Thankfully, her fears were unfounded.
After leaving the cafe, Jade had experienced the usual frightening walk home, and after successfully sneaking past Mr Frisch, she returned to her apartment and slept like a baby.
…
In a dingy room in the darkest depths of the city, a rotund man was going over his accounts. The room was already dimly lit, and the heavy clouds of cologne surrounding the man, looking more like smoke, dampened the little light there was.
The empty bottle of whiskey on the desk spoke of his current state, both financial and mental. With one elbow on his desk, his head resting on his palm, and his free hand flipping through the worn books, the man looked like the epitome of despair.
"No! How can this be!" Frank hurled the empty bottle against the far wall, the shards flying everywhere, coating his office.
Someone from the Cantonese takeaway out front popped their head around the door to check if he was alright, but they quickly left when they saw his countenance.
"I work so much, but my business is failing. Whereas others, that ditzy bimbo for one, seem to get a free pass; their businesses thrive for no apparent reason!"
The thought of Jade made Frank's innards boil.
"Ergh! That slut, does she think she's too good for me? She's just some dumb waitress, and she thinks she's too good for me!"
Amid his raging and cursing, Frank heard car pull up just outside his door. Note that his office's door was in a back alley, so it was unusual for cars to be there. When he heard the car door slam shut, he went to open the door to see who it was.
A man in a gray suit and a matching gray chauffeur cap, which had a detailed gold emblem on the front.
Before the question on Frank's lips could be voiced, the strange man answered his question.
"You may call me Parker. I'm here at my boss' orders. He's filed a complaint to the city board for illegally housing a second business within a building licensed only for a single restaurant."
Before Frank could raise a single objection, Parker plowed on. "Consequentially, you have been fined, and the city has issued an order for you to cease trading until you can provide an appropriate alternative address."
With that, Parker turned to leave. However, after taking one last look and noticing the aggrieved expression on Frank's face, he could not help but say, "Be happy it's just that. If he had bothered to look deeper into your business, I'm sure he would have found much more to have you penalized, or even indicted, for.
Frank looked up with bloodshot eyes. It was uncertain whether his eyes were read because he was holding back tears or because he was so furious. He then said the first word he had spoken since Parker's arrival.
"Why?"
"The CEO sends his regards, as well as a message—Stay away from Night Cafe…
"And the girl."