Unconventional

Wrong

Jennifer thought she was finally rid of Emilio for a few days. After that strange encounter at her house, she hoped he would lose interest and leave her alone. She was wrong.

It was a busy afternoon at the small café where Jennifer worked as a waitress. The place was buzzing with the lunch rush, filled with the clatter of dishes, the hiss of the espresso machine, and the murmur of customers' conversations. Jennifer moved swiftly between tables, her apron pocket filled with notepads and pens, a practiced smile plastered on her face.

She had just served a table their drinks when she felt someone staring at her. She glanced up, her heart sinking as she saw Emilio standing at the counter, leaning against it casually with a smug grin on his face. Jennifer's stomach twisted in anxiety. What was he doing here?

She tried to ignore him at first, hoping he'd get the hint and leave, but Emilio was not one to be easily deterred. He waved at her, making a show of getting her attention. The other customers nearby glanced at him, then at her, wondering what the commotion was about. Jennifer had no choice but to go over to him, her face tight with forced politeness.

"Emilio," she said tersely, keeping her voice low. "What are you doing here? How did you find out where I work?"

He ignored her question, his eyes sweeping over her with that familiar, predatory glint. "This is your uniform?" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain. "It's way too tight on you, Jenny. Shows off every little roll. Don't they have a bigger size?"

Jennifer's face burned with embarrassment and anger. She crossed her arms over her chest defensively. "What do you want?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady despite the mix of emotions roiling inside her.

Emilio's smile widened as if her discomfort pleased him. "Just wanted to see how my girl was doing," he said, his voice falsely sweet. "You know, check in, make sure everything's going alright at work."

Jennifer narrowed her eyes, feeling a mix of anger and frustration. "I'm not your girl, Emilio," she hissed, glancing around nervously to see if anyone was listening. "And you have no right to just show up here and—"

"I have every right," he cut her off, leaning closer so that only she could hear. "We're dating now, remember? I told you, Jenny. I'm not going anywhere."

Jennifer took a step back, trying to create some distance between them. Her heart was pounding in her chest, a mixture of fear and defiance. "I never agreed to that," she said firmly. "Now, please, just leave me alone. I'm at work."

But Emilio didn't budge. Instead, he glanced around the café, his gaze lingering on the other customers. "Nice little place you got here," he said casually. "Bet it doesn't pay much, though. Probably why you're stuck in that tight little uniform, huh?"

Jennifer's fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to scream, to tell him to get out, but she knew causing a scene would only make things worse. "Please, just go," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I'm begging you, Emilio."

He stared at her for a moment, as if considering her plea, then shrugged as if it didn't matter. "Alright, Jenny," he said finally, pushing himself away from the counter. "I'll leave... for now. But don't think this is over. We'll talk later."

With that, he turned and strolled out of the café, leaving Jennifer standing there, her face flushed with humiliation and anger. She watched him go, her mind racing. How did he find her workplace? What did he want from her? And how much longer could she endure his relentless pursuit?

As she tried to regain her composure, a customer called for her attention, pulling her back into the demands of her job. Jennifer took a deep breath, forcing herself to smile and get back to work. But deep down, a knot of anxiety remained, tightening with every passing second. She knew Emilio wouldn't give up so easily.

And she wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.

———-

The following day at the café, Jennifer hoped that Emilio's visit had been a one-time occurrence. She tried to focus on her work, but the memory of his invasive behavior from the previous day still weighed heavily on her mind. The café was bustling with the usual lunchtime crowd, and Jennifer was busy serving tables, determined to keep her mind off Emilio.

As she moved between tables, she saw a familiar figure standing at the counter. Emilio. He was dressed casually, but his presence made her heart sink. He had clearly come to order food, but his eyes were fixed on her, observing her every move.

Jennifer did her best to maintain her composure as she approached him. "Hi," she said, trying to sound cheerful despite her nerves. "What can I get for you today?"

Emilio looked up from the menu, a smirk playing on his lips. "Hey, Jenny. Just a coffee for now," he said, handing her a crumpled bill. "I'll take my usual seat."

Jennifer nodded and headed to the coffee machine, trying to ignore the unsettling feeling of being watched. She glanced over at Emilio periodically as she prepared his coffee, noticing that he was settled at a table with a clear view of the café's interior, his gaze following her every move.

When the coffee was ready, Jennifer walked it over to his table, setting it down with a practiced, polite smile. "Here you go. Anything else I can get for you?"

Emilio took a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving her face. "Not right now," he said smoothly. "I'm just here to enjoy the show."

Jennifer's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "Alright. If you need anything, just let me know."

As she returned to her duties, she felt Emilio's eyes on her, making her increasingly uncomfortable. She tried to focus on her work, serving other customers and managing the flow of orders, but it was hard to shake the feeling of being scrutinized.

Time seemed to crawl by, and Emilio's presence felt like a constant pressure. He sipped his coffee slowly, glancing at his watch now and then as if waiting for something. Jennifer couldn't help but wonder why he was so fixated on her. What did he want?

Eventually, the café began to quiet down as the lunch rush came to an end. Jennifer was cleaning off tables and restocking supplies when Emilio finally stood up from his seat. He approached the counter where she was working, his expression unreadable.

"Well, Jenny," he said, his voice low and casual, "I've enjoyed watching you work today. You handle yourself well, despite the... challenges."

Jennifer's face flushed slightly, a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Thanks," she said tersely. "I have to get back to work now."

Emilio ignored her attempt to dismiss him. "By the way," he continued, leaning in a bit closer, "I noticed you're still working here. How's that going for you? Any other prospects?"

Jennifer stiffened, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm managing just fine."

Emilio's eyes gleamed with something she couldn't quite place. "Good. Just remember, Jenny," he said as he turned to leave, "I'm always watching. I'll see you around."

Jennifer watched him walk out of the café, his demeanor as enigmatic as ever. He didn't offer any explanation about where he was headed next or what he did for work, only leaving her with a sense of unease and a lingering worry about what he might do next.

As she went back to her tasks, Jennifer couldn't shake the feeling that Emilio's presence was far from random. His secretive nature and the way he seemed to take pleasure in watching her made her uneasy. She had a sinking feeling that his interest in her was more than just casual, and that whatever he was up to, she was about to be caught in the middle of it.

She took a deep breath and tried to refocus on her work, knowing that as long as Emilio was around, she would have to stay vigilant and prepared for whatever he had in store for her next.