The Mortal Arrow 1

The following day after waking up, William looked at his cell phone. He sighed when he saw no messages from Esmee for him. "That girl was stubborn. She kept pushing herself."

The night before, after returning from the restaurant to his house. William decided to return to the club where Esmee worked. Even though he had sent several people to watch over the place, William felt he needed to watch Esmee with his own eyes.

William worried about Esmee, who continued to work day and night non-stop. He could already feel it when he held Esmee's shoulder, which felt very tense as soon as he touched it.

"She should rest and let me shop for restaurant needs," William muttered.

While William was sitting on his bed, Charles suddenly entered his room. William looked directly at Charles and frowned. Taking a deep breath, William finally sat up on his bed.

"What going on? You don't usually show up in my room this early," William said.

"You asked your father to renovate the inside of the building around the restaurant?" asked Charles.

William nodded. "I forgot to tell you last night. Today they will start the renovation."

"Wouldn't that affect the restaurant?" Charles again asked William.

"Leave it. As soon as Esmee sells the restaurant, we can destroy the walls immediately, " William. He then continued his words. "After all, why do we delay the renovation just because of a small restaurant?"

Charles takes a deep breath. "I was surprised because this morning Naomi called me and said they had sent workers to renovate the building around the restaurant."

"Indeed, I asked for it yesterday," said William.

"Oh, okay. I want to make sure." Charles then directly left William's room.

As soon as Charles left his room, William inhaled and exhaled slowly. He got up from bed to prepare for work in the restaurant.

----

Esmee was silent in front of her restaurant when she saw several cars stop near her restaurant. The people who got out of the vehicle then entered the building around the restaurant. Out of curiosity, Esmee finally decided to approach one of the people. Esmee walked over to the most well-dressed people getting out of the car near her restaurant.

"Bonjour," said Esmee to the man she was approaching.

The man directly turned to Esmee and adjusted the position of the glasses he was wearing. "Can I help you, Mrs?"

"Did you bring these people?" asked Esmee.

The man nodded. "I work for the owners of these buildings."

Esmee nodded in understanding. She then stretched out his hand to shake hands with the man he was approaching. "I'm Esmee Louise. I own the restaurant here."

The man in front of Esmee welcomes Esmee's handshake. "Dimitri Toussaint. I supervise these workers. They will start remodeling the inside of the buildings here. I hope it won't disturb your restaurant."

Esmee smiled crookedly at Dimitri's words. She then let go of her handshake. "Come visit my restaurant for lunch. I will give you a special discount."

Dimitri glanced at Esmee briefly. "You didn't mean to poison us, did you?"

Esmee chuckled. "What did I do that? You only work for your boss. They ordered you to come here."

Dimitri chuckled at Esmee's words. "I'll consider it."

"Good then." Esmee smiled. "I have to go. Nice to see you, Dimitri."

Dimitri nodded his head. And after that, Esmee left him. Dimitri suddenly smiled when he saw Esmee walking away. After that, he continued to supervise the workers who would work to renovate the buildings around D'Amelie's restaurant.

----

"Who were you talking to?" William asked Esmee as soon as she approached him.

"Oh, that man. His name is Dimitri. He oversees the workers who will renovate the buildings around the restaurant," replied Esmee.

"Why do you still want to shop for restaurant ingredients yourself? You could tell me to go shopping. Look at your eyes."

Esmee looked at William. "What's wrong with my eyes?"

"I feel like I'm walking with a panda," William replied.

Esmee hit William's arm. "Damn you."

William giggled. "Your eyes have started to darken. If you don't want Marie and the others to know you're working part-time, tomorrow you must let me go grocery shopping."

Esmee snorted as she slightly pursed her lips at William. "Did you just threaten me?"

William walked over with a shrug. Esmee chased after him and patted William again. "If they find out I work sideways, I'll kick your ass."

William chuckled in response to Esmee's words, who were now walking beside him. He glanced mischievously at Esmee. "Remember, tomorrow you have to let me grocery shop for the restaurant."

Esmee took a deep breath. "Okay. Later I will give you a note about what you should buy. You have to choose the ingredients well."

"I'll do my best to choose the right ingredients. After all, I've often followed you to the shop. I know what kind of materials you choose," William said.

Esmee laughed softly. "I don't regret hiring you. You turned out to be very reliable."

"Thank you. I take that as a compliment," said William.

"Today, we have to shop a little more," said Esmee.

William turned to Esmee. He frowned slightly. "Why? Do you want to increase the opening hours of your restaurant?"

Esmee shook her head. "No, it's not like that. I want to give food to the workers around the restaurant. I think they could be potential customers for the next few months. So, I have to welcome them."

William looked at Esmee in disbelief. He then shook his head. "I really can't understand the way you think, Esmee."

"You don't need to understand my thoughts. Because the only thing on my mind right now is how to maintain my restaurant," said Esmee. She then looked at William with a small smile.

William was silent for a moment after seeing Esmee's smile. There was something behind that smile that made him suddenly flutter. William then turned his attention back to the front and spoke again to Esmee. "Don't you have any other goals besides keeping the restaurant?"

Esmee laughed softly. "I had a dream to become a professional dancer previously. But injuries prevented me from pursuing my dreams. During my recovery, I learned much at the restaurant with my mother and grandmother. And since then, I have dreamed of continuing my family's restaurant."

William looked back at Esmee in disbelief. "Have you been injured? How bad is an injury that you can't continue your dream as a dancer?"

Esmee suddenly stopped in her tracks. She lifted the trousers she was wearing a little. William bowed his head. His eyes widened when he saw the long stitches on Esmee's legs. As soon as Esmee lowered her pants again, William straightened up again.

"That must be hurt," William said.

Esmee chuckled. "This is nothing compared to my feeling when the Doctor said I would never be able to dance again. The dancer suffered two deaths. First, when they stopped dancing. I've experienced the first one."

William was silent for a moment as he looked at Esmee, who had returned to walking. He didn't think that Esmee had experienced such a thing. Esmee, who always looks cheerful, also has her wounds.

"Esmee! Wait for me!" William exclaimed as he quickly followed Esmee.

****