Chapter 3

Carter watched the air intensify between his son and the fuming waitress. This wasn't going the way he had imagined.

"Jacob enough. Let her go." Carter warned after hearing his son's senseless words.

Stephie said nothing. Her eyes ran red and wet with unshed tears, but she bit down on her jaw, and swallowed a bout of liquid salt. She wouldn't cry. There was enough in this world to make her cry. Like the fact that she couldn't remember the last time she'd had a decent meal, or the feeling of purchasing new clothes. However, a jerk like Jacob couldn't make her cry.

Jacob did a once-over on Stephie's angry face, then with a scoff, he let her go.

"Stephanie wait." Carter called after her before she rushed out of the office, urging the girl to halt once again.

"I know a girl of your manners, no matter the situation, knows to listen to her elders." Carter continued, "it is obvious that we started on the wrong foot. Please, allow me to treat you to a meal. Allow me to explain myself and my motives, and if after, you still choose to walk away, then I promise to never bother you again." Cater bargained.

Stephie huffed in anguish, but didn't face Carter.

Jacob stared at Stephie’s turned back then at his father.

“You invited her here?” Jacob questioned.

Stephie rolled her eyes, her tears drying up without spilling. Now all that remained was an angry heat on her cheeks.

“I did. And I would’ve appreciated you not putting your hands on her.” Carter scolded gently.

“She bumped into me first.” Jacob defended.

“For which she apologized.” Carter pointed, then he added, “why did you come see me?”

“Jones Swanson wants a meeting.” Jacob expressed.

“Is that so?” Carter echoed in mock curiosity, unbothered that Stephie was still here.

“Yeah,” Jacob expressed then paused and glanced at Stephie in a lazy manner before facing his dad again, “but obviously you’re busy. I’ll come back later.” Jacob expressed as he prepared to walk away.

“Keep your phone on. I may need your help later.” Carter spoke to his departing son.

Jacob said nothing, but continued on his exit.

Carter returned to his office and grabbed his suit jacket, then he closed the office door and approached Stephie.

“Let’s go.” Carter invited as he brushed past Stephie from a considerable distance of her, needing her to feel comfortable around him.

Stephie moved her jaw to the side and huffed softly through her nostrils. Why she was still standing in this building was a mystery in of itself. Cater was weird. Him wanting to help her was weird. Who was this man to her? Who was she to him that he would offer her help without wanting anything in return?

Then Stephie's brows furrowed. That was it. Maybe he did want something in return. Then Stephie's heart sank and calcified. Of course he's going to ask for something in return.

"Miss Stephanie?" Came John's voice from the doorway, derailing her train of thoughts, "Mr. Barlowe is waiting on you."

Blinking, with her anger and guard starting anew, Stephie began walking towards John, who then escorted her to the elevator, where Carter stood waiting. When Stephie stepped next to Carter, the old man sent her a side glance, and his lips quirked at the corners just slightly. An action so faint, the smile line was unrecognizable around the slight wrinkles which showed his age.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Carter extended a hand, allowing Stephie to go first. Once all three bodies had occupied the silver box, the doors closed shut and the box began to move towards the first floor.

"Did you want me to call ahead anywhere?" John addressed Carter while removing his phone from his pocket.

"Stephanie, are you in the mood for anything specific?" Carter asked the young lady out of courtesy.

Taken aback by the offer of a choice, Stephie had no response, so instead, by reflex, she did what she's always done to protect herself. Deny and decline.

"Um, no." Stephie expressed with a straight face.

Carter nodded, and John's eyes flashed between the old man and the headstrong waitress.

"Mmh," Carter hummed pensively, "are you allergic to seafood?" Carter then wondered.

"What, your lurking didn't reveal my medical history?" Stephie snapped before she could control her mouth.

Carter smiled, "I'll take that as a no." He said to Stephie.

"Take us to The Wharf." Carter pointed to John just as the elevator signaled their arrival.

John nodded and unlocked his phone to make a call, then once the group stepped out of the elevator, Carter led Stephie through the lobby once again, as the security guards kept their gaze fixed on Stephie, like raptors stalking prey. Meanwhile John went in a different direction from the duo.

Once outside, Carter stood next to Stephie, yet he didn't miss the way her spine leaned away from his direction, her ankles supporting her angled weight as it sloped as far as physically possible away form him.

Carter sent Stephie another side smirk, then he took his time to speak, "You know I truly don't mean you any harm."

"Yeah, well your son definitely did." Stephie stated, her arms still crossed, her eyes looking across the street, as the moving traffic crisscrossed before her pupils.

"Jacob?" Carter echoed.

"No, Joseph." Stephie replied with sass and sarcasm.

Carter sighed and nodded.

"So is this the treatment I'll be receiving all afternoon?" Carter posed.

"Not necessarily." Stephie baited.

"Oh?" Carter hummed with guarded interest.

"You could literally let me walk back to my job, and forget I ever existed, and in this way, spare yourself from my attitude." Stephie expressed without a care.

"So you're conscious that you're being rude," Carter observed, "and here I thought it was a defense mechanism." Carter then hummed with his own mellow retort.

"You don't know me." Stephie now turned to face Carter with a marred visage.

"Well yes I am aware of that and am actively trying to change that." Carter pointed.

Suddenly a black, sleek sedan with silver rims and details slowed to a stop in front of them, and the gears were shifted into Park. John exited the vehicle from the driver's seat, and opened the back passenger door.

Carter looked at Stephie, "after you."

Stephie huffed audibly.

"Seriously dude, I need to get back to work." Stephie pointed, no longer wanting to play along.

"Don't worry. Your hours for today are already counted and you will be paid in full for them." Carter reassured.

"Well being paid for today won't matter if I get FIRED." Stephie explained.

"If by the end of our meal you decide to accept my offer, you won't need the cafe's employ anymore." Carter replied.

"But I-"

"However if you decide to decline my offer then I can assure you, your position of employ will still be there in the morning." Carter expressed in a sure tone.

Stephie sighed and straightened herself. Carter simply blinked at her but said nothing more. John stared between the battle of wills, and couldn't help but have the air of an amused smirk on his face.

A few floors up, Jacob stared that at his father and the waitress with a fiery attitude. He wasn't sure what Carter was up to, but after the headbutt with little miss spitfire, Jacob was sure he wouldn't like it. A desperate waitress only had so much to offer, and Jacob was now curious about the interest his father could potentially have with this girl. Carter was never known to be a womanizer, but now his wife had died. Did the old man snap? Jacob wondered, then he shook his head. Of course not. Carter Barlowe was as sharp as they came. Something was definitely up.

By the time Jacob refocused his vision on the duo downstairs, Stephie had given in and climbed into the vehicle, followed by his father. Wiping a hand over his chin, Jacob returned to his desk. Logging into his computer, like father like son, Jacob began to do his own research.

The ride to the restaurants on the riverside was silent. Stephie held her purse tight on her lap, by placing her intertwined hands on top of the worn cross body carrier. Her thumbs twiddled around each other and she focused on them solely. Meanwhile across from her, Carter simply enjoyed the ambience of the street. Commercial transportation, bike riders, pedestrians and street vendors and diners. The chatter in the street was incomprehensible, and yet the various conversations and sounds merged into one giant soft feather which tickled his eardrums and delighted his spirit. The world was alive. It started anew every day, and life moved on no matter the number of those who died during it's hours of the day.

Eventually they arrived at Carter's preferred seafood restaurant on the wharf. It was an open wooden structure with windows everywhere and floating white curtains. John dropped off his passengers and pulled off.

"He's not eating with us?" Stephie wondered.

"No." Carter simply replied, then he led Stephie into the restaurant.

They were seated by a kind server, and were provided with complimentary ice water and menus.

None of the prices were within Stephie's budget. Not even the fountain drinks. Carter pretended not to see Stephie pale from behind her menu, and instead when the server returned, Carter took the lead.

"Can I get you guys started on any of our famous starters?" The server, Richard wondered.

"Uh-"

"We'll have twelve steamed oysters, lemon garlic sauce." Carter explained.

"Steamed oysters." Richard enunciated, "good choice sir. Anything else?"

"The fried calamari rings and we'll also just go ahead and order the main course as well." Carter pointed.

"Yes of course, what will it be?" Richard questioned attentively.

"Two seafood boil bags with everything, and spicy Cajun sauce." Carter ordered.

"So the everything bags also comes with corn, potatoes and boiled eggs. Is that alright?" Richard communicated.

"Stephanie, does it all sound alright?" Carter turned the attention on her.

"No eggs for me." Stephie expressed quickly, her neck prickling with heat at the roots of her pores, as she forced herself from biting her tongue.

She had been too eager to respond. Was she truly that hungry? This meal almost caost her an entire paycheck.

This was beyond embarrassing.

"Ok, so we have twelve steamed oyster, lemon garlic sauce, fried calamari rings, two seafood boil bags, one with everything, the other with everything except the boiled eggs, Cajun seasoning. Is that all?" Richard wondered.

With every item Richard listed, Stephie winced internally. A 'cha-ching' sound grew louder and louder in her brain, as the intimidating thumping of her growing debt stomped its way into her conscious mind, like a giant crushing a meek mouse. There was no way she'd be able to repay Carter for any of this. Even though to some, this was all a simple and affordable meal.

"Would you like to drink anything?" Carter asked Stephie, once again disturbing her train of thoughts.

"Um no, water is fine." Stephie denied herself any more luxury at the hands on the strange old man.

"Are you sure?" Carter pushed, knowing quite well it would be against Stephie's nature to accept anything for free.

"Yes. Water is fine." Stephie stood her ground.

It's one thing that she'd have to pay Carter back for this meal. Adding a drink would only grow her debt even more.

Carter nodded and decided not to push.

"I'll have a sprite." Carter decided.

"Okay great. We'll have these out for you in a bit." Richard assured, then grabbing the menus, the waiter took his departure.

Stephie sat silently and showed no intention on speaking with Carter.

"Are you feeling alright? Comfortable?" Carter interviewed.

"What's the catch after all this?" Stephie didn't bother to bite her tongue.

"There is no catch." Carter replied softly.

"Oh really? So you won't need any special favors on the ride back to your office? Or maybe since you know where I live, you might just choose to show up one day, demanding that I pay back in some way for this meal." Stephie accused in a guarded manner.

"Or," Carter began, "I truly intend on providing you with a free meal, while we discuss the possibility of you accepting my offer to become my ward." Carter determined.

"Ward- what century do you live in?" Stephie was the embodiment of disbelief.

"A century where kindness is not null and chivalry is not dead." Carter conversed in return.

"You're the owner of a multi-million dollar company. I'm a barista who has to wash out coffee stains on my shirt every other day. This doesn't track. There has to be something you want." Stephie refused to believe that it was all that simple.

Carter paused and frowned. Then he set his lips in a firm line.

Stephie stared and blinked at him. The silence could do nothing to drown out the expectant thumping of her heart in her ribcage.

"Alright," carter sighed, while placing his hands on the table and softly tapping hi fingertips together, "there is one thing."

___________________________

Hey guys!

Here is chapter 3. The cliffhangers begin. What do you think Carter's catch is?

Let me know by COMMENTING, AND SHARING!

Lots of ❤❤❤

-Tania