As Mia slipped through the doorway, she found herself in the narrow alleyway. She moved swiftly, her feet carrying her towards the end of the alley with a sense of purpose.
As she emerged from the alleyway, Mia was greeted by the warm sunlight and the hustle and bustle of the city. She took a deep breath, feeling a sense of freedom she hadn't experienced in weeks. She crossed over to the other side of the road, flagged down a taxi, her heart still racing with excitement. "where to", The driver, a gruff-looking man with a scowl on his face, eyed her in the rearview mirror.
Mia smiled to herself, feeling a sense of anticipation. "Just drive," she said, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. "I'll tell you when to stop."
The driver raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, his expression unchanging. Mia settled back into her seat, her mind racing with a lot of thought.
As she was lost in thought, her mind racing with memories and emotions, the driver's sudden outburst interrupted her reverie. "Idiot! Crétin! Zut alors!" he shouted, cursing in French, slamming his hand on the steering wheel. "You almost took out my side mirror, imbécile!" Mia's eyes snapped back to the present, and she watched as the driver gestured angrily at another car.
As the taxi sped on, the scent of freshly baked pizza crust and simmering tomato sauce wafted through the air, transporting Mia back to a familiar place. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized they were close to her destination. "I want to get out here," she said, her voice firm.
The driver, still muttering under his breath, pulled over to the side of the road. "Finally," he grumbled, as Mia opened the door and stepped out. But just as she was about to walk away, the driver honked the horn, making her jump. "Hey, you owe me!" he shouted, his face red with annoyance. Mia's eyes widened as she realized she hadn't paid the fare. "Oh", she said, awkwardly "so...erm here's the thing... ", she said awkwardly thinking of wat to say next. "the thing is I... actually I got robbed this morning, funny story, they took my cash and everything I have...so...."
The driver raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "you're broke.." he stated, annoyance evident in his voice.
"yes I'm... broke, funny ryt" Mia nodded, feeling a twinge of embarrassment
The driver snorted, "how're you gonna pay me then",
Mia hesitated, then reached up to unclasp her necklace and bracelet. "you know what, here," she said her voice firm aking off her necklace and bracelet that she always wear, "They're valuable, cause they belongs to my mom, she gave them to me on my 5th birthday, you know..."
The driver muttered under his breath, "Great, another entitled kid who thinks the world owes them a favor... probably thinks she's doing me a favor by giving me this junk... kids these days, no respect for their elders... think they can just charm their way out of anything..." He shook his head, his expression unchanging. "Whatever, keep your stupid jewelry." He grumbled, putting the taxi in gear. "You kids and your handouts... can't even pay for a taxi ride... probably going to go cry to mommy and daddy now..." He began to drive off, leaving Mia standing on the sidewalk.
Mia smirked, yelling after the taxi, "Thanks for being a grumpy dumbass!" She watched as the taxi drove away, then continued her walk.
As she approached the front of a building, she let out a deep sigh before pushing open the door and stepping inside. Mia's stomach growled at the aroma of foods, hitting from all directions and she took a seat at a small table by the window.
As she picked up the menu, a lady walked up to her holding a pen and jotter book. "Welcome to Fiesta Flavor, what can I get for you today?" she asked in a bland tone.
Mia scanned the menu, her eyes widening at the prices. "Urm, water I think," she said, "since when did a Caramel Macchiato and a slice of New York Cheesecake become so expensive... $50 dollars?!"
"Oh my gawd," Katherine said, surprisingly taking away the menu blocking Mia's face. "Emilia, oh my gawd, it's really you!"
Katherine's face lit up with a bright smile as she dropped her pen and jotter book on the table. "Emilia, oh my gawd, it's really you!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion.
Mia's eyes welled up with tears as she stood up, and Katherine rushed into her arms. They hugged each other tightly, holding on for a long moment.
For a full two minutes, they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, tears of joy streaming down their faces. The restaurant around them melted away, leaving only the two friends, reunited.
Katherine was the first to break the silence, her voice muffled against Mia's shoulder. "I never thought I'd see you again, Emilia. I was so worried about you."
Mia pulled back, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. "I'm so sorry, Katherine. I'm sorry I couldn't even find a way to reach out to you..."
Katherine's expression softened, and she reached out to gently shush Mia. "Shh, Emilia, it's not your fault. Don't apologize," she said, her voice filled with compassion.
Katherine pulled Mia into another tight hug, whispering softly into her ear. "We have a lot to talk about, and I want to hear everything. My break is in 10 minutes, and we're going to grab some fresh air and catch up."
Katherine pulled back, her eyes shining with excitement. "I have to finish my shift, but like I said, my break is in 10 minutes. Can you wait for me?" she asked, her voice hopeful.
Mia nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'll wait," she said, her voice soft.
Katherine grinned, relief washing over her face. "Great! I'll meet you outside, okay?" she said, before hurrying off to attend to her other tables.
************
Jonathan's grip on his phone tightened, his eyes locked on his father's smug expression. "What are you doing here, Father?" he asked, his voice low and even.
His father chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down Jonathan's spine. "What am I doing here? This is my company, Jonathan. I built Blacksmith Industries from the ground up. I think I have every right to be here," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
As his father spoke, Jonathan's grip on his phone tightened even more, his knuckles turning white as his fist seemed to tremble with restrained anger. "We have things to talk about, Maurizio," his father said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Father and son talk."
With a wave of his hand, Jonathan's father dismissed the guards standing at attention outside the elevator. His own guards, imposing men with cold, hard faces, stepped forward to take their place, their eyes scanning Jonathan with a mixture of curiosity and hostility.
As the elevator doors slid shut behind them, Jonathan's glare intensified, his eyes screaming danger and hatred. If looks could kill, his father would have been long gone, incinerated by the fury burning within Jonathan.
As the elevator hit the top floor, the doors slid open with a soft chime. Jonathan strode out, his long legs eating up the distance to the mini bar in his office. He poured himself a generous measure of whiskey, gulping it down in one swift motion. The amber liquid burned down his throat, but he welcomed the distraction from the seething anger that threatened to consume him.
He hated his father, hated the way he manipulated and controlled those around him, hated the way he crushed anyone who dared to oppose him. His father was everything he was trying not to be - ruthless, power-hungry, and devoid of empathy. But Jonathan had no choice, no escape from the legacy of his family's name and the expectations that came with it.
If the world thought Jonathan was a monster, a devil walking on earth, then his father was Azazel, the embodiment of darkness and chaos.
Jonathan's eyes never left his father's face as he asked coldly, "What do you want to talk to me about, Father?"
But instead of responding, his father smiled, a cold, calculating smile. Pulling out a sleek, matte-black FN 5.7, shooting it in Jonathan's direction without thinking twice.