Chapter Seven

I was sat in my bedroom for around an hour, I knew Austin hadn't left the house as I would have heard the front door open. This meant he was waiting for me to come out of my bedroom, but I didn't know if I wanted to have a sit down conversation with him about this all. I knew from that party that something was off, it was actually a feeling that I couldn't shake the whole night, well the little time we were actually there. What if we hadn't left when we did, could we have been one of those sixty people that lost their lives? My bedroom door knocks twice before it's opened, where Austin stood in the doorway holding a plate of food. I turn my head looking at him without talking. "You never finished making your lunch, so here" he smiles walking over and handing me a full plate of food, way more than I could eat on my own. "I know you probably don't wanna talk to me, so how about we just eat?" He smiles looking down at the food on my lap, now I know why he gave me all this food, I have to give it to him that was pretty smooth. I nod my head placing the food on the bed while moving up so we he sit, he smiles taking seat on the bed beside me waiting for me to pick some food up. We sit in silence for a few minutes just eating, I had so many questions swirling around my head to ask him, but I didn't know how I was supposed to ask them! "I know I can make pretty good food right?" He asks smugly shoving the food into his mouth, I was more worried that he was gonna choke or something. "Austin, please stop avoiding the situation and talk to me" I say placing down the food that I had picked up, he sighs a little also placing down the food he was about to eat. "There isn't much to really talk about" he says which was the biggest understatement of all time, what does he mean there isn't much to talk about?! "Are you fucking blind, you took me to see your boss where minutes after we left that place was shot up!" I exclaim looking at him like he was crazy because in this moment, he was definitely acting crazy! "Okay fine, I can see where that would be alarming" He says trying to cover everything up, but I give him a look not allowing him to back slide. "I know how this looks but you have to trust me Payton, I didn't have any part to play in what happened to those people" he says moving closer to me as he spoke, I just stare at his face trying to find a lie that he might be telling. "But you knew about it, why would you make us rush out just before they arrive if you didn't?" I ask thinking back to how panicked he was, he was literally dragging me out of that party and outside! "I didn't know until one of the watchers told Markus, if I would have known beforehand I wouldn't have taken you there! Do you think I would intentionally put you in danger?" He asks which does make me look down, he still could have warned other people that were there! "We should tell someone-" I start to say but he cuts me off immediately, which does cause me to jump. "We can't tell anyone! You don't understand Payton, Markus is a bad guy with huge connections, if he finds out we told anyone about what happened, we'll end up like those sixty people!" He says which does make fear make its way through me, what kind of man are we actually dealing with here? "I'm gonna ask you a question and you're gonna be honest with me" I tell him where he nods his head but I could tell by his face, he was apprehensive. 'Are you involved with what Markus does, are you doing the same horrible things he is?" I ask but didn't know if I truly wanted to know what the answer would be, he sighs but shakes his head. "No, I have nothing to do with any of that, I just help run his car business and that's all. The only reason I was there last night was to discus me becoming manger of that place, yes I know what he does but I don't help him" he says which does calm my nerves a little, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he might me lying to me. "Payton, you have to believe me I don't want any part to play in what he does. I found out what he does after I started working for him, now because I know I can't leave, but trust me I would if I could" he confesses which does make me feel so bad for him, he doesn't want to work for a guy like that but knows what would happen if he left. "Just promise me that nothing that happened last night will happen to us" I say looking him in the eyes as I spoke, I wanted everything to go back to normal but knew that couldn't happen if he didn't promise. "You won't be put in harms way again" he smiles taking his hand and stroking my hair, I smile nodding my head before looking down at the food. "I do have to agree with you on one thing, you do make some good food" I laugh picking up some celery and placing it in my mouth, he laughs laying down on the bed. "Just one of my many talents" he laughs whilst missing the bed and falling onto the floor, I laugh hysterically as he sits up confused. The next couple of days went by super quickly without any hiccups, neither Austin or I worked on Sundays so we stayed home and binged watched an entire four season show. But of course, Monday came around and I was getting ready for work. I had just finished my hair when my door opens and in walks Austin, he still hardly ever knocks before walking in. "I'm gonna drop you off at work toady, but I can't pick you up as work is crazy" he says whilst drinking his coffee, my mind instantly goes to Markus when he brought work up. "Just call me when you get home so I know you're safe" he says while I just reply with a nod, he smiles before leaving my room to let me finish getting ready. It was now lunch, Austin had dropped me off to work and told me again to ring him when I arrive home. I'm so busy serving people their food and drink that I don't get much time to think about anything else, which was good in a sense as I didn't have time to worry what Austin was doing right now. I was just handing the kitchen back an empty plate when the bell at the counter rings, I put a smile on my face turning around to greet the person. "What can I get for yo-" I begun to say before I stop abruptly, Markus was sat at the counter smiling at me. "Markus, what can I do for you?" I smile trying to act normal and calm, I didn't need him to see how scared I actually was that he was standing in front of me right now. "Good afternoon Payton, Austin mentioned that you worked here so I thought I'd come along and check the place out" he smiles looking around the café as he spoke, I nod my head knowing I needed to act somewhat normal to not cause a scene. I smile turning around to grab him a cup for his coffee, we always serve all our customers coffee for free when they come in. I felt his eyes on me as I place the cup down and fill it with coffee, I send him another smile as he picks the cup up and takes a sip. Before I could reply Brooke pushes into me knocking me aside slightly, I give her a look of surprise as she smiles over at Markus. I mean if she wants to serve him that bad go ahead, I don't wanna be anywhere near that guy now I know what I know about him. "What can I get for you handsome?" She asks him while I just roll my eyes about to walk away, if she really wanted to involve herself with that man that's on her. "Actually, Payton was already serving me" Markus replies which does make me stop in my tracks, I guess I can't get away from this dude after all. "How do you know each other?" Brooke asks as I turn around to look at her, I bet she's about to accuse me of cheating on Roman with this man now, she thinks my social life is bigger than it actually is. "We don't know each other, why do you think we wear name tags?" I ask pointing down to my name tag on my uniform, she looks between us before rolling her eyes and pushing passed me. "Sorry about her, now what can I get you?" I smile walking back towards the counter to stand in front of Markus, not that I actually wanted to do that though. "Whenever a beautiful woman would ask me that, I would have to say her number" he says with a smirk, I just raise my eyebrow giving him a look."But I already know you've got a boyfriend" he says as I nod my head serving another person their coffee, I call it one of my many talents to hold a conversation while doing a million other things. "Happily with him" I smile but I wasn't talking about Austin obviously, thankfully Roman doesn't come back for awhile to hear this conversation. "Then I'll just get the all day breakfast" he smiles folding up the menu and handing it to me, I smile saying good choice before turning to face the kitchen where that smile could finally drop. He sat at the counter the whole time eating, while I was walking around cleaning tables and taking orders. I would feel his eyes on me as I would walk past, which only made the situation that much more uncomfortable. I was just handing the kitchen an empty plate when I hear him sigh behind me, I turn to see he had finished his food and was taking his wallet out to pay. "I don't know why I haven't came here sooner, the food is delicious the staff are even better" he smiles but I couldn't help but catch a glimpse at the amount of twenty's that were in his wallet, thankfully I looked away before he could catch me looking. "Here there's a tip for you, oh one more thing before I forget" he says handing me the money whilst also reaching into his jacket pocket. I open the till putting the money in as he pulls a white envelope out, which does immediately get my attention. "Give this to your boyfriend as soon as possible, I know he's working late but he needs to get this" he says handing over the envelope, I reach over taking in my hand as he pulls it closer. "You need to promise me that he'll get this as soon as possible, I'm trusting you" he says looking me in the eyes, I gulp slightly but nod my head agreeing to give it to him. "I'll drop this to him as soon as I finish work" I tell Markus hoping that would suffice, he nods his head letting go of the envelope so I could pull it away. "Thank you Payton, I will be sure to come here again" he smiles fixing his suit before walking towards the door, where a man in a suit outside opens the door for him. "Have a lovely rest of your day!" I yell over to him knowing I forgot to say that, whenever a customer leaves we have to say that same thing. From the window at the front I see him walking over to a black expensive looking car, where the door is once again opened for him before he speeds away. My eyes then move down to the white envelope in my hands. What mess have you gotten yourself into now Austin?