The chase

After taking another deep breath, Rebecca got out of the car that had brought them to the restaurant and Anthony walked out right behind her. With long, strong strides, she walked inside and walked up to the counter. But even before she could ask for the manager, all eyes were already on the two of them. Immediately after they entered they had caught everyone's attention. Not only because of how they were dressed but because of Anthony's height. He always drew eyes no matter where they went. This came as no surprise since at 2.06 meters, he was quite a bit taller than the average person that lived in their country and people always tend to look when they see something that you don't see everyday.

Rebecca refused to let this distract her and scraped her throat before she began to talk to the charming man, who had appeared at the counter where she had been standing. "I need to talk to a manager please. I have some urgent business to discuss." The man didn't seem impressed but instead had a bit of a condescending look on his face as he said, "I see. And who might you be, miss...?" This annoyed Rebecca, as the one thing she hated most as a working woman of her age and posture, was being looked down on. She put on a firm look and voice as she said, "Who I am is none of your business. If you wish to still have this menial job in the morning, I would suggest you do as I asked you to and get. Me. A. Manager."

This seemed to have done the trick, because the man swallowed a bit nervously before he said. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry. I'll get him right away." Rebecca felt proud for how she had handled the situation, smiling as she was thinking it had been all her doing. At the same time, the real reason for the man's sudden change in behaviour, changed his menacing glare back into a gentle smile to greet Rebecca's happy expression as she gloated about the situation with just her facial expressions and the mouthing a few short words. While Rebecca showed Anthony a big, satisfied grin, the latter smiled back as he raised his thumb in approval.

She then quickly turned back and called the number she had been given by Steve as she waited for the man to return with his manager. The phone had just rang two times when the manager appeared. He was a bit of a heavy set man, with neatly combed hair. He approached the counter with a forced smile and said, "Good day. My name is Francois. I am the manager. You asked for me." But since Rebecca was in the middle of starting her conversation with Jean-Claude, the owner, she just raised her finger at him to tell him wait a minute as she remained on the phone. Once her call was picked answered, she said, "Good day sir. I have been instructed to call you once I entered your restaurant La Vie en Rose. I am here on behalf of Mr. Stephens and Mr. Branson. Could you ask this gentleman to provide me with whatever I need and not get in our way."

After that she handed the phone to the manager, who looked a bit worried and confused as to what was going on. The man who had been acting smug before, was now looking a bit nervous and fidgety. Although they weren't sure what his behaviour meant, Rebecca and Anthony exchanged a glance to let each other know that they should definitely keep an eye on him as he was acting suspicious. And sure enough. No sooner did the man hear his manager repeat Jean-Claude's words, or did the man begin to run to the back. They had all heard Francois's words, all of them hearing only one side of the conversation. But when the words "The security footage from the past two days? What do they need that for?" and "No, no, no. Of course not. I wasn't questioning your decisions. If you say that it is okay, I will of course assist them in every way I can.", fell, that is when the man decided to take action.

Fortunately they had already been watching him. So, as soon as the man started running, so did Anthony. His long legs carried him over across the room as fast as a track star racer, and he jumped over the counter as if it was one of those athletics hurdles you find on the red tracks. He chased the man under surprised screams and shrieks from the manager and other staff. The chase resembled a scene from an action movie. The man running through the familiar halls and throwing whatever he can behind him in hopes of slowing down Anthony enough to lose him.

But just like the hero in the movies, Anthony dodged whatever the man threw in his direction and his speed only seemed to increase. The only thing slowing him down was his lack of knowledge on the place, while the man seemed to know the building like the back of his hand. After a few long seconds of chasing, the man entered a room and quickly closed the door behind him. But that door might as well have been made from cardboard, because Anthony kicked it down like it was nothing. Making him stand face to face with the once so smug man, who was now slumping to the floor, holding his hand up in front of his face as he whimpered, "Don't hurt. Please. I'll stop running."

Fortunately for him, Anthony had no desire to hurt him. So, he easily complied. But not without grabbing the man by his collar and raising him up into a chair as he leamed over him and said in a loud, strong and intimidating voice, "Talk! Why did you run away and what were you planning on doing here?!"