I Won't Fall For You | ✔️

▪︎\\Chapter Four

"Nice to meet you, Vanessa. I'm Akilah, and I'll be showing you around and getting you settled for your first day. Follow me, please."

She was stunning. Dark, smooth chocolate skin and glossy black hair that caught the light. She could've been a model with that slim figure, or a spokesperson with the way her voice carried such easy confidence.

I followed her behind the counter and into the kitchen. I didn't know exactly what my job would be so I dressed casually in dark coloured clothes. There was a guy with a long beard at the grills that looked like the head chef, a girl and two other guys who seemed a few years younger than me.

"This is Rocco, he was an italian chef in the past but now he specializes in different cuisines. We have Camille and these are Erin and Nolan," Akilah said, introducing everyone to me.

"Hello," I said as they waved with a smile. Well everyone except the chef. He glared at me before grumbling and turning back to what he was doing.

"Don't mind him. He's like that most of the time," Akelia whispered in my ear.

I nodded.

Upon hearing that, a wave of emotion washed over me. Family? That was something I'd never really had. Still, it warmed my heart knowing that at least here, I might have a work family.

"Welcome, Vanessa," Camille said, offering me a hug, which I accepted awkwardly. I wasn't used to hugging people, and I didn't plan on getting used to it anytime soon.

"Don't worry, as long as you do your job well, we'll get along just fine," Nolan said with a wink.

"Well, that's settled. Follow me," Akilah said, gesturing for me to come along.

I followed her into a small room at the back of the kitchen, where she handed me a black apron. I slipped it on, pulling my hair back into a quick tie.

"You'll be working as a waitress. Frey's also a waitress, but she isn't here yet. Word of advice, don't tell her much, and keep to yourself. She's a gossiper," Akilah said, her eyes fixed on me.

I smiled slightly while nodding. I hate the idea of even gossiping. That's why most people die. If someone tells you something very confidential, keep it to yourself, the whole world doesn't have to know.

After a few more minutes of talking to her, I went to the front to see if there was any customers but there was only one man sitting reading a newspaper. I approached him with a small smile.

"Hello, what can I get for you?" I asked, trying to hide my nervousness.

I wasn't used to being formal.

He looked up at me with a wide smile, setting his newspaper down on the table.

"Hello. Are you new? What's your name?" he asked in a friendly tone.

"Vanessa, and yes, I'm new,” I replied, already starting to feel a bit irritated.

"Nice to meet you Vanessa. I'll have a coffee and a tuna sandwich with lots of onions please," he said, not taking his eyes off me.

"Yes Of course," I replied forcing out a smile.

I went back to the counter, picked up a small notepad, and after jotting down the order, I pinned it to the board.

Business was painfully slow. It was a small place, after all, but it needed something, anything, to draw in more customers.

The bell above the door chimed, and I looked up to see him, the guy from yesterday.