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 and looked 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 to know" I scowl.
"I have a natural curiosity" he smiled
"Your a cop or what?" I asked while chuckling but he just shrugged. Is he?. Ok now I'm getting scared. Finally, Ash came over.
"Time to get off work" she said flatly. She wrapped her arms round my shoulder. I gathered my purse quickly before leaving the bar with Ash. Hunter followed behind.
"Guess our conversation is over" I smiled nervously. He smiled and pinned a misplaced hair behind my ear.
"See you around" he said before strolling away, hands in his pocket.
"That guy is weird" I told Ash and she smiled.
"Typical Hunter"
°°°°°°
I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do but staring at my mom's number, I didn't realise I was crying , until my hand got wet. Should I call her? Would she freak out?! Of course she'll freak out. She gets a phone call from her supposed to be dead daughter saying she's still alive.
Even if I did call her, I know she'd be happy but right after the freaking out part. Also, calling her might be risky. What if I get her in trouble or something.
What if I call her now and in the process of this mission, I get caught and thrown back in prison . That'll break her heat. The second time.
I shook my head and tucked my phone into my back pocket before wiping the tears that stained my cheek. This is hard. All of these is just too much for me. I don't know what to do anymore.
I dabbed at my eyes continuously to stop the tears from coming down. It'd be weird for customers to see me crying in broad daylight. While others would ask me what's wrong? Some would think I'm crazy. And that's bad business.
Hunter came up to the counter and I turned to him
"Hope I didn't interrupt anything" he said grabbing himself a stool.
I smiled shaking my head. "Nope. Nothing at all" I shoved my purse away and directed my attention to him. "What can I get you? The usual?" I asked with a smile.
It's been two weeks since the question about why I needed a fake ID. I'm glad I'm passed answering that. Hunter came in usually and never mentioned it again. I've also gotten to know him and think he's a really friendly and funny person. When he's around, we talk about the wooden carvings on the walls of the bar plus the weird paintings which reminds me of slavery.
"Yes please. The usual". I don't know why he likes margarita so much but he does. I mixed tequila, orange juice and lime liqueur before garnishing the glass with lime.
"Here. Just how you like it" I placed the glass in front of him.
"Thanks"
I watched him sip on his drink until it was halfway full. He placed the glass down and looked at the clock above me. I rested my hand against the counter. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What can I do you for?"
"Um...if you have someone you haven't really seen in a long time and the person probably thinks your dead, would you call?" I asked . He smiled as if acquired a new knowledge.
"Well it depends on the person"
"Let's say.... family" I tilted my head to the side waiting for his opinion. He rubbed his chin looking thoughtful.
"I'll call for sure." Hunter said and gulped the remains of his drink before set the glass down.
"Even if it's dangerous?"
He nodded with a really creepy smile so i dismiss the topic and went back to mixing drinks.
"Who do you miss?" Hunter ask.
Caught between telling him the truth and lying, I rubbed my wrist not sure what to do.
"I don't want to talk about it" I finally say.
"Your the one who brought it up" he moved his hands to the counter tapping away slowly. I focused on his fingers. He has a point. I'm the one who asked.
"My mom" I sighed.
"Then you should call her" he said gently with a smile. "It's the best thing to do" I wondered why he hasn't asked me yet, why my mother would think I'm dead! Maybe it hasn't registered yet.
"Thanks Hunt"
"Hunt?" He laughed. "That's new"
"I know " I said grinning. "It's way shorter and nice"
He slid his glass to me."another margarita". I mixed him yet another of his favorite drink and gave it to him. He muttered a thank you and gulped the whole thing.
He placed the cup down and looked into my eyes. "Don't you miss your daughter?" He ask and I froze. Like one of the ice cubes seating in each glass lined up. I sure look pale right now. How does he know I have a daughter? Has he been stalking me? Or did Ash mention something? What else does he know? I frowned at him before walking out of the bar.
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
Staring at the woman in the mirror was just as inspirational as any motivation I could ever need. Myself. The Cocktail dress I and Jacq finally picked out was as dashing as ever on me. On the hanger it looked pretty and all but wearing it now, I feel powerful. Intimidating.It was a red Sheath/ column off-the shoulder Assymetrical cocktail dress, with sequins. Jacq finalised the entire dress with a pearl earring and diamond necklace."Make sure to not loose this" she said pointing to my neck. I stared at the necklace through the mirror as it shone like thousands of diamonds. It wasn't huge or anything but looked simple and intimidating as ever."Why? Has he got his family fortune on it" I said with a grin but Jacq shook her head. "So what?"She pushed my cheek gently to the side applying a little rosy blush to my cheek making me look plush."You wanna know what's on your neck?"she asked st
My palms felt sweaty and often times, I'd touched the diamond on my neck so the cold feeling of it soothed me. Hunter placed his warm hands on my cold ones."You'll be fine. I've got you" he said with a smile but that didn't stop the nervousness that still ran down my spine."Tell me... how's it going to be like?" I asked him and he looked at me in disbelief and a raised brow."Ethan never took you to charity balls?" He asked and I was shocked to notice how freely he'd mentioned Ethan's name. I don't think I've heard anyone say his name for a while now. Myself included. And Lucas just said it like it was an easy thing to do and like he knew him."Only once and that was before we had Autumn. After then, I just enjoyed staying home with her." I said and smiled in the end. "He never liked the events anyway""Ethan?" Hunt asked and I nodded. God! I can't even pronounce his na