chapter 6

Josie followed the waitress until she got to an alley. She hid beside a building, she could see the waitress discussing something with the reporter but it was hard to make out What they were saying.

Jake stood in front of the restaurant waiting for her, but when she didn't show up after 10 minutes, he became worried. He traced where she went through but got lost on the way. Jake called Josie but she wasn't picking up.

Josie while hiding behind a building to avoid being seen by the waitress and the reporter was still trying to hear what they were saying without any luck. She was contemplating going closer but then her phone rang. She immediately cut the call, as it attracted the attention of the waitress and the reporter. They immediately stopped talking as they sensed someone might be watching them. They both look to see if someone was really watching them but as they didn't see anyone, they continued talking.

Josie was glad she wasn't caught, she needed to hear what they were saying so bad as the restaurant's faith depended on it.

She texted Jake to tell him where she was.

"Please don't do anything rash" was Jake's reply.

Josie left her position while trying to avoid being see by them. Now she was closer and could make out a few words.

"Why did you make it blow up so much, I didn't want it to get to this extent" the waitress said.

"I had no choice, my boss at the office also got instructions to tarnish the restaurant's image" the reporter replied.

"What! but why? the waitress said.

"I have no idea who threatened him, I just had to do as I was told including what you told me to do" the reporter replied.

Josie was still listening to their conversation when Jake showed up, he was trying to ask her why she was hiding but Josie pulled him back and shoved him beside her to hide him from them.

"Why are we hiding?" Jake asked Josie.

"Those two are up to something, and it's not good" Josie replied in a hushed tone.

"Josie, I told you I don't care what they do, as long as I am innocent of any accusations, I believe no one can pull the restaurant down so easily.

"Oh my naive Jake,I bet you don't know how the World works this days. You have to pull the bull by the horn when someone accuses you of something you didn't do

We need evidence to prove someone is try to sabotage the restaurant and I won't rest until we find it"

Jake was surprised to see this side of Josie. The Josie he knew when they were in high school wasn't the Josie he is looking at right now. This Josie is so fierce and confident, he liked it.

Josie made sure Jake wasn't going to do anything to make them notice they were hiding, she made sure he was behind. They both heard the reporter and the waitress talking in a hushed voice and Josie could no longer hear a word. She looked fraustrated and Jake kept watching her.

"I think we should leave now" Jake said.

Josie didn't want to leave now, she needed to see and hear the last of what they were discussing. Josie reluctantly agreed to leave with Jake and immediately they turned, Josie heard the waitress's voice.

"You need to make sure no one finds out about this. You need to make sure no one, I mean no one gets to find out about this. I am going to be in big trouble if my boss or his girlfriend finds out. I can't loose my job. If anyone gets to find out that I was involved, it could be the end of me. I don't think I want to experience something like that"

"Relax, they won't find out. Besides, I see no reason why we have to hide. We are both adults and not kids" the reporter replied.

"We really need to hide. If anyone sees both of us together, it could arouse suspicions and then someone puts one or two together and they will know something is up with us" The waitress said, with a shaky voice.

Josie quickly bent down and turned to see what was going on as they suddenly became quiet. She saw the reporter and the waitress kissing. Josie gasped, covering her mouth with both hands to stop her from making a noise. She looked at Jake and he wasn't bothered.

In a quiet voice, Josie asked Jake " Why are you not fazed at all! Don't you think they are both in bed, trying to make the restaurant go under? .

"Jo, I know you want to protect the restaurant so bad, but this is no way to go about it. You are putting yourself in danger by coming here alone. What if something happens to you here? What am I going to do?

Josie looked at Jake keenly.

"Jo? did you just call me Jo? but you have never called me that before" Josie said.

"That's not important right now. I want you to be safe at all times. I don't want you to keep putting yourself in danger for my sake. I don't know what I would do with myself if anything happened to you. You are everything to me baby"

"Okay fine. I know you are saying all this now to try and get me to leave here, but hold on, let me look at them one more time"

Josie looked to see the reporter and the waitress were gone.

"Oh no! they are gone!

Jake didn't say a word.

"You saw them leave right? You didn't want me to know they were leaving? Josie asked Jake.

"Baby, they are not important to me, you are"

Josie got upset with Jake for not telling him that the reporter and the waitress were leaving when he was facing them. She tried to leave but Jake pulled her back.

"What is it Jo? why are you upset"

Josie looked like she was holding back, but then decided to say what was on her mind.

"Why do I get the feeling that you don't want me to pursue this thing? I can find out the reason why they are trying to make the restaurant fail!

Jake held Josie's hands.

"I have told you countless times Jo, the restaurant is going to be fine. My hands are clean. I didn't do what they accused me of doing, so why not have faith that people will later find out it wasn't true" Jake said.

"That's not how the world works. My love, sometimes you need to find out things by yourself. The restaurant is hanging on a loose thread and I can't afford to let it go since I know I can do something about it"

Josie and Jake were about to leave when someone appeared before them and Josie froze .