let out a shuddered breath that I didn't realize I was holding.

There was just something about how he looked at me. It was, as if, he wanted to burn everything down.

It made me suspect that he was one of those men.

The men who liked to watch the world burn.

The men who bathed in darkness.

That was the problem. He was beautifully dangerous.

My head spun from nervousness, as I placed the order in the kitchen.

His presence was unsettling.

I should stay away from him. He had a boisterous effect on me without even doing anything.

He seemed dangerous and malicious. I should definitely stay away.

The order was prepared after a short while. I didn't want to face the man, but I had to, because the restaurant didn't have any decent waitress other than me.

The advantage of helping mama for almost 13 years.

I took deep breaths as I prepared myself to face our VIP guests.

It's okay, they'll go away after a while.

I was frightful all on a sudden. I could fight the world but their presence made me vulnerable. The couple unnerved me.

Why the hell did they have that much effect on me?

Gulping down the knots that formed in my throat, I grabbed their orders and marched toward their table.

My hands quivered slightly as I kept the tray. I didn't dare to look up.

I could smell his cologne from my position. Even without looking up, I could feel his burning gaze on my back, paralyzing me.

I kept my gaze down the entire time. I saw his long legs that disappeared inside the fluffy tablecloth.

Don't look up.....Don't.... Please....

I took a peek from the corner of my eye, only to find his gaze already on me.

His turquoise eyes narrowed as he examined me, analyzing each of my steps and moves. His eyes were filled with curiosity before.....were filled with rage.

His eyes looked like a blazing blizzard..... a dangerous blizzard.

I forced a small smile as I heard my mama calling me from the kitchen. Managing to nod curtly to both of them, I ran into the kitchen, feeling my heart thrumming loudly.

I gasped for air, why did they trigger me?

Why did that woman seem familiar?

"Yes mama..." I heaved.

"Roseline!" Mama let go of the dish she was decorating and strode towards me, "Why do you look so red?!"

"Uh-"

"Did you over work? Oh.... why did the staff had to go on a vacation today...." She frowned as she examined me.

"Yeah- over work..." Truth to be told, I couldn't find my voice. It seemed like I left it there, on table 23.

What was this sorcery?

"Stay here," mama uttered, "I'll go and buy you some medicine."

I only managed a nod.

Mama left me with another worried look, leaving me alone with my misery.

Why did they trigger me?

Why were they so familiar?

Where did I see them?

I grabbed the nearby water bottle and chugged down almost half of it, my throat becoming drier as a wave of vertigo hit me.

The hollowness of my heart got even deeper as I took a peek out of the door.

I could hear my blood pounding in my ears.

Smile and breath, it will be over once they are g-

The table was empty.....

My feet moved before I could comprehend whatever that was going in me, moving to the dinning area that was almost empty.

I looked outside through the full sized glass windows, only to see Mr. Victor helping his betrothed in his black car.

As if feeling my gaze on him, he looked up and met my eyes.

My heart stopped as a coil of fear twined around my heart, he shot me one last glare.

I wanted to run away and never look back.... but my feet were glued to the ground.

His jaw clenched as he shot me one last look before letting himself in the car.

Who pissed in his cereal?