Chapter Text
Part 1
You are late. Actually, this isn’t a surprise for you. You always think you have more time than you actually do. What is the word that your mother taught you of someone who is a bad preceptor of time? A tidsoptimist? You laugh at the thought as you step out your bathroom door in nothing but your fluffy white towel.
This is it. Your first night out in the city that never sleeps, New York. Almost four thousand miles away from home.
There is a big difference, between the two places you call home. Your home town in the South of England is the kind of town that has everything you need; more than enough train stations, a choice of shopping centres, cinemas, parks (big and small), plenty of restaurants and clubs, and yet somehow, you have made your way through them all. It was time for a fresh start. In a new city. With new faces.
Naturally, the town in England is a completely diverse world from New York. There is a spirit to the big city and you feel alive. Of course, the most noticeable difference, is in New York you wake up to the sound of taxi horns and hungry pigeons pecking at your window each morning.
You walk over to your bedside table and touch the screen of your phone to see the time. You have exactly twenty minutes.
“Shit” You curse.
Rushing towards the opulent dressing table mirror, you concentrate on the pale girl that’s staring back at you. Little bags are hanging under her eyes, and her chalky cold lips are purple from her dripping wet hair. You start to brush wildly through the tangles.
You prime, blush and conceal your face in cosmetics, and blow-dry your soaking hair. Then, you shimmy into your new, navy slip dress. The soft sheer fabric hangs from your shoulders and follows down to your ankles.
With only a very short amount of time left, you quickly tidy up the mess that has been made in your small apartment room. “I'm finished” You call out loud. A few seconds later, Jacob strolls in smiling to himself, probably at how handsome he looks. Needless to say, you know that.
He wears a plain black suit with a white oxford shirt, the top button undone. He stops after two steps and without saying a word, his smile grows wide at the sight of you.
"You look amazing," Jacob’s says warmly. Your cheeks blush rose at his compliment. After you quickly grab your bag and mobile from the newly made bed, you give Jacob a soft kiss on his cheek.
“Thanks” You smile “Where are Maddie and Eli?" You start to feel the emptiness in your stomach as you think about what restaurant Jacob is surprising you three too. Jessica and Eli are your closest friends since school and all through university. They joined you and Jacob to New York to also find a future. It was nice to know other people in the city.
After Jacob tells you that they should be on their way, he walks over to the cream sheets of your bed and sits down. He starts to twirl his fingers in a circler motion around the soft cotton. “Do you still wear my sapphire necklace every day?" Jacob’s eyes drift down to your neckline to find a beautiful silver necklace in the shape of a heart, with a small sapphire stone in the middle, glittering under the light.
You roll your eyes and smile “Of course, I will always wear it”. As you walk back over to the mirror to touch up your makeup, you frown. The Sapphire necklace that means so much to you, gets you thinking.
“Do you miss home?” You try to ask casually. You know moving this far away from home was originally your idea. It had always been a dream of yours to move to New York. Of course, you are grateful when Jacob decided to join you. And even more so when Madison and Eli did too.
“Sometimes I guess, why?” Jacob questions. Your frown deepens. That wasn’t exactly the answer you hoped for.
“No reason, just wondering…” The sound of the doorbell distracts you from one another’s company. You sigh in relief and run over to the door. As soon as you see Madison’s wavy chestnut hair and bright blue eyes, you smile widely.
“Hi! And wow…” Madison presses her lips together while eying the dress that clings to you.
“Oh stop, look at yourself,” You say. After Jacob greets Madison, you make your way over to Eli; his ruffled blonde hair is swept to the side and his smile is as wide as always.
“Hey, you!” Eli’s low voice booms down the corridor as he twirls you around, taking you by complete surprise.
Jacob laughs. “You already have one girlfriend, you don’t need two”.
Once you lock up the apartment, all four of you stroll down the corridor talking in pairs. Madison starts to talk animately about how Alex, her older brother, passed his LNAT test. This makes your smile grow much wider. You always were very fond of Alex since the day he introduced you to Jacob. That is the first day on your list of top ten days.
Yes, you have a list of the best days you have experienced so far in your life.
The second day on your list is your graduation from University, naturally. The third is when your mother Lara found her new partner George, even though it meant you are further apart, it is the happiest you have ever seen her. And the fourth is the first day in New York when both you and Jacob sat cross-legged on your old wooden floor filled with boreholes, eating takeaway pizza in front of the TV screen, watching reruns of The Simpsons.
Once you all step outside, Jacob calls for a yellow taxi and all four of you climb in. The one thing that you don’t so much like about New York, is how all the taxis seem to have a strong smell of tobacco and damp leather.
"So Jake spill the beans! what restaurant have you booked?” Madison asks while clapping her hands.
“I said no one finds out anything until you see the restaurant itself,” He says without turning around from the front seat. You roll your eyes at the sound of his smug grin. He is clearly enjoying your growing impatience.
As the three began to chat away, you sit back and begin twiddling with the silver halo ring on your finger. All the while you admire the view from outside your taxi window. The sun is setting, spreading its golden rays across the New York skyline. It is a very pleasant, warm evening for late September.
As the taxi slows to a stop, you, Madison and Eli peer out your windows eagerly to see where you have arrived. The sign reads west 45th street.
You begin to scan your eyes along the other side of the street until the glimmering lights of a modern edifice stops you. The name of a restaurant, Valence Cucina, is written in emerald green italics. As a whole, it is an impressive building. With large, dark, stained glass windows covering the outdoor wall, giving no clue as to what is inside.
The sound of soft jazz rings in your ears as the four of you walk closer to the two black doors and past the long queue that is filled with sparkly dresses and tailored suits. This is a place that you are not used to.
Your stomach, already rumbling with emptiness, begins to do nervous flips. It is a horrid combination.
You certainly do not fit in.
You thump your hand on Jacob’s shoulder, making him turn around. “How much is this place!" You hiss in his ear while patting frantically down at the creases in your dress.
“I can afford it, it’s our first night out" Jacob sighs. You promise to yourself that you will scold him about this later. Perhaps even bank transfer him some money over.
As you all approach the double doors, an older man with elaborate blonde hair stands formally guarding the entrance. He wears a pair of formal dinner pants and a long sleeve black shirt, with a green bow tie fitted at the collar. He starts to examine you all with his imposingly bright green eyes.
“Good evening sir," The man says politely with his formal voice, addressing Jacob.
“Hi” Jacob greets “We have a table for four at 8 pm under the name Greene?" He says with equal politeness. The man’s eyes flicker to the clipboard in his hand as he starts to scan through the names.
“Yes, right through here,” He says while reaching for the tall black doors, motioning you all inside. “Your waiter tonight is Reiner, he will take you to your seat"
You step through the doors and into a large formal dining area, your jaw drops. You are truly going to kill Jacob.
The place is grand, to say the least. The mahogany tables are set with silk emerald runners, and the walls are covered in a deep midnight blue. In the middle of the restaurant hangs a large old fashioned crystal chandelier, reflecting specks of silver and rainbow.
As you wait at the entrance, you begin to examine just how full the place really is. Buzzing with energy.
Of course, your ears lead you to the stage, where the musicians stand. Jazz music dances out of their instruments. You love a restaurant with good Jazz music.
To snap you out of your daze, your waiter Reiner stops before you, formally introducing himself. “Hello, I am Reiner I will be your waiter this evening” He smiles politely. Reiner wears the same outfit as the man with the green bow tie. He leads all four of you to a round table with the number '17' in italics on a deep green card.
”Jacob, this place is amazing...” Madison’s sentence wanders off as she too is looking around with wide eyes at the unbelievably large dining area. Jacob laughs at her reaction.
"So, do you like it?" Jacob’s eyes light up and the corners of his mouth turn up. You could just tell he is amorously pleased with his choice of places to eat.
“It’s stunning” You beam. Your waiter Reiner arrives back then, placing leather coated menus on the table.
"You know my dad took my mum here when they first moved to New York almost twenty-five years ago and it’s still the same, apart from it being modernised of course” He gestures his hands around the room “So before you carry on freaking out, my dad lent me a little so I can take you all here" Jacob smiles.
“Jeez, remind me to thank your dad” Eli chuckles.
“Drinks Mam?" Reiner’s voice speaks from beside you. You look up to notice he has his pen and pad at the ready. He’s gazing down at you with his bright green eyes. They do not look very inviting. If anything, they look glass-like (If that is even possible).
You’re taking too long to reply because Jacob jumps in. “Can we have a bottle of Prosecco with four glasses please?" Jacob smiles tightly at the unusual waiter. Reiner keeps a cool gaze on him as he scribbles down our drinks.
“Of course, sir,” Reiner says calmly. Once he finishes writing, he looks back to you “Anything else? Something special for this lady perhaps?"
“No, just the Prosecco please” Jacob speaks yet again. You could feel the tension radiating off him. It takes you everything not to roll your eyes. You know that will just displeasure Jacob even more.
“Certainly” And with that, Reiner walks around the circular tables back towards the bar.
“Well,” Madison breaks the silence first “He is certainly weird” She lets out a giggle and turns towards you.
You look over anxiously at Jacob. His face looks blank. You know how Jacob’s jealous tendencies usually went, and you hope this isn't the time for him to sit in his chair and sulk all night.
“Oh Jake, he was just being polite I’m sure,” You say in a low voice as you lean closer to Jacob. You have only been here for five minutes.
“Yeah it’s fine, sorry” Jacob picks up his menu placed in front of him and begins to skim through. You sigh and do the same.
The menu is of soft black leather, with Valence Cucina in shimmering green italic at the front, just like the outdoor sign. As your eyes begin to scan each dish, you know this will take longer than just a few minutes. You are very indecisive when it comes to ordering food.
“And what it is you will be ordering for food this evening ma'am?” That same voice appears beside you again just five minutes later. But this time, Reiner’s eyes hold a hint of amusement. A ghost of a smile touches his lips.
Jacob’s head shoots up from the menu, he lets out an unpleasant sigh.
“Err…” Your voice trails off. You are still indecisive as to what main you want. And the look your waiter is giving you is certainly strange. Surely this man would not hit on you with your boyfriend sitting right beside you? Could he? You just hope for Reiner’s own sake that he is just overly friendly with all the ladies.
“I’ll have the onion soup for starter, and the rump steak for main…well done” and with that, Jacob starts to push his chair away from the table. “I’m going to the toilet, I’ll be back in a minute” Jacob turns to you and smiles, lightly kissing your cheek before stalking off past Reiner.
After the rest of you finish ordering your mains and Reiner leaves you be, you too stand up from your chair to head towards the bathroom.
However, a hand grabs you.
“It’s not worth it. You know he just needs time to cool down” Madison sighs. She is right. Just why does your boyfriend have to be so jealous? You love Jacob, of course, you do. But the older both of you are getting, the more he is letting his jealous emotions get the best of him.
“I know” You slump back down in your chair. “Let’s just forget this and enjoy our meal, ok? I’m sure he was just overly friendly” You suggest. However, the look that appears on both of their faces, tells you they do not believe that statement.
“Okay. Let’s forget about it” Madison smiles and makes a face to Eli. “Anyway, Eli real quick, about the green tile you liked. I really don’t think it will go with the black and white wallpaper I picked out today”
As Madison begins to ramble on about apartment interiors, you let your eyes wander. You look back in the direction of the bar and watch as three waiters stand stacking plates of food and glasses of bubbly onto their trays. You glance back towards the stage, where the Jazz band are playing a familiar Frank Sinatra number. You start to tap your fingers to the beat, enjoying the music.
But that’s when you hear whispers. Not exactly hushed whispers. But the loud, hissing kind.
Your ears lead your eyes to a booth not too far from your table, with black leather seats and dark green velvet cushions. Through the gap, there are three young men, who are all strikingly handsome. They look to be in a deep conversation. They're chatting away with concentrated looks on their faces.
You notice how they all have very similar features; The same slender face, cheekbones high and prominent. And they all have bright, green eyes. The colour of emeralds jewels.
You note they are also wearing the same black uniform as the waiters, but with black blazers on top of the shirt. And coloured ties instead of green bow ties. Perhaps they work here?
The young man with dark blonde hair and bangs has a navy tie. Another man to his right whose hair is a dark shade of brunette, and looks to be the youngest of the bunch, has a pink tie. And the last, who to you, stands out most of all, has raven coloured hair in the style of an undercut. His green eyes are astonishing in contract with his hair colour. He has a scarlet red tie.
They all look very intense. The man with the raven coloured hair seems to be taking charge, his eyes narrow at the two opposite him as the words flow from his mouth. You watch as he combs his delicate hands through his hair in frustration. The movement gives you weird butterflies in your stomach. He looks frustrated as he points to a large piece of paper before him. Whatever the meeting is about, it looks to be of great importance.
Just then, the man with the raven hair lifts his head. He scans the dining area until his eyes find you. You pause. Your heart stops. It’s almost as if he sensed you watching.
“Hey, what are you staring at?” You jump as you feel Jacob’s hand touch your shoulder as he returns to his seat. He starts chuckling “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you” you quickly turn away from the booth and look back towards the stage, where a woman in a long black sparkly dress is singing. Replacing the previous jazz band.
You give an uneasy laugh in return “Just watching the new singer on stage” you lie. “Anyway,” you say, in hopes of changing the subject “Are you ok? I hope you didn’t storm off for other reasons than to actually go to the toilet” Jacob’s smile turns into a slight frown.
“No of course not, I’m fine” Jacob can never swallow his pride and admit how he really feels. You just didn’t want this to ruin your night. “Hey Eli, we should go see the Knicks, I had a look online and their first game is next week” Jacob swivels himself to face Eli, the topic of Basketball doesn’t interest neither you nor Madison, so this is Madison’s chance to talk about more important subjects (according to her) like who is currently dating Brad Pitt.
As Madison begins to talk about a current celebrity scandal, you can’t help but glance over casually at the three men who remain sat in the booth. You notice that the large piece of paper that was laid out before them moments ago, is now gone, and is replaced with a stack of old tatty books. The youngest brunette boy is skimming through them. While the other two are facing the stage, watching the female singer.
“Hello! Did you know he was seeing her behind Kate’s back?” You instantly snap out of it and look back towards Madison. But as you turn, you could have sworn you saw the man with the raven hair smirk to himself.
You don’t know who Kate is, but you nod, pretending to be remotely interested.
After that last glance, you force yourself not to look again for the rest of dinner. Just in case someone catches on.
Reiner delivers your two courses quietly. Glancing at you whenever he can, and Jacob grimacing every time he did.
The food, however, is truly amazing. You are happy you picked right. You take your first bite of the mushroom tortellini. It is cheesy and rich and warms your throat. Jacob even feeds you a small forkful of his steak, the meat is immensely satisfying.
You drink your way through bottles of prosecco. You talk, and you eat, all enjoying one another’s company. You are happy to know that both Madison and Eli’s jobs are going well. You remember how long they searched for the positions they’re currently in, and you're relieved the internships in London they did beforehand are really paying off.
It wasn’t until Madison broke the conversation to go to at the loo, and Jacob and Eli went out for a cigarette, that you realise now you are alone. And now you are indeed alone, you can not resist but take one more peak.
You do not understand why. But they just intrigue you so much.
However, when you look up from the last few pasta parcels on your plate, the three men have gone. The booth being empty should not bother you in the slightest. But quite honestly, it strangely frustrates you. What has gotten into you? And why do you have to be so god damn nosy?
With your eyes still fixated on the booth, an unfamiliar voice speaks in your ear. “Sorry to bother you. But I would stop being so curious at that booth if I were you” You pull yourself out of your daydream, and spin your body around to meet the unfamiliar voice.
There, towering over you, stands an older woman wearing a plum coloured cocktail dress, with auburn-coloured hair. She looks to be in her late forties or early fifties. You hesitate, utterly confused. “Do you mind if I sit? I promise I will be out of your hair before your friends get back” The woman sits down in Jacob’s seat next to you. Not even waiting for you to accept. The woman’s jaw is clenched as she glances over at the booth behind you and back to you with a deep sigh.
You find your voice to speak “Sorry but who are you? My boyfriend will be back any minute” You say as little warning. You're not sure what she wants, but you find it rude how this mere stranger is invading your private space.
“As I said I will be gone after I tell you this. You have to stop being so curious at those men in the booth, keep your head down, enjoy your night with your friends, and pretend you never saw them. Ok?” You are completely taken aback. For one, you are very embarrassed that someone else has been watching you being so nosey. And two, you are completely puzzled as to why this woman is threatening you. The woman sighs at your quiet reaction and starts scanning the dining area behind you. As if she was searching for someone.
She then suddenly stops, her eyes grow wide.
“Just stay away from him. They are nothing but danger” She whispers quickly and starts to get up from the chair.
“B-but from who?” You stammer. You know deep down who, and it made your stomach churn with discomfort.
“I can’t say too much, I have to go. Just steer clear of those men in that booth and you will be safe” The woman throws another glance behind your shoulder again. You don’t follow her eyes. But you have a hunch as to what, or who the woman has seen. “Here take my card, give me a call if anything seems…” Her voice starts to trail off as if she is trying to think of the right thing to say. “Just give me a call if you have any questions. I’m sure you do”
The woman picks up her purse and started fumbling through it until she finds a white business card with a number on it. She slides it across the table to you. The text on the card reads ‘Jane Wilson’ in bold. The phone number underneath in glossy silver.
“What’s going on? should I be-“ And just as you look up wanting more answers, the woman Jane starts to walk in and out the tables towards the big black exit doors. Your head is turning. You aren’t sure what is happening. You have no idea how long the woman Jane had her eyes on you for. But there is something you are certain of.
These men are not normal men.