Chapter 20: Chapter Twenty.

Xena hurried to the back, her hands trembling as she clutched the counter for support.

Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she tried to calm herself.

*What is he doing here? How did he even find me?*

The questions swirled in her mind, making her dizzy with fear. 

"Flower, are you alright?" Nana’s concerned voice pulled Xena from her spiraling thoughts. 

Xena turned to see her Nana wiping her hands on a towel, her brows furrowed with worry. 

"Nana..." Xena’s voice was shaky. She tried to muster a smile but failed miserably. 

Nana stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on Xena’s shoulder. "What’s wrong, my dear? Did something happen out there?" 

Xena hesitated, glancing toward the kitchen door as if Viktor’s presence might seep through it. She shook her head slightly. "It’s nothing, Nana. Just a...difficult customer." 

Nana didn’t look convinced. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t push. "If you need me, you know where to find me." she said softly before heading back to her cooking station. 

Xena exhaled deeply and leaned against the counter. She couldn’t stay back here forever. She needed to pull herself together. 

Meanwhile, out in the dining area, Viktor leaned back in his chair, his smirk firmly in place as he watched Javier approach as he drop a cup.of coffee on his table.

"Good evening, sir. What can I get for you?" Javier asked, his tone polite but firm. 

Viktor’s dark eyes flicked up to Javier, studying him for a moment before speaking.

"Nothing. I’ve already gotten what I came for." 

Javier frowned slightly, confused. "If you’re not ordering, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave. This is a busy night, and we need the table for other customers." 

Viktor’s smirk deepened, and he tapped his fingers on the table lazily. "I was just leaving anyway." 

He stood up, his towering frame making Javier feel a flicker of unease. Viktor tossed a few crisp bills on the table—far more than necessary for the coffee he’d barely touched.

Without another word, he adjusted his coat and walked toward the door, his presence commanding attention from everyone around him. 

Just as he reached the exit, he paused, glancing back toward the kitchen. His dark gaze lingered for a moment, as though he could see right through the walls to where Xena was hiding. 

With a faint, almost predatory smile, he stepped out into the night. 

In the kitchen, Xena finally steadied her breathing.

She had to go back out there; she couldn’t let her fear show. But as she prepared to step out, Javier rushed in. 

"He’s gone." Javier said quietly, his face serious. 

Xena blinked. "What?" 

"The man—he left. He didn’t even order anything." Javier explained. 

Xena’s knees felt weak with relief, but the fear in her heart didn’t wane.

Viktor wasn’t just anyone; he was a storm waiting to consume her. And now he knew exactly where to find her.

♧♧♧

Viktor sat in the backseat of his sleek, black car, his piercing gaze fixed on the restaurant through the tinted window. His phone was pressed to his ear as he gave a curt order. 

"Follow her and report back to me. Don’t let her notice you." he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. He ended the call without waiting for a reply. 

A smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned back into the leather seat, his eyes narrowing with amusement.

"I see you again, little fire." he murmured under his breath. The image of Xena’s startled face earlier replayed in his mind, her fear almost intoxicating to him.

He relished the way she tried to mask it, though she couldn’t quite hide the trembling in her voice. 

"Drive." he instructed the chauffeur, and the car glided away from the restaurant, heading toward his private suite. 

\---

As the evening stretched on, Xena and her coworkers began wrapping up for the night. Once the last customer was gone, and the restaurant was closed, Xena made her way out, walking alone along the quiet street. 

Her thoughts were a tangled mess of fear and confusion.

The encounter with Viktor had shaken her to her core. She couldn’t stop wondering why he was here, in her hometown, at her Nana’s restaurant of all places. Her instincts told her it wasn’t a coincidence. 

*Is he here to hurt me? To kidnap me? What if he’s involved in something as horrible as human trafficking?*

The more she thought about it, the more her anxiety grew. Every shadow seemed to shift ominously, every sound made her jump. 

As she walked, that familiar, unsettling itch crept up her spine—the feeling of being watched. Her pace quickened instinctively, her eyes darting around the dimly lit street. 

She hadn’t gone far when a hand suddenly clamped down on her shoulder. 

She gasped, spinning around with a startled yelp, her heart pounding. 

"It’s just me!" Leonardo said quickly, holding up his hands to calm her. "It’s just me, Xena!" 

"Oh, goodness." Xena exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to her chest. She struggled to steady her breathing, her pulse still racing. 

Leonardo frowned as he studied her.

"Are you okay? You’ve been so on edge lately, like you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. What’s going on?" 

Xena looked past him, scanning the area as though Viktor—or someone worse—might be lurking in the shadows. 

Leonardo turned to follow her gaze, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Xena, who are you looking for?" 

Her eyes snapped back to him, and she forced a shaky smile. "Oh... no one. I’m fine, really. Just tired." 

Leonardo didn’t look convinced, but he let it go. "Alright... but if something’s wrong, you know you can tell me, right?" 

She nodded quickly, eager to change the subject. "What are you doing here, anyway?" 

Leonardo rubbed the back of his neck nervously as they began walking together.

"Well, uh... you know, tomorrow is Saturday, and I was just wondering if—uh—you’d changed your mind about the movie idea?" 

Xena arched a brow, her lips curving into a faint, teasing smile.

"You seem really determined about this movie, Leo. Is there a reason you keep asking?" 

Leonardo’s face turned bright red, and he stammered, "N-no, no! It’s just... you’ve been working so hard lately. I thought it might be nice for you to relax a bit. That’s all. Nothing else!" 

Xena tilted her head, watching him for a moment. Despite her fear and unease, his earnestness brought a small smile to her face.

"That’s sweet of you, but really, Leo. I don’t need that. I’ll be fine." she said softly. 

He nodded, though the disappointment in his eyes was hard to miss.

They continued walking in silence, unaware of the figure lurking in the shadows nearby. 

\---

The mysterious man who had been watching Xena for days followed at a careful distance, his footsteps silent.

His cold eyes flicked between Xena and Leonardo, taking note of every detail of their interaction. 

Unbeknownst to either of them, another pair of eyes was watching as well—the man Viktor had hired to trail Xena.

Hidden in the darkness, he observed everything, including the mysterious stalker who had been tailing Xena independently. 

The hired man’s expression hardened as he pulled out his phone to make a report.

"Boss." he whispered into the receiver, "she’s not alone. She’s walking with some guy. And there’s another man—I think he’s been watching her." 

There was a pause before Viktor’s cold voice came through the line.

"Keep following her. Find out who this other man is. Don’t lose her." 

"Understood." the man replied, ending the call and slipping deeper into the shadows, his eyes fixed on Xena and her unwitting companions. 

Far away, in the luxurious suite overlooking the city, Viktor leaned back in his chair, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid thoughtfully. 

"A man watching my little fire." he muttered to himself, a smirk curling his lips. "Let’s see who i get to burn first."