No One Could Serve the Foreign Tycoon — Until the Waitress Switched Languages!
Chapter 2
Emma couldn’t move.
The restaurant noise outside seemed to fade into the distance.
Alexander picked up the envelope and held it between two fingers.
“I came here tonight because of your father.”
Emma stared at it.
“What is inside?”
“Something he asked me to protect.”
“Why would my father ask you?”
“Because six years ago he believed he was going to die.”
Emma’s breathing became shallow.
Her father had supposedly died in a highway accident.
That was the official story.
A truck had crossed the center line during heavy rain. Daniel’s car had been destroyed. The police had found his wallet and identification.
Emma had attended the funeral.
She had watched the coffin lowered into the ground.
But there had always been something wrong.
Her father had never traveled without carrying an old leather notebook.
It had disappeared after his death.
Emma had asked about it.
Nobody knew where it was.
Alexander opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
Emma’s eyes widened.
Her father stood beside Alexander.
The picture appeared to have been taken inside an old warehouse.
Daniel looked younger, perhaps thirty-five.
Alexander looked almost the same as he did now.
Between them stood a third man.
Emma recognized him instantly.
Her uncle Victor.
She stepped backward.
“No.”
Alexander watched her carefully.
“You know him.”
“He was my father’s business partner.”
“Not only that.”
Alexander turned the photograph over.
Written on the back were several words in Russian.
Emma read them silently.
If anything happens to me, find my daughter. She is the only person I trust.
Below it was a date.
The date was two weeks before Daniel’s death.
Emma’s fingers began to tremble.
“My father wrote this?”
“Yes.”
“Why did he mention me?”
“Because he believed someone was trying to use you to reach him.”
Emma looked toward the door.
“Who?”
Alexander didn’t answer.
Instead, he asked, “Does your uncle know you speak Russian?”
“No.”
“Does he know you work here?”
Emma frowned.
“Of course. Everyone in my family knows.”
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“Then you need to leave this room.”
“Why?”
“Because I wasn’t supposed to find you tonight.”
The door suddenly opened.
The manager appeared.
“Mr. Volkov, I’m terribly sorry, but there seems to be some confusion with the kitchen—”
Alexander stood.
His voice became cold.
“Close the door.”
The manager obeyed.
Emma noticed something.
A man was standing at the end of the hallway.
Black suit.
No hotel badge.
He wasn’t looking at Alexander.
He was looking directly at her.
Alexander saw him too.
“Don’t turn around,” he whispered.
Emma’s heart hammered.
“Who is he?”
Alexander stepped between her and the hallway.
“Someone who should not know you’re here.”
The stranger lifted his phone.
Alexander reached inside his jacket.
For one terrifying second, Emma thought he was reaching for a weapon.
Instead, he pulled out his own phone and sent a message.
Then he looked at Emma.
“Do exactly what I say.”
The lights in the hallway suddenly went out.
A crash echoed through the hotel.
Someone shouted.
Alexander grabbed Emma’s wrist.
“Run.”
