Chapter Five

Ariana

I can't believe it is Friday again. I have an afternoon shift at Taste's Home today and I still have one hour to waste. I slump against my couch and stare at my TV screen. I feel so damn bored. Perhaps I should go ahead and ask the manager to let me work full-time at the restaurant.

Whenever I am alone like this for some time, my thoughts always run to that man that kept me in his hotel suite when I was insanely drunk after the last day of college. His handsome face has been dominating my dreams ever since that day I drove off in his car from the hotel. His sexy captivating smile always seems to get grinning when I remember him. 

I know I sound paranoid because of my silly thoughts. That was just a mere chance that I got to meet him and he helped me out when I was in my most helpless state. I don't even think I will ever get a chance to meet him again. Hell! This is a Billionaire we are talking about and the chances of ever seeing him again.

How stupid does he think I am? Probably very stupid. If I was him, I would have come to conclusions about my behavior. I am not even sure if I want to meet him again. I don't know if I would be happy or terribly embarrassed.

Julie and Heather couldn't even believe what happened to me through Friday night. Julie got herself laid, not surprisingly, and Heather just went with a heavily drunk guy who slept through the entire night. They are used to that kind of life and they are comfortable with it. I am totally different from them. I am very reserved and prefer a committed relationship other than a one-night stand. I get up from the couch and start walking to work. The restaurant is not far from the apartment. It is just a walking distance.

"You are so early for work," Liza says when I enter the kitchen. She is still working her morning shift. She places some dirty plates in the sink and rushes to the refrigerator.

"I am too bored to stay at home on my own. I feel like I might do something stupid to myself if I stay alone in my apartment," I tell her and a smile spreads across her face.

"Is that a twisted way of begging me to come back?" she inquires with a raised eyebrow. I miss her as my roommate.

"I hate Mark for stealing my roommate! I will never forgive him!" I say and then put on a fake pout. Liza chuckles and then goes back to wiping her glasses. 

"I know you miss me a lot but you have to move on. I found someone better," she says with a nod.

"You cheat!" I feign outrage and hold my palm against my heart. We both burst into laughter, our voices filling the entire kitchen.

"I wish things could go back to the way they were before," I mumble.

"You can't turn back time, sweetheart! Just find yourself, someone to give your present some happiness," she tells me, her hands on her hips as if trying to give me a serious lecture. I wave her off and help her place the glasses on the trays.

"I am not ready for that kind of a rollercoaster. I am fine with my current status," I tell her and she eyes me with hooded eyes that say "you are lying to yourself, girl!"

"The thing is that you haven't met the one that will make you go against all your limits and decisions," she says. 

I just remain silent as she carries the tray out of the kitchen. Speaking of the 'someone', I think there is already someone that I would go against all my odds and limits for. Though my interest seems very much like a fantasy. That one is just a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I should just forget about him, and just be thankful for what he did for me.

He probably has some model or celebrity girlfriend. I did a thorough 'curious' research about Mr. Carter when I got back last week from the hotel. I didn't find any relationship record about him but he probably prefers to keep his personal life private. 

Oh, I am so silly! Why am I even thinking about the billionare's relationship status? I should be preparing myself for my shift. This is my reality and I should try hard to keep my mind present right here. I get to the changing room and put on my apron. I look at myself in the mirror and give my reflection a small smile to cheer myself up for my shift. 

It is almost seven o'clock in the evening and my shift is almost over. I don't know if I should look forward to going home and retiring to my couch to watch TV. I know my weekend is going to be super boring but I wouldn't rather sleep throughout than go through the entire experience of last Friday night, maybe just to see Mr. Carter's face again. 

Mr. Carter! He is here, at Taste's Home? 

My jaw literally drops to the floor when I spot him walking into the restaurant with a leopard's grace. He is in a black business suit, of course. And the way he looks around the building, like is determined to find something... What is he doing here? There are definitely hundreds of fancy restaurants in the area other than Taste's Home. 

When he turns to look in my direction, I dash into the kitchen. I hope he didn't see me. I want to look at him but I don't want him to see me. Perhaps if we had met in any other way other than what it was, maybe I would be having more confidence to see him right now.

"What's happened, Ari? You look like you have seen a ghost!" Liza inquires from me when I run into her on my way to find a hideout. I think he won't be able to see me now. I don't know why but I don't feel safe being here it is almost closing time so it wouldn't make sense if I run away from work now.

"No, it's nothing. I just want to drink some water," I respond with a sarcastic smile. I squeeze my way past her and open the refrigerator. Luckily, Liza doesn't press the matter. She continues doing her job. She is doing the night shift with Martha though we are closing early today. 

I take in a deep breath instead because I don't feel in the mood of swallowing water. Okay, Liam Carter is here, at Taste's Home, for a mere meal. That's just it! Why am I freaking out? I am just overreacting! Though I am shocked to see him this soon. I didn't expect to see him again, at least not this soon. 

When I think that I am safe in the kitchen, Mr. Hendricks enters with a smug look on his face. He eyes me with a suspicious look. Mr. Hendricks is the manager of this restaurant and he hardly ever wears such weird looks on his face. He is an old man, in his mid-fifties. Something is up and I am starting to think that it is about Mr. Carter's sudden show up here. It is almost closing time and I just want to run home! 

"Martha and Liza are quite busy attending to customers out there and we have a very special guest. We hardly ever have the pleasure to serve such important guests so please don't blow this for me, Aria. Go out there and take his order. He is on table number nine," he tells me, punctuating every word carefully to make sure that I have understood what he just said. I nod but my heart is hammering in my chest. Please don't be Mr. Carter, I pray in my head as I start to walk out of the kitchen.

"Wait!" Mr. Hendricks stops me before I disappear. I turn and look at him.

"Give him the best that we have," he tells me and I nod. This guest must be so important to Mr. Hendricks so I shouldn't ruin this for him. It doesn't matter if it is Mr. Carter or someone else. They are all customers and I shouldn't act paranoid. It's not like something happened between us. I just spent a night, half-conscious, in his hotel suite.

There are hardly any customers in the restaurant. Only a couple in the cashier's reception and s woman with a small boy on one table but they seem to be done. The other customer is Mr. Carter, of course, and his gaze falls on me the moment I notice him. I take in a deep breath and walk to table number nine, where he is.