C3 Chapitre 3

- This woman would like to work here as a waitress, he addressed his nephew when the latter approached towards the counter of the kitchen.

He studied her for a moment before speaking.

- Good evening. My name is Freddy.

He held out his hand, which she quickly grabbed.

- I'm Calypso. I will be very grateful if you let me work here. I am in great need of this position.

- Do you think you deserve this post Miss? He inquired as he slipped his hands into oven mitts.

- Of course.

- And what makes you believe that? He asked, taking lasagna out of the oven that made Calypso salivate just by inhaling the scent emanating from it.

- I know how to deal with clients; and then serving hungry people is not rocket science, she replied, clearing her throat as he sliced

the lasagna to bring them to her mouth.

- You are absolutely right Misshowever, we will give you a trial run to see how you go about it.

He disappeared into a room. Calypso made sure her uncle was facing her. she grabbed a fork and with a childish gesture cut off a piece and ate it quickly like a child who feared someone would take it with its hand in the bag. she melted to the sketched taste of this Italian specialty and closed her eyes as if to invite all her taste buds to take part in the feast. How good it was, she thought with a sigh. she began to cut them again when she heard a voice ordering her to put the fork down. She jumped and dropped the fork. Shamed, she nervously wiped her mouth and stealthily lowered her head.

_ Here then ! You dared to eat my lasagna! no but by what right? he accused raising his tone.

_ No, she recanted.

_ So I saw badly.

She didn't answer. She twisted the strands of her hair, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. she felt so ridiculous that she hadn't been able to suppress this lust in such a crucial moment.

_ And after that, how could I give you dishes? You couldn't even resist these lasagna. you are really stupid to be scolded for your first day on the job, he bawled out.

_ I grant you, she said without looking at him. I am really sorry. This will not happen again.

- I hope so. I could well have refused you this job but you have to believe that it is your lucky day. Hold on and put this on, he added, pointing to the cabins.

Once in the cabins, she took off her dress and put on the t-shirt with the restaurant logo on it. she also put on the skirt and then gathered her locks into a ponytail. She put her things back in her bag and put them in a corner. She joined Freddy who was in the kitchen. His uncle reappears and threw a rag in his face. she got rid of it, darting a dark look at him.

"And let them shine," he said, looking at her sideways.

- What?

- Tables and chairs of course. The customers are not going to ...

- It's okay, I understand, she cut off, turning on her heels.

she walked towards the room, adopting a stiff gait. She let out a long curse before doing what she was there to do.

Sitting on a stool biting her nails, Calypso was starting to get bored of doing nothing. the restaurant was still empty and she kept growling. She had offered to help Freddy in the kitchen, but he had refused. After her categorical refusal, he had swung in her face that she was there as a waitress and not a cook. but in reality these words did not come from him but rather from his cranky looking strict and bossy uncle who had spoken in Italian after she took a knife to peel the potatoes she had found in a basket. freddy had simply translated his words. All in all, she was happy to work there. Those last two days had been enough to change Freddy's mind. He congratulated her on her work. She had proved to them that she was made for this job.

through the glass door she saw two men approaching the restaurant. With a bound, she rose from the stool and planted herself towards the door with a radiant smile that she had tried to repeat in front of her mirror to make a good impression in front of the customers.

-Welcome Gentlemen, she blurted out with charm when they entered.

The first smiled back at him; the other ignored it. After they were seated at one of the tables, Calypso always reappeared with her jovial air and asked them what they would like to order.

the very one who ignored him paid little attention to him. He was focused on his cell phone as she looked at him askance before fixing her gaze on the other who seemed to be staring at her. She opened her notepad and wrote down her order.

- And you sir, she said annoyed.

he finally looked up at her, his face tight.

- What? Can't you just leave me alone? he bellowed.

Shocked, Calypso took a step back. Why was he yelling at her? She had simply asked him what he wanted to order. Which was nothing abnormal.

- What are you ordering? Intervened his second.

"A glass of Whiskey," he swayed.

- Please excuse him. He's had a really bad day.

Calypso closed her notepad, squeezing her jaw. Rather, he should apologize himself. he didn't give a damn about disrespecting her. He's had a hard day and then what? Everyone encounters painful moments in their day, but that doesn't give them the right to vent their rage on other people. she forced a smile to make him believe she wasn't touched at all and turned on her heels.

- Alonzo, that woman didn't do anything to make you talk to her like that. It's not Anastasia, Henrik growled. Besides, were you able to contact the latter? he asked when Alonzo left his phone on the table after staring at the screen for a long time.

He shook his head negatively and let out a loud sigh. For four days, he had not heard from his wife and that put him beside himself. tomorrow he would return to Greece and begin research without the press knowing. He would not like this to become the headlines.

calypso returned a few minutes later with the dish she put in front of Henrik and the glass of whiskey that she also put in front of Alonzo, but in a rather brutal way. The latter did not notice the nervousness of the young woman. His head was elsewhere. he was worried about Anastasia and her child she was carrying.

- Thank you, Henrik said, giving him a smile.

- Bon appétit, she said, withdrawing.

Alonzo's cell phone rang. he glanced up quickly and a smile curved his lips when he saw his wife's name displayed on the screen.

- It's Anastasia, he exclaimed before picking up. Hello, honey. I made my blood of ink for you. Name of God, where are you? I tried your number several times, without you picking up

- Sorry to deceive you. She's not your sweetheart on the other end of the line, a man's voice said.

His face darkened leaving Henrik in the dark.

- Who are you and why do you have my wife's phone?

- Quite simply because I hold it back. Forty million dollars to transfer to my account if you want to see her again.

His eyes widened! Forty million dollars?

- What's going on ? Henrik asked.

- You have two days to raise this sum. you had better send me this money otherwise I will be happy to slit the throat of your loving wife and throw her body to the scavengers who will make short work. Two days, he pointed out. And needless to say, you can't call the police. you're not so stupid to risk your wife's life.

"Whoever you are, I ask you not to hurt him the slightest bit," he begged on the verge of panic. She is in...

Before he finished his sentence he had already hung up. he put his laptop back on the table and stared at the screen for a moment. His throat tightened as he shuddered. A kidnapper was detaining his wife and he had only two days to raise such a sum. Henrik asked him what made him feel like this. He was too distressed to answer. no sound could come out of his mouth. He emptied the contents of his glass in one gulp and loosened his tie, which was now suffocating him.

- Will you finally tell me what's going on? Annoyed his friend who wanted to have an answer.

- Anastasia was kidnapped, he finally blurted out.

- What? Henrik choked. We have to call the police, he cried, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket.

- No ! Certainly not, cried Alonzo.

Henrik stared at him, dumbfounded.

- Your wife was kidnapped by a kidnapper and you don't want me to call the police? He wondered.

_ You will put the life of Anastasia and my child in danger if you bring in the police. He claims a sum of forty million dollars before releasing her.

Henrik was speechless. Would this man be a fool to claim such a sum? he asked Alonzo to repeat it to him to be sure he had heard correctly.

"Forty million dollars," Alonzo repeated. Call my mom, he said, getting up from his seat. Tell her to take this amount from the company's account and send me a transfer. don't let him know that Anastasia has been kidnapped.

- And do you think she will withdraw this amount without asking any questions? We're talking about $ 40 million. You have never used such a sum for anything. she will find it fishy and I hate lying to your mother.

- Just tell her that I need it and that she should trust me.

- Hopefully she accepts.

- It's up to you to convince her.

Henrik put the bill on the table and the two left the restaurant ...