we meet again

*Chapter 2*

I didn't want to go to work, but I had to option. Someone need to pay the bills and lately I have been struggling with those. As I arrived at work, Melissa was already there busy cleaning around the place.

"Hey Melly. You came quite early today."

"Yeah we have a lot of orders and also we have to cook the food earlier you know how it can be sometimes at lunch time."

I slid my hands in my hood pockets, trying to protect them from the early morning cold. We were in summer but that day, it was drizzling and quite cold. I hurried inside and saw Tom already busy with the stoves.

I owned a restaurant. It was an inheritance I got from my mom along with the house. She loved cooking, it was a part of her, a part of her life. Something that I grew up watching her do and she transferred that same passion into me. I had even studied culinary arts in college.

When my mom was still alive, I would go straight to the restaurant after school and help her out with the menus and serving customers and she would give me some money for my work, saying it was my pocket money. At home we would prepare dinner together or maybe bake cakes ordered by the customers. Most of our spare times, we would be in the kitchen doing one thing or the other, cooking was part of us.

I remember when Dad was also still around, he would come by and sneak around the food to take a bite, mom would always scold him and I would always laugh, along with Dad.

Now the house was empty, it only had me. The restaurant, well I don't know if I was managing it just the way my mom did, but I was trying. I always missed her everyday. Maybe if she were still around, maybe I could manage all of this.

Whem Mom died, I had had to close the restaurant for a month, to give myself some time to grieve, but it was never helpful because I needed money to keep going, to sustain myself. When I reopened it, I always looked at the door hoping that maybe Mom was just going to get in and help me out. But all that was gone. I had to buckle up and move on. I had to keep up with everything that she did. This was my legacy and I had to build it. Tom and Melissa were my mom's employees, when she passed on, they truly understood my pain and they were there for me as well. They were so faithful to my mom and they had just promised to do the same for me. This restaurant had sustained them and their families and I had to keep going.

I put on my appron and covered my hair, ready for work.

"Alyssa someone's here looking for you."

"Who is it Melissa?"

"I don't know I think it's that guy you once brought here. The handsome rich boy."

I chuckled really knowing who she was talking about. Kelvin.

"You guys now in good books?"

"Well let's talk about that later okay?"

She just smiled nodding at me. I washed my hands before I went on to meet Kelvin. He was looking good as always. A part of him was glad to meet him. I had kinda missed him. Kelvin was a good guy. He was there for me when I was broken to the core. When I had lost my mom. He comforted me, bought me my favourite steers burgers, took me to Cape Town for a vacation. He even offered to help me financially with the res but I refused. Didn't want to put on a lot of pressure on him.

"Hey."

He said as walked me for a hug. Since I didn't want to embarrass him, I just slid into him. He was smelling so good just like the old days. He did this on purpose. He new I loved this cologne.

"Can we talk outside?"

I nodded and led him outset of the restaurant. Didn't want to put attention on myself from the customers who had already sat on their tables some waiting for their orders some enjoying the beautiful taste of my work.

"Why are you here?"

"Alyssa please."

"Just cut the chase okay. I don't have time to sit here in your car when I have orders to take back in there."

"I thought I apologized Aly. That was just a mistake. I was drunk and I think my drink was spiked. You know I'd never do that to you. Baby I love only you. I have always did. Please just let me in again. Don't you miss me?"

I looked anywhere else but at him. Maybe I have to forgive him and move on. I missed him actually.

"You really hurt me Kev. You have no idea how much I am scared to loose you."

"I know baby. I know. I am scared to lose you too. Come here."

He said leaning in for a kiss. At first I wanted to resist but when he slipped his tongue into my mouth, I just gave in. Then his phone had to ring. I broke away from him as I looked away feeling raged but I didn't show him. Didn't have to.

It seemed like it was something to do with work. He had to go. I was used to this though.

"Baby I am so sorry. I really have to go but I promise tonight I'll be all yours."

He said holding both my hands. I just nodded not wanting to show him how disappointed I was.

"Hey don't be sad. Tonight imma spend the night with you. Then tomorrow we gonna go to your father's anniversary. Okay?"

He was cupping my cheeks then he planted a kiss on my forehead. He knew I loved it each time he did that to me.

"You get ready for me okay?"

I just nodded and he let go. Walking back into the restaurant, I met up with Melissa smiling at me like she had seen a clown.

"What?"

I said laughing.

"You blushing."

"Yeah whatever."

"So I guess you guys are now in good books right?"

She said leading me into the kitchen.

"Tom you gotta know this!"

She said running to tell Tom. Seriously?

"Hey Melissa please does Tom really have to know?"

"Yeah Tom you know Kelvin? Our boss' boyfriend? "

"You mean that rich youngman?"

"Yes he was here and look at our girl ohhh she's in love."

She said holding her waist with both her hands, snorting.

Tom and Melissa were husband and wife. They had no kids, mom had told me that the had infertility issues, painful right? They been married for ten years for now and had worked for my mom ever since. They were loyal and also hardworking. They were not just employees but they were like family. When Mom passed on, they were as hurt as I was and they were there for me through it all.

They knew about my relationship with Kelvin since we'd been together for about 4 years now and I'd told Melissa when he broke my heart. She was like an older sister to me and she was so soft spoken and kind. With my mom gone, I looked up to her for guidance.

"Ncwoo our little girl is in love."

Tom said opening his arms for me to hug him.

"Hey guys we'll burn those pots up lets focus okay?"

Melissa chuckled shrugging and giving a yes ma'am look.

"Melissa you need to rest. I will take care of the orders for now okay?"

"Hey don't worry Alyssa I can manage."

"No I will take care of it. Besides we have finished up with the menus already. Just do something else not stressful and demanding okay?"

I knew Melissa had a problem with her back, I didn't want the back pain to be triggered. I took the orders from her and began running with the trays.

"Waiter?"

I turned around and there, I met his eyes. I was stunned. I suddenly became nervous. I walked over to him. He was with some lady. Beautiful, and classy. She had a nice blue body hugging dress. With some stilettos. And God her hair....She looked like one of those ladies who worked in the high rank offices. Her skin, so light and flowless. I couldn't stop admiring her.

"Hey you?"

The guy said as he smiled at me. The same smile he had given me that same morning. I felt butterflies in my stomach and I suddenly felt nervous. I do not know why I was feeling like that around him.

"Yeah we meet again. What can I get for you?"

I couldn't miss the opportunity to check him out. He was wearing a nice navy blue suit without a tie on his white shirt, he had the top buttons unbuttoned and he looked.... perfect.

I took their order and walked away. I was blinking so hard, I couldn't get even walk properly it was like I had seen a ghost.

"You look like you have seen a ghost."

Melissa noticed.

"Nah....It's just someone I met."

I shortened not wanting to explain myself further. After serving them, I walk to the counter waiting for other orders. I would steal glares at him and he would look back at and smile at me. Then I would feel embarrassed and shy. Gosh the guy was just too much. The lady he was with was laughing so hard. I am sure he was saying something funny and she couldn't stop holding his hand hear there. A part of me wished it was me. But he would never be interested in someone like me right? I wasn't like that lady he was with. She looked rich and classy when I was just a small restaurant owner.

Why was I even thinking about it? I pushed those thoughts away and got busy making calculations.

"Can I have some water?"

I was too busy that I did not notice it was him.

"Alyssa right?"

I raised up my head and I was met by those dark eyes. And that wide smile. He was a good smiler. Maybe he loved showing off his perfectly arranged white teeth. But was that even necessary because each time he did that I felt things. Things I never felt when Kelvin smiled at me.

"Yes lemme get it for you."

I got the water and handed it to him. His eyes never left my figure and I really hope he wasn't mad about the phone.

"It's your first time here?"

I asked as I watched his open the bottle.

"Yes I was in a hurry and my colleague there was very hungry so we found this one without a long que and very smart and...."

"And small..."

I added and he laughed.

"I wasn't going to say that. I was going to say you cook delicious food here."

That was a compliment.

"Thanks I don't get that so often." I didn't realize I was actually blushing.

"Welcome."

And he was gone. I watched him leave with that beautiful lady as he held the small of her back leading her out. He smiled at me one last time before he was gone. And I was just standing there hoping to see him again.