CHAPTER FOUR: THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER

The next day, I woke up with the feeling that something huge was about to happen.

Sometimes, I got such vague feelings and often they became true. Since I already thought myself to be weird enough without adding such freaky feelings, I had learned to ignore them. So, I brushed off my feelings and got about the day as I normally do.

When it was time to leave to the club, I brought Morris to Mrs. Blake’s house. She welcomed him with a warm smile and started cooing at him in a baby voice while he settled into her arms with a proud demeanor, welcoming her attention. Well, he had turned into a pampered prince by now. Mrs. Blake took well into her cat sitter duty than I expected. I left them both to their business with a smile and left her house.

On reaching the club, I was greeted with the sight of my coworkers buzzing around like bees. It appeared as if we have got a busy day ahead. The club was already starting to get crowded and the rush hours would only come later on. Oh, I was in for a backbreaking day ahead and I consoled myself that the tips would be great too.

Seeing me, Sara heaved a sigh of relief.

"Why are you standing there like a dummy! Get your lazy ass inside. We need an extra set of hands like from yesterday!" she called out.

I rolled my eyes at her theatrics, but I rushed to change into my uniform, anyway.

I was tired just an hour after my shift began, and the rush hours were just getting started. I leaned into the wall and rubbed my eyes with exhaustion.

I opened my eyes to see my friend Claire bubbling with excitement. I raised my brows at her and she fanned herself.

"Oh, you lucky bitch! You have got a fantabulastic droolicious specimen of a man on Table ten! Don’t let this one go to waste like you do with all other handsome men. I am telling you; even you wouldn’t be able to resist this one!" she shrieked.

I rolled my eyes at her enthusiasm. My friend loved men, and she was not picky when it came to their looks. She loved to flirt with anyone who had above average looks, and they were all 'droolicious’ according to her. Don’t get me wrong, she was not a slut or anything, but she was not particularly lucky when it came to the matter of men since she tended to pick out the assholes. So, I didn’t pay any attention to her rants and turned to go to take the order.

It was not as if I was going to flirt with a customer, even if he was as handsome as she claimed. I never cared for men and I was sure that however handsome this one was, I was not going to fall for his charms either. I had enough to deal with as it was without adding men into the equation. Starting a life from a blank slate was not as easy as it sounds.

So, I walked towards the table with my head down, looking at my notepad, with my pen poised to note down the order. As I reached the table, I pasted a charming smile on my face.

"Hello! I am Rhea! I would be your waitress for the day. Are you ready to order now or shall I comeback after a while?" I repeated the practised words as usual.

“Hmm... Rhea, is it? Nice name.”

I froze as I heard the husky voice, and I felt tremors running down my spine.

I slowly raised my head and met the bluest eyes I had ever seen... Bluer than the ocean..so blue, they seemed to twinkle like twin pools of sapphire. Oh Morris, you have got tough competition buddy, you may just lose the title for the most beautiful eyes!

I ran my eyes over his entire figure. He was wearing a suit but didn’t look like the typical businessmen. For one thing, he was not clean shaved, and had a five o’clock shadow on his face. And I couldn’t figure out if his hair was stylishly messed up, or he just didn’t bother to do anything with it at all. Either way, it looked good. Too good! And those lips..

I was brought out of my fantasies when those oh so kissable lips turned up into a smirk. It was as if he realized the havoc the hormones were wreaking on my body.

I bit my lips to bring myself out of the lust-filled haze I was falling into. I was normally not this affected by men, and I didn’t know what was happening to me. It was not as if he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Not that he was not gorgeous, he was. But I was used to gorgeous men.

There was just something about him, something so magnetic that I was losing all control of my thoughts. There seemed to be an aura of power and danger surrounding him. If I didn’t know any better, the one word I would say was ‘otherworldly’... but I knew better and just stopped myself in time from uttering the words ‘What are you?’.

I shook my head. I didn’t know whether to stand there and admire him or run screaming for the hills. My body was craving for him, but my mind was alerting me that he had danger written all over him. I knew that I should listen to the voice of reason and stay the hell out of his way. The way he was affecting me was not normal, at least not for me. It would be better to avoid temptations to stay safe. Ironically, he didn’t seem to be much affected by my presence, unlike all the other customers. Normally, it would have been a good thing, but it just set off warning bells in my head today. This man was bad for me..really bad!

I tried to gather myself and pasted back the smile that had vanished from my face.

"Uh... Thanks! So, your order?" I stammered out.

He smiled lazily and stretched out like a lazy cat, reminding me again of Morris.

"I would take whatever drink you recommend," he drawled out lazily.

I felt my mind go blank and the only drink that came to my mind was one that even a teetotaler could tell.

"Manhattan?" I blurted out. 

He raised his brows and I could swear that he had laughter in his eyes. "Sure! Excellent choice," he said.

I cursed when I realized that he didn’t bat an eye before ordering what I said. I should have said something costly and he would have ordered it too. Then, my tips would have been greater too!

I went back to take his order. While getting his drink, I pondered over my reactions. I was too affected by him. It would be in my best interest to avoid him. I decided that I wouldn’t let myself be affected by him anymore. But I knew that all my resolves would be in vain and I would be a swooning mess once I reach his vicinity again.

I got his drink and hesitantly walked over towards his table.

"Here is your drink. Enjoy!" I said nervously. 

"Do you need anything else?" I asked him after remembering my manners.

My voice came out breathless from my nervousness and seeing his brows raise again, I cursed myself as I realized how the words sounded like a double entendre. I turned beet red.

"Just call me if you are ready to order anything else. I would be over there!" I blurted out as I pointed behind me and made a hasty retreat.

I hit my forehead, annoyed at myself. I decided that I wouldn’t go to his table again, even if I missed the tips. I would just send someone else over if he wants anything else.

I prayed that he wouldn’t gesture me over. I avoided looking in his direction and it was a hard task. I could feel his glance on me the entire time, and whenever I threw a quick glance in his direction, I found him watching me with a half smile.

When it was time to give his bill, I walked towards his table nervously but stopped short when I saw that his table was empty. On the table, there was a hundred-dollar bill and a note under the empty glass.

I slowly picked up the note. It was written in neat handwriting and it read, 'Until we meet again, Rhea...'

Below the note was signed A.J. Was it some short form for his name? And why would he say that we would meet again?

I looked at the hundred-dollar bill in my hand and didn’t know whether to be happy or afraid. He paid hundred dollars for a drink, which cost around ten dollars.

I chose to be afraid. The mysterious stranger who named himself as A.J was definitely up to something. Whatever it was, I had a feeling that my peaceful life was going to be in shambles from now. I just hoped that I could save myself from whatever troubles were heading my way...