MAYA'S POV
Traffic was busier than usual, especially for this part of town. The Uber had to drop me off two blocks away because the streets were crowded. I couldn't risk the fare being more expensive than I could afford. Thanking the driver, I got down from the car and continued my journey on foot.
From a distance, I noticed that the front entrance was quite busy for a Monday afternoon, there was a queue at the door which was very unusual. People were milling around, some seemingly busy while others looked agitated like they were waiting for something to happen. Enrique stood by the front door acting as a host, I could see people around him, they looked eager as they listened to him.
Confused, I turned towards the back of the shack and let myself in through the door which doubled as the employee's entrance and the supply door for goods. It opened up into the break room, this room was filled with cabinets and faded chairs where we relaxed during our break. There were also two doors adjacent to each other, one served as the Manager's office while the other as the supply closet. Another door laid at the wall opposite to the back door I had come in through, this door led to the service area where we served our customers.
D&Scones was a diner, having a charming ninety fifty theme which made it look homey. It was by no means the rundown shack Alexander had described it as. It wasn't great either but it was the best I could at that time. Fresh out of college, I needed a means to support myself. Alexander had cut me off after my mother's accident so I had to live in the dorms throughout my college years.After graduation, I couldn't go back home at least not until my Mom was okay. I crashed with a friend for a while before getting a job at D & Scones. The pay was by no means great then, but it was enough to get by.
"You scared us!!...." A frantic voice sounded behind me.
I flinched, shutting the door close before turning my attention towards the figure standing behind me. Arms crossed around his chest and a scowl firmly etched on his face, Mons Pierre was the picture perfect image of the word pissed.
"Why have you been all over the internet?"
"Am I?" I asked, placing my hand over my chest where my heart laid, tilting my head to the side I smiled. That kind of smile that children had when they were caught with their hands inside the cookie and mouth smeared with chocolate.
His hands uncurled from around his chest and dangled at his sides. I could feel the tension radiating off him. He stared at me with worry, eyes flicking over my frame as if to assure himself that I was alright. My smile dimmed slowly before disappearing, in its place was a contrite expression. I hated to worry him and I could only imagine the thoughts that went through his mind when he saw the news. Mons Pierre was more like the father I had lost than Alexander could ever be. He took me under his wing, offering me a job when I was a foot away from living on the streets. I could never repay him for his kindness, he had always given me days off when I needed to see my mom at the hospital and he did not probe when I wanted to be alone. I could say he understood me and treated me more like his daughter than a staff. All the staff at the diner loved Mons Pierre, we couldn't have asked for a better boss. Under his roof we were one big happy family, well except from now though.
"I am not in the mood for your games, young lady"he gruffed, his voice getting deeper at the end of his words.
He sighed, clearly exasperated.
From the corner of my eyes, I could see Dana and Shirley standing by the door frame. They were clearly eavesdropping and were both doing a bad job at being inconspicuous. Dana caught my gaze and smiled sheepishly, she mouthed 'you have got a lot of explaining to do' before pulling Shirley with her. I sighed under my breath before focusing my attention back to Mons Pierre.
"It is complicated, Mons" I replied.
His shoulders sagged as he stared at me. I could see the disappointment in his eyes but he made a move to persuade me to talk. Maybe if he had pushed, I would have spilled my guts out to him. Instead, he placed his hand on my head and stroked my hair.
"We were worried, I tried calling you but it was going through"
Fumbling through my purse, I brought out my phone. The screen was broken from when I smashed it against the ground but it was still working. I had found it in the corner of the room along with my shoes, and it seemed as though they did not know what to do with it.
"It got broken so I didn't receive your calls"
His hands paused in hair, his mouth opened as though he wanted to speak before it went shut again. He looked hesitant at me, contemplating on whether to speak or not. I urged him on with my gaze. Taking my hint, he asked
"Are you really married to him?"
"Yes" came my prompt reply.
"Are you in any sort of trouble"
Yes, I wanted to say but the words got stuck in my throat. He couldn't help me and I could not risk Alexander going true on his promise. So I plastered a fake smile, my cheeks hurting from the effort
"No I am not, nothing is going to change though, you will still get to put up with me as much as you do if not more" He smiled, but his eyes were sad as though he did not believe my words, heck I did not even believe myself. I was barely hanging on a thin thread. He patted my hair before moving back, crossing his hands over his chest he went into his 'boss mode'.
"You will work on the accounts today, the diner is too crowded. Many of them are asking questions about you"
Realization dawned on me, the crowd at the front of the diner suddenly made sense. Many people were curious on how a waitress snagged a billionaire hotshot so they decided to investigate. At least Mons Pierre was getting good business out of the whole ordeal.
I nodded my head at him before making my way towards the Manager's office. He usually did the accounts because none of us were ever willing to do it