Promises | ✔️

Chapter 10: Like A Cinnamon Roll

NAYA POV

I woke up Sunday morning to see a text from Andrea.

andrea: hey naya! are you free today?

naya: yeah i'm not working today

andrea: great! you wanna meet for lunch?

naya: yeah i'd love to!

andrea: there's this cafe. i'll send the address

naya: ok see you!

The cafe Andrea had told me about was a little farther away, so I decided to drive. Even though I said having a car would reduce Uber costs, gas prices were still a lot so I minimized my use of my car. When I got to the cafe, she wasn't there yet, so I chose a table. Andrea walked in a few minutes later. We exchanged greetings and ordered our food.

"So, Naya. I actually have something to tell you?"

I put my fork down and swallowed my food before speaking. "Yeah?"

She reached for something in her bag and pulled out a paper, handing it to me.

"What's this?" I looked at it.

"My college is doing this 6-week program for people interested in marketing. This company is leading it and it's being held in one of our campus buildings. It's free. You just have to register. I think it's like 2 or 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. In the end, you get this certificate that can get you small job opportunities as an assistant or something like that." Andrea explained. I sat there, not saying anything, just looking at the paper. "Naya? Hey, you ok?"

I looked up at her, smiling. "I'm sorry. It's just...wow. I didn't think I would ever get this type of opportunity." I got up and hugged her. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Andrea."

"Yes of course. The application info is on the website at the bottom, and the campus building info is down there too." She pointed at the paper.

"Thank you. Really." I smiled at her.

We finished our meals and after saying thank you to Andrea at least 20 times, we parted ways. When I reached my apartment, my phone dinged.

violet: hiii! most of the guys are going out tonight, you want to come to the cage at like 8?

naya: sure. i'll be there

violet: yayy!

I decided to walk to the bookstore, so I could access a computer to submit my application for the marketing program. I calculated and I would be able to buy a laptop in a month if I rationed my living expenses wisely.

I was so excited. If I completed this program, I would be able to get a small job at an office and get more money.

***

At 8, I headed to the cage. As I entered through the back door, I realized I didn't know how to get in. There was some type of security pad to open the secret door.

I was standing in the back hallway when Vince's office door opened. He walked out and saw me. "Naya? What are you doing here? You aren't working tonight." Instead of his usual angry face, he seemed calmer.

I wasn't sure what to tell him. Obviously, he knew about Damien and the gang, considering they were running it under his bar, but I didn't know what to say. "Um...I'm actually here...for a drink! Yeah! Tryna get drunk tonight! Maybe a hook-up! " I mentally facepalmed myself after the words left my mouth.

What the fuck, Naya? Hookup? You can't lie for your life.

He definitely didn't believe me. "Come in here." He gestured for me to go inside his office. I followed, still unsure of what excuse I should make up. Vince sat behind his desk and motioned for me to sit across. Both of us just stared at each other, until he broke the silence. "Are you going to the cage?" My eyes widened. So he knew about me knowing? Vince laughed. I had never seen him laugh, or even smile. This was new. "Damien told me about you joining us?"

Damien told him. "Are you part of the gang?" No shit, Naya. Of course, he is. He literally just said that.

He responded, "I am." I nodded. Naya. Say something. You're acting so stupid right now. "I run this bar as a coverup for what we do-" He leaned in and whispered, "underneath."

He leaned back. "Well, technically, it's Damien's bar, but you know?" Damien's bar? Is that why he kept saying that yesterday? So it is his? I must have had a confused look on my face. "Wait. Did he not tell you?"

I shook my head no.

He slammed his fist on the table and looked to the side. "Dammit. He's gonna be pissed at me." Vince was scared of Damien? That was a shocker. This man was like a whole frickin tower.

"Don't worry. I won't tell." I grinned at him. "But why doesn't he take care of it?"

"You already know about it at this point. I'll just tell you." Vince sighed. "Yes, Damien technically paid for the bar and makes the decisions about it. But it's under my name." I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion. "He's a gang leader. You wouldn't really want to sell a building to someone with...that kind of reputation. So, we filed it with my name. You're the only employee who knows about this, though."

"Ohhhh. And I promise I won't tell anyone."

Just then, my phone dinged.

violet: where are you? did you get kidnapped? should i call damien?

I chuckled.

naya: lol i'm upstairs with vince

violet: ohhhh ok. ask him how many door frames he's hit today

naya: uh...ok

violet: lmao it's an inside joke

"Hey, Vince." He looked at me. "Violet wants to know how many door frames you hit today."

The man laughed. "Tell her none today, but I nearly knocked this short girl over at the store yesterday."

Violet's friendship with all the guys was so cute. They all treated her like their own little sister.

"Come." Vince stood up. "I'll unlock the door for you." We went over to the secret door and he unlocked it with his handprint.

Wow. That's so cool.

Before going down the stairs, I realized I needed to tell Vince something. "Vince." He nodded. "Um, I'm thinking of joining this program during the day. So I'll have to change up my hours. Is that ok?" I awkwardly smiled, awaiting a negative reaction, but I didn't get one.

"Of course, Naya. Whatever you want." He grinned. I thanked him and walked down the rest of the stairs.

Meeting the real Vince shocked me, but I liked it.

***

In the past hour, Violet and I had played darts, sang terrible karaoke, and made ourselves a big plate of nachos. Being under a bar had its perks because we got access to food in the kitchen.

Just as we ate the last few chips, the side door to the cage, the one that directly led outside, banged open. Stumbling inside, was Damien, Scar, and four other guys. But what grabbed my attention was Damien being held up by Scar and another guy. He looked so weak.

Violet and I ran to them.

"He was badly beaten." Scar told us.

***

Short chapter, but I'll be posting the next one today as well!

Haha, Vince got that 'could kill you on the outside, but is actually a cinnamon roll on the inside' persona.

VOTE!

Next Chapter Teaser Line: "WRONG MOVE, AMANTE!"