Chapter 2 Two

"I'm s-sorry, sir, but it is a-against policy." Elena tries to scoot away from the man, but he wraps a firm arm around her waist and keeps her in place.

Leaning in to hover his lips by her ear, he whispers to her. "Dmitri."

"W-what?" she mutters, her face flush as she pulls her face away from his, hating the way her heart is racing at the situation.

"My name is Dmitri."

"Yes, well, you are a customer and a valued one I am told. I could never do something disrespectful as dine with you, sir. I must return to my jo-"

He grabs a light hold of her face, cutting off her rambling.

"Pretty sure I just informed you of my name, yet you insist on calling me sir. I don't believe I am that much older than you, Elena."

Her cheeks flare up and her heart beats wildly at the sound of her name out of his mouth. She has to pull away and put some distance between them, or she feels like her face might catch on fire. Wanting to ask how the hell he knows her name, she needs to calm her wild heart first, her hand flying to her chest – where it makes contact with the nametag on her blouse.

Well, that would have looked stupid.

"I'm sorry, my boss is very strict about policy and image, she would scold me a lot if she were to even see me sitting here."

As if she has super-sonic hearing, Elena can see Genevieve storming her way over to them as they speak.

"Speak of the devil," Elena mutters and prepares herself.

"What in heavens are you doing, Elena? Get out of that booth and off your lazy butt this instant."

Knowing it is better to just take the scolding rather than defend herself, she pushes herself away from the man Dmitri, but he holds her in place. "Defend yourself," he whispers in her ear.

Does he not understand how this industry works? The customer is always right, and who is to say he won't turn around and deny whatever she claims?

"I asked her to sit here," he says. He pulls Elena to his chest and rests his chin on top of her head. "Do you have anything more to say to that?"

Elena nearly jumps at the snarl in his voice, sounding like he is about ready to bite Genevieve's head off.

"Please enjoy your evening, Mr. Markov. I'm very sorry for disturbing."

Once she hears the retreating footsteps stop, Elena pushes away from Dmitri to make sure the raging redhead is actually gone, before looking back at him in shock.

"Why did she just obey you like that?"

Dmitri grabs light hold of her chin. "Does she treat you like that often?"

She is at a loss for words. A part of her wants to admit to everything she has suffered working for Genevieve, but the other part of her knows regardless of who this man is, if Genevieve finds out that she slandered her to a valued customer like him, she will be done for.

She might even lose her job this time. Elena has pushed Genevieve's buttons a lot but only ever to an appropriate limit, not always being able to take her abuse.

"I'm sorry, I really have to get back to work." She tries to push off of him again, but he still has an iron grip on her waist. With his other hand he reaches into his back pocket and takes out his wallet, flipping it open on the table and grabbing out a business style card.

He slips it into the front of her apron and leans in close.

"Make sure to call me when you get off work. If not, I'll be back for you."

Elena gets a mixture of shivers that both terrify and excite her. She needs to get away from this man's overbearing presence immediately, before she does something stupid or gives him the chance to do the same.

She gives one final push to his chest, and he finally let's go, allowing her to slide out of the booth. Taking out her notepad, she writes up the bill for their four drinks and the four others they had ordered through Sophie, slamming the bill down on the table before stomping off.

Elena knew she was being childish and making a scene, but she infuriated from that interaction. She has never been so worked up over such a small conversation, but everything about the man screams arrogance, she can't stand it.

Retreating to the back, she takes out the card he put in her pocket and sees nothing other than a single phone number written on it. She can't help but scoff at it before tossing it in the trash. She has had enough of tonight and wants nothing more than to return to her tiny apartment with the comfort of her cat and the solitude, pretending none of this ever happened.

But Dmitri's words continue to echo in her ear throughout the remainder of her shift. Thankfully he disappears after that, paying the bill and a large tip, another attempt at being flashy. Elena is used to men finding her attractive and assuming she can be bought with money since she is nothing more than a waitress, but they have no idea she comes from a wealthy family who has never shied away from the term 'share the wealth', especially when it comes to their own daughter.

The only reason Elena is working is to pay back her student loans for the cosmetology program she tried taking, only to end up dropping after 6 months, but still paying the full year tuition. Her parents had agreed to pay for her schooling, but that disappeared the moment she declared she wanted to drop out.

It was then agreed she would work to pay off her student debt, and at the rate of minimum wage, she will never turn down a large tip, but she will also never allow a man to think he can buy her attention or body.

Regardless of how handsome they are.

Her shift finally comes to an end and she all but runs to the back to get undressed and get ready for her walk home. Thankfully she doesn't live too far from the diner and doesn't have to worry too much about strangers and weirdos approaching her late at night.

Stepping out the back door out of the alley, a dark figure approaches her from the sidewalk, a luxury car waiting behind him.

"W-what the hell a-are you doing here?"