Brief Encounters

Timeline 1 (Part 10)

The narrow street was mostly empty, save for the faint buzz of neon signs flickering overhead. Jeanna walked beside me, her laughter light against the chill of the night air. But even on a night as perfect as this, an unsettling prickle clawed its way down my spine. It felt like a shadow, lingering just beyond the edge of my vision, watching, waiting—always one step out of sight. 

I tried to brush it off. After all, growing up under constant scrutiny, I was no stranger to these feelings. Cameras had been my shadow, and the press—relentless. But since my mother passed, the spotlight seemed to have fixed its glare even more intensely on Harry and me, especially with whispers about my future, my "duty" to marry and continue the royal line.

But tonight, it was supposed to be different. Tonight was just about Jeanna.

"What's on your mind?" Jeanna's voice cut through my thoughts, her eyes twinkling as she looked up at me. The corners of her lips curved into that playful smile I was growing dangerously fond of.

"Just... debating whether or not I'm walking straight into a trap," I teased, quirking an eyebrow. "A secret restaurant? Sounds like the perfect setup for my kidnapping. All masterminded by you, of course."

Jeanna rolled her eyes, her laughter warm and genuine. "Oh, please. If I wanted to kidnap you, you'd never see it coming." She shot me a sly grin that sent my heart racing.

"Maybe," I said, leaning in closer, "but I might let you get away with it."

The way she looked at me—eyes sparkling under the streetlights—made me momentarily forget the feeling of eyes on the back of my neck.

We stopped at a nondescript door squeezed between two bustling shops. The place was almost invisible, swallowed up by the shadows. Jeanna nudged the door open, revealing a cozy, dimly lit restaurant hidden away from prying eyes. Soft jazz played in the background, and the air was thick with the rich scent of spices.

"Welcome to my secret spot," she said with a proud, almost childlike gleam in her eyes. "No paparazzi. Just good food."

I breathed out, feeling a weight I didn't even realise I was carrying lift off my shoulders. "A hidden gem, indeed." I smiled. "I see why you love it here."

Jeanna beamed, and we slid into a secluded booth. As we settled in, a waiter named Steve appeared, flashing a knowing grin at Jeanna. "Well, well, bringing in some fresh company tonight?" he teased.

Jeanna laughed, throwing him a playful glare. "You know me, Steve, always full of surprises."

Steve chuckled. "I'll grab you two the chef's special. Trust me, it's a game-changer." He shot me a wink before disappearing toward the kitchen.

I glanced at Jeanna, who was watching me intently, her expression softening. "I've only ever brought Paul here," she confessed. "It's... kind of a personal spot for me."

I raised an eyebrow, a playful grin creeping onto my lips. "Should I be flattered, then? Or concerned that you're breaking tradition?"

She laughed, the sound like a balm to my frayed nerves. "Maybe both," she teased. But beneath her laughter, there was something deeper, something that sent my heart racing in a way that had nothing to do with the wine we were sipping.

We settled into easy conversation, the wine flowing freely. But as we talked, the nagging sensation of being watched refused to leave. That's when I noticed him—a different waiter who definitely wasn't Steve. He had a stiff, almost robotic demeanor, moving with the kind of precision that set my instincts on edge.

Just as I leaned in to tell Jeanna something witty, he appeared silently beside us, filling up our glasses. I hadn't even seen him approach. His presence sent a shiver down my spine, but Jeanna barely seemed to notice.

"Thank you," I said, trying to catch his eye, but he only gave a curt nod before gliding away. Something about him was off. His gaze was too intense, lingering a beat too long on me and Jeanna. I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd seen him before—somewhere just beyond the edges of memory.

"Everything alright?" Jeanna asked, her brows knitting together as she noticed my distracted expression.

I forced a smile. "Yeah, just... thought I recognise that guy."

Jeanna turned, watching the waiter's retreating back, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "I don't remember him from before," she said quietly.

Steve returned with our food, but I noticed his eyes dart to our already-filled wine glasses, a shadow of confusion crossing his face. "I see someone's been eager to take care of you," he joked, but there was a nervous edge to his voice.

Jeanna, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed, happily diving into her food with the same enthusiasm as before.

"So," I said, "how'd you discover this place?"

"Paul introduced me to it ages ago," Jeanna replied, her smile softening. "He's always had a knack for finding hidden gems. I've never brought anyone else here until tonight." She paused, her gaze lingering on me, and for a moment, the world narrowed down to just the two of us.

I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Then I'm honoured. I'll guard your secret spot with my life."

But as the evening wore on, the tension only thickened. The mysterious waiter kept lurking at the edges of my vision, his eyes darting toward us whenever he thought we weren't looking. It was as if he were trying to memorize every word we spoke.

Finally, as we were finishing dessert, he appeared again, moving to refill our glasses without a word. This time, I caught him staring directly at me, his eyes cold and calculating. When I met his gaze, he quickly turned away, but not before I caught a flicker of something in his eyes—recognition, or maybe even fear.

"What's with that guy?" I muttered under my breath as he walked off.

Jeanna shook her head. "I don't know. He seems fine to me"

As Steve set down the bill, Jeanna flashed me a triumphant grin. "We're splitting this," she declared.

"Come on, let me treat you," I protested, leaning in with a playful smile.

"Nope. We're going Dutch, and that's final," she shot back with a mock glare, her eyes twinkling.

I relented with a chuckle, handing over my card. "Alright"

We made our way to the door, the evening air slipping in through the cracks, carrying a chill that sent a shiver down my spine. As Jeanna pulled on her coat, she turned to face me, her eyes soft and searching. "So..." I began, stepping closer. The world seemed to narrow down to just us. Her gaze was locked on mine, a warmth that made my pulse quicken. I leaned in, drawn like a magnet, the space between us shrinking.

But just as I was about to close the distance—

Thud!

The strange waiter from before collided into me, stumbling to the ground. "Sorry, oh my god!" he sputtered, scrambling awkwardly to his feet.

I bit back a curse, forcing a tight smile as I helped him up. "No worries," I said, though my clenched jaw betrayed my irritation. Jeanna let out a soft laugh, trying to smooth over the sudden awkwardness.

"Well," she said, amusement dancing in her eyes, "seems like the universe isn't giving us any more time tonight."

"Guess not," I muttered, frustration bubbling beneath my polite smile. I turned to her, determined not to let the moment slip away entirely. "Let me at least walk you home," I offered, my voice low, almost pleading.

But she shook her head, that familiar stubborn glint in her gaze. "No, really. I'm fine. It's a perfect night for a walk alone."

My shoulders slumped, but I managed a smile. "Alright, but at least text me when you get home?"

Jeanna's expression softened, her eyes crinkling in that way that made my heart skip. "I will," she whispered, her voice almost lost in the night air.

As she turned and walked away, the streetlights casting a golden glow around her, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this wasn't quite the end of the night's strange encounters. I glanced back, searching for the waiter, but he was gone—vanished into the shadows as if he'd never been there at all.