Where Her Heart Lies

4

Niylah

"Hey Marco" I greeted my manager as I clocked in.

Marco is 35 but you wouldn't be able to tell. He is a tall Hispanic and Black Male with Hazel eyes and fluffy black hair that he keeps in a low ponytail with the sides cut and lined up.

"Hey Niylah. You didn't get the memo?" He titled his head laughing playfully.

I scrunched my brows confused until I noticed that I had on a different uniform from most of the workers. I sighed smiling through my breathe.

We don't have a set uniform but its just awkward when the majority is matching.

"Clearly not." I laugh with him.

"Just givin you a hardtime." He chuckled walking past me.

I cleared my mind as I got ready for my shift.

"Thank you so much for dining with The Underground have a great rest of your night." I said smiling as I left a couple at their table.

I walked around to the back sighing as I sat down. I pulled a bundled up wad of cash out of my apron and began to count my tips.

$253

"Niylah can you take table 22 upstairs? They are already waiting for you." I quickly gave a tight lipped smile and hopped up putting away my money.

Grabbing a menu off the cart I pulled out my pen and pad making my way upstairs.

"Hi welcome to The Underground, I'm Niylah and I'll be your server for the night, what can I get you to drink?" I asked looking down as I slid the menu onto the table.

"Lemme get a shot of your finest top shelf and a glass of water please." A deep voice responded as I looked at the customer.

His voice did not in anyway match what sat infront of me. His blonde locs sat in a low ponytail with one stray resting upon his light caramel skin. His pink lips covering a small smile that revealed a peak of his straight white teeth. His brown eyes inviting mines with a warm welcoming feeling.

"O-okay, would you like an appetizer?" I choked my words out finding myself unable to speak.

As he thought I took down his drink order before looking back at him.

As he examined the menu my eyes fell to his outfit.

He had on a crispy black suit with a blue handkerchief in the pocket. His thumb tapped the menu anxiously attracting my attention to the skeleton tattoo on his left hand.

"Let me get your calamari." He smiled looking back up at me. His smile revealed that not only was I right about his teeth being straight, but that he also wore a grill with the top of his bottom teeth shining with diamonds.

I gulped hard forgetting how to breathe for a slight second. Taking a slow quiet breathe I licked my lips nodding my head.

"Yea of course anything else?" I took down the appetizer.

"No thats all for now thank you Niylah." He flashed me his charming smile once again.

I gave a tight lipped smile quickly turning on my heels and running down the stairs.

"Damn girl you good." My coworker Lena asked as she plugged in an order at a computer.

"Lena I don't know whats going on but its this fine ass business type nigga at my table and I keep forgetting how to exist around him." I caught my breathe plugging in his order next to her.

"Damnnnn might need to write your number on that receipt." She playfully nudged me as we both laughed.

"Just might." I joked back.

After I finished I ran over to the bar and picked up his drinks as before making my way back up the stairs.

As I walked over to the table I began nodding my head to the beat of the song the band was playing.

Unintentionally I began humming the words, only becoming conscious of it when the business man said something.

"You like this song too?" The lightskin dreadhead said flashing that grill again.

"Um yea Moody's Mood For Love" I laughed nervously as I was somewhat embarrassed.

"A classic almost." His eyes intensly pierced through mines.

Getting lost in his gaze I quickly broke the contact as I set his drinks down infront of him.

"Are you ready to order?" I cleared my throat preparing to take down his order.

"Uh yea, how good are yalls steaks here?" He skimmed over the menu again.

"I personally love them, and we have our best chefs in the back right now so it will be cooked to perfection." I gave a small smile as his eyes came back to mine.

"Okay perfect. A T- Bone with asparagus and a loaded baked potato please." He closed his menu handing it to me.

Taking his menu i began to write down his order.

"Okay and how would you like your steak cooked?"

"Medium rare." He picked up his empty glass grabbing the glass water filled pitcher and pouring his cup.

"Okay it will be our shortly." I smiled and left.

I watched as the stranger from upstairs walked past the front desk on his way out.

As he reached for the door he turned back my way flashing me a wink and a smile before disappearing into the empty parking lot.

My shift was now over and I has just clocked out.

I threw my jacket on grabbing my keys out my cubby before running upstairs to check his table.

I stumbled back as I saw what laid on what used to be his table just moments ago.

3 hundred dollar bills laid spread out on the table. Alongside was a money heart made out of a fifty dollar bill with a note card stuck to it.

Dante
214) ***-****

I put the note card, heart, and bills into my apron trying to contain the dumb smile on my face.

I pulled out my phone as I went downstairs existing the almost empty building.

Not paying attention my focus stayed on my phone until I bumped into a tall muscular figure.

"Excuse me" I apologized as I looked up.

Seeing who it was a gasp left my mouth as I slowly stepped back.

My body froze and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My eyes watered at the sight.

My mouth hung open as I tried to scream but no words could come out.

"Hey Ni. Long time no see."