Vitus and Leila

Chapter nine: Leila's first day back at work

A few days later Leila arrived back at Cups and spoons, "Leila!" Julie squeezed her tightly as she came through the door. "Am I late?" Leila asked worriedly, "you're never normally here before me.." "No, no, I just wanted to be here for you on your first day back" Julie interrupted Leila caringly. "I would of picked you up and walked you to work, you know?" She added. Leila nodded, she knew, last night she had received two of Julie's messages, asking her if she needed escorting to work today and another one this morning. Leila smiled and thanked Julie for being such a good friend. Even though the girls were very different to each other, they had become good friends through work.

Leila went into the staff room, put on her apron and went into the kitchen to say good morning to her baker brothers. Dimitri looked up when she came him, "Leila, can I speak to you privately for a minute?" He asked solomnly, and walked into the hallway with her following him closely.

Back in the kitchen Pete looked at Johnny, who raised his eyebrows, "wonder what that's about?" He asked, Johnny shrugged, "I'm sure she'll tell us later." He answered.

Dimitri leaned his back against the wall and got out his phone, Leila was scared, what was he going to tell her, she quivered. "Leila, I'm not going to beat around the bush," Dimitri said, "You told us all you were kidnapped, did you see any of the men who kidnapped you?" Leila nodded, "was it this man?" Leila showed her a photo of a man on his phone. Leila shook her head. She remembered seeing one of the men that had questioned her in the park a few days a ago. He was speaking to Vitus, she wondered if Vitus knew that the other man kidnapped people, she shook her head again, he can't know, she said to herself, he had been so nice to her. She didn't know alot about kidnappers, but she did know they weren't nice. "Leila, earth to Leila!" Dimitri said loudly "Yes..yes..sorry Miti, my thoughts wandered off then" "I saw that, Leila, why don't you tell me what's going on? You know, I always listen to you. Do you know more than you're letting on?" Dimitri asked her carefully. Leila told him about her walk in the park down by the river, about the man and the shooting and about Vitus. Dimitri sighed, "Vitus Sorokin?" He asked "I don't know his surname" Leila answered. Dimitri took out his phone, typed Vitus' full name into the search engine and showed her a picture. Leila gasped, she nodded "Y-y-yeh that's him." Dimitri rubbed his face with both of his hands. "Do you know him?" Leila asked, Dimitri looked up "know him? Everybody f*cking KNOWS Vitus Sorokin! How can you NOT know him." He shouted. Suddenly it dauned on Leila, "Sorokin, isn't that the rich family with all the motorbikes?" Leila asked. Dimitri nodded silently. "Leila, do you know where all that money comes from? Money, doesn't grow on trees you know?!" Leila nodded, why was he telling her this, it's not like she came from a rich family, the opposite was the case. "Where does their money come from then?" Leila asked Dimitri innocently. "I don't know exactly and I can't say anything against Vitus, I would end up losing my head for it. But I can ask you to stay the f*ck away from him. He's not good news, trust me!" Dimitri said and with that he walked off back to the kitchen.

Leila stood in the hallway, Vitus a kidnapper? she thought, he can't be. Can he? Then again, Dimitri was right, money doesn't grow on trees, why was he so rich? But nice people can be rich too, if they're lucky, she thought. Leila shook her head, enough is enough. It didn't matter anyway, she thought, it's not like she was ever going to see him again. That thought relieved and saddened Leila at the same time. She walked back out front, Martin had just opened the door of the shop, but there wasn't a customer in sight. Leila slowly walked behind the counter "are you ok?" Julie asked, Leila nodded. "You look like you've seen a ghost!" Julie continued. "It's fine, honestly, sometimes the memories just still pop into my head, you know?" Leila said. It wasn't really a lie, she thought, sometimes they do still pop up.

Before she could think about it any further a low voice resounded over the counter "Good morning Leila, good to see you back at work." Leila startled, her throat turned dry, she couldn't swallow. She turned around and faced the man infront of the counter, it was none other than Vitus Sorokin.

Leila stared at him silently, after a while Julie nudged her arm "Say something, anything.." she whispered awaking Leila from her daze. "Welcome to cups and spoons, how can I help you?" Leila said robotically, Vitus frowned, why was she acting like she didn't know him, was she so shocked to see him here? He had been here before. Vitus quickly covered his frown and tried to adopt a look of indifference on his face. "I'll have a cup of coffee, please, I'll go and sit over by the window." He replied and pointed to the window. "Would you like milk and sugar?" Leila asked politely. Vitus shook his head "neither" he answered shortly and walked over to the small table by the window. Julie turned on the coffee machine and pulled Leila infront of her "Vitus bl**dy Sorokin?" She asked raising her eyebrows. Leila bit her lip. "That was the big guy from the other day!" Julie observed, "you didn't seem to know him then, why do you know him now?" The coffee machine beeped. Leila turned away from Julie and took the coffee from the machine. "We are not done here! We will be speaking about this later" Julie ordered. Leila walked over to Vitus and smiled. "One black coffee, sir" she said politely. "Would you like anything else?"

You. Vitus thought silently to himself. "Would you sit with me?" Vitus asked sweetly "I-I-I have to work" Leila stammered. Vitus looked around "the shop's empty, your colleague is playing on her phone and your boss is nowhere in sight. Sit." Vitus commanded. Leila shook her head "no." She tried to say it loud and confidently but it came out as a tiny whisper. Vitus frowned, this girl was really starting to infuriate him. "As soon as a customer comes in I will let you work." He said flatly, pushing out the chair opposite him. "Now sit." Leila obeyed his order and sat down. Vitus' voiced softened: "Leila, I really want to know what you meant in the park, the other day, why did you think I was going to kidnap you?" Leila looked down at her hands. Vitus stroked her cheek and carefully pulled up her chin. Subconsciously Leila pushed her head into his hands a little, her head had been risen, but she forced her eyes to continue looking downwards. She dare not look into the blue eyes infront of her. Vitus let go of her chin, "Leila are you scared of me?" Vitus asked gently. Leila looked up and swallowed, his icy blue eyes were staring right into her brown ones. Leila shook her head "I know I should be though.." she whispered. "So you do know who I am then. At least that matter's settled" Vitus said seriously and leaned back in his chair. "Well, I only found out today" Leila said defensively. "But now you know who I am, you know I can help you, right?" Vitus prodded her. Suddenly Leila felt angry "help me?!" She hissed "your men kidnapped me in the first place!" Vitus was taken back. "My men? Why would my men kidnap you?"

Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by a customer coming into the shop. Leila stood up. "I have to work." She said confidently and walked over to the counter to serve the customer. Vitus scowled. What the h*ll did she mean? His crew has strong orders never to capture innocents, why should they have kidnapped Leila? He asked himself, whilst finishing his coffee. "I'll pick you up when you finish work" he called over his shoulder at Leila, whilst walking out the door. Her face turned a paler shade of white, her hands shook. Leila knew he wasn't asking her, he was informing her.