"Lucas Grayson?"
Ashley nodded. She wasn't looking at me but at the giant mole on a man's head that just walked by. I snorted. The name Lucas does ring a bell in my head but I can't put my finger on it.
"Heard he bought this place like two weeks ago" Ashley took my hand and led me behind the bar stand. I wasn't ready to start working today. I'm not even sure how to mix anything. I only know how to make margaritas. And that's thanks to Ashley.
"So have you seen the boss?" I asked Ashley.
"Nope. Hardly comes here. I heard from Griffin that he's busy running his other businesses"
"Wow. Sounds like a busy guy" I cooed. A man came up to the bar and ordered a blue lagoon.
"Yeah. He is" Ashley filled a glass with ice, then added Smirnoff, vodka and lemonade together before mixing it. "Heard he's a cop too" I froze at that. I don't think it's a great idea to be working at a cops bar. What if I get caught. I could be thrown back in jail.
"A cop, wow. Just what I needed" I replied with full sarcasm. Ashley smirked.
"Don't worry. Griffin says he doesn't wear uniform"
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" I asked Ashley. She stopped stirring the drink and glared at me. Wearing uniform is something but not wearing is another thing. He's like a boss cop or holds some rank.
Which means I'm totally screwed if I get caught. I frowned, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
"Guess I never thought of that" Ashley shrugged.
The greasy man by the bar knocked on the table twice. "You both quit your yapping and get me my drink" he growled.
"Coming right up" Ashley added a blue curaçao liqueur and then garnished it with lemon before pushing the drink to the man. He snorted and stormed off but still left a huge amount of tip. Nice guy!
"It's alright if he doesn't visit the bar often" I said. "I'll probably never meet him". Ashley agreed with a nod. This should be good, or am I just consoling myself incase I get caught?
°°°°°
Homeless, broke and tired, I decided to crash at Ashley's place. I didn't really have a choice. I can't even access my bank account or I'll be caught. I took off my shoes and crept unto the sofa.. all I did today was watch Ashley mix drink. Not bad for my first day at work. I wonder what I'll do when we get different shifts.
Ashley came into the room and sat down. She had a bottle of tequila in her hand and I rolled my eyes.
"You should learn to take a break sometimes" I tell her.
"Bah! I'm good" she chimed.
I rolled to my back so I was now staring at the ceiling. My mind reeled with many things. Autumn mostly. I wonder what she's doing now. I stared at the wall clock. By this time, we used to eat cookies and read stories.
Most times, Ethan would play the piano and I'll sing nursery rhymes while Autumn played around with Miss Ponytail. I wonder if she still has that doll.
I sighed. We used to be a happy family. Until death had to knock on Ethan's doorstep. Who would've even thought of harming him?. He was a gentle soul.
"Are you asleep?" Ashleys voice cracked through the silence in the room.
"I can't even sleep" I murmured
"Good. me too. " there was a rustling sound and in seconds, Ashley was sitting on the floor next to the sofa. "Tell me what prison life was like.?"
"Why? Are you hoping you'll go there soon?" I smiled.
"Maybe"
We both chuckled.
"Well, it wasn't all pleasant. The days were boring and long. The nights were cold and lonely. I usually just stayed up and imagined what Autumn was doing" a tear rolled down my cheek.
"And most night, I plotted my escape. I needed to get out of there. I couldn't feel happy with myself knowing Ethans murderer was walking about freely"
"Like a ghost walker" Ashley said lightening up the mood. I smiled.
"I did make a friend. Saddie. She was like an older sister to me"
The room was silent for sometime. The sounds of crickets outside, was overheard from the window. It brought back memories of me in prison. Crickets were a nuisance but I got used to it and somehow, it consoled me.
"Elaine....I think it's time we start plotting how to get Autumn" Ashley said.
"We?"
She sat up and stared at me. "You really didn't think I'll let you do this on your own did you??"
"Oh Ash" I threw my arms round her neck. Hugging her tight. "Thank you"
"Don't thank me now. When everything's over, then thank me" she smiled and I nodded.
"Let's just rest. I'm too tired to plot"
Ashley chuckled. "You sounded like a villain just now" she said and I grinned.
°°°°°°
Ashley came into the kitchen holding newspapers. "We should get you an ID card"
"You think?"
"Yeah. A fake one though."
I poured galangal tea into two mugs and pushed one to Ashley.
"Seattle is a boring place. All they ever talk about on the papers are always about business" Ashley snorted. "Your case thrilled the whole of Seattle then" Ashley giggled. I threw a biscuit at her.
"Not funny"
"It is"
"No it's not" I picked up the Newspaper and glared at it. The name Rivera caught my attention and I put my mug down
"See anything that interests you?"Ashley asked.
"Not really" I flipped the paper to the headlines.
The Rivera empire goes through an undefying change. I snorted.
Rivera president, Cooper Rivera hosting the biggest charity event of the century.
"Come see this!" I called to Ashley. She was right behind me in no time. She gasped when she saw the headline.
"Check the date of the event"
I read through the lines quickly until I caught the date.
"23rd October. That's like in two weeks time" I smiled. This could be my ticket to seeing Autumn again.
"Your not planning to walk in there like you own the place, are you?"Ashley frowned.
"They won't recognise me anyway"
"Don't count on that sweetheart. Those people are like vultures" Ashley said and I laughed. She hasn't even met Mrs Rivera. She's like the meanest creature that ever walked this planet.
"Hey look" Ashley pointed to a family photo of the Rivera family just below the headlines. My heart ached when I spotted a seven years old girl in a sea blue gown. She was holding her Nannas hand and smiling at the camera.
My baby, Autumn!.
The picture turned translucent and I realised my tears was the reason. I dabbed at it with a clean clothe and then stared at her again. My God!. She's grown so big. A wide grin spread all over my face as I kept looking at her. Her eyes were still marine blue and even brighter. Her dark hair was cut into bangs. And her smile,...like her dad."That's your girl" Ashley tapped my shoulder and i nodded proudly."I've got to see her, Ash. Soon. Real soon""I know but you won't break the ice to her until everything is over" Ashley poured more tea for herself. She really needs it, After she drank so much last night."I know that" I rubbed my chin devising a way but nothing seemed to come to my mind."Maybe we should just head to work for now" Ashley poured her remaining tea into the sink and then walked out of the kitchen. I stared at the picture again and then kissed my baby before putting it down and goin
I blinked severally before gaining my senses back. What do I tell him. I was never really good at lying. I need Ash on this one. I looked over to her stand and she was really busy. I sighed rubbing my fingers against my temple.Lucky for me, a lady walked up and requested margarita so I focused on making her drink, giving me more time to come up with something.Hunter sat there the whole time and I wished he'd just go. I served the margarita andlooked at him. He was still waiting for my answer. I shook my head."It's complicated" I poured Ice cubes into several glasses."I'm a good listener""I'd rather not" I took out napkins and started wiping the already clean cold counter."Does it have to do with your past?" He asked and I stood still for a moment. Seriously, who is this man? I narrowed my eyes at him but he wasn't evading my glare."Why do you even want
I ran out of the bar for a reason I'm not sure of. I don't even have a reason. Only that I need to get the hell away from that bar. What Hunter said :don't I miss my daughter?Of course I miss her. I miss her every second of my life. Every minute I'm not mixing a drink, my mind wanders off to her and I sit in the loneliness but noisiness of the bar and sink my teeth into my wrist to stop myself from crying."Tiffany!" Hunter called behind me. I didn't even listen, I just kept walking until he grabbed my hand. "Why'd you run off like that?""Why? Why?...Hunter you just asked me about my daughter and I should be calm?""So you do have a daughter" he grinned. I felt like punching his nose but that would ruin his face. I won't like to see him battered up so I refrained from throwing punches."Yes, I have a daughter. And my situation doesn't concern you" I said and started walking away
I walked in through the door and into Ash's apartment. I knew she was in the kitchen cause I heard the sound of the cooker go on."Ash!""In here!" She called right back so I hurried to meet her. I can't wait to tell her how my day unfolded. The talk with Hunter, and the plan.I sat on a stool by the counter and passed myself an apple from the fruit bowl. "You got off work early" Ash said as she sprinkled a little oil in the pan just to grease it up."Yeah...the girl taking the shift from me came earlier" I took a large bite from the Apple."So what's up?""Hunter knows I'm Elaine"I wish I hadn't said that with her standing next to the cooker. She turned around quickly and that made her tip the pan off her hand and to the floor. I bit on my bottom lip."Say again!" She half yell.I repeated myself the same
I didn't expect Hunter to come in early the next day but he did. Ash was right. He does seem to care about me in a special kind of way. One I'm not ready to look into or discover why?I went down the steps slowly pulling my little box of cloth that Ash graced me with. I would rather not wear prison clothe everywhere. Hunter appeared at the bottom of the steps and helped me with the box."Is this all?" He asked."Yep! Don't got much" I sighed"Then we'll have to go shopping" Hunter said and walked away quickly so I didn't have time to object. I'm still going to anyway. He can't just take me shopping like that. This is all an act. Not some romance prodigy.Ash was seating by the counter having coffee. I'm surprised to see she's not holding a bottle of wine. What's up with her?."Hey girl" I dropped my purse on the counter and poured me my own coffee. Black coffee? Ash is
I got dressed in a floral free gown. The length was a bit over my knee but nice and still decent. At least the gown didn't have a low cut or anything. I'm surprised Ash even has a floral gown.I packed my hair up in one breezy ponytail and decended downstairs. The sweet smell of food led me all the way to the kitchen and I stopped in my tracks when I saw Hunter cooking. He even had on an apron. I chuckled."So you cook?" I came and sat by the counter looking at the already made dishes on the table. Pastrami on Rye, black and white cookies, , Bagel and cream cheese."Yeah" he replied and placed a plate of creamed cheese in front of me. I inhaled the sweet aroma that suddenly made my tummy growl. "You better take care of that" Hunter grinned.I served myself some Pastrami and then stuffed my mouth. I won't deny, this is good food. At Ash's place, sphagetti and meatballs were the common.
I stared between Hunt and Nicole,waiting for Hunter to correct her but he didn't. He only grinned and stretched his hands out to her. We have a lot to talk about."You know her honey?" I ask with a side grin and clenched teeth."Nicole is a good friend" he smiled at the blonde and I blinked. Is this a game? How did he know Nicole and they seem to be so much good friends.A plump lady came out from the Rivera mansion with a worried expression on her face."Ma'am....Autumn won't have lunch" she said with full concern. I held my hands up to say something but Hunt pulled me away."See you around" he told Nicole before leading us back into the mansion. I found the nearest chair and sat down burying my face in my palms."Tiff. Are you alright?" Hunter asked kneeling in front of me."Why call me Tiff when you know who I am?"He smiled. "I guess I
The fair bob lady in front of me kept trying to steal glances at Hunter. When she tried looking at our direction again, I scowled at her and she cleared her throat looking away.We both stepped into Kennedy & Co boutique. The lady by the counter smiled at us and did a full glare at Hunter. Can I ever stop calling him that? His name is Lucas.I glared at him and he wasn't even noticing all the attention seekers around him. His right hand was tangled with mine while the other punched into his phone. He's here with me beat that.... i grinned stupidly to myself."We're here" he suddenly announced beside me.Once more, we're greeted with a fair blonde but this time, Lucas does seem to know her. He hugged her, kissing both her cheeks."Content de te re voir, Lucas" she grinned at him. While I never paid much attention during french class, now i wanted to gnaw my eyes out fo