Date The Boss

3 - Crowded Movie Theater

The day ended rather disappointingly for him. He left the store with a heavy heart and walked away but only after a lingering gaze at Niara who was then cleaning a table with a rag. 

It has been a week since they met and a week of him seeing her do that kind of work but her natural grace and class seemed really out of place. She looked more like a princess that should be sitting on a throne than someone taking orders and wiping tables. 

Training went well as usual. With his experience, that was a breeze for him. It was a wonder how he wasn't questioned for it yet. 

What was making him blue was her. She has been avoiding and ignoring him all day, actually, for the past few days after his failed breakfast apology. She seemed to be totally irked by him. 

"So why are you so bothered by that? Aiden Rivers, get a grip. You have more important things to focus on. If that chick doesn't like you then that's fine." He sighed then pushed the door and stepped inside the diner-style restaurant. 

It was practically empty with less than a dozen customers. There used to be a time when going to eat at that restaurant was like watching in a crowded movie theater where people would willingly wait for hours in line just to get a table but that all disappeared when a franchise store of a giant fast food chain opened right across the street. 

He took a seat in one of the tables and looked out of the window to the glowing Green Mac sign outside. 

"You're bothered because no matter how hard you try, your mind keeps wandering to the moments with her and your eyes seem to be addicted to staring at her face." Aiden admitted to himself. 

"Whose face?" A man asked from behind him. It was the restaurant manager. 

"No one." He chuckled and shook his head. 

The manager sat on the chair across from Aiden. "Is this still about her? The woman who just asked for your order but you already want her to take-away your whole life."

"You're crazy. It's not like that, Christopher." He told his best friend. 

"Not like that but you've been absent-minded for a week now. This is the first time I've seen you like this. It's so unlike you. Just deal with her already. You're her boss anyway. Didn't you say she's with the service crew?" Christopher grinned. 

"Jerk! I can't do that. How about I deal with you instead?" Aiden warned. 

"No! Sorry, boss. I was just joking." 

Aiden glared at his friend. "It's not funny." 

Just then, Niara stepped out of the store in front that he was watching. She looked around as her hair softly cascaded around her shoulders and played around her pretty face. 

"Wow. She's really beautiful," his friend commented. "I get why your jaw immediately drops and you drool whenever you see her."

"Are you sure you still want to keep talking? You're not scared of me telling your wife?" Aiden snapped. 

"Tsk! This guy. I was just looking. You don't have to be so jealous." His friend frowned. 

"Stop looking or I'll really tell your wife." He chuckled then turned back to the window where he saw Niara walking back inside. A smile instantly appeared on his handsome face. 

"You didn't even deny being jealous." His friend chuckled. "Just go for it."

"Go for what?"

"That. Whatever's making you smile like that. It's been a while, boss. Isa has been gone for years. Your ticket to happiness has been long overdue." His best friend and trusted employee said. 

Aiden sighed and smiled. "I know. I think this might be it. You know, I met her on the day before Isa's birthday and for the first time in a long time, I wasn't sad."

"That's it! She must really be sent from the heavens above. Come on. Let's offer everything we have to offer to her. And when she becomes your girlfriend, she can help us with our plan against that competing restaurant that you're spying on right now. Do you know who the owner of that branch is already?" Christopher asked.

The plan. Yes. He should focus on the plan. The plan that would save Aiden's restaurant and put their giant competitor out of business. 

"Not yet. Everyone seemed to be keeping that a secret. I'll know soon. Anyway, the plan stays the same whether we know who the owner is or not." Aiden said.