CHAPTER TWO

NICK WALKER ©

I slowly dropped my hands, slow and awkward, earning laughter and looks from the others. He looked at me exactly the way he did yesterday. Not angry. Not shocked. Just… blank. Like he has not seen someone familiar.

“The nerd is shocked he has seen someone breathtaking.“ I heard someone say and laughter rippled again.

“Nerd” was what they mostly called me in college.

I watched the lecturer call attendance, he wore a pair of glasses and I could still recognize him.

“I'm Enzo Grayson.“ He finally said, adjusting his glasses. His voice was low, rough, and steady. “Professor Grayson.“ He added. I didn't get to hear his voice last night.

“Oh my God!“ Avery mouthed as she tapped my arm. “He's so hot and he has an attractive voice.“ She whispered to me.

I swallowed hard. Attractive voice? Maybe. But if she had seen him wielding a knife to another man’s throat last night, she’d never be saying that.

We left for the lawn after ending classes for the day.

“Argh! I’m so tired,” she groaned, collapsing onto the grass. “Why can’t we get at least one weekday off?”

“I also wish.” I said, sitting beside her. “Why's Mira happily expecting you to come over today?. I asked.

“Oh.“ Her face brightened. “She told me she has a big story to share about something that happened in school. I can't wait to hear from her.“ She giggled.

Avery stayed with Mira whenever I worked late regardless of the shabby place we stayed unlike hers. Avery is almost like an older sister to Mira though both of them bicker playfully between themselves.

I chuckled as I thought of Mira's words this morning.

“Mira thinks you like me.“ I said and we both burst into laughter. Avery’s laughter burst so loud than mine before turning to me. “Are you serious?”

“Well, we hang out all the time. It’s not her fault she thinks that way. But just so you know, if you ever get a girlfriend and don’t tell me, our friendship is over.“ She warned.

“You too,” I shot back, smirking.

“Of course, when I get a man like Professor Grayson to be mine, you'll be the first to know.“ She smiled to herself as she clasped her hands together. I was so sure she was imagining a fake scenario with that professor.

“What if Professor Grayson is not who you think he is?“ I asked, more like spill the question, before I could get myself.

She raised a brow. “What’s that supposed to mean? Wait, speak of the devil.”

We both watched as he passed by, coffee in hand, dressed in a fitted blazer and tailored pants. Every outfit screamed expensive. The girls stared. A couple of guys looked too and he didn’t acknowledge a single one.

Avery sighed dreamily as Grayson walked out of sight. “You were saying?”

I turned my book open on my lap. “Nothing. Forget it. Let’s study.”

“Study?“ She groaned like I’d asked her to lift a truck.

∆∆

~ FIVE STAR CLUB AND BAR ~

At nightfall, I watched as police moved in and out the club, asking people questions before each customer entered. My stomach sank.

I managed to get in and quickly changed to my work outfit and flagged down a coworker.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“You don’t know?” His voice trembled. “They found a dead body in Room 19.”

My blood froze. Room 19.

The same room I served last night. The same room where Professor Grayson held that knife.

I nodded nervously as my chest tightened. My hands sweated under the thin gloves.

I began to panic as I thought about it. Could Professor Grayson be the killer?

Not long after, I overheard an officer leaving my boss’s office. “That will be all. Thank you for your time. We’ll continue interrogations outside.”

Panic clawed through me. What if they questioned me? What if they found out I’d been in that room?

Many questions ran through my mind as I stood on a spot nervously.

A few minutes later, Mr. Kyle, the owner, gathered all the workers. His face was cold.

“I’m sure you’ve heard. A man died here last night,” he said.

“This place will be investigated, and some of you will be interrogated. But listen to me clearly, whether you saw something or not, you don’t speak a word to the cops. Do I make myself clear?”

He left before we could answer.

I stood frozen. I’d seen everything. And now, Room 19 was linked to murder. The truth was clawing at my throat. I needed to tell Mr Kyle what I had seen last night.

I hesitated, then forced myself toward his office. If anyone needed to know, it was him.

“Nick,” Mr. Kyle said when I was given the permit to enter, his bodyguard looming at the door. “What brings you here?”

“I… I thought you should know,” I stammered. I panicked so hard I thought I’d faint. “Last night, I delivered drinks to Room 19. I walked in on something… unsettling.”

His gaze sharpened. “Go on.”

I told him everything,how I saw professor Grayson holding a knife to another's throat, how the attacker was my Italian professor, and how I fled. My voice shook the whole time.

“I want to remain anonymous,” I quickly added. “If this goes to the police, I don’t want my name tied to it.“ I added and leveled down my head.

Mr. Kyle leaned back in his chair and studied me for a while. “Then you’ll have to keep this information anonymous to yourself as well.”

I looked up and blinked. “What?”

“You heard me, Nick. Forget it ever happened.” He turned back to the files on his desk as if I hadn’t spoken at all.

My throat dried. Somehow, he already knew about this.

I was escorted outside as my heart was hammering, my head filled with questions.

I returned back to my station as I tried to follow my daily routine across the counter. But when the door opened again, my blood turned to ice.

It was him.

Enzo Grayson walked into the bar with calmness and without glasses this time,his eyes were colder this time. He chose a corner table, sat down, and signaled for a drink.

Minutes later, Mr. Kyle joined him.

I froze behind the counter as I watched them talk. But then it happened, Grayson’s eyes lifted, meeting mine across the room.

That stare again.

I swallowed hard, forced my gaze down, and prayed my trembling hands wouldn’t give me away.