Ava's Pov:
"Ava! We need you back here!"
"Coming!"
I set the last tray down on the table and rushed to the kitchen. It was only my second day there and everybody had taken a liking to me. Inread of doing nothing while waiting for my turn to sing, I decided to help with serving. It was earning me extra cash too so I didn't mind the work.
Alicia smiled at me after I passed her about four times.
"Slow down Ava. You just got here."
"If it means getting out of that motel then i'll run around till lights out." I joked.
"I thought you were staying with a friend."
"Shit." I said under my breath.
"Yeah, yeah I am. That was just a joke."
She rolled her eyes. "Come on Ava. Do you really want to do this?"
My smile slowly dropped. "Yes im staying at a motel but it's only for a few days. None of my friends were in town so…"
"Ava." she interrupted. "The whole truth."
I sighed. "Asking them wasn't an option. I didn't have a choice."
"Yes because those people aren't your friends Ava. You're a grown woman, you need to get your priorities right at some point."
I stayed quiet. I was too embarrassed to say anything.
"What else are you lying about? I saw you taking pictures at the vip booths earlier. What are you planning to do with those?"
"Nothing." I said quickly. "It's just for snapchat memories."
"Ava…"
"Hey Ava," martin, one of the other waitresses interrupted. "Table 6 needs this, could you help please?"
"Yes, sure."
I took the tray from him and mouthed "sorry" to Ava before turning around. I managed to get a few photos of the food before handing it to the customer.
I was about to walk away when one of them stopped me.
"You're the girl who sang yesterday right? Ana was it?"
"Yes…Ava." For a moment, I was scared he knew me from instagram and was about to insult me like Nadia.
"You have a very beautiful voice, I came here again because of you." he said.
"Oh! Oh my God thank you so much." I could barely contain my excitement.
He was rather….cute.
He smiled. "No problem. We're expecting more."
"And more you shall get."
Everyone on the table laughed.
Martin called again and I had to leave.
I quickly posted the pictures I took before attending to the next customer.
I thought long and hard for a captain but I settled with,
"Working at a restaurant is hard but if it's for a friend then why not?"
I thought it sounded forced but I couldn't think of anything better.
Soon enough, it was my turn to perform.
I climbed the stage with no fear whatsoever. The compliments I got made me feel less judged.
I sang better than I ever did that night. And it seemed I wasn't the only one that thought that.
A tall, middle aged looking man kept staring at me the entire time. It made me nervous but I ignored him for the most of it.
After going on and on about the compliments I kept receiving, I brought up the strange man I saw to Alicia. He was in one of the vip booths now. I point at him to ask Alicia if she knew him. He noticed.
I quickly dropped my fingers and turned around.
"Is he looking here?"
"Yes and he looks very disturbed."
I bowed my head and covered my face with my hands.
"Relax, I was joking. I don't think he sees well enough to notice you from here."
"Well his eyes were working when he couldn't get them off me earlier."
"Stay away from him."
"Why?"
"He's a regular here. Spends all his money on girls who are willing to entertain him. He probably just sees you as his best target."
"Target? What the hell?" I shook my head. "So is he like a pedophile?"
"Are there any teenagers in the bar Ava?"
"I mean no but he looks like the type to be.
"Whatever. Just ignore him and his offers, understood?"
"Yes ma'am."
I went back to serving but barely five minutes in, I feel a tap on my shoulder.
"The man at the back wants to see you."
I looked behind him to see he was pointing at the booth I saw the man Alicia told me to stay away from walking into.
"What for? I'm not interested."
I started to walk away but he stopped me.
"It's not what you think. Hear him out first."
I didn't want to accept but hearing what he had to say wasn't a bad decision. I agreed and followed what seemed to be his bodyguard.
"Ava…I suppose?"
I rolled my eyes. I hadn't even sat down yet.
"Yes. You wanted to see me?"
"Yes I did. How much for one song?"
I stared at him. "What?"
"I want you to sing for me and since it's private, it's only fair that I pay for your services."
"I'm sorry, who even are you?"
"That doesn't matter. Will you sing or not? Refusing isn't an option."
"Then why give me those options."
"Just because I guess."
I held onto my apron tightly. He didn't sound or look scary but there was something off about him.
Reluctantly, I agreed. "How much are you offering?"
"Any amount you want."
"Five hundred dollars then."
He smirked. "I'll make it one thousand."
He dropped a bundle of cash on the table and gestured for me to take it.
My mouth dropped to the floor.
Slowly, I slid my hands across the table and pulled the money towards me. I wasn't with my purse so I just shoved it in my pockets.
"Do you want to pick a song?"
My voice was shaky. I wasn't scared but I was nervous. Something about him made me uneasy. I knew he was rich but not handing out a thousand dollars for a private performance rich.
"Do your thing."
He laid back and waited for me to sing.
I slowly stood up and tried to force away the nervousness.
As each lyric left my mouth, I noticed his eyes start to close. I couldn't tell if he was just really drunk or my singing bored him. Either way I completed the song.
At the end, he had completely dozed off. Scared, I ran out of the bar.
I texted Alicia quickly without looking back.
"Keep my things for me. Thank you."
I planned to stop at the nearest store to cool off but when I turned back, I saw bodyguards chasing after me.
I picked up my pace and hailed a taxi.
I quickly got in and took one last look at them as the car sped off.
The guards weren't in the booth with us so they didn't see what happened and the last thing I needed was for them to think I did something to him.
I felt tense the entire ride. I didn't relax until I got into my motel room.
I checked my phone. Alicia texted.
"Are you okay? I saw you leave."
"Yes I am. There was an emergency and I needed to leave but everything's good now."
"Oh that's good to hear. I took your bag home with me. Be safe okay?"
"I will. Thank you."
I finally let out a breath of relief. I didn't want Alicia thinking I ignored her warnings either.
I was going to head into the shower but a blog post caught my eye.
"Billionaire, Leon Prescott found passed out in a booth at the Wine n Dine Bar just minutes ago."
"What the fuck?! How did it get to social media so fast?" I said to myself.
I scrolled down, praying my name wasn't mentioned. Thankfully, no one said anything about me. It didn't mean I wasn't going to get mentioned at all but I wanted to give myself the benefit of doubt.
I searched his name up and found out who he was.
He practically owned half the city. His name was Leon Prescott and he had insomnia.
I read a few paragraphs on him and turned off my phone. It didn't concern me.
Yet.