Chapter Seventeen: Hello Avery 

Avery’s POV

“Hello, ma'am?”

The waitress keeps her eyes on my shaky hands, making me feel a whole lot worse.

For the sake of Orion’s surgery, I accepted to be a surrogate, so I opened up a new account for it, and I may need it for the baby’s upkeep as well. Locking it up is a means of curtailing my spontaneous spending. In essence, I haven't linked up the online banking on my device.

“Hello, ma'am?”

The waitress calls out to me for the umpteenth time, making my thinking process crass spontaneously.

“I heard you, okay?” I respond, refraining from yelling at her, because I'm the one with a platter of pastries, with more than half of them already bitten.

“Matter of fact, I heard you the first time.” I stutter, wiping thick beads of sweat off my brows.

“I'm sorry if you got offended, it wasn't my intention.” She says calmly. “I'm only waiting for your card and it's taking a while.”

“True,” I nod, trying to be cooperative as possible, maybe it would save my ass from being jacked.

“The thing is, I can't find my card… Hold on,” I prevent her from murmuring further, with her colleague. “I could have easily made a transfer, but I'm afraid that isn't possible.”

“Okay?” She rolls her eyes at me.

I get it, I deserve every bit of her arrogance at this point, but I will appreciate it more if she calms down further.

“How do you intend to pay for these ma'am?”

I feel a bit of mockery behind her tone, but this isn't the time for it. Focusing on the platter, an idea comes to me. I have a few bucks with me, perhaps it may work out.

“How about you scrape off the places I've bitten, it's just a tiny chunk and…” I pause to look at their surprised and disgusted faces. “Of course not.”

“Is there a problem?”

A male voice pulls me back to my taunting reality. I look up to find an advanced man, he must be the manager.

“She's refusing to pay her money.” The now angry waitress cries. Maybe she's scared that she'd get to pay for it since she served me. Totally understandable.

Argh!

“Good day, ma'am.” He begins a formal introduction. “I'm the manager of this place, may I know the issue, and see if we can help you out.” He approaches the case calmly.

“I'm having some difficulty with the payment, because I forgot my card at home, and I can't do a mobile transfer now,” I repeat myself.

“Hmm,” he pauses. “Where do you live?”

Blank.

“Uhm, the thing is, I'm coming from the hospital… Huh, I know I sound stupid right now, but I'll have to go to the hospital first.”

Very stupid. Jeez!

“Hmm, and the name of the hospital, so we put a call across.”

Blank. Blank.

What is wrong with me? Why can't I remember anything?

I guess it's the anxiety because Piper and I have come to this hospital before, matter of fact, thrice for a checkup, so why can't u remember anything?

Piper?!

Scared, I pull out my phone and begin to go through my logs with visibly trembling hands. I'm lucky that they're yet to bundle me away.

Still, Piper isn't picking up.

The card Thane gave to me is in my top drawer. Today just happens to be a day of sorrow.

“Ma'am, I'm afraid, but we’d have to involve the security…”

“Please.” I cut him off, the thought of using force is driving me wild. “I have enough money, I promise you.”

At this point, I'm tempted to call Thane’s name, but to what end when I don't even know his last name, or when he clearly warned me to not mess this up in public?

“I need a favor.”

They look at me begrudgingly, like what guts do I have to ask for help when I'm yet to wriggle myself out of this damage I already created?

“I just need the names of the hospitals in this vicinity.” I blink my eyes, acting like I have selective amnesia.

I remember the driver taking me a long distance and I didn't bother because I needed the tour, just maybe it may not be amongst the ones they'll call out.

My phone buzzes in my hand and I hastily pick it up, not bothering to find out who the caller is.

“He-hello?” I stutter into the mouthpiece.

“Where are you?”

Thane?

It's Thane!

I blink, unsure of what to say. His cold voice is doing enough damage already.

“Where the heck are you?” He repeats, this time, more annoyed.

“Uhm… Chocolate…. Pastries shop?”

“Is that even a name?” He sighs loudly. “Forget it, turn on your location.”

“Amnesty’s Choco chops.” The manager whispers, guessing I'm trying to figure out the name of the shop.

“Stay right there.” He instructs me harshly and ends the call.

Pressing my lips together, I look up at the kind-hearted manager and the angry workers behind him.

“Someone is coming for me, mind if I wait a little?” I plead.

“Sure.” He steps back and ushers the girls to do the same.

I follow him to see that he's now talking to the security by the gate, for extra precaution. I won't fault him.

All that bothers my mind right now, is Thane’s reaction. He clearly warned me to not act silly, and of his busy day, a pleading that I don't mess things up, and here I am, doing just as he said. How convenient.

To keep my mind distracted from the awkward stares and gossip, I take out another wrap of chocolate chip cupcakes and sink my teeth into it, filling my taste buds with the yummy flavor.

Well, in my defense, I'll be paying for all of it, I might as well eat my fill.

The door opens, and immediately, I bounce in my seat to get a better view.

Walking towards me and playing with the button of his waistcoat, is Thane, wearing a nosemask over his nose and lips and a glass to conceal his identity.

He's here to get me… And he's yet to pull me by my horns, and this time, there's no mercy.