DARK SECRETS

The Black SUV

Erick had made up his mind. He already took the deal from Patrick and he was going to find out who the girl called Hidden Beauty was.

He was going to be very meticulous about it now. He would study her frequently, but not too close enough for her to know she was being watched.

And he was going to be more regular at Là Calantrò from then on.

And today, he was going there, alone. He decided to pass the same street he first saw her. He passed with his car, and roamed around the street for a little while, and he waited until 9:00 pm, but he didn't even get a glimpse of her hair.

He was frustrated.

Why was it so hard to find a puny girl?!

She was really mysterious, like Patrick said. She really deserved the name Hidden Beauty. It was like she was born to hide.

Erick sighed frustratedly. He had no choice. He had to leave the vicinity. Most house owners were already peeking out of their house when they saw the same car pass the street over and over again. It was getting scary.

Erick was undaunted. He would keep up searching, and he would find out soon, no matter what it took. She was already his biggest challenge, and he would win that challenge no matter what.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Wasn't it scary? The same car kept parading this street over and over again."

"I know right? I thought they were thieves trying not inspect the house and property they want to steal. We should be careful from now on in this street."

"I don't think so. It was a black SUV. It looked like it was owned by a rich individual. No one with that kind of a luxurious car would want to steal something. "

"Who knows? Thieves don't have a specific car they use in stealing. There are experienced armed robbers, you see. They dress up like rich people but they are very dangerous. My niece almost got into a trap like that one day. . . "

Yasmine heard two women talking in the nearby table next to hers where she was sitting at the Cafe. She sipped her coffee gently as she listened.

A black SUV?

Why would a black SUV parade a street for such a long time? That was very mysterious. Were they looking for someone or something?

But somehow, Yasmine's mind immediately went straight back to the rich man who was the owner of the black SUV the last time.

Was he the one?

Even if he was, why was he parading nthe street for hours? What was he searching for?

Wait, was he searching for her?

Yasmine's heart sank. Though she tried not to believe it, her mind kept telling her that the man came back to the street just to see her.

Did he recognize her as the girl at the club?

Yasmine seriously hoped not. He wouldn't even find it out either. She always looked very different. But if he was really after her, how did he recognize her? What gave her away so easily? Yasmine was confused. She had to know what was really going on.

But for now, she would have to change the way she goes to the club. She wouldn't pass this street so often anymore. She couldn't afford to get caught, especially by a rich handsome stranger that she couldn't stand.

"Hey Yas, what are you thinking about that made you so far away from earth? " Her best friend, Jeremy asked her as he slipped into the seat opposite her. He was wearing an apron and he was smiling at her.

"Did you come to see me? I was pretty busy working anyway. " He said.

Yasmine scoffed and smiled as she dropped her cup of coffee. "See you? " She said, acting surprised. " I didn't come to see you. I came to have a nice time and have a nice cup of coffee. "

"Oh really? " Jeremy said, as he smirked playfully. Yasmine laughed. "Don't smirk at me, I'm telling the truth."

"And you decided to come to this particular Cafe, just to have a nice time?" He said.

Yasmine looked at him like he suddenly grew horns. "Hello? This is the nearest Cafe from my school and it it's my favorite. So why would I go elsewhere then? Seriously Jeremy. "

"Fine, let's say that, but you and I know something is up, " He said. "While I was working I was staring at you. You were so lost in thought you didn't even glance at me once, and you only took three sips from your coffee. "

"You counted that too? " Yasmine said.

"You seem to forget that I know you well enough since high school, " Jeremy said. "So what's eating you up? Spill it. "

Yasmine sighed. So much was bothering her, she didn't even know where to start from. What should she say to him?

"Is it your mom? " Jeremy asked. "I can help you out if you won't mind," he said. "You always don't want my help when it comes to your mom."

"No, I can't let you that, " Yasmine said quickly. "I can't include my problems with yours. You have so much to deal with already. " She said. "She's my responsibility, I'll take care of her. Besides, doctor Armstrong will do the same also."

Yasmine met Jeremy back in high school. Some guys tried to bully her but he was there to stop them. Unfortunately he got a punch for standing up for a new girl, but he was glad about it, because he was able to earn a friend after that. His parents were dead and he was living with his grandparents. He decided not to go to college but open his own Cafe. And luckily, he was able to earn some money after working in a restaurant for three years and he saved a lot from doing other menial jobs. And then, with the help of his grandparents who gave him a land they bought before his parents died, Jeremy set up his own Cafe. Yasmine was proud of him. He was a young man, very talented and hard-working. He even write books online in his free time, and he was a sensation as well. Yasmine was grateful to have met him.

" So what's going on? " He asked her. "Wait, don't tell me, you're still working at that club and you got harassed? " He said in anger. "How many times will I tell you not to work there anymore, huh, Yas? But you just won't listen!"

"I don't have a choice, you know, " Yasmine said. "I have to do something or else mom would die!"

"But I can help!" Jeremy said. "I can help you instead of you going to that filthy place to work!"

Yasmine got annoyed and she stood up.

"You're yelling! " She yelled as well and earnrd the attention of everyone in the Cafe.

"If you just want to keep yelling at me, then I'm leaving. " She took her phone and started walking out of the Cafe. Jeremy sighed. He immediately stood up and went after her.

"Yas, " He called but she didn't answer him.

"Yasmine," he called again and when he caught up with her and held her hand. Yasmine stopped walking and looked at him and folded her hands.

"What? You've come to yell at me outside too?" She said sarcastically.

Jeremy sighed. "Look Yas, I'm sorry, " He said. "I'm just very worried about you, " He said. "You're my best friend, I can't stand it when you're working in that horrible place and you refuse my help. "

"I can handle my problems in my own," Yasmine said. "I don't want to trouble you with my problems when you have yours, don't you understand?"

"You think I care about my problems?" Jeremy said. "I'm fine, and my problems can wait. Yours can't. "

"So what do you want me to do?" Yasmine asked him.

"Stop working at Là Calantrò," He said. "That's all I want."

"And how do you want me to pay for my mom's meds regularly? " She asked.

"I can help with that."

"And her surgery?"

"I'll do something about it as well."

"No, " Yasmine said immediately. "You're not going to do anything."

"And have you working back at Là Calantrò? " He said. "Never."

"If you don't change your mind, you're gonna lose your best friend," Yasmine said sternly. "And I mean it."

Jeremy stared at her wide eyed. Was she seriously threatening him to leave her with her problems or lose their friendship?

This girl was nuts.

"Yas, seriously?" Jeremy said.

Yasmine folded her hands and pouted her lips.

"I mean it, " She said, and looked at him. "Look, I know you're worried about me, and I appreciate it. But I don't want you to be worried about me. You're my friend, I'll always call on you whenever I need you. That's a promise. I just need you to look after me. Is that not okay?" She said gently.

Jeremy sighed. "You're really something, Yasmine," he said and Yasmine smiled.

With the way he was now, she couldn't even tell him she was suspicious of a man from the club, and that she had a feeling she was being watched.

Even if she was, she didn't want to add him in her mess. She would out him from away from it, just to clarify her suspicions and not endanger him. She didn't want anyone else she ever loved in her life to die. At least not her only friend.

"So what do you say? " She asked him. "Are you ready to take the deal? Well, you have no other option than to accept it. If don't, you lose me."

"Yeah, thanks for the reminder, " Jeremy said. " At least that's a solid threat. Now I know I'll lose my best friend if I am adamant to keep her from danger. How lovely, " He said sarcastically and Yasmine laughed.

"You have no choice. " She said. "So, deal?" She smiled and raised her hand for a high five and Jeremy stared at her, not knowing what to say. Then he groaned.

"Ugh, fine, " He said. "It's a deal. "

Yasmine giggled and looked up at him, urging him for a hand five. He sighed and raised his hand and they high fived.

Yasmine was glad. At least she was able to have someone in her life for now. She would save her mom as well and be happy after school after getting a job and go out with her best friend.

Things were going to get better, no matter what.