Chapter 5 - Rosie's Last Night
"You bought my diner?"
Ivy stood with both hands on her hips.
Elias calmly ate oatmeal.
"I bought a diner."
"My diner."
"The building was for sale."
"Since when?"
"Since its owner received my offer."
Adrian covered his mouth, hiding amusement.
Ivy pointed at him.
"Don't."
"I'm doing nothing."
"You're enjoying this."
"Immensely."
Elias put down his spoon.
"Ivy, sit."
"No."
"Please."
That worked.
She sat.
Elias folded his hands.
"When I was twenty-four, I had eight dollars, a broken truck, and a pregnant wife."
Adrian looked at him.
He clearly hadn't heard this story.
"A restaurant owner named Samuel Bell fed us for six weeks. Wouldn't take money."
Elias smiled faintly.
"Years later, when I could repay him, he refused."
"What did you do?" Ivy asked.
"I asked how I could settle the debt."
"And?"
"He said, 'Don't pay it back. Pass it forward.'"
Elias looked at her.
"I forgot that lesson."
Ivy's anger softened.
"I don't want a diner."
"Good. I didn't buy it for you."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Then why?"
"I bought it because Wade is an idiot."
Adrian laughed.
Ivy tried not to.
Failed.
Elias continued.
"The diner stays open. Wade leaves. Staff stays. Food gets served."
"And me?"
"Manager."
"No."
"Then owner."
"No!"
"You're difficult."
"You bought a building overnight!"
"I've been called worse."
Ivy shook her head.
"I can't accept a restaurant."
"Then earn it."
That stopped her.
Elias slid a folder across the table.
"Five-year purchase agreement. You run Rosie's. A percentage of profits purchases equity each year. Nothing gifted."
Ivy opened it.
"You already prepared this?"
"I had lawyers awake."
Adrian muttered, "He has everyone awake."
Elias ignored him.
"There's one condition."
Ivy looked suspicious.
"What?"
"Stool four stays."
She stared at him.
Then smiled.
"Deal."
But the relief lasted only three minutes.
Marco entered.
"Adrian."
Something in his tone changed the room.
Adrian stood.
"What happened?"
"The clinic records weren't accessed randomly."
"Who?"
"Victor Crane."
Elias's face went still.
Adrian looked at his father.
"You know him."
"I made him."
Ivy frowned.
"Made him what?"
"Powerful."
Elias looked ashamed.
"Victor controlled three terminals for me. He was one of the men I wanted removed."
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"He's been expanding since you disappeared."
"Then he's why this needs to end."
Adrian shook his head.
"You stay here."
"No."
"Father."
Elias stood.
"I ran away once."
His voice remained calm.
"I'm not doing it again."
That evening, Rosie's Diner reopened.
Not because it was safe.
Because Elias insisted.
He sat at stool four.
Ivy placed chicken noodle soup in front of him.
Adrian sat beside him.
"This is ridiculous," Adrian said.
Elias tasted the soup.
"Needs salt."
Ivy rolled her eyes.
The bell rang.
Everyone turned.
A man in an expensive gray coat entered alone.
Victor Crane.
He looked around.
Then smiled.
"Elias Vale."
Elias continued eating.
"Victor."
"I heard a dead man had returned."
"Rumors exaggerate."
Victor's gaze moved to Ivy.
"So this is the waitress."
Adrian stepped between them.
Victor smiled.
"Protective."
"Careful," Adrian said.
Ivy interrupted.
"If you're ordering, kitchen closes at ten."
Victor stared at her.
Elias laughed.
Victor didn't.
He looked back at Adrian.
"Your father disappeared. You became king. Now he comes home and suddenly you're dismantling everything?"
"There is no king," Adrian said.
Victor's smile vanished.
"That's where you're wrong."
He leaned closer.
"This city always has one."
Adrian met his eyes.
"Then find another city."
Victor left.
The bell chimed behind him.
Ivy exhaled.
"Was that supposed to frighten us?"
"Yes," Elias said.
"Did it?"
Adrian watched Victor disappear into the snow.
May you like
"Not enough."
---
