"Mr. Miller, can I ask you something."
"What?"
"Do you know Ms.Emma?"
"Yeah... Known her for a long time." Mr. Miller said with a smile.
"Really??? Then why does she sound different?"
"I asked you to place people here for their safety. Did they report anything?"
"Oh, no activity recently."
"Then what about that guy, Fred?"
"Fred is said to be Ms. Emma's ex-boyfriend. He was found cheating and they broke up. But he wants to take over the cafe and is also trying to harass Ms.Emma."
Mr. Miller's look changed to a serious one.
"So, that day he followed her near the radio station to..."
"No, Mr. Miller. That day, Fred wasn't present in the scene. As per the record, he was hospitalized a day earlier."
"Is Emma hiding something?" Ashton thought for himself.
Just then Emma, came to the table with the dishes ordered.
"Here, you go. Two hot breakfast combos at your service." Emma said with a smile.
"Thank you, Ms.Emma," Mark said.
"What happened to you? You were fine a while ago." Emma asked seeing Ashton's expression.
"I am fine."
"Please have the food before it gets cold. Let me know if you need anything" Saying this Emma left for her work at the cafe.
"Mark, How's Ashley doing?"
"Mr. Miller, Mr. Phillip's condition is stabilized now. Doctors have confirmed that the recovery rate is much better than earlier."
"Did you find anything in the company?"
"There were transfers or shares a week before your accident from Mr.Green to Mr. Jones."
"I see."
Just then Fred entered the cafe.
"You girls have grown guts. Who was it you hired to beat me up..."
As Fred was trying to make a scene he noticed Asthon and Mark. He immediately turned back to escape.
Tina rushed to them and said
"Sorry... Made you see this.."
"He was the one in the cafe 3 days ago right?" Ashton asked.
"Mmm.."
"I heard from Mr.White he tried to harm Emma a couple of days ago."
"He's always been causing trouble. "
"Maybe Emma should break it clear"
"Break it?" Tina said puzzled.
"Yeah. Fred and Emma were in a relationship, right"
"Oh, You also heard it too!!"
"What do you mean?"
"They have nothing to do with each other. He keeps pestering her. Since she isn't willing to be with him, he has been spreading these rumors for years."
"So, She was never in love?"
"She used to like someone in senior school."
"Really!! Who is it?" Ashton asked with excitement.
"I don't know much about it. But he liked her roommate. So from then, she was never into all this."
As soon as Tina said, that he was in love with her roommate, Ashton understood that it wasn't him.
With a look of disappointment, he was lost in thoughts.
Mark interrupted the conversation saying,
"If Fred is causing so much trouble, why aren't you filing a complaint?"
"Oh, you can blame me for that. I happened to borrow money from a loan shark. Fred has connections with them. So, if we take any step, the cafe will be taken away. We can't afford to lose the cafe now as it's our only source of income."
"Only source??"
"Yeah, Excuse me.. Don't want to spoil your day with our troubles " Tina said.
Just then Emma came from the kitchen.
"Tina, I am going to Mr. White's House to deliver the order"
"Ohk ... make sure Mrs.White isn't home."
"Wait... " Ashton said.
"I will accompany you."
"Thanks, Ashton, but it's nearby."
"Fred was here a while ago. Maybe Mr.Miller should go with you" Tina said.
The smile on her face vanished as soon as she heard Fred's name.
.....To be continued....