CHAPTER 3

Alexandra woke up the following day at the sound of her alarm at four-thirty in the morning, reaching over the side table and turned it off. She remained still for a few minutes before finally sitting up and stretching her arms up.

She finally got up and changed into her running clothes, putting over a grey hoodie and grabbing her cap before going out of her room.

After making sure that she closely secured the service door where she went out, she put on her headset and pressed play on her phone. She then set her watch and started walking briskly for a while, doing some stretching before finally picking up the pace. She started running on her feet, her breathing synchronizing with her pace.

She approached the uphill part of the city, and she adjusted her pacing before speeding up again. She ran a total of 10 miles in an hour and a half and she stopped over the park for a few minutes to take a breather before walking back home.

Alexandra took a drink from the bottled water she bought from the dispenser and pulled down the hoodie to get a clear view of her surroundings. She looked around the vicinity before her eyes landed on the collapsed building where the explosion had occurred last night.

She noted that there were yellow tapes placed around and she walked towards the area cautiously and stood in front of it for a while. Her eyes scanned the damage and her smell started to pick up some scents that she might be familiar of.

“Excuse me, Miss,” a voice said firmly. “But I need you to move along.”

“Sorry,” she apologized calmly when she saw police personnel.

She finally walked back to the diner and just in time for her aunt to go out of the service door.

“Do you need me to drive you to the hospital?” Alexandra then asked.

“I’ll be fine,” her aunt assured as she placed her keys inside her bag. She looked up at Alexandra, who towers over her with her five feet eleven inches height and patted her cheek lightly. “You know that you don’t always have to look out for me.”

“Yeah, well, you might get lost,” Alexandra joked with a grin. “I’ll just take a quick shower and have the kitchen and dining up and running. I’m sure Winston and Sally are already inside. Will there be any deliveries this morning?”

“Some kitchen needs,” Aunt Vicky replied. “The laundromat will also be picking up some linens.”

“Gotcha!” Alexandra answered and watched her aunt walk off towards the bus stop.

Alexandra then immediately went up the second floor and before heading to her room, she quietly checked on her sister, Ashley and found her sleeping peacefully on her bed.

“Morning, Alex!” Sally Williams greeted with a smile as she took out some freshly baked rolls from the oven. The kitchen is now up and running with her and her assistants. “I’ll have them out in a few minutes. Winston’s already done mopping the floor and at the back, to check on the inventory.”

“Thanks!” Alexandra said as she put on her apron after securing her hair. “I’ll open the diner.”

She then immediately proceeded to the dining area, greeting the two waiters and waitress respectively, and walked towards the double glass doors, unlocking it, and turning over the open sign. She then proceeded behind the counter and started preparing the cups, glasses, plates, and utensils for the early diners.

“Morning, Alex!”

“Hey, Mr. Ben!” Alexandra greeted with a smile at the sixty plus year old man, who occupied one stool at the counter and putting his hat down. She grabbed her pad and pen. “What’ll you have? Sally’s got some freshly baked rolls.”

“I’ll have two along with some scrambled eggs and bacon,” the older man replied.

“Coming right up,” she said warmly and then immediately poured him a cup of coffee. “Your coffee. Two lumps of sugar and no cream.”

“You’re the best,” he praised.

Alexandra was becoming busy in the next two hours, catering to the orders and ringing up the register. She wiped the countertop the minute she removed all used utensils, for new customers that will be sitting down. By the time, the peak schedule was over, Ashley came out from the back, wheeling herself.

“Morning!” She greeted her younger sister and then gently pushed her towards one vacant table. She then went back to the counter and prepared her coffee and placed two rolls on a plate along with some eggs, bacon, and slices of fruit. “Got your breakfast right here.”

“Have you eaten?” Ashley asked.

“Got some bites during the frenzy,” Alex replied as she sat down across from her and took a drink from her own cup. She looked up and her eyes narrowed. “Well, well. Looks like someone’s going to give me a lecture early in the morning.”

Malcolm frowned at her and sat on the chair beside Ashley.

“Which you rightfully deserve,” he snapped lightly. “Look, I know you can take care of yourself but you’re not in the Middle East anymore. Last night’s explosion is different.”

“You know, I still can’t get over the fact that you enlisted after you graduated from university,” he continued patiently. “Probably add the concern of your dad, who called me up last night to check on you. Have you not returned any of his calls?”

 “I blocked his number,” Alexandra simply stated. “Why? Is his conscience eating him up? It’s only right for him to feel guilty.”

“Alex -,” he started.

“He left us, Malcolm,” Alex interrupted gently but firmly. “That simply is it.”

She then stood up when the waitress served Malcolm’s breakfast and walked towards the front, watching the passersby walking, running, or jogging to get to their workplace. She turned when she heard the bell of the entrance door sound and saw two men going in and occupying one booth. She then proceeded to them with her pad and pen.

“What can I get you, gentlemen?” She asked patiently.

The two were looking at the menu before one of them looked up at her, staring at her uncouthly and let out a boorish grin.

“I wouldn’t mind having you, sweetie,” he leered.

Alex gave him a look of disgust and pocketed her pen. “Alright. Just let me know if you already made up your mind on what to order,” she said, calming her nerves. “I’ll just be at the counter, or I’ll have one waiter come back here in ten minutes.”

Before she could walk away, the man grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him.

“I’m not yet done with you,” he whispered to her ear.

“Hey!” Malcolm called out, standing up and his hand immediately went to his holster. “Let her go!”

“I’ll let her go once I’m done with her,” he responded.

Alex felt a gun pushed to her back and she tried to struggle to free herself from his grasp. Her face contorted in disgust when the man nuzzled her ear and bit her earlobe.

“Get your hands off me, you disgusting piece of sh1t!” She scoffed.

Before the man could reply, Alex used the few seconds of distraction to elbow him hardly to free herself. She heard the man grunt in response, and she turned around to hit him. She immediately took hold of his gun and before his companion could react, she was pointing the gun at them directly.

“Don’t move or I’ll shoot,” she threatened, cocking the gun.