Today was all wrong. I woke up with a start and realized I had overslept. I rushed out of bed and quickly got dressed. There was no time for my usual morning reflection. I grabbed whatever clothes were closest and threw them on, barely taking a moment to brush my hair before bolting out of the apartment, not caring if I made any noise.
I came to a screeching stop as I saw Mrs. Jenkins standing at the building's exit. Her stern expression told me this was not going to be a pleasant encounter.
"Mrs. Jenkins!" I exclaimed, surprised at her sudden appearance. "How lovely to see you her—" I began, but she cut me off.
"Cut the crap, Turner. Where's my rent?" she demanded, raising an eyebrow. Her face had aged, and she had on too much lipstick. To her, it might have seemed like a way to look younger, but it only highlighted the years etched into her skin.
"Y-your rent?" I stammered, trying to come up with a lie on the spot. "The thing is, I've been having issues with my bank and—"
"And?" she interrupted, crossing her arms. "That's what you've been saying for three months now. Did the bank get foreclosed?"
Her sarcasm stung, and I felt my face flush. "I'm really sorry, Mrs. Jenkins, but I have to get to work," I apologized, edging my way past her.
"Sorry doesn't pay the bills honey," she snapped, blocking my path momentarily before stepping aside. "You've got until the end of the week, Turner."
"I understand," I muttered, guilt gnawing at me as I made my way out of the building and practically ran to work. The encounter left a sour taste in my mouth, and I knew I needed to figure out a solution fast. But for now, all I could do was focus on getting through the day.
The streets were already bustling with people, and I weaved my way through the crowd, my mind racing. My job as a waitress wasn't glamorous, but it was all I had. I needed to hold onto it, especially with the looming threat of eviction hanging over my head. As I approached the restaurant, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever the day had in store.
To my surprise, the restaurant had still not opened. The dining area was empty, with no customers in sight. My heart sank as I hurried through the kitchen, wondering what could be wrong. As I made my way to the back, I found everyone gathered there in a tense huddle.
Iggy gave me a warning look as I entered. "And there she is, finally gracing us with her presence," Chef announced, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Everyone turned to face me, and I flushed with embarrassment, muttering an apology for being late.
I stood beside Iggy, who wore a sympathetic expression. She gave my hand a reassuring squeeze as I adjusted my hair behind my ear and tried to compose myself. It was then that I looked up and saw him, the same stranger.
He stood apart from the group, his cold, lifeless eyes fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat. His presence was as unsettling as I remembered, and I couldn't help but feel a shiver run down my spine.
The owner of the restaurant was standing there as well. He cleared his throat and continued speaking. "Well, now that we're done with the interruption, I'll continue." I flushed with embarrassment as he proceeded with his speech.
"As you all know, I started this restaurant when I was 30 years old. I had big dreams back then, but sadly, those dreams have come to an end today. I must move on to the next phase of my life. I've decided to sell La Belle Vie to this gentleman here, Mr. Sterling." The owner gestured to the stranger with the cold eyes. My heart sank as I realized who he was.
"It was lovely working with all of you, but you now work for Mr. Sterling. I hope you don't miss me too much," he joked, clapping his hands together. The lighthearted attempt did little to lift the heavy atmosphere.
"Is there anything you'd like to say, Mr. Sterling?" he asked, smiling widely. Mr. Humbert wasn't a short man, but he looked small compared to the imposing figure of the stranger.
Mr. Sterling stepped forward, his cold eyes sweeping over the staff. "Thank you, Mr. Humbert," he said in a low, commanding voice. "I'm looking forward to working with all of you. Changes will be made, but I assure you they are for the better. I expect nothing less than excellence, and I have no doubt we will achieve great things together."
His voice made my heart race, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. There was something about it that I couldn't resist—I wanted more.
His words hung in the air, the weight of his expectations pressing down on us. I glanced at Iggy, who looked as uneasy as I felt. This was the man who would be shaping our future, and his cold demeanor did little to inspire confidence.
"Thank you, Mr. Sterling," Mr. Humbert said, clapping him on the back before turning to us one last time. "It's been an honor, everyone. Take care of yourselves."
With that, he left the room, leaving us in the presence of our new boss. Mr. Sterling's gaze met mine briefly, and I felt a chill run through me.
As the staff began to disperse, I couldn't shake the feeling that my life had just been irrevocably changed. The presence of Mr. Sterling loomed over me like a dark cloud, and I knew that things at La Belle Vie would never be the same again.
"What happened?" Iggy questioned as she blew a bubble with her gum before letting it pop.
"I overslept. I forgot to set my alarm last night," I said, mentally facepalming.
"Isn't it weird that Mr. Humbert sold this place so quickly?" she asked, her curiosity evident. Iggy was always the inquisitive one. "And to that guy?" she continued, as I loaded the dishwasher. "He looks like he dines at all those fancy restaurants. Why would he want to own a place like this?" She seemed genuinely puzzled.
"I don't know, Iggy. I just don't want to get fired," I sighed, making my way to the storage room with Iggy following closely behind.
"You're not going to get fired," she reassured me, picking up a box of cutlery. "I showed up late, Iggy," I stated, feeling the weight of my anxiety.
"So what?" she shrugged. "You think Mr. Sterling cares about a couple of minutes? Besides, you've been working here for years. One slip-up isn't going to get you canned."
"I hope you're right," I muttered, organizing the shelves. "But there's something about him that just... unnerves me."
Iggy looked at me thoughtfully. "Yeah, he's definitely intense. But maybe it's just because he's new and wants to make a strong impression."
"Maybe," I conceded, though I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in my stomach.
"But still, it's weird. Why would someone like him buy a small restaurant like this?" Iggy questioned, still puzzled
"Maybe he sees potential," I suggested, stacking the cutlery neatly. "Or maybe it's a pet project. Rich people do weird things all the time," Iggy stated, setting the box of cutleries down.
I laughed softly. "Yeah, maybe. I just hope this doesn't turn into a nightmare."
"It won't," Iggy said firmly. "We'll get through it together. And who knows, maybe this Mr. Sterling will turn out to be not so bad after all."
"Let's hope so," I replied, feeling a bit lighter thanks to Iggy's optimism. But as we finished up in the storage room and returned to our duties, I couldn't help but glance towards the private area where Mr. Sterling had been.
It was late in the afternoon when I heard rumors that our new boss was conducting interviews with each member of the staff. He was probably going through their résumés so he could decide who was staying and who was leaving. The idea of facing Mr. Sterling made my heart thunder in my chest, and the thought of potentially losing my job only added to my anxiety.
I tried to focus on the task at hand, but I was too distracted. I kept glancing at Mr. Sterling's office, watching as the staff went in and out, each one emerging with a different expression. When it was Iggy's turn, she gave me a reassuring look before heading into his office.
The minutes dragged by, each one feeling like an eternity. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios, my palms growing sweaty as I anticipated my turn. I knew I had to keep it together, but the prospect of sitting across from those cold, piercing eyes was almost too much to bear.
Finally, the door opened, and Iggy stepped out. She flashed me a quick smile, but I could see the tension in her eyes. It was my turn. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and walked towards Mr. Sterling's office, hoping against hope that I would make it through unscathed.
I paused at the door, taking a deep breath before finally summoning the courage to knock. "Come in," I heard him say from the other side, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. Mentally prepping myself, I opened the door to reveal the handsome stranger sitting in all his glory behind a large mahogany desk, its polished surface reflecting the afternoon light. Papers were meticulously arranged, and a sleek laptop sat open, casting a soft glow.
"Welcome, Miss Turner," he greeted, his cold eyes locking onto mine.