Mr. Mysterious, Who Is He?

CHAPTER 5: WHO IS HE?

“Sir, please… stop!”

My manager pleaded, voice sharp and urgent. He reached out, attempting to calm the green-eyed man who stood over the predator, fists clenched and chest heaving at the time.

The green-eyed man slowly straightened; his breaths were still uneven. He smoothed out his suit jacket with calculated composure, but rage still burned behind those emerald eyes. “This asshole ruined my night!” He growls.

“We’re so sorry, sir… for everything. If your food or drinks weren’t up to standard, we can,”

The green-eyed man scoffed bitterly, cutting my manager off. “This club is a joke!” He says.

The manager blinked in confusion. “I thought it was just a service issue…”

But the green-eyed man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shook his head and pointed down at the predator still groaning, blood at the corner of his mouth.

“This man,” He says; his voice sharp like a blade, “He assaulted a helpless waitress tonight, your employee, do you think that was okay?”

The manager’s face twisted in disbelief. “W-What do you mean, sir? I think this was just a misunderstanding”

He didn’t have to say anything else. The green-eyed man turned toward the crowd, eyes searching and then he saw me.

I was half-hidden behind a group of waiters, praying my manager wouldn’t fire me after this but the green-eyed man reached through the crowd, took my hand gently, and pulled me forward.

“Her,” He says, his voice rising. “She’s the one. This poor girl was just doing her job when that pig cornered her and tried to force himself on her!”

My heart dropped. The world seemed to blur around me.

All eyes turned. My manager’s face darkened, not with concern, but with frustration. “Is this true?” He asks, glaring at me like I was the problem.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My mouth opened, but the words wouldn’t come.

“This is okay, sir,” The manager says quickly, eyes darting nervously at the guests. “It usually happens here” He explains.

“What?!” The green-eyed man barks. “This is how you treat your staff?” He asks in boiled blood.

“No! I mean… I just meant, this sort of thing… it’s not unusual. Guests get too friendly” He explains.

The green-eyed man shook his head, disgusted. “Unbelievable”

“We’ll fix this, sir,” The manager started, but he never got to finish.

“Everyone!” the green-eyed man shouted, addressing the room. “Drinks are on me tonight… All of it, on me”

Gasps and cheers echoed through the club.

“But I’m never setting foot in this place again,” He says coldly. “Not for a second”

He turned sharply, walking to his table in the corner, grabbing his coat and belongings. His friend followed without a word, both of them vanishing into the night like shadows.

The noise of the club started returning, murmurs, clinks of glasses, whispers. The manager spun toward me, fire raging in his eyes.

“And you…” He hisses, barely able to control his voice. “You’re fired!”

My knees gave out, and I collapsed into the nearest seat, the words crashing into me like a hurricane. “No…”

Tears welled up and spilled over as my heart squeezed inside my chest. My organs felt frozen, my limbs numb. How was I supposed to help Evan now? How was I supposed to survive?

My apartment rent was due in days. My savings were nearly gone and now… this.

“I shouldn’t have rejected that man…” I whisper to myself, the shame sinking deeper into my soul. “I should’ve just played along…”

“Eve…” Molly appeared beside me, crouching low; her hand stroking my back gently. Her voice cracked. “I’m so sorry. It should’ve been me. I took his order…”

“That’s okay, Molly,” I say quietly, wiping my tears. “I just need to go…”

“This wasn’t your fault, Eve,” She says fiercely. “That man… he’s the one who should pay! Not you…”

I gave her a tired smile. “Tonight was just… a bad night,”

I stood slowly, knees still weak, and started walking toward the kitchen. “I’ll call you after I get home”

“O-okay… I’m waiting,” Molly whispers.

I walked past the noise and into the backroom. I pulled off my apron, set it on the counter like a final farewell, and grabbed my bag. My hands trembled as I zipped it closed.

“Fiuh…” A long, shaking sigh escaped my lips.

I made my way toward the elevator, numb. The city lights outside felt distant, blurry. My mind spun with fear, shame, and despair.

How could one night destroy everything?

No job. No money. No safety net. No clue how to help my brother now.

What would I tell Evan?

By the time the elevator reached the ground floor, my chest ached with the weight of it all. I walked outside and sat on the curb, head low, arms hugging my knees. I pulled out my phone and called Alice.

“Come on, come on…” I whisper.

Finally, she answered. “Where have you been? Are you okay?”

“I’m not…” I began, but the phone buzzed.

Then went black; dead battery.

“No…” I stare at the lifeless screen. “No, no, no!”

I tilted my head back, looking up at the black sky. Not a single star above; just an endless stretch of darkness.

“Is there any test left for me tonight?!” I screamed to the sky. “Any more, b***h?!”

Tears burned behind my eyes again.

And then… a car pulled up.

A sleek black vehicle parked right in front of me. I squinted through my tears and saw him… the green-eyed man… stepping out.

Of course, what now?

“Hey, are you all right?” He asks gently as he’s walking toward me.

“Yeah,” I reply bitterly. “Never been better…” I sigh.

I turned; ready to walk away but his voice followed me.

“Wait… did they fire you?” He asks.

I paused. “Yeah… Thanks for that,” I say, not hiding the bite in my tone.

He took a breath. “Miss, wait…”

I turned slowly, lips pressed together. “What now?”

He reached into his coat pocket.

God, not this again; he wasn’t about to pity me, was he? Not after everything.

“Take this,” He says quietly and presses something into my hand.

I looked down; five hundred dollars.

“No…” I reply, trying to give it back. “That’s unnecessary, sir...”

“It’s okay,” He says firmly. “Take it. You deserve it…”

His eyes weren’t predatory; they weren’t even pitying; just… sincere.

Still, my pride wrestled with my desperation. I wanted to say no. I should’ve said no.

But the truth was; this money could help my brother. It could buy us another week of survival.

“Thank you…” I whisper, holding the money close to my chest. A smile crept through my sadness.

“What’s your name?” He asks.

I looked up at him.

“Eve… Evelyn”

He stared at me for a second, something flashing in his eyes. “Evelyn…” He repeated, almost like he’d heard the name before.

But then he paused. And for a moment, he looked like he wanted to say more; but didn’t.

Instead, he says, “Evelyn, there’s something you should know…”

Before he could finish, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his face paled instantly.

He looked back at me.

“I have to go,” He says hurriedly. “But we’ll talk soon. I promise I’ll find you”

He turned, rushing back toward his car without another word.

I watched him drive away, still clutching the money in my hand. My mind swirled with questions.

Who was he, really?

And what had he almost told me?