Mr. Mafia's Bodyguard

Chapter Forty-nine

"Good morning madame, how may I help you today?" I beamed at the old woman who walked into the shop. She is wearing a black hat and scanning the shop with her narrowed, aging eyes.

"Good morning dear. Do you perhaps have a red velvet cake?" She asks in a soft, motherly voice.

I nod eagerly. "Of course, over here." I point at the cakes on display with different patterns for her to pick.

It's my second day at work here after a two week break I took, trying to gather my thoughts and move on with my life, two weeks since I left Stephano and the mafia, two weeks since I quit my job as a federal agent and moved to another country, and a got a job here in a bakery and another at a restaurant where I work night shifts, hoping to save some money and perhaps venture into a business of my own.

"I will take this one." She points and I hurry over and package it for her and bill her. She leaves the shop with the cake and hollering a thank you.

I glance at my watch and it's almost 3pm, that's the end of my shift here, and now I have to head to the restaurant to work again till about 9:30pm. I haven't recovered from the pain of it all, working almost around the clock to keep my mind occupied and stop me from going mad with pain and thoughts.

"Madame Alero, I am leaving." I call to the elderly woman in the corner.

"Alright, see you tomorrow." She smiles and waves and I return it before walking out of the shop and heading for my small, old, junky car parked behind the store.

I clutch my small, leather bag as I  unlock it. I am in a jean trouser and a cream colored top. I hop into my car and I drive towards the restaurant I work at. Which is busier and more occupying than the bakery, especially around the evenings.

I park my car and hop into the restaurant, I smile and exchange very short pleasantries with my fellow employees as I head for the back to change into my uniform. I red, maid's dress that stopped below my hips. It had short sleeves and what looked like an apron attached to it.

"Vanessa, seat 12!" Miriam calls me and I nod my head, picking my pen and a note pad and hurrying out.
To be honest, sometimes, my own name sounds strange to my ears now, I had gotten so used to being called Ariana.

I walk up to the table and take their order. A dark man and two other guys sat at that table and tried to flirt with me, I acted like I didn't hear their stupid remarks about how they thought I looked sexy in my uniform and I turned away.
At 9:30pm I was ready to go, I headed to the back, changed back into my clothes and kissed my colleagues goodbye before heading for my car.
I arrived in front of my small apartment around 10:30pm, famished. As I turned the keys to my house, I noticed the small white envelope on the floor, and I pick it up, opening it and pulling out a note.

I am coming for you, enjoy your remaining days alive.

I frown, suddenly becoming very alert and scanning my surroundings with wide eyes. I reach for the knife in my pocket, no one is around and I can hear some dogs barking in the streets. There is very little light in the area provided by a single street lamp. I quickly turn my keys and push my door open, shoving the key in my pocket and hastily turning on the lights. I scan my environment, making sure everything is exactly the way I left it, and I read the note again, a very sick uneasiness stirs in my stomach. I feel the urge to throw up, and I haven't eaten anything since morning. I have lost appetite since that day and I barely eat anything. I pull out my kitchen drawer to reveal the loaded gun I had in there. You could never be too careful, especially with these sudden threat notes.

I undress myself and take a shower. I hop on my bed and I still find it difficult to sleep, but I just close my eyes and lay there until I fall asleep, it should be my escape from the constant stabbing pain in my heart, but it's not.
Every night, I dream of a pair of hate filed blue eyes.

                   ****

My day is going by as usual, with my first shift at the bakery. It's not a very busy day at the bakery, and so far only three customers have stepped in. I am seating behind the counter, starring at the door lazily and hoping someone comes in as I hate being idle, it makes me think of the things I dread the most, I am considering working full time at the restaurant if the bakery won't be so busy.

Thankfully, four more customers come in before my shift is over and I kiss Madame Alero goodbye before heading to my car again and to the restaurant. She is a nice woman and didn't hesitate to offer me the job when I applied, I am her only employee and she seems to take delight in my company, she takes over when I leave and closes the bakery by 6pm.
I drive to the restaurant again where my second shift takes place. And I head in through the back.

"Hey Vanessa." Miriam beams at me upon spotting me. "How you doing?"

"Just great babe, how are you?" I ask giving her a small hug and heading for the dressing room. She gives me a reassuring nod and I go to change into my uniform. She is a lively and bubbly girl and has been nothing but friendly since I started here, even invites me to parties but I can't bring myself to go anywhere in this state. I wriggled out of my jeans and drape on the red uniform, I roll my ponytail into a bun and I pick up my notepad and pen and head out to take orders. My time at the restaurant usually seems to go by fast as it's always usually busy especially in the evenings, I walk around, taking and delivering orders. I glance at my watch and sigh, my shift is over, I head back in to change my uniform.

"Vanessa?" I turn to see another employee, Julie walking towards me with a tray.

"Yes? What is it Julie?" I ask her with a small smile and a quick glance at my watch intending to insinuate that my shift is over.

"I know your shift is over but please I need you you to help me deliver this to seat 15, I really need to take a pee." She pleads, furrowing her thick eyebrows and batting her eyelashes at me.

"Sure." I shrug and take the tray from her and begin walking to seat fifteen, there is a man seated there, he is in a suit that gives me quite a familiar feeling, the way it fits him just right reminds me of Stephano, the man is looking out the window where his seat is positioned and his fingers are interwined on the table so I couldn't see his face fully but I feel my heart racing as I walk closer to him and I feel a certain air of familiarity.

"Here is your order sir." I drop the tray on his table and turn to go but his head turns and a familiar pair of blue eyes lock on mine and knock the air out of my lungs. These look like the eyes from my dreams, they stare right at me like they can see through my soul and without even an ounce of surprise that should mirror the shocked looked in my eyes to see Stephano here of all places after two weeks, did he follow me here, did he send those threat notes?
I don't really think too much about those as I keep staring at him and only one sentence rings continuously in my mind.

He is alive, Stephano is alive, and he is not in jail.