The Kiss of Deception

Chapter 1

"I'll be home soon, my beautiful flower. Get your father to set the table, and light the candles, I'll be there before the song finishes. You trust me, çiçeğim?... I have your present in my car, it's beautiful, my dear. It's your favorite, something you've wanted. Just wait for me--"

My eyes snap open, the wind singing, blowing inside the room. The light-clothed curtains flowed with the breeze and the sun covered the clouds. It was spitting. Well, slight drops of rain, here and there. There wasn't a sound of traffic, yet. Somehow I was always convinced that this city would flood with zombies, childish thought, but something to beware of. I got off the bed, my hair a tangled mess and my bedsheets slipping away from the mattress. I hated Mondays, but I needed money to move out and live without the constant guilt of her death. Her. Mama. Someone I should've hated, to make the pain of her death just a pinch than a stab. Funny how people's special days turn into days of nothing but despair. 

I didn't bother showering, I would do that later, hopefully at night. My clothes were pressed from last night, luckily I remembered to do that from a thousand things. The work uniform was better than any other, and I thanked the lord every day for it. Black blouse with black pants, not too tight, I don't even know what they're called, cargo? I put my hair in a bun, letting two strands out, and looked myself in the mirror. I could see myself from 12 years before, trying to act like everything was alright. The past was the past, I needed to focus on the future. Focus on myself. Taking my bag and phone, I walked downstairs, hearing the faint sounds of Geo News playing on the TV. My dad was sitting on his spot on the couch, as usual. He's on the phone, talking to his relatives I suppose, but he doesn't even look at me. We've had a shit relationship since mama died. Everything was fine until it wasn't. It all felt like hell broke loose, and fire raged around me, burning me into nothing but bones. Bones into ashes and blown away. Everything was my fault, and I'm paying the price for it still. I hated that I couldn't get normal affection and sympathy from a person I called my baba, it's bitter, but moving on and ignoring it, is better than enduring it every day. 

"How long till you move?" His blunt, arrogance-filled voice reached my ears just like the day he blamed me for Ma's death. "Later than you would want," I responded, paying no attention to the man. "Give me some respect, I'm your father." He scoffed, taking a sip of his tea, his sarcasm to clear. Instead of answering him, I got my car keys and left the house. Legally, the car is under me, since I bought it, I could move out with the money I've saved, but I would have to live in the car until I get a place to buy. It wouldn't be a good impression on any other job I try to get, I would need a proper place to live. My pride and ego won't let me get my reputation ruined. The drive to the mid-city was peaceful, the traffic was held back only for the powerful and influential people of Turkey. Rumors of the Mafia coming back lingered in the air, about how they're planning to take over cities, not only in Turkey but all around the world. More is in Europe, like Russia, France, Germany, Italy.. and more? Turkey wasn't a country I was expecting but the thought of it slightly terrifies me. Moreover, I just wished the Mafia stayed away from my part of the city, whatsoever. 

I parked my car in the employee parking, and entered the famous 'La Squisita Trattoria.' The only restaurant that is crowded every hour of the day, and many celebrities, CEOs, billionaires/millionaires come to it. I was lucky enough to get selected to work as a barista there. I would work as a bartender, but I wasn't familiar with any alcohol, whiskey, beers, or spirits. I knew the basics, sure, but it was far better working as a barista. However, when I entered the cafe bar, the other workers were far more stressed and frustrated. It's pretty weird, it wasn't every day to see every worker stressed out their mind. I caught a glimpse of the manager and headed over to him.

"Hey, sir, why's every-" "Oh, Arya! Amazing, you're here, we have a special guest, now chop, chop... We don't want to wait upon him. Go ahead and serve him a black coffee, and the man with him ordered a vanilla iced coffee." The manager's words were more stressed than happy, and more annoyed than his usual chill tone. Who exactly was this mysterious man which everyone was stressed and worried about? Pushing those thoughts away, I washed my hands, and got my gloves, making the coffee as quick as I could. The cafe bar was just like the alcohol bar, open for everyone to come and have a seat and watch as we prepared the coffee. I got the black coffee and got the cup filled with brewed coffee and the cup of milk beside it. Looking over at the screen, I saw the table and left the counter, the tray in my hand. Let's see who this 'special' man was.