Silent Eyes

5, A Deal with the Devil

It was early in the morning, and Monica's phone loudly rang, stirring her out of her sleep. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and groggily answered the device. "Yes?" she mumbled. On the other end, a female voice with a thick accent inquired, "Is this Ms. Warren?" Monica straightened up and furrowed her brow. "Uh, yes. Who is this?"

"My name is Katrina Antoni, and I own a restaurant in Athens, Greece. I was wondering, do you have a moment to chat?" the woman explained. Monica, now fully awake, pulled her legs close and felt a surge of curiosity. "Sure," Monica said. "Go straight ahead."

Mrs. Antoni proceeded to explain her business, revealing that she had come across Monica's Instagram page and expressed interest in her cooking. Monica found herself flabbergasted. "You want me to work for you?" she asked, pointing at herself in disbelief.

The woman chuckled, leaving Monica momentarily speechless. "But how?" Monica finally asked. "I don't have a working visa or citizenship here. I doubt the government would just let me work here for free," she shrugged, expressing her concerns. Mrs. Antoni reassured her, "Don't worry about it. I have connections, and I can chat with a few individuals about it. So, what do you say?"

Monica fell into a pensive silence, contemplating the incredible opportunity before her. It seemed too good to be true, yet the allure of working abroad and pursuing her culinary dreams was undeniable. Finally, she made up her mind, realizing she could always explain to her father that she missed her flight by accident. "Okay, I'm interested in joining your business."

"Sweet!" Mrs. Antoni beamed. "Let's meet at the nearest cafe. I can message you the location, and we can discuss business." Monica smiled, unable to contain her excitement. "See you later, Mrs. Antoni," she said. The woman smiled back. "And see you later, Ms. Warren." The call ended, and Monica collapsed back onto her bed, gazing up at the ceiling.

She was in a state of disbelief, her heart racing with a mixture of nerves and excitement. Rolling around on her bed, she squealed with joy before grabbing her phone to call Andreas. As she dialed, her mind raced with anticipation. Surprisingly, it didn't take long for Andreas to answer.

"Guess what!" Monica exclaimed, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. Andreas hummed playfully on the other end, "Hmm, you decided not to leave and stay with me?" he guessed. Monica chuckled, "No! Well..." she paused, scratching her head. "You're not entirely wrong, but I got an offer to work at a restaurant in Athens! I'm going to meet up with the owner and see if we can come up with a sweet deal!"

Andreas chuckled, genuinely delighted to hear the news. "That's cool, Monica. I hope everything works out for you. But if that's the case, then you have to move to Athens," he pointed out. Monica sighed, resting back down. "I know," she admitted. "I am worried about the expenses. But I don't want to miss this grand opportunity. Working overseas, that's any cook's dream! Surely, I'll be able to work something out!"

Andreas mischievously smirked, his voice filled with support. "I'm sure you will, Monica. You've got this." Monica's heart swelled with gratitude for his unwavering belief in her. Deep down, she knew that this was the start of an extraordinary journey, one that would test her courage and passion for cooking. With newfound determination, she closed her eyes, visualizing the exciting path that lay ahead.

Next, Andreas suggested, "How about we celebrate this new journey of yours after the meeting? We could go out for drinks or take a walk along the shore, having a great night." Monica felt touched by his words and settled back on the bed. "Aw, that would be so sweet of you, Andreas. But do you mind?"

"Of course, I don't mind!" he exclaimed. "I want to support you all the way. Plus, didn't you say you loved cooking?" Monica softly smiled, her heart warming at his thoughtfulness. Andreas continued, "Let me know once you're done with the meeting, and I'll pick you up. I want to spoil you for the night, Monica." His voice took on a husky tone, sending a shiver down Monica's spine. "Mhmm, okay," she whispered, feeling a mixture of excitement and anticipation.