Episode 5

Chapter five

"Where did you get this?"

Brian pulled his finger from the seemingly wrinkled grip of the old man sitting across the table.

Brian never liked to talk to the customers directly, or serve their orders. That wasn't his duty. He was to make sure that all the customers got what they ordered for, and as fast as possible. But since Jessica and the other workers seemed to have succumbed to the flu, he had no choice.

And here was a man, whose face was difficult to put an age on, asking him how he got the ring on his forefinger.

Brian had no business answering the question. He had done his job by serving the coffee, and he moved to the next table.

The world would have been a better place if people learned to mind their business, at least that's what he thought as he took the next order from two tables away.

Few minutes later, Brian was done. He perched his aching ass on a stool to observe the happy customers as they continued their chit chat. Some bunch of happy customers with nowhere to spend their money but in a restaurant that couldn't take care of his mom.

Two days from now, he will have no choice but to go pick her up at the hospital. Two days was all he had until the doctors stopped the treatment.

His mom was going to die unless he came up with something. This, the doctor had assured.

The bones on his finger cracked when he made a fist. Bruises were all over his body but he was still lucky to be alive.

Thank God for the cops who showed up on time; and thank God for having the courage to dial 911 while being beaten. Despite filling some paperwork at the police department and having to spend the last three days recuperating in a hospital, there was still cause to smile that arrests were made for the assault.

"You look like a troubled young man!"

Brian's thoughts drifted. The same man he couldn't put an age on earlier, the man who had grabbed his fingers, the man who had been staring at him intermittently, appeared.

The man could not just leave him alone. But why?

Of course the man was right. Brian was troubled. He was more than troubled, but what the fuck was the man's business with whatever trouble he had?

But Brian, the ever polite employee, was not a man to utter such words, especially to a customer. Mr Tomlinson would probably fire him if he did.

"It's nothing. I'm fine. Anything I can help you with?" He faked a smile but 'trouble' could still be read oh his face. And he could bet that the man saw it.

"Maybe I can help you. The man stretched his hand into a pocket. Here, take this. You could join us for for dinner tomorrow."

"Us!" Brian squeaked. He could see just a man. But since the word 'us' was used, there was a chance that the beating must have impaired his sight.

"I mean, my family!" The man corrected.

But there was something peculiar with the stranger that Brian couldn't wrap his head around. The black hat he wore gave shade to the moustache all over his mouth. He should be around sixty-five or so, but the black coat that dropped just below his knew made him younger.

Brian stared at the card for a while. A complete stranger inviting him for a dinner?

Surprised. He slid the card back into his pocket. No promises for now. He couldn't promise to honor the invitation.

'Let's just see how it goes,' was what he told himself as he moved to attend to other customers. At that moment, the stranger was already at the door.

The following day was even more hectic, but Brian could keep up. Not even a single customer complained of any delay and when he got off work, all he wanted was to go home and sleep.

But how could he go home when Mr Andrews was still on his neck? The old man wouldn't listen to Brian's plight and insisted on not giving the key; and Brian was forced to spend the previous night in a club.

Brian flaged down a taxi.

"Destination!" came a voice at the front

Well, even Brian had no idea where he was going. For all he knew, his life had taken a retrogressive turn.

"Just drive!"

Brian slumped himself on the back seat with nothing but his miserable life on his mind. He thought about his childhood and all he saw was pain. His girlfriend also compounded the painful memories.

He reached for his pocket and brought his cellphone. He was surprise to still find the card from the stranger.

He just got himself a destination after all.

"Hey, take me to this address," he said, handing the card to the driver

"Sure!" The driver replied promptly.

The car maneuvered a few bends, took many turns, and finally pulled over in front of what Brian could only describe as a castle.

"Are you sure this is the place?"

"Exactly the address," the driver replied.

Brian stared from the window, wondering if he was lost or not. He never saw a mansion so magnificent as the one he was staring at.

"I can take you back if you want!"

Brian's thoughts drifted. He pulled a ten dollar bill from his pocket. He just needed to show the card to guards at the gate and soon, he stood waiting for an answer after sounding the doorbell.

"Welcome!" exclaimed a man dressed in black trousers and white shirt.

But Brian, the guy who has probably never stepped foot in a place that could only be described as paradise, didn't bother to return the greeting.

Did he nod?

No, for he was too busy the whole time. His eyes roamed on the architectural masterpiece and he could not but marvel at the carefully decorated sitting area.

He was in a different world.

"Come this way!"

The words drifted his thoughts and he carefully followed the man. The air he breathed was entirely different; and each he took only reminded him of how miserable his life had been. He probably figured that the butler's shiny trouser could pay his rent.

A multitude of eyes greeted the stranger who just walked in. Each eyes looking at him from head to toe, and probably trying to put a price at the cheap clothings he wore.

"You are late!" said a man, finding his feet. His two hands spread apart.

Brian recognized him. He was the same stranger back at the restaurant. But at the same time, it appears that the stranger was no ordinary stranger. A 'billionaire' was the one word Brian thought would best describe the man. But what the fuck was he doing at the restaurant?

"Sorry, I got caught up in some personal stuff," Brian explained ,but he was more concerned with the continuous stare he got.

He ran a quick calculation in his head. Ten individuals. And they had one thing in common: they continued to stare at him. Maybe coming here was a mistake.

"This is my family, please have a seat."

Brian pulled a seat close to a dark haired lady. All he had seen was her hair, for her eyes were glued to a glass of red wine.

Brian could swear that he never tasted a wine so sweet as the one flowing down his throat. The food melted in his mouth with ease and for a while, Brian seemed to totally forget his miserable life.

"So Brian, tell me about you!"

Brian jerked his head up. How the fuck did he know his name?

"Sorry, I should probably introduce myself. Call me Mr Danley. And here is Mrs Danley, my beautiful wife. Seating next to her is Kyle. And over there is Jacob. And there is Ana seating next to you. And at the far end is Mira, her younger sister. Over there is Henry, and my nephew, Justin…"

Mr Danley introduced everyone seated at the table, pointing his forefinger to some human beings whom Brian thought weren't interested in his presence.

Truth is, he was damn right.

Brian didn't bother with whatever malicious look he got. But he bothered to crammed the name 'Ana' the lady seated next to him.

Truth is, she was the first to take note of Brian's presence, but how could a guy who just walked into a paradise notice any of that?

"Well, there isn't much to know about me. I work at the restaurant where we first met—"

"Restaurant!" Exclaimed Mrs Danley. Her eyes shot wide open at her husband. How could a wealthy man be going to such places? Was what baffled her, and she needed an explanation.

"I had an emergency meeting with a client. It was really urgent and was the nearest place we could get," Mr Danley explained, but the look on her face showed she wasn't satisfied.

But Mr Danley would say no more. To hell with whatever she may think of him.

Mrs Danley turned to Brian and taunted, "So we are actually dinning with a restaurant boy."

"Yeah, it seems so," Mira, the blond-haired lady said with contempt.

Brian had thought coming here was a mistake. And it was becoming evident with each second.

"Watch your tongue!" Mr Danley threatened. A no nonsense man he was. Not a man to watch the guy he had personally invited take a trash.

Brian felt a bit relieved and continued, mostly talking about his work. He did a good job by keeping his dying mother out of the conversation. Had he known that his job would receive such ridicule, he never would have mentioned it.

A slip of the tongue.

Brian continued his meal. Ana, the lady to the right and the only name he could remember, was yet to say a word. But he did catch her stealing a few glances.

Did she like him?

Brian thought so, except that he couldn't tell because they were yet to make any eye contact. She was probably too shy.

"Ana, are you sure you are alright? Mr Danley asked his daughter.

"Huh!" she exclaimed and jerked her head up. "Of course. I'm fine," she stuttered. His words seemed to have jerked her out of the little trance she was in.

"Maybe she liked him," Mira interrupted.

"My dear, don't say that. Your sister can't be with a restaurant boy. She is already engaged to Ethan—"

"We are not engaged mom… and I don't like him," Ana corrected. She would hear no more about Ethan, especially from her mother.

For the first time, Brian heard the words that almost made his heart melt.

But Mrs Danley wasn't done.

"Darling, Ethan loves you, and he is from the Thompson family, a very prominent and one of the richest in the city," Mrs Danley said to her daughter, but such explanation found no place with Ana.

"Enough talking!" Growled Mr Danley.

The old man was getting fed up with the whole conversation, and finally dropped the bomb he had been nursing in his mind the entire time when he said, "Brian, you would marry Ana, and I would be glad to have a son-in-law."

"Daad!" everybody grumbled. Their jaws dropped wide open to process the information. Everybody, but Ana.

The old man had run mad, at least that's the only explanation they could find.

"Maybe Dad's dementia had become worse," Mira whispered to Henry.

"No. I think he has gone mad," Henry whispered back.

Mad?

Hell no. Mr Danley was far from being mad. He pulled his chair backwards and excused himself.

He would hear no more of their grumbles.

The thing is, as surprised as they all were, they knew the sad and bitter truth about Mr Danley. His words, once said, can never be retracted.