I wiped the sweat off my forehead. The kitchens were as hot as ever. I glanced over my shoulder to see Min flirting with Jez, again. I promised myself I'd just tell Jez about Min's crush so that Jez would stop hurting the poor boy. Every day after work Min would go home and cry on his sister, Nisa's shoulder. Nisa worked as the Head Gardener in the Duo castle. She's the one who keeps the palace grounds looking spotless.
I sighed, and turned back around. I shook my head as I walked out of the kitchen to serve our last regular of the night.
As I set the plates down in front of the customer and smiled at his thanks the front door opened revealing a tall man. He had a long black cloak that reached all the way to his ankles. His long brown hair was pulled back with a brown leather chord. His silver eyes were narrowed skeptically looking directly at me, scrutinizing me.
I heard Jez's booming voice behind me as he addressed the strange man.
"Hello, sir. Sit anywhere and we will have someone attend to you." He said sternly and a bit protectively.
"I would like her to serve me." The man pointed at me. His voice like black silk.
"We will have whoever we want to serve you." Jez said a bit snappily. The man only bowed his head slightly in respect and sat on the chair next to the door. Jez gestured for me and Min, who had come out when the man spoke, to head to the kitchen with him.
"You don't have to serve him." Jez addressed to me.
"Yes, I do. I need to find out what he wants. Who knows, maybe he needs a job done." I said, matter of factly.
"Not one of your clients has ever visited you here before! Nobody is supposed to know that this is where The Seeker works their day job! If he is really here because he wants to hire you , then that means the cats out of the bag and all the nobles know. Hell, maybe even the Duos themselves!" He said practically screaming.
"Jez! Calm down, your going to attract too much attention. Someone's probably already concerned with your panic attack!" I hissed at him. He opened his mouth to complain some more, but I held my hand, effectively silencing him. "I am going to see what he wants, like it or not, Jez. Your going to have to deal with it." He sighed.
"Fine. But the second things look bad, you get your hienie out of there. Understood?"
"Yes. I'll be fine, I promise." I smiled and stepped out of the kitchen. The man was still right where we left him. It honestly wouldn't have surprised me if he hadn't even breathed since we took our leave. He just there, rigid as a statue, an emotionless expression and his focused directly in front of him. Even his hands were folded neatly in his lap. I sighed and wen to stand next to him.
"Hello Sir, what would you like to order?" I said in the tone I usually use to address the customers.
"Coffee, black. Nothing else." He said calmly, looking me in the eye. I nodded my head, not bothering to right down the order.
"One minute, Sir." I said and walked back to the kitchen.
"What 'id he order?" asked Jez.
"Black coffee. He said he doesn't want anything else." I responded
"A man who likes black coffee, huh? No wonder he's so dark and mysterious." Min says from his spot on the counter. "And cute." He adds as an after thought.
"He's a customer, Min. He seems pretty dangerous, too. Don't go and get yourself mixed in something that we can't get you out of." Said Jez, acting headier than normal. I narrowed my eyes at Jez, studying him. He sounded a tad aggressive, maybe even a little...Jealous? I smiled a little and went to pour the coffee.
I went back out with the hot coffee in my hand.
The man looked at me and smiled a little. I began to relax. This wasn't going to be as bad as I thought. I set the coffee down in front of him. He nodded his thanks before taking a drink.
"May I ask your name?" I said to him as he set his coffee down.
"No." He said, his voice flat. I raised my eyebrow.
"Well then, is there a particular reason that you requested me specifically, sir?" I said sir as a bit of an afterthought.
"Please, sit with me, Amaria." He gave a small hand gesture to the open chair in front of him.
I glanced back to the kitchens and saw both Jez and Min looking at me and the mysterious man. Jez nodded an affirmation, pushing Min to go help the last of our regular who already had his money out to pay. The man, Kalik, glanced warily at me and the strange man. I gave him a reassuring smile, but he didn't seem satisfied.
When I turned to look at the stranger again he was staring at me in interest. Crap. I hope he isn't one of those weirdos that randomly comes in and proposes to me. That happened at least once a month.
I sat slowly, but gracefully enough. "So, what exactly is it that you want, sir?" I tried to keep all emotion from showing. I guess I need to work on that because he began to chuckle.
"No need to get defensive, I am not here to hurt you. I am here because my employers sent me." He took a sip of his coffee.
"Employers?" I internally was relived, someone must want me to steal something, but, as I thought about it, none of my clients have enough money to hire multiple people for one job. Thats why I did it, 15 Hiens, cheap, but enough for me to have the necessities, and then some.
"Yes, my employers. They are...impressed, but not necessarily pleased, if you understand." I gulped. One of the nobles must have found out about me. They must have seen my face on one of my raids. "Do not fret, child. They won't kill you, yet. Rather they would like to meet you, in person."
"I am in the middle of work I can't leave now." I stated horsely.
"I am aware. But I am also aware that this cafe is due to close shortly, 5 minutes, I do believe. I will wait right here until you are ready to leave and will escort you personally to my employers." My whole body was coiled up, as if I was preparing to strike. He could tell that, and I knew it. His hand began to lower beneath the table. I glanced back to the counter behind me. Min and Jez were watching us worriedly. I smiled at them and turned back to face the man.
"Fine. I'll go. Let me just finish up here and get my things." I said neutrally. On the inside though I was sighing in defeat.
I got caught.
A/N
Sorry that I'm shitty at updating. I hope you like my story so far so until next time. Read and review.
~Demonfire16
