AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I definitely don’t need to be the talk of the town again. Been there, done that.”
“Order up!” Sam yelled.
Annabella gave Eve a wink and then headed toward the kitchen. Back to work, her mind on making more money and hoping that the job at Gables turned into full time quickly. Then she wouldn’t need to keep working here at the café, and she wouldn’t have to pick and choose which nights to go out with her friends to have fun. When funds were low, decisions needed to be made, and she didn’t want to get to that unhappy place.
It was difficult enough coming back to The Point after several years. It had been hard living in this town after her parents and siblings died in the fire but she survived. She should have died at the storefront in the city, but fate had different plans for her. She would never forget that night, the screams, the pain, and waking up in the hospital burned and alone. She swallowed hard. This town was supportive, her aunt a positive influence and the only family Annabella had left in this world thanks to some criminals who torched the store front. The police never found out why and her aunt didn’t pursue it. No reason to. Annabella’s life changed and the fear of getting close to anyone, like really, really close to another human being was difficult.
She glanced at Eve as she delivered more food orders. Having close friends was a huge help getting through college. She would do anything for them, but beyond friendship, she could never see herself close to another person. To a man, falling in love, starting a family, because if something happened and she lost them like she lost her family, she wouldn’t survive. It was easier to keep a wall up and remain in control of her emotions and the connections she made. She sighed and felt sick at the thoughts. No wonder she never had a real boyfriend or any lovers. Can’t exactly get that close bond and connection to someone when she couldn’t let her guard down and let them in. Focus on work, making a career and making money. Everything else will fall into place, and in life she would always have her six friends. Nothing would come between them. Nothing.
****
“It’s a done deal. I sign tomorrow morning, but the Realtor already handed over the keys. We’ll meet there tomorrow with the G.C. he knows I want things started Tuesday.” Ivan said to Dante over the phone.
“Yes, he’ll be there by nine as you requested.”
“Excellent.”
“So how was the café and that crumb cake?” Dante asked as Ivan drove his Mercedes Benz AMG GT up the windy back roads towards his private estate.
“Interesting.” He said and then thought about Annabella. He wondered why she was working there. She looked so young too, and friendly, outgoing to other people. He didn’t like her talking to the men though. It bothered him and made him jealous and like he wanted to stake claim to her or something. Completely not normal for him to have this reaction. No woman got to him instantly. Hell, none got to him period.
“I’ll be at the house shortly.” He told Dante and then ended the call. His mind back to Annabella and what she was doing working as a waitress at a café in town. A town he lived in. She also was interviewing for a job at a club he owned along with Griska. His gut clenched. Coincidental? He didn’t leave much up for coincidence. Could she be after something? Could it be some sort of set up? He wondered, and that side of him, the suspicious, paranoid side began to imagine all different scenarios. None of them with good endings for Annabella.
He took the windy hills through Stony Point and up to his private estate on the mountain. He felt annoyed, angry now at the possibility that someone was trying to set him up, or perhaps spy on him. Living up here, forty-five minutes out of the city was supposed to be an escape from the chaos of the city and the dangers that were more prevalent there. Of course he wasn’t a fool. His security up here in what the locals called “the Point,” was high tech and his guards well trained.
He purchased several lots and owned the block leading up to the view that overlooked the Hudson River. Before he even got to the gate he saw the security and the gate opened. They knew he was coming before he even reached the bottom of the street before where his first lot appeared. He drove up the hill and then parked the car in the detached garage.
As he got out he looked toward the side gardens and the deep wooded trees. Privacy, seclusion, it was his resting place and rarely did he entertain except with friends. Commerce would be coming shortly, and staying over along with some other associates. He could hear the flowing water from the waterfall in the backyard from the driveway, his backyard a resort of sorts. Waterfalls, intricate vanishing horizon pool that gave the appearance of flowing out over the cliff of the mountains. It had taken a few years for the home to be complete, never mind the landscaping, and outdoor retreat. He wanted tranquility, but also perfection. A full functioning cabana, maids sleeping quarters, a house ran by six full time employees from personal chef, to maids and gardener. All people who were somehow related to the family, and loyal to him. To an extent. He didn’t trust them fully and he kept them on their toes.
He entered the house and Lubon, his personal chef, was there to greet him.
“Good morning sir.”
“Morning Lubon.” He said to him and Lubon nodded and continued cooking at the stove in the kitchen.
The place smelled incredible and in a few hours his guests would be arriving. He headed down the hall past the large living room wall to ceiling double sided fireplace and down the hallway to his office that overlooked the gardens. His cell phone rang and he looked at it seeing it was Griska Mulcheck.
“Da.” He answered.
“Hello Ivan, sorry to bother you, Dante said you wanted me to call you in regards to our deal. I hope we can sign papers this upcoming week. He mentioned a few concerns?”
“Minor ones, but ones that are important to resolve and confirm. I’m going to send you an e-mail shortly. It will indicate some minor changes. I would like a bit more information on a few of the employees, in particular that guy Berin that works behind the bar.”
“Berin? He’s been with me for four years.”
“He goes into the register more often than necessary, and he appears to be running some sort of side business by the bar.”
“Side business?”
“Pills maybe. Don’t need attention like that at the club, now do we? I’ll send the e-mail, and you can confirm when everything is complete.”
“Okay Ivan, whatever you need. Anyone else you want more information on?” Griska asked, and Ivan was tempted to ask about Annabella, but he would have Dante do that investigating. He could trust Dante, and deal with a little ribbing if necessary. Ivan ended the call and it was crazy, he had to stop himself from asking about the newest employee, an assistant manager who seemed to have some hidden talents. She was young. Too young, yet strong, capable, independent. He would see her again when he returned to the club at the end of the week.
The more he thought about her capabilities, the more he started to think that maybe she was a set up. Someone well trained in martial arts, a spy of sorts. It wouldn’t be the first time one of his enemies attempted to lure Ivan into a dangerous position in order to strike. Although he was never fooled before, nothing grabbed his full attention like Annabella had.
He sighed and then heard the knock on the door. Dante entered.
“I need you to do me a favor. No need for anyone but you to know and to do the investigating.”
