Chapter III
Nick threw his cards down on the poker table in disgust. He had just lost all but five hundred of the ten thousand that he had just won several hands ago. The sum was just a drop in the bucket of what he owed to the diner and the loan shark Crane and his associates. Nick lowered his head into his hands. How did this happen to him? Granted he was not the perfect son but he thought that if he took over something that his father loved it would keep him away from gambling. He was an idiot to think he would change. He knew that he would just have more money to spend. The responsibility just made things worse. The stress of the day to day management of the diner made him gamble more. He was his own worst enemy. He wanted to keep all the money so instead of hiring an accountant that he could manipulate; he asked Abigail to balance at the books. He did not count on her being a wiz with numbers and finding out his theft. She threatened to go to his mother since she owned the majority of the business. Nick knew that his mother would not think twice about going to the cops. He never begged so hard in his life. He promised to replace the 150,000 that he owed if she just gave him time. She
gave him two weeks. Nick groaned and moved away from the poker table. He was in a bind and borrowed the money from the Englishman that's what the people on the street called him but his name was Crane. He used that money to repay the diner and now Crane wanted his money back…doubled. Now, he was in real trouble. Crane and his henchmen would make him bleed. He was in so much trouble but he just could not stop. No one could know his evil. Abigail could not tell anyone it would ruin his name. He could pay off Crane with money from the diner. He just had to make sure that Abbie would not talk. So when Crane threatened to kill someone he cared about her name fell from his lips. They would attack her instead of him. He would be able to redeem himself. He would be whole again and no one would know of his evil.
*()*
He was there early. He did not know why being dismissed by her plagued his sleep last night. He was grumpy now. He only slept for three hours when his thoughts were not on Miss Mills and her friends trying to get rid of him. He did not care about their get together. He was not use to anyone dismissing him. He was not Nick Hawley. He was Abraham Van Brunt and no one dismissed him, especially not some small time dimpled smile waitress. He was not going to let her think that she had bested him. He had taken down many men tougher than she was. He would not lose this battle.
Abraham watched as her dark blue SUV pulled into the back of the diner's parking lot and park. He felt anxious for the first time about something that did not involve money. He got out of the car before Claude reached the door. His gaze never faltered from the driver's side door as he walked across the parking lot towards her vehicle.
Abigail grabbed her purse and exited her vehicle. She did not sense the man behind her because her mind was elsewhere. When she turned around Abraham stood right there staring at her as if she had insulted him. A scream escaped her. She was not expecting anyone to be there this early.
"Abraham!" Her hands flew up towards her chest. Her face showed her fear and surprise as she stared up at him. Abraham gave no notion that he was even willing to apologize for frightening her. He just stood there staring down at her. He looked angry to her. She hoped that she had not caused his disagreeable attitude. Abigail turned and closed her car door.
"I was not expecting anyone here this early."
"I was up so I decided to come in."
Abigail smiled up at the man in the dark blue suit and dark sunglasses. Of course, he was an Adonis in world of average men. "Dedicated already I see,"
Abraham frowned when that dimpled smile formed as she turned away from him and walked towards the diner. Dedicated to work here, was she intoxicated? The only reason he was here was because he did not have a reason to go to jail yet. Although the day had just begun, he had a feeling that his luck would change as soon as the owner Nick Hawley arrived. Abraham followed Abigail towards the locked back doors.
"The people here do grow on you."
"You make them sound like a fungus." Her laughter filled the air and surprised him.
"No like friends, you have friends don't you."
Abraham bristled at her question. What business was it of hers? People were only good to you if you had something that they wanted and he had a lot of things that people wanted. He trusted no one and that was the way he wanted it. "I know people and those people would never be my friends. Not everyone can be trusted."
Abigail unlocked the door and walked inside with Abraham following closely behind her. She put in her code for the alarm and then sat her purse down on the counter.
"What about that gentleman that came with you your first day here?"
"Frank?"
"Yes. You only glared at him twice. I've gotten at least ten in that first day. Isn't he your friend?" Abigail walked by him towards the front of the diner turning on the lights as she passed the switches on the wall. Abraham followed and watched her move around the clean empty diner once they reached the front. She rolled up the clean shades and let the sunlight invade the diner and fight with the electricity.
"Frank is my vice president."
Abigail looked over her left shoulder and saw that he was watching her like a lion watched a gazelle. She did not know if that was good or bad. Was her line of questioning angering him? He did not have to answer her. His dark glasses made her wonder what he was looking at. Was he even looking at her? Abigail turned around and returned her attention to rolling up the shades.
"You can take off your glasses."
Abraham frowned at the smile that followed the command. She thought that she had some power over him but she was mistaken. The sunlight from the window rolled over his face and he felt the heat fill his body. She continued rolling up the shades ignoring him. She was expecting him to comply. He could see her smiling even as she worked. Why was she so happy? Abraham slowly removed his glasses and stared at the occupied woman smiling at herself.
'Why are you smiling?"
Abigail turned and faced the man with the intense blue eyes. He still looked as if he wanted to strangle her but at least he was asking her questions instead of just staring at her. It was a small step but it was a step towards making him …human.
"I love the people here and I love hearing about their lives. They are very interesting. People are interesting if you get to know them. However, the main reason that I am smiling is because I don't work for you."
Another dimpled smile made his muscles twitch. What did she know about any of his business dealings? People fought to work for him. He was the most sought after employer in Sleepy Hollow. She had no idea how desirable his company was. "No, you work for Nick Hawley. He is a man of remarkable character that gets along with all especially the elderly. He is a man with unimaginable scruples and etiquette towards his employees; especially to you Miss Mills."
Abigail rolled up the last of the shades and then returned her attention to the billionaire with the attitude. "He is easily controlled."
"Sex,"
The look of horror and surprise that filled her face made him smile. He had made her feel uncomfortable. Usually it took him twenty minutes to make people feel uncomfortable not three days. His happiness began to fade when she started chuckling.
"No, Henry. I'd have to be on drugs to sleep with Nick Hawley."
The smile on Abraham's face was completely gone when she began walking toward him with a curious look on her face. "You think that low of me because I work here? You think that I would do something like that because we poor folks have no morals?"
Whatever she was implying Abraham was not having any of it. His face contorted into a frown as he prepared to answer her accusation but she smiled at him and walked by him.
"Want to help me in the kitchen after you change?"
Abraham followed her with his eyes as she walked towards the back. She wanted to make him angry. What was wrong with this woman? Either she did not know what she was doing or she did.
How did he end up here lighting the dinosaur grill and oven Luke cooked on every day? The man was a magician to send out the good smelling meals that he did on this apparatus.
"Wow, you got it on the first try. It usually takes me forever to light it."
Abraham threw the match away and stared down at the woman standing beside him. Abigail stared up at the gorgeous giant in the diner uniform. He did not look so angry now. He looked approachable and human. She knew none of his workers ever saw this face. Maybe he felt sorry for saying that she would sleep with Nick. After a moment of thought, Abigail knew that he did not. He actually smiled at her disgusted facial expression. Abigail looked away from Abraham and looked at the lit stove.
"It must be a man thing or something."
Abraham followed her gaze to stove. "It must be."
Abigail moved away from him and began setting out Luke's cooking utensils. "Luke should really have his own restaurant. He is an excellent chef. He would shame every single one of your five star cooks."
"You speak so highly of him. Does he not think that way for himself? Why is he here if he is as good as you say?"
"He did not go to a school to learn to cook. He leaned from his parents and Chef Gerald Frace'. He is a well-known master with food However; they do not look at Luke's skill they look at his lack of education at one of their schools and money."
"They run a business and want the best."
"No they want someone who is not Luke. They did not even give him a chance to show them. He is our anchor and if he leaves everyone else will."
Abraham grunted. Abigail raised an eyebrow at the sound. "What is that for?"
"Henry says the same thing about you, although you don't seem to want to leave here."
Abigail faced her coworker. "You think that this is the only skill that I have."
"I don't really care about your skills."
Abigail moved closer to him. "Oh I know that. You're the type that thinks that the world revolves around you. No one else matters but you that is why you are here now. You don't own the world and you never will. "
She walked past him as the front bell rang and Nick walked into the diner. He smiled at Abigail as she walked out of the backroom.
"So it's just you and me?"
"What,"
"I've been meaning to ask you about that lawyer who smiles at you all the time."
"Orion? Why would he interest you Nick?" Abigail walked towards the front counter as Nick moved towards her.
"Abbie I worry about you. That guy looks shady."
Abigail sighed and began putting the drawer in the cash register. "Orion is just a friend Nick."
Nick walked towards the counter and stood beside her. "He wants more than that. I hear what he says to his friends."
"You know Henry already told me what you were going to say to me about Orion. He said that you ran it by him yesterday."
Nick's face turned a curious shade of red. "That old fucker, you all think that he is good but he is evil and I don't want him in here anymore."
Abigail closed the cash drawer and looked at her boss with annoyance. He was really starting to get on her nerves. The real reason she was getting annoyed was because he made her think about her accomplishments that her father forced her to achieve. She hated the man and wanted nothing to do with him. Jenny could tell her until she was blue in the face that she did all the work but none of that mattered. She hated everything that he had touched in her life.
"I don't you want Nick. I will never want you. Stop trying to look out for me. I don't want your help and I don't need it."
Nick moved closer to her. "You have no idea what you are saying."
Abigail rolled her eyes and tried to walk away from him but Nick grabbed her arm as Abraham decided to make his appearance felt. Both stared at the big blonde staring at them. Nick released Abigail.
"What are you doing here?"
"Unlike you I am here to work. I also do not touch my workers under any circumstances."
Nick chuckled. "Oh Abbie and I are friends."
Abigail rolled her eyes again and walked away from the counter. "I am sure that Henry will like to know what I said to you."
Nick glared at Abigail. "I told you that he is never allowed in here."
She smiled. "Really,"
Nick looked back at Abraham. He looked ready to pound on him. What did these two do in the back bond or something?"
"I doubt Fabio wants to go to jail for us poor people Abbie."
Abigail looked at Abraham and frowned. "I don't need or want him to fight for me. I can take care of myself and you know that I can."
Nick looked at his best worker and knew that she had all the power. She was not above going to his mother and telling her that he was stealing from the business to feed his gambling habit. He promised her that he would pay it back. He had the money but still held it and the deadline was drawing nearer. He had more than just the diner to repay. The loan shark Crane would soon send his man to collect. Nick was sure that that man was already here to beat the money out of him. He had a choice the diner or his reputation and looking at Abigail's angry face made his decision easier by the second.
"Just remember who owns this diner."
"I know who owns this diner…Mrs. Claudia Hawley."
Nick glared at her as he walked towards the backroom. Abigail stared back at him.
"He seems agitated."
"He should be."
"Why?"
The intense blues bore into her soul. Abigail looked away from them. "You only have eleven days left no need to get into our business."
"So there is an "us" with Nick." He saw anger flash across her face.
"NO, I have no designs on that dishonest degenerate. He is a worthless son and an even more worthless man!"
Abraham towered over her as he came closer. She did not turn away from his stare this time. Her anger made her brave. "Had I not been here what would that dishonest degenerate have done to you."
She had three weeks of defense training and she had hidden knives around the counter. He had found some but not all. Who was she kidding Nick was much stronger and faster than she was. He was under a deadline and desperate. Abigail sighed. "I don't know. I am glad that you were here. Thank you Abraham."
Why did those words mean more to him then they should? His face showed no emotion but his insides quivered with a strange feeling. Someone actually was glad he was around and not cursing his name under their breath. She was different. She was not going to agree with anything he said without a fight.
"I should speak to him."
"He's under pressure. He will apologize."
Abraham frowned at her words. "I will take that under consideration."
Abigail grabbed his left wrist. "Please don't cause any more stress to him. I have to work here."
He looked down at her hand then back into her eyes. "You should find better employment deserving of your dedicated service."
Her grip slipped from his arm and Abraham walked away from her.
Nick banged his head lightly on his desk. All he needed was Fabio getting interested in this diner and checking him out behind his back. He raised his head and watched the door open. His worst nightmare walked inside his office.
"What are you doing in here?"
Abraham closed the door and Nick's fear grew. Abraham stared at the man behind the desk. The silence from the man made Nick tremble.
"You got something you want to say before I call the cops?"
"What troubles you may have are your own and not Miss Mills."
Nick chuckled. "She is the problem."
"You caused your problems even I can see that."
"Look at your own ass Van Brunt."
Abraham moved towards the desk and Nick moved back from the desk. "Don't touch her again."
"You think riding in here on your white horse will make her spread her thighs for you. Money doesn't work so I doubt that you have a chance."
"Your depraved thoughts are your own but if you touch her again I will gladly call the cops myself after I break every bone in your face and hands."
The door opened and Luke stuck his head inside and looked at Nick. He was the spy sent by Henry to make sure that Abraham did not make too much of a mess in the office that they could not clean up quickly. Once he saw that nothing was happening Luke had to think of a lie. "Henry said that lady lawyer from across the street is here and wants to see you."
Abraham turned away from Nick and walked out of the room. Luke watched his boss shake and then try to regain his composer. "I'll be right out."
*()*
Oliver sat in his car across the street from the diner watching people walking around Downtown. He pulled out his phone and called his boss. "Yeah there is a woman there with him. She's beautiful. I can't see her with him though."
"You just want her for yourself Oliver." The pure British accent made Oliver smile.
"Maybe but I have seen how she ignores him. He is just her boss. He's lying to us."
"He is a liar He is trying to keep her safe. What man wants something that beautiful to get hurt. I want you to make some noise about her Oliver."
"I will do as you say but she is gorgeous."
The Englishman chuckled. "Just make sure that Mr. Hawley knows that we are watching him and his woman."
Oliver sighed. "Alright,"
He hung up the phone and pulled out his knife and crowbar. He was planning a massacre on Abigail's car.
Author's Notes
I thank you for reading. Please forgive any errors that you may find. ~Frostbytefire
