As much as she would like to shake off the persistence of the terrible feeling of fear she felt, Laura assuredly looked calm on the outside.
Determined, she gritted her teeth, looked up at Fred, and equally bore the gaze of Fred's eyes at her, refusing to be intimidated. She would not let him see how scared he made her.
Fred broke the silence, his tone casual but his smile unsettling.
"At least you could be polite enough to say hi, my lady." He said as he tilted his head and studied her as though waiting for her to respond with something more than silence.
Laura clenched her jaw, pushing down the urge to recoil.
She forced herself to respond, her voice tinged with disgust. "What do you want from me, Fred? And how did you even know I was here?".
Fred's smile deepened a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Walls have ears, darling," he replied smoothly. "A little bird told me."
His gaze swept over her, lingering as though assessing every detail.
"The dress suits you, though," he added, reaching out to touch the edge of her apron with a slow, deliberate motion that sent a shiver up her spine.
Laura took a step back, her discomfort mounting.
She swallowed and collected her thoughts before speaking again in an even tone.
"Please, as you can see, I need to get to work now. Jerry's waiting for me at the counter." She gestured toward Jerry, hoping Fred would take the hint and step aside.
But Fred didn't move. No one could move him, and he continued to stare back at her, a smile crept up on the right side of his mouth.
"What's your hurry kitten?" He spoke softly. "I own this neighborhood. I will decide when you start work."
His voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it, a power play that made her stomach twist.
Just then, Jerry's voice cut through the tension. "Fred, let her be. She's new here, and I don't want her getting into any trouble."
Jerry's tone was firm, and Laura felt a surge of relief as he came to stand behind Fred, his expression one of quiet resolve.
Fred laughed, turning to face his cousin. "Oh, hey there, cous!" He clapped Jerry on the shoulder with a casual familiarity. "Didn't know you were so protective."
Laura stood off to the side as she still found it hard to believe they were related.
Jerry was kind and humble, while Fred always gave a dangerous confidence that left her uneasy.
Jerry seemed to sense her surprise and offered a small, reassuring smile.
"Laura, once again meet Fred. He's my cousin…and also the CEO of a clothing company." He explained and shot Fred a warning glance. "And that's all there is to it."
Fred's eyes flicked back to Laura, his gaze softer but no less intense.
"Nice to meet you again, Laura." He lingered on the words, watching her reaction.
"Jerry, let's go," Laura said, her tone firm.
Not waiting for any reply from Fred, she pivoted on her heel and moved towards the counter.
As she turned her back to him, she felt Fred's gaze boring down on her, sending a cold shiver coursing through her body.
She halted and turned around, only to hear a certain part of Jerry's soft speech, but could not catch the rest.
"Fred, please, just leave her alone. She's not like the others" Jerry whispered to Fred.
Fred's low chuckle echoed behind her.
"I never said I needed her for anything, cousin. You're the one getting all defensive." Fred added.
"I know you, Fred. Just…stay away from her, alright?" Jerry's tone was sharp with an unspoken warning.
Fred laughed again, a darker edge in his voice.
"If you're that interested, why don't you just tell her?" he teased.
Laura kept her head down, willing herself to focus on anything other than the exchange behind her. She didn't look up until she heard Fred's parting words.
"See you at home, Jerry. Don't forget to call first, just in case I'm…occupied." His tone was taunting, an implication Laura couldn't ignore.
She had a feeling she understood what he meant, and the thought made her feel cold inside.
As Fred strode towards the door, he cast one last glance over his shoulder, catching her eye with a wink before he exited. Laura's stomach churned.
"Let's focus on work, yeah? Enough about Fred." Jerry requested as he focused on Laura.
He handed her a small handbook and explained "Here, this contains the cafe's rules and guidelines. Take a look when you get a chance."
Laura took the booklet, her attention snapping back to her duties. She flipped through the pages and began to read aloud, trying to immerse herself in her new role. "Report to work by 8 a.m., greet customers, take their orders".
Jerry nodded as she continued listing the guidelines, his eyes kind and encouraging.
"Do your best, Laura. If you make it through the trial period, we'd love to keep you on." Jerry encouraged her.
She smiled, grateful for his support. "Thank you, Jerry. You're…a good person," she said, feeling the sincerity in her voice.
Their conversation was interrupted by a customer, a woman with a warm smile who requested a menu. Laura quickly gathered herself, handling the interaction with ease, grateful for the distraction.
As she took her orders and walked over to the lady's table to serve the woman her order, the customer studied her thoughtfully, a curious glint in her eyes.
"You look familiar. Are you the young woman who…stood up to Fred Walker outside this cafe a couple of days ago?" The lady asked.
Laura felt her stomach twist.
She straightened, meeting the woman's gaze, her voice steady but wary. "Yes, that was me."
The woman's face softened with concern.
"No one's ever done that to him…especially in public. You're brave, dear, but be careful. Fred doesn't let things go easily."
Laura's heart beat faster, the woman's warning echoing in her mind. But she forced a smile. "Thank you for the advice, ma'am, but I have no intention of letting him push me around."
Returning to the counter, Laura was lost in thought, replaying her interactions with Fred. She barely noticed Jerry's concerned look as he asked, "Everything okay?".
"Yes," she replied quickly, brushing off the worry. Still, the discomfort she had felt was hard to shake off.
There was a racket outside all of a sudden. Shouts filled the air, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps.
Laura snapped out of her thoughts, her head jerking toward the entrance.
"Hold him! Stop him! He's a thief!" Voices clamored from outside as a chaotic energy flooded the street.
"What's going on?" Laura asked, her eyes wide as she looked at Jerry.
He shared her nervous look, and without a word, they both rushed toward the door, drawn by the clamor of voices and the unknown turmoil waiting just beyond the cafe's walls.