Chapter 9

"Annette...my middle name is Annette," I told Mark as we made our way to the diner the next morning. We decided that day was the day we would really get to know each other since he felt the need to be my own personal guard. It still puzzled me though that he could be so dangerous but I didn't fear him one bit.

"Annette huh? Hm..."

"What?" I asked.

He smirked and folded his massive arms in front of his chest. "I was expecting it to be more like Renee or something else."

"My mom loved that name...that's why it's my middle name. My father named me Leah though." I explained.

"Hm...well I would tell you my middle name but...you've already done enough snooping on that computer of yours."

I giggled, "Well how did you expect me to get answers about you? You weren't willing to give them to me yourself remember?"

He shrugged and went to stretch out his arms, shrieking when his hands hit the roof. "Damn this car! You need something bigger than this..."

I shook my head as we pulled into the diner parking lot. "Or maybe you're just too big..."

His eyes narrowed, "Hey...play nice over there."

"I will when you do..." I said as I parked the car. As I was taking off my seatbelt he gently reached over and touched my wrist.

I looked up at him slightly amused by the small gesture. "Hey...don't tell anyone about me ok? It'll cause problems..."

I nodded, "Of course it would...it's our little secret."

He smiled and then together we got out of the car and headed inside. My uncle Kevin was in the process of getting the kitchen up and running while Bella was fixing the tables out in the lobby area. I was greeted warmly by my uncle while Mark only received a nod of the head.

"You kids ready to go today? I hear it's going to be a busy one." he said.

I smiled, "Oh you know me, I'm always ready for the rushes."

"Well today might be a little different..." Bella said as she entered the kitchen. "The WWF is in town this week and Kevin here took it upon himself to invite them to our diner..."

I gasped and glared at Kevin, "Seriously?"

"Well honey the business has been doing so well I figured we should show our trainee here what it's all about to be more than just a little busy." he said with a sly grin to Mark.

I sighed, "Yes but let's not forget I'm the boss here...or do you have alternate reasons for inviting them here?"

He went to tell me something but Mark stepped in, "He wants to embarrass me...that's all."

"Embarrass you? Why would...oh yeah...you use to work with these people." I remembered.

Kevin gritted his teeth, "Hell yea that's what I want...i want them all to see what you've become...no more than a washed up fry cook making minimal wage in a small diner."

Mark smirked and then placed his hand on my shoulder, "When are you going to give it up and leave me alone? There's nothing you can do to hurt me right now..."

"Oh yea? We'll see when your old buddies pop in here." he said. "Just you wait..."

I was about to protest when Kevin turned on his heels and stormed off. I sighed and shook my head. "I have no idea what's gotten into him."

"I do...but it's nothing you need to worry your little head about..." he told me. "Now go get yourself prepared for later. I'll finish preparing the kitchen."

I smiled at his confidence and constant need to upset my uncle, although part of me wondered if this situation was going to get any worse. I got my answer later on that night when about 20 WWF superstars including The Rock and Shawn Michaels showed up. They were pretty satisfied with their meals and the flow of my place. I was having a pretty good time serving them as they were with getting to know me and Bella. As for my uncle, he popped out every now and then, greeting a few of the wrestlers whom I was surprised to find out he knew personally.

"Wait so this is your niece's diner?" a man by the name of Mick Foley asked him.

"Yes sir it is," Kevin answered.

"Wow...well she's doing pretty well for herself this place is great!" he responded. "I wish I could meet the mystery cook though, he's firing it up back there."

My uncle snickered, "Oh don't worry you'll get to meet him sometime tonight...if my niece allows."

I rolled my eyes "It's actually up to him...I'm his boss but I don't completely rule his choices."

Mick smiled, "Ah, you must be Leah,"

"Yes sir I am," I said as he took my hand and kissed it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you doll,"

"The pleasure is all mine," I said.

My uncle sighed, "Alright that's enough Mick...you're getting a little too touchy feely if you know what I mean."

I giggled, "Unc, there's no reason to be overprotective...I know my boundaries."

"Yeah but he don't..." he growled. "Anyways why don't you go see if our newest member is ready for his debut..."

I rolled my eyes and headed to the kitchen but before I could pass into room, Mark was already on his way out to the lobby. "You rang?"

I laughed and hooked his arm with my own. I felt his arm tense for a moment but paid no attention to this sudden show of nervousness. Upon seeing him, some of the wrestlers looked at him in shock while the others greeted him like old college roommates. I was happy to see that no one was judging him nor did he really care to be judged...as for my uncle, he gritted his teeth in disappointment...

When closing time came, I found myself cleaning up the lobby with Bella who wouldn't stop talking to me about how hot some of the guys were.

"Girl you should have gotten some numbers...i know I did..."

"Bella, how do you even know some of those numbers aren't fake or something?"

She frowned, "Good point...but at least one of them had to be real right?"

I shrugged and finished sweeping under one of the tables.

"Leah? What's the matter?" she asked me.

"Nothing, I'm just tired you know? We had a long night and I'm ready to get home." I said quietly.

She sighed and placed her rag down on the table closest to me. "Come on girl...it's me, you can talk to me about anything."

I glanced towards the kitchen for a moment, "I feel bad for Mark is all...he looked like he really missed his friends and his job."

She gasped, "Mark use to be a wrestler?"

I nodded, "He was a damn good one too,"

"Well...why did he leave?" she asked.

I glanced at her, "That's not for me to tell. If you want to know-"

"-he didn't leave he was fired..." Kevin said from the doorway. "Fired for being a freakshow..."

"Kevin!" I yelled, "That's no way to talk about a fellow employee!"

"Yeah? Well why don't you ask him why I feel the way I do about him Leah?" he snapped. "You never stopped for one moment to ask me what I could possibly have against the man!"

"Because I already know what your problem is! You can't stand for me to be around any other man than you!" I said sarcastically.

"Damn it Leah that's not it...my problem with him is-"

"-He thinks I got him fired from the WWF."

I looked towards the kitchen and saw Mark coming through the doorway wiping his hands with a cloth. "There...she knows now."

"Kevin you use to work for the WWF?" I asked.

"I did until he came along and ruined it for me and few others! Oh everyone was so fascinated by the new guy and his mysterious ways! Women and men alike were all over this guy!" He yelled.

I sighed, "So jealousy is what's fuming your anger? Tell me something...why be angry when you both don't work for the company anymore?"

My uncle squeezed his fists in anger, "Because...he messed up something I love...and I refuse to let him hurt someone I love this time..."

"Ok well-"

"That's enough Leah," Mark said suddenly. "I'm not going to be around much longer anyways."

My heart sank hearing those words come out of his mouth. "Oh...why not?"

He took a deep breath, "You've been very kind to me but I can't allow your uncle here to keep causing problems simply because he doesn't trust me...I'm sorry but I'm going to leave."

I glared at my uncle with hurt in my eyes. "Trust me...it's best this way Leah."

I shook my head and ran to my office. My uncle was like this with every man that I hired in the past and at this point it was starting to affect my livelihood and my friendships. I wanted Mark to say but did I have the power to make him stay? Probably not...