Chapter 3

Angela:

I had barely stepped behind the counter when Elena caught my arm and pulled me aside. “Angela, are you trying to get yourself fired?”

I looked down at her hand around my wrist, then back at her. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t play games with me. I’ve been watching you argue with that man for almost an hour. Why do you keep returning to his table when you know he’s already irritated?” She snapped.

I glanced back. The stranger was still staring at his water as if it had offended him. No customer had tested my patience quite like this.

“He keeps demanding more alcohol. What am I supposed to do? Serve him until he falls off his chair?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, but you could try being polite.” She said, looking me in the eye.

“I was polite.” Elena gave me a look, and I sighed. “All right, maybe not as polite as I could have been. He wasn’t exactly making it easy.”

“That isn’t the point. Some customers aren’t worth arguing with, and you need this job too much to risk losing it because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”

She was right. This job was my only reliable income, and I barely covered rent. Losing it over a stranger would be stupid.

“I know,” I muttered, looking at him.

“Then leave him alone. Whatever happened before he came here isn't your responsibility.” He finally sipped the water. At least he'd listened to one thing I'd said. Elena lowered her voice. “There's something else. A man came asking for you. I said you were busy, but he insisted on seeing you.”

“What did he look like?” I asked, my heart racing as I forced myself to stay calm.

“Tall, dark hair, gray jacket. He didn’t give me his name, but he said you’d know who he was.”

I closed my eyes. It had to be Darren, the last person I wanted to see. “Where is he?”

“He said he’d wait out back.” Since leaving him, I'd ignored his calls and messages from unfamiliar numbers. I'd told him we weren't getting back together, but he wouldn't listen. “Is everything all right?”

“Of course,” I lied. “It's Darren.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Your ex?” I nodded, and she frowned. “I thought you weren't speaking to him anymore.”

“I’m not.”

“Then what is he doing here?”

“I wished I knew.” I said, wrapping my arm around myself. Darren never accepted answers he disliked. Even small disagreements lasted hours until I admitted he was right.

I'd excused his questions about where I was, his dislike of my friends, and his constant calls as concern. Eventually, I understood he wanted control, not love.

“I’ll speak to him,” I said. “I don’t want him coming inside… you know, the last thing that I am going to need is for my personal life to mix up with my work life.”

Elena frowned.  “You don’t have to speak to him simply because he showed up.”

If I ignored him, he'd return tomorrow. “I'll tell him to leave me alone.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No. You still have tables to clear, and I don’t want you involved.” I said, forcing a smile on my face. Elena studied my expression for a moment before she nodded.

“All right, but don’t stay out there too long.”

“I won’t.”

I was heading toward the rear entrance when the stranger called, “Angela!” He'd raised his hand. I considered pretending I hadn't heard.

“I swear, if he asks for another whiskey, I’m going to lose my mind.” I muttered.

“Just be polite,” Elena reminded me.

“I’ll try.”

I returned with my tray. His phone lay facedown beside the empty glass.

“Well,” I said, glancing at it, “at least we finally agreed on something.” He rolled his eyes as if my presence alone was an inconvenience to him, making me give him a sarcastic smile. “Was there something you needed?”

“My bill.” Relieved he was leaving, I fetched the bill. He barely glanced at it before putting several notes on the table. “Keep the change.”

I stared at the money. “Sir, this is too much.”

“Did I ask?” He asked, glaring at me.

He looked ready to argue if I said another word, and I was too tired to bother. “Fine.”

He stood, and I stepped aside. Up close, his height was impossible to ignore. Despite the alcohol, he seemed steady as he pocketed his phone and wallet.

“Angela.” I held back a sigh as he looked at me. “A word of advice, you should learn to mind your own business.”

“And you should learn how to say thank you.” I said, glaring at him.

His eyebrows drew together. “For what?”

“For making sure you didn’t drink yourself unconscious.”

He gave me a long look before releasing a humorless laugh. “You have a very high opinion of yourself.”

“And you have a very low opinion of everyone else.”

His expression hardened, but instead of arguing, he moved past me. He left without looking back. Collecting his glasses, I noticed a black velvet box beside the receipt.

Curiosity made me open it. “Oh, my God.” A diamond ring sat inside, a large stone surrounded by smaller diamonds along the band. It must have cost a fortune.

“Sir!” I hurried outside, nearly colliding with a customer. In the cool air, I spotted him walking toward a dark vehicle down the road.

“You forgot something! Sir!” He didn’t bother turning around to face me. And for a second, I debated whether or not chasing him was going to be a good idea.

I stared at the box for a second, and I knew that it looked like an engagement ring. Perhaps someone had rejected him, explaining the drinking and his mood. After that evening, I couldn't imagine marrying him myself.

I pocketed the box for safekeeping until I could return it. Remembering Darren, my stomach tightened.

I wanted Elena to tell him I'd gone home, but one excuse wouldn't stop him returning. Taking a breath, I headed behind the building.

The alley was quiet. Light from the back door reached the dumpsters, leaving the rest in shadow. Tonight, the familiar passage felt different.

“Darren?” No one answered. I looked toward the end of the alley, beginning to hope he'd left, until I heard footsteps behind me.

“Angela.” I turned. Darren stood nearby, hands in his jacket pockets, wearing the familiar expression that meant he was hiding his anger. “There you are.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “You know that you shouldn’t have come here.”

His smile faded. “Excuse me?”

“I told you I don’t want to see you anymore. You can’t show up at my workplace whenever you feel like it.” I said, looking him in the eye, forcing the last bit of strength that I had.

He gave a quiet laugh. I knew that sound well enough to wish I'd stayed inside. “Still giving orders, I see.” He stepped closer. “Do you know how long I’ve been trying to contact you?”

“Darren, please.”

“No. Look at me.” I reluctantly met his eyes.

“Do you know how embarrassing this is? You ignore my calls, and people keep asking where my girlfriend is.”

“I’m not your girlfriend anymore.” I snapped.

His jaw tightened. “What did you say?”

“We broke up, Darren. I wasn't happy, and I'm not coming back. You need to accept that.” I said, keeping my eyes on him.

“Accept it?” He moved closer. “You think you can decide we’re finished after everything I’ve done for you?”

“I already did.” I tried to pass him, but he moved into my way.

“I’m not finished talking.”

“Then call me tomorrow.”

“You don’t answer my calls.”

“Because I don't want to talk to you!” He went still. I knew that look; whatever he did next, he'd blame me. “Just go home, and leave me alone.”

He smiled again, but I couldn't relax. “You think you're better than me now, don't you? You've got a job and your own place, so you don't need me.”

“That isn’t what this is about.”

“Is there someone else?” He asked, his eyes darkening. “Is there another man. Is that why you’ve been ignoring me?”

“No.” I said, my voice trembling.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying.” I said, hating how my voice sounded weak for a moment.

“Then why won’t you come home?”

I was tired of fearing him, apologizing for nothing, and using good moments to excuse the bad. With him so close, I couldn't say any of it.

“I want to be left alone.”

For a moment, his expression softened, and I almost thought he'd listened. Then he lunged, catching me by the throat and shoving me against the brick wall. Pain shot through my shoulders as I grabbed his wrist and tried to pull his hand away.

“Darren!” His grip tightened, cutting off my breath. I clawed at his arm, trying to make him let go, but he only leaned closer until his face was inches from mine.

“Tell me something, Angela,” he whispered. “Did you really believe it would be that easy to get away from me?”