Elizabeth's POV

It had been five days since my first outing. Five days since Beckett tried to kiss me. Surprisingly when he picked me up for classes on Monday things weren't awkward between us. Tuesday we hung out after classes and watched a movie before I could go to work, and today we worked on our assignments together.

I think Beckett realized that it would have been a mistake if we did kiss. Maybe he also valued our friendship as much as I did. "How lovely," Blake said appearing next to me and balancing his head on his elbows. He had a dreamy look on his face." I guess I'm paying you to be a waste of space," he then glowered. "Make yourself useful or get out of my sight," he said before storming off.

Like always I was exhausted. Blake had been extra cranky ever since we got a review from a food critique saying that our red velvet cheesecake was a tad bit dry.

He walked out of the restaurant doors and a few waiters and waitresses peeped their heads as they watched him leave. He had a meeting with the bank. That meant that the workers were going to be left in peace for a while.

It had also been five days since I've seen Hendricks. I didn't need the added emotional abuse and I'm glad he hasn't shown his face. I busied myself by the computer looking up the rest of the reservations for the night. The restaurant wasn't as busy.

I heard the doors part and I looked up to see the last man I ever wanted to see. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Hendricks. I knew it was too good to be true. Five days of peace for one night of hell. It wasn't a fair trade. The night seemed to drag on whenever I had to deal with him. He walked over to me with an odd-looking expression on his face and I unconsciously started to fiddle with my hands as if I didn't know what to do with them.

My heart was racing in anticipation of what was to come for the rest of my evening. Could I take anymore belittling or insults. He stopped in front of the desk. He looked confused. He looked as if his thoughts were contradicting him.

His eyebrows furrowed and tiny creases started to appear on his forehead. He was dressed in formal clothes. A black formal shirt and black pants. His top collar button was opened revealing a small part of his tattoo again. His beard was neatly trimmed and his hair was pushed back. It was hard for me to guess his age due to his beard and hair.

"Hello," he said, smiling and I took a step back from shock. Not because he had crooked teeth or anything but because he was smiling at me. Why was he smiling at me. "Table for one and is there any chance of you being my server." I looked at him speechless.

"Urm..." I drawled while I searched my brain for possible answers to this strange man's behavior. "I'll see if any servers are available," I finally said and he shook his head.

"No I want you," he said, in a sound of desperation and my eyes widened. Taking in my shocked and speechless state. He ran a hand down his face and mumbled incoherently under his breath. He let out a breath of frustration and looked back up at me. "What I mean is that I would prefer it to be you since you know how I like my food," he tried to correct himself.

I started to get a weird sense of stranger danger from him at that moment. I worked in diners before but in all my years of being a server. I have never encountered a customer that was so hot one minute and then cold the next.

"I'm just going to go see if anyone else is available," I said slipping away from behind the desk slowly.

"No-," he tried to call after me, but I moved fast to get away from him. I walked into the restaurant looking for anyone available. There were no available waiters around the tables so I went into the kitchen.

I stood at the entrance of the kitchen, looking for anyone in a waiter's uniform and then my eyes landed on Rosa. She was standing at the desert bar talking to Bernie. "Hey Rosa," I called, walking up to her. Rosa is a sweet Latin woman.

"Yes, Liz."

"There's a customer up at front could you maybe see to him?" I asked and she smiled.

"Of course dear. I could use the tips," she smiled.

"Thank you," I said, releasing a sigh of great relief. I did feel bad about palming him off on Rosa, but I couldn't deal with him anymore.

If Rosa hadn't agreed then I would be stuck dealing with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for the night. "Hey little grasshopper," Ardeth called. I was the only one who used her real name instead of calling her Brenda and she appreciated it. "What you up to?" she asked from behind the bar. She was mixing margaritas. She had four margarita glasses lined up on her work station.

"Oh, nothing," I said propping my elbows up on the bar. She raised one eyebrow at me suspiciously while uttering a "hmm," kind of sound. She poured the contents of the margarita into the glasses and then wiped her hands in a dishtowel.

"Then why does it look like you've got away with murder?"

"Urm..." Before I could respond. Rosa ran into the kitchen. She was panting and she had a fearful expression on her face as if she just encountered the devil himself.

"Elizabeth," she ran up to me out of breath. "That man. He is horrible. He yelled at me upon seeing me. Ai no I can not. He paid me so that I could get you instead," she said and my heart started racing. What the hell was Hendricks up to.

I sighed, straightening my skirt. Ardeth had a whimsical look on her face." So this is why you smiling. You thought you could evade the man bun," she joked.

"Haha," I said flatly. Hendricks thought he had won but I was not giving in to his demands. Blake wasn't around so I wasn't forced to wait on him.

"Which table is he seated at?" I asked Rosa.

"Table nine," she shuddered.

My eyes then landed on Seth who walked into the kitchen with the food cart. I didn't know if Hendricks could intimidate another man as much as he did to me and Rosa. I walked up to Seth with my hands behind my back.

"Hey Seth," I said, smiling warmly at him.

"What's up?" he asked walking over to the station where all the main dishes are prepared.

I followed after him. "Nothing, I just wanted to let you know that there is a customer at table nine who hasn't been seen to as yet."

"Why aren't you seeing to the customer?"

"Because urm, I promised Ardeth, I'd help her whip up her next batch of drinks," he began to eye me warily."

"Who is Ardeth?" I facepalmed myself mentally for that one. I began to get exhausted with the conversation. I needed to take care of Hendricks before Blake got back.

"Brenda," I said, in outrage. Look her arm his hurt and she is working through the pain. You know how Blake can be and I just want to help her as much as I can before he comes back." He looked back at Ardeth who was looking at me with a puzzled expression on her face. I didn't want to conform to lying but Seth left me no choice. If I told him Hendricks was a troublesome customer. He wouldn't agree to wait on him.

"Okay I'll see to the customer," he said and I closed my eyes tightly in relief.

"Thank you. You're a lifesaver," I said before turning to walk back to Ardeth's station.

I stood behind the bar and began to grab glasses from below the counter. A chuckle left Ardeth's lips as she watched me. "What are you up to kid and I want the truth." She said, folding her arms.

"Hendricks has been acting strange. He is freaking me out with his sudden mood swings and I really don't want to spend the night stepping on eggshells."

"So then what are you doing to the wine glasses?" She asked, a humorous look on her face. She must have thought I was having a mental breakdown.

"I told Seth, your arm is hurt. So if he happens to walk by your station at any part of the night, could you just pretend to be in pain."

"Liz, I work here. I'm always in pain having to deal with Blake," she chuckled.

The kitchen doors burst open and Seth made a beeline for me. I wanted to duck down and hide behind the counter.

"How's the arm, Bren?" He asked, stopping in front of the bar. Ardeth immediately clutched onto her arm as she made sounds of being in pain. He rolled his eyes and then looked at me. "Look I don't know what you two are up to, but I want no part of it and I certainly want no part of that asshole at table nine. He told me he would get me fired if I didn't listen to his request and do you want to know what his one request was, Elizabeth?" Seth asked, narrowing his eyes in on me.

"Room temperature wine," I squeaked not wanting to know the answer because I already knew what he wanted.

"No, it's you and I can't risk losing my job over something like this. Just see to him," he said before storming off.

I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. Facing Hendricks seemed inevitable. I was running out of time and if Blake, got back before I could deal with him. I would be in serious trouble. I just had to get it over with. Take his insults with a grain of salt.

"I'll see you in a few," I said to Ardeth and she gave me a salute.

I walked into the restaurant and searched the tables for Hendricks. I finally found him sitting at table nine with his hands together as he rested his head against them as if he was praying.

Why was he acting so strange. His behavior scared me and I wanted to be as far away from him as possible. I never knew what to expect next from him.

I walked over to him and he didn't look up. I didn't know what to say. His behavior was throwing me off. "Hello," I said stupidly and he looked up. He didn't say anything for a while but then he smiled again and I was ready to run. I think I preferred his scowling and horrible attitude more than this.

He was one complex contradicted individual.

"I need to talk to you," he said in a hushed whisper and I looked at him confused.

"About?" What could he possibly want to talk to me about.

"Could you maybe have a seat or could we go somewhere we could talk?" He asked, softly and I took a step back. He was crazy. There was no way in hell I was leaving with him. What did he think this was I certainly couldn't sit down and have a chat. This was getting weird and I was starting to feel uncomfortable.

I backed away slowly from the table. This guy was mentally ill. That was the only explanation behind this. That's why he'd do strange things like insult me and then leave large tips. I turned around and began walking to the back of the restaurant calmly. I didn't want to cause a scene. Blake would kill me or worst fire me.

I opened the back door and walked out into the parking lot. I needed a breather. I could no longer do this. I walked a few paces into the parking lot. Since it was at the back of the restaurant there were barely any cars around. I heard the door open and I turned around to see Hendricks.

I began walking faster. What did he want from me."Can you please just listen to me," he yelled whilst chasing after me in the parking lot.

"No, leave me alone!"

"You owe me Elizabeth, so come back here."

Owe him. He must have been on drugs. He's made my job nothing but hell and now he somehow has it twisted in his head that I owe him." I don't owe you a damn thing," I said, whirling on him. I wasn't afraid of him, even though he was bigger than me.

"Oh, you owe me a lot," he spat and I crossed my arms while I stared him down. He held my gaze as he uttered the next set of words. "I was the one that helped you that night. So you will stand here and listen to me!"

"What night?" I yelled back at him in confusion. When has he ever helped me. He was making me angry and quite frankly I had enough him.

"Your memory eludes you sweetheart maybe it's because you were drunk out of your bloody mind!"

The air got caught in my throat as the sudden realization of what he just said hit me like a freight train. He couldn't be referring to the college party. No, he couldn't. He remained silent while he stared at me searching my face. I looked into his eyes and my heart quivered.

Green...

No, I can't be ridiculous. Even though green was a rare eye color to come across it didn't mean that he was the only man in New York to have green eyes, but then again it was the uniqueness of his green eyes. His was emerald, it had this otherworldly effect when you'd stare into them. His eyes could change from angry to soft in an instant. They would darken when he scowled and they lightened when he smiled.

It couldn't be him. In truth, I didn't want it to be him. "No, no it can't be you're lying. Look I don't know how you found out about that night..." I started stammering.

"I have no reason to lie to you Elizabeth," he said, cutting me off.

"No, you are a horrible person. I don't believe you. You sick," I shouted and turned to run and he caught me easily around my waist. My back was flat against his chest as he talked.

"Look I never tried to harm you. You were drunk that night and I didn't want to leave you alone. I took you and your friends home. Urm.... you have a stuffed horrifying looking monkey on your bed. How would I know that Elizabeth, if I haven't been in your bedroom." He let go of me suddenly. "All I wanted to do was tell you the truth."

I believed him. He looked at me hopefully but words refused to come out of my mouth. Why didn't he tell me sooner. He turned around to leave. Leaving me full of questions in the parking lot. I should of let him go but the stupid voice in my head made me open my mouth.

"Wait," I said chasing after him and he stopped. He turned around and eyed me warily.

"Thank you for helping me that night Mr. Hendricks," I said and he looked at me shocked. There are not many men that would do what he did for me that night. I was just a stranger he could have left me alone but he decided to help me instead. A smirk formed on Hendricks face as he looked at me incredulously.

"My stepfather is Mr. Hendricks. My name is Luca," he said. Luca. He is Callum's friend. The guy Callum said he invited on Friday. We would have met but then he didn't want to come.
"Look Elizabeth I need your help," he said and I looked at him confused.

"What for?" I asked and he swallowed hard before talking again.

"Know there is no easy way to ask this... but I need you to be my date for my sister's wedding."

What the...

"Look do me this one favor and I promise you will never see me again," he said and I stood frozen in place. My eyes widened for the second time this evening and my mouth fell open as I stood in front of him dumbfounded. I had to question if I heard him right.  What did he just ask me. What was happening.

"Ur no," I said in shock.

"Why?" He asked as if it wasn't obvious.

"For one I don't even know you and what I do know of you I don't like."

"Can't say that didn't hurt love," he said and I rolled my eyes.

"Help me and I promise you'll never see me walk through those restaurant doors again." He had me at I'll never see him again.

"And if I don't," I asked and sardonic laughter escaped his lips.

"Let's just say El Royal, became the new McDonald's. I'll be here every day, sweetheart," he threatened.

"I see so you not asking me for help you threatening me to help you," I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want me to say you're a stubborn woman..."

"Don't call me stubborn. You don't even know me and you expect me to trust you."

"Look we've been through this and you know I'm not the bad guy. What would it take for you to agree to be my date."

"An apology."

"For?" He asked as if he didn't already know.

"Being a crappy customer."

"Still harping on that are you," he said letting out a breath. "Fine Elizabeth, I am sorry for being a dick head. Are you happy now princess."

"No I still need more information before I give you my final answer," I said and he bit down hard on his tongue.

"Would you like a three thousand word essay he asked," sarcasm and venom mixed with that mocking English accent.

"Yes," I tested him.

"Fine I'll explain everything when your shift is over," he said, walking back to the restaurant door.

"If you try anything I'll..."

"Save your breath love. I'm not interested in you romantically. I've got a girlfriend." He walked over to the door and held it open for me to walk in.

"So then why do you need me if you have a girlfriend," I asked walking over to him.

"It's a long story. What time do you get off work. We need to sort out a few details before Friday."

"Is the wedding on Friday?" I asked and he shook his head.

"No. If you do agree to help me you'll be meeting my mother and sister on Friday."

This wasn't going to be easy. If I agreed to help him I'd have to meet his family and I only just learned his name. I didn't know anything about him. If he did turn out to be lying about this. I'm the world's most gullible human being.

"By the way just out of curiously," I started and he eyed me. "How old are you?" I asked walking through the door.

"How old do I look?" he asked instead.

I paused and stopped as he closed the door behind us "urm, twenty-eight," I said and he froze.

"Twenty-eight," he said turning around slowly. "I'm twenty-two," he said in outrage. "How old are you?" He asked.

"Nineteen," I said and turned to walk into the restaurant.

"Really," he called after me. "Well, you look thirty. You should smile more," he said and I turned around and glowered at him. He was a pain and my feelings towards him as a person weren't clear. They were jumbled. "It was a joke, love."

"I wish I could say the same, love," I bit back.

"You know what...."

"I get off at eight. Until then make yourself scarce Hendricks," I said cutting him off and checking my watch.

He let out a breath and checked his watch. "Alright then. I'll be in my car," he said in a voice of calmness and walked away with his hands in his pockets. "If you need me just whistle," he said turning around and winking at me.

Why was he like this. I rolled my eyes as I watched him walk away. "There you are," Blake's voice boomed. "What are you doing just standing there. What is wrong with you today. I said it once and I'll say it again get back to work," he barked. My shift couldn't be over sooner. I let out a sigh and went back to work.
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A/N

Will Elizabeth help Luca???

Or does she still hate him.... find out next chapter.

If you enjoyed this chapter drop a like and tell me which was your favorite part. 

💜💜💜P. A