Four

Lily's POV

"Here you go." I directed a small smile towards the lady before placing her order on her table.

Phew. This shit was hard.

It was quite a lot of hard work. Especially when you had to go from one table to another in just a second. Or sometimes, even in a mini second.

I pulled back a strand of my hair away from my face. I'm sure I looked like a total mess. I had told grandma about my job in the morning. Of course, she hadn't looked anywhere near pleased with it. But I had to do this. I needed to help grandpa.

What I had said was, "It's okay. I want to do it willingly, Grandma. By the way, these vacations are boring me anyways and I don't even find these books interesting nowadays."

She had nodded and accepted it all. I knew she wasn't believing me. Especially on the last part about books. She knew how much I adored my books given by Jade.

But what's the danger in lying? And lie is always for a reason.

I had decided to enjoy these vacations before University started. But then again, I didn't even know whether I'd be going there or not. I didn't trust the situations. I really didn't.

"Here, Lily. The order for table 3." I took the tray from Garret's hands as he pointed off to a table at the far corner. Just as I was done placing the food on the table, I heard somebody calling me back towards the counter.

I went ahead and looked at Steve.

"Oh, Steve. What's up?" I asked.

He picked up the syrup bottle which had fallen down and kept it back on the counter.

"Someone's here to meet you, in person." He finished the sentence with a slight bit of hesitation.

I looked at him in confusion. "Who is it?" I asked.

I couldn't think of a single person who's want to meet me right now. No one knew I worked here. Unless somebody asked Stella. That reminded me of last night. And what Stella had told me in that park.

Oh dear Jesus.

"Lily?" Steve spoke up, looking at me.

I looked back at him, feeling my palms sweat. "Can't it wait? You know I've got some orders here and there and it's getting really busy."

I really, really didn't want to see whoever that was. Part of me knew who it was. But the other part of me was blocking that thought out.

He shrugged. "I don't think he'd go without talking to you."

I stared at him as my suspicions slowly came to reality.

"It's Ace." He motioned Sally to take orders from the new customers.

Ace.

What was I supposed to do? There was no way that I would go and talk to him. No freaking way.

"You can tell him to go, can't you?" I asked with a frown.

I was scared. Not just a tad bit, but a lot. Yesterday, he was asking about me from my best friend. Today, he wanted to see me in person. This was definitely unusual. He could be a kidnapper, for lord's sake.

He wouldn't be.

I hoped Steve would understand but all he did was shake his head. "It would take a bit. Go. I'm not wasting my time persuading him. I'll still be calling you in the end."

I wished Stella was here. I could have texted her but it would've taken a lot of time. And that was what I didn't have.

I took a deep encouraging breath. "Where is he?" I asked as nervousness gnawed in my stomach.

Steve gestured over the area beside the entrance of the café, and walked over to a customer. I stood there for a minute, frozen in my position.

Either way, I had to talk to him. He couldn't just go around knowing my last name. I mean, who is he to know my last name?

I took off my apron and went outside. Sudden cold air hit me all of a sudden, a small shiver escaping my lips. At first, I thought he had probably left.

But then I noticed a figure leaning against the lamp post.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I went towards him. Either this was going to turn out bad. Or maybe, just maybe, I had it all wrong.

Soon enough, all the encouragement, I had managed to conjure up inside me, deflated when I saw him. Again.

Stella had been right. Everything about him was perfect. A strange feeling tugged in my stomach. As if I was supposed to know him.

Not again.

Though I was too late when he caught me staring at him. Again. I quickly looked away, feeling my face heat up.

Geez.

I shouldn't stare people. Especially people like him. It was a really bad habit. It made things more embarrassing.

I stopped in front of him, feeling fidgety all of a sudden. "Um, you wanted to talk?" I couldn't believe myself when my voice wavered.

I was just panicking. Why wouldn't I? I didn't trust this person who happened to be interfering in my life.

His lips curved up in a smirk. The nervous feeling slightly increased inside me and I took a slight step back.

"Yes, Lily." My breath hitched in my throat when I heard him say that.

"How do you know my name?" I frowned as I asked him that. This wasn't right.

I felt his eyes trail somewhere behind me. "I figured it out." He replied. "Not from your friend."

What?

I didn't know whether he said that just to rile up the anger inside me. What was the problem with him?

"What do you want from me?" I wanted this to end as quick as possible. I just wanted to go back and continue taking orders. That would be more welcomed than anything right now.

He ignored my gaze and straightened up from his leaning position. Then he took a step towards me. I froze at my spot, looking up at him.

"I've got a deal." He finally broke the silence.

Deal?

He wanted to make a deal with me?

"I can save you grandfather." He stated. I felt my eyes widening up at that.

And I would've nodded almost immediately if I wouldn't have thought about the consequences. Why in the world would he want to save my grandpa? Why in the world would he want to help me?

"Why would you do that?" I hesitated. It felt hard forming words. Especially after what he just said. I wanted to see grandpa fine again. I wanted my family to be happy again.

My breath stopped midway in my lungs when I saw him take another step towards me. "It's a deal, Lily. Deals always get something in return."

He wanted something from me? I had absolutely nothing to give him in return.

"I don't have anything to give you." I shook my head. This was all crazy. This guy had taken this all wrong.

I felt a chill run up my spine when he looked at me this time, right in the eyes.

"You." He spoke up. "I want you in return."

Me?

Nervousness was overwhelming me at this point.

What did he mean by that? I didn't even know him. He didn't even know me. "I-I don't understand." I whispered in shock.

Maybe I should go back before this turned even worse. Maybe I should really drop this. But for some reason, my legs were glued to the exact same spot.

He'd do more than help you.

I didn't even ask his help, for God's sake.

I was finding it hard to breathe all of a sudden. Thankfully, he took a step back.

Maybe the was just a joke.

"You'd just have to live with me." He added. "If you want your grandfather to be fine again."

I opened my mouth but shut it close when I heard him say that. Why was he doing this? That was my weak point. Seeing grandpa fine was what I wanted.

He wanted me to live with him and he'd save my grandpa. Grandpa would be fine again. To some extent, my head ached. This all was suffocating. His stare, the atmosphere, everything.

I gulped. It seemed like forever until I replied. "I-I can't do this."

"Your choice. I've stated my deal. Tell me if you change your mind." He glanced at me before turning around.

And just like that, he left.

At that moment, I really hoped to never see him again. Whatever this was, I knew nothing that was about to happen.