ar keys?" Maya shou

iately caught the hem of my t

rsleeping for work wasn't bad enough-now this fall on top of it. I scrambled to my feet, duste

ment like a trapped rabbit. I wat

u looking fo

rried eyes, and said, "I think I left

ld be noticed immediately-Maya was the head chef at the restaurant, and I was the manager

changing room while I went straight to my tiny office. My day was packed with paperwork,

a knock at

id, setting the

tresses, Lera,

tomer is ask

n so peaceful until now. I si

on? Who's serv

but I have no idea

go fi

an elegant brunette. The man looked oddly familiar, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn

the manager, Vera.

stry"-she gestured toward the plate-"is so wonderful that I s

hind me, "would you please call t

e guests, I added, "We'r

the room. I excused myself and stepped aside to take a call from one of

seen that

held my

t, my friend deserved every bit of praise coming her way. When I hung up, I allowed my

hifted to

slowly over Maya from head to toe, as t

led from behind me,

, casting one last glance at my be

ears were catching up with him; running the restaurant had become increasingly exhausting. Still, he

hat always meant he was displeased, "how did you miss

you that this supplier was unreliable. Let me remi

feeling completely drained. The stress of the past few days nee

aya came to get me, and

f the café's back door, a w

s quiet and empty as always. Maya noticed my unease,

u're looking around

bad feeling,

n. "This time I'll make sure troub

stincts w

ya let go of my arm and took a cautious step back. I kept my eyes fixed on them. If

nd us made m

same one who had been sitting with the brunette.

ed where I'd s

ad encountered at the ho

go!" I

-or rather, ba

she's mine now. As for you... we

ted to erase their tracks. I glanced behind me;

reached fo

oticed an

doubt there's anything in tha

ed it, pulled out a small spr

t out l

are you planning