CHAPTER THREE
I stared at the piece of paper, blankly for a long time, before I shoved it back in my bag, as the door opened behind me.
"Hey, Bella, how's things?" Jake walked in, dumping his coat on the back of a chair and putting his apron on. "You ok? You look pale."
"Fine, thanks," I murmured, my eyes straying to my bag. "I just feel a bit sick."
"Too much wine last night," he laughed. I forced myself to smile and looked up at him. Jake gave me a concerned look, but then he saw the time and shrugged. "I hope you're ok, but I'd best get out there. Chef has his angry face on today. God alone knows why he's doing an early shift; he's not a daytime person, is he?"
I half smiled and shook my head, though in truth I barely heard him. The door closed behind him and I stared down at the crumpled up paper in my bag. Time seemed to stand still as I stared at it, worry niggling at me, wondering who had sent it and why. Maybe it was just a joke, maybe...
"You are not paid to sit around in the staff room! Get your ass back out there, you have customers waiting!" Edward's voice entered my consciousness and I got up quickly.
"Sorry, chef," I said, hurriedly getting to my feet. I rushed out into the dining room and tried to put the mysterious note out of my head; most likely it was a prank, nothing serious.
When my shift was finally done, I started to head out the door, but Edward called me back.
"Isabella, a word," he said. I sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry about being late and I'm sorry about taking too long on my break and I'm sorry about last night, but I really need to get home..."
"I'm quite sure it was me that wanted the word, actually," he said, coldly. I flushed and ducked my head.
"Sorry." He held up his hand and I broke off, chewing my lip, nervously.
"Just stop apologising will you?" He paused and then looked directly at me. "I'm not going to dock your pay."
"Oh." I looked up, stunned. "Thanks."
"I was a little... harsh, but we will compromise. I want you here ten minutes early tomorrow for your shift."
"I erm, I have the day off tomorrow," I muttered, glancing across at him. Edward gave me a quizzical look.
"You're a bit pale, Bella," he said, suddenly.
"I'm fine. I'll be here at ten to five Monday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend," I said and hurried away, relieved when I walked through the door of the flat.
XXX
Rosalie tapped on my bedroom door a few days later and came in, giving me a hard look.
"What?" I asked.
"You didn't tell me you have a secret admirer, Bella," she said. My heart nearly stopped and she smiled. "Hey, chill. You got another envelope; hand delivered!"
"Thanks," I said, giving her a smile which I was sure must have looked as fake as it felt. If Rosalie noticed, she didn't comment as just at that moment her phone rang and she headed off, chatting ten to the dozen as she went. I took the envelope across to my bed and opened it. This time there were three things inside and they spilled out onto the bed; there was another note, a photograph and an earring. I froze; this was freaking me out. The earring was one I had lost a couple of months ago, but I couldn't think where I had been when I lost it; it could have been work, uni or home as they were the only places I seemed to see anymore. I dropped it on the bed and picked up the two pieces of paper. One was a photograph that had been printed out on A4 paper; it was me, alone, walking home from work by the looks of it. And it was dark, very dark. I shivered and then picked up the letter. Again it was written in block capitals, but there was a bit more this time.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE YOUR EARRING BACK. YOU SHOULD BE CAREFUL WALKING HOME ALONE AT NIGHT. SOMEONE MIGHT BE WATCHING YOU.
I dropped the letter on the bed and felt a wave of panic wash over me. This wasn't a joke; it was creepy. And then my phone beeped; a text message. I picked it up slowly, not recognising the number. Squinting, I opened the message.
I am watching you, Isabella. Better not do anything to upset me. Don't tell anyone about me or I will make you very sorry.
I dropped my phone on the bed and felt tears immediately prick my eyes. Who on earth would hate me enough to do this? Why would anyone threaten me? Almost as soon as I had dropped it, my phone rang. I started violently and picked it up; work.
"Hi Laurent," I said.
"Forgive me, Bella, but I need to ask if you could work a little later tonight? Jessica just called to say she is sick. Could you work five until one?"
I thought hard and then sighed. I couldn't let him down; he had been good to me and I liked working at the Bistro. My first lecture wasn't until ten the following morning. If I got home at one thirty, I could be up at seven and get in some studying before the lecture...
"Sure, I'll be there," I said, forcing some brightness into my voice.
"Excellent! Merci beaucoup, ma petit cherie!" he said, happily. "See you soon."
It was already three thirty and I realised I would have to get myself organised. My bedroom was a tip, with books and papers everywhere as I tried to complete the latest assignment for extra credit. Why I had taken it on was beyond me, but I desperately wanted to do well; to justify the money my parents had spent in sending me to school. Tidying away my papers and books, I headed for the shower to try and revive myself and to shift the thought of the envelope and the text message.
The walk to work felt longer than usual and I found myself glancing over my shoulder, looking at every passer by suspiciously. My head was all over the place and every time someone so much as glanced my way, I found myself wondering if that person had been in the bistro, had seen me working there, had followed me home...
"Ah, Bella, you are my hero tonight!" cried Laurent, grabbing me and kissing my cheeks. I smiled at him a little shakily.
"No problem, Laurent," I said, heading out the back to put my bag away. I lifted my phone out to switch it off and froze when I saw an envelope flash up, signalling a message.
I am watching you, Isabella.
I switched it off and grabbed my apron, trying not to think about it, but it would be fair to say that I did not work my best shift. Laurent sent me for a break at nine thirty, telling me to grab a coffee as I looked dead on my feet. When I reached the staff room, my phone was out on the table, switched on, with a message flashing again.
Tell anyone about this and I will hurt someone you care about so bad you will wish you never opened your mouth.
Suddenly angry I text back a reply.
Who is this? What do you want?
The response came back immediately.
You don't need to know who I am yet. All you need is to do exactly as I tell you to.
WhyshouldI? I text back.
Try me.
The short text made me shiver and then I text back.
What do you want me to do?
Nothing yet. Just keep your mouth shut.
With a shiver, I closed my phone and switched it off. I didn't want to read any more messages. I drank my coffee and went back through to the kitchen, where Edward had just set out a couple of desserts.
"Take those through will you? Jacob is on go-slow tonight," he griped. I picked up the dishes.
"What table?" I asked.
"Six," he replied, shortly. I headed for the door, but he called me back. "Make sure you charm them; they've been waiting nearly half an hour already."
"Sure thing, chef," I said, giving him a small smile. I delivered the desserts and managed to get myself into work mode, which meant the couple didn't complain and even left a half decent tip, especially after Laurent gave them both a free coffee.
"You ok, Jake?" I asked. He glanced across at me and scowled.
"Nothing a night out with the boys wouldn't cure," he snarled.
"Girl trouble?" I asked.
"What else is there? Damned women are never happy!"
My eyes widened at his tone, but then he headed towards a couple who had walked in asking if they could have a table, despite the late hour. Laurent of course showed them in, which caused Jacob to mutter under his breath, several expletives perfectly clear in my ear as he stomped through to the kitchen to inform Edward we had another meal to prepare. He seemed so angry tonight that I shivered, my mind automatically going back to the text messages, which had also been pretty angry.
"Look, Laurent, I'm not being funny but I've been here since three. Can I go now?" Jacob was saying when I went through to the kitchen.
"Of course, of course," said Laurent, giving him an apologetic smile. I watched as Jake headed out, still angry and still muttering to himself and couldn't help the shiver that ran up my spine. To make matters worse, I could feel myself flagging. It was quarter to one and I should be at the end of my shift, but the couple had ordered another bottle of wine to have with their desserts. And then to make matters worse, I managed to drop their glasses when I took the wine to the table.
"I will clear it up, you fetch the desserts," said Laurent, quietly, as he approached the table, with a wide smile. I gave him a grateful look and headed to the kitchen where Edward was putting the finishing touches to two chocolate tortes. He glanced up at me and I wondered briefly at the expression on his face; remembering suddenly that he had been furious with me that night when I said his parents had paid for everything he had... remembering that that was the last time I wore the earrings. My hands were shaking when I picked up the two bowls, so much so that I dropped them too, sending them crashing to the floor.
"Isabella, what the fuck!" snapped Edward. "If you can't carry two fucking dessert bowls, you might as well not be here! Get the fuck out of my kitchen!"
And I fled, out of the kitchen, through to the staffroom where I grabbed my bag and ran out of the restaurant. As soon as I was outside though, my mind went into overdrive. It was pitch black; the light behind the kitchen for some reason not switched on and that made me really anxious. In the darkness and as panic washed through me, I stumbled, landing on the ground, the contents of my bag spilling out around me. Tears filled my eyes and I sobbed as I tried to gather up my things and then I froze, as a pair of black shoes appeared in front of me.