Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 122

Liana POV

"What happened at Red Ox?" Luther asks as he drives me home. "Other than your employment."

"Not much," I shrug and do my best to sound nonchalant. "I only worked there for a couple of weeks."

"Then why did you go all dark and silent when you heard the name?" He asks thoughtfully.

"I was attacked there," I admit, and my voice is monotone when I tell him the awful story. "I thought I put it behind me.

I haven't thought about it in forever, but when I heard the name, everything came back to me."

"I can relate," Luther smiles sourly. "I thought I was over my parents' s*it until the night before Adele's inauguration. It hits you like a tsunami out of nowhere."

"Axel said I don't have to go there again," I inhale deeply."

But I think I should. Brad's dead, and I want to face it and get it behind me."

"Just like I want to replace my sister," he nods. "Closure or whatever."

"Or whatever," I laugh softly.

"Do you want to go now?" Luther looks at me, hopefully.

My insides twist and curl uncomfortably as I chew on my thumbnail. Hell no, I do not want to go. But my mind is telling me I am being ridiculous, it is just a building. Back then I was a clueless and naïve human. Many things have changed. I have changed. My fight- or-flight response is telling me to stay away from Red Ox. My subconscious is telling me to flee, but I choose to fight.

"Let's do it," I say with false bravado. The sooner I get this behind me, the better.

Silently, I encourage myself, and by the time Luther parks the car, my heart is racing, and my hands are sweating.

"Say the word, and we leave," Luther looks at me intensely.

"Let's go before I change my mind," I grunt and get out.

My breathing is surprisingly steady and calm when we enter the restaurant. Maybe because the décor has changed so much, it is classier, and the cheap green and white decorations made way for expensive wood with cream and red. "Liana, is that you?"

I turn towards the voice, and my jaw nearly hits the floor.

"Missy," I smile happily and walk towards her. "It's so nice to see you again. This is my friend, Luther."

"I know who he is," she laughs heartedly. "Everybody does.

Luther and Adele's Cinderella story is an inspiration for everyone."

"I can't believe you're still here," I say in awe. I do not know what I expected, but seeing her was not it.

"Of course," she laughs. "I'm co-owner now."

"That's wonderful," I reply. "Congratulations."

"All thanks to you," she laughs, but before I can ask her what she means, she winks us over. "Follow me, I have the perfect table for you."

"Who's she?" Luther whispers as we follow Missy towards a private section.

"Missy," I reply softly. "She's the one that saved me from

Brad."

"This is our most exclusive table," she says proudly as she closes a glass door behind us. I awe I look at the private dining room. The room consists of floor-to-ceiling windows and is completely secluded. "Here, you can discuss whatever you want, and no one can hear a word."

"This place is gorgeous, Missy," I compliment her as the tension in my shoulders eases. This is not the hellhole I worked at.

"Thank you," she smiles. "Take a seat."

"Where's Axel?" Missy surprises me when she sits with us and winks a waitress over.

"With Adele," Luther replies proudly. "Doing alfa stuff."

"Hopefully they can join you next time," Missy smiles as the waitress joins us.

"Missy, we need your help," Lüther says straightforwardly after the waitress leaves with our order. "I'm looking for a person that used to work here."

"After everything Axel and Liana did for me, I will give you my kidney," she chuckles.

"Wait," I frown. "I haven't done anything for you. What are you talking about?"

"This," Missy stretches her arms out towards the restaurant.

"Axel rewarded us after the Brad incident. We used that money to buy the restaurant." "We?" I ask.

"Me, Chloe and Bea," she smiles.

"This just became my favourite restaurant," I announce laughingly. "My three heroes."

"They would love to see you," she says before she turns to Luther. "So, who are you looking for?"

"Unfortunately, we only have a name," Luther sighs.

"And she worked here decades ago," I add.

"Edith," Luther continues. "She worked here around 1998."

"I wasn't even born then," Missy pulls a face. "But there were two Ediths here from 1997 till 2005."

"How do you know that?" I laugh sceptically. She was a baby then and why would she bother memorizing old employee records?

"I practically grew up in this place, there is no more laughter in Missy's voice. "My mother was a waitress here.

Daycare and babysitters were not always an option for single mothers. So, she brought me here. I was raised by the waitresses. I remember both Ediths." "Do you know where they are?" Luther asks hopefully."

Even better, do you know if they had children? A daughter, specifically."

"This is making me uncomfortable," Missy turns to me. "No offence. I know you're the Luna and all, but these are oddly specific questions."

"I understand," I nod. "Unfortunately, this case is highly confidential and very sensitive. But I can assure you that not Edith or her daughter are in trouble."

"You don't have to answer my questions," Luther's voice is soothing as he flashes his most charming smile. "If you could only help me to get into contact with both Ediths, I would be eternally grateful."

"Edith Chester," Missy replies after a moment. "She has a daughter, Nicolette. We are the same age and were inseparable. We pretended to be sisters. But Edith got married when Nicolette was six and moved to Moonstone. Unfortunately, I don't know what happened to them."

"And the other Edith?" I ask softly when it seems like Missy is done talking.

"The other Edith is my mother," Missy sighs and looks at me. "She passed away when I was fifteen."

"I'm so sorry," I reach over and take her hand.

Missy lowers her gaze and I look at Luther. How the hell are we supposed to ask her personal questions when she is obviously still mourning her mother? Ugly questions like 'Where is your father' and 'Was your mother an alcoholic? "I appreciate your help, Missy, thank you," I say softly, and decide that I am not pressuring her further.

The waitress enters with our drinks before she can reply, and everybody remains quiet.

"Why are you looking for me?" Missy asks when the waitress leaves. "Or Nicolette?"

"We don't have to talk about it now," I say as I stir my coffee.

"No," she says adamantly and looks at me. "I want to know.

"Do you know who your father is?" Luther asks and Missy's head jerks to his side.

"Sorry," he shrugs. "But that's why we're here. We're searching for a man's daughter."

She nods and picks out the slice of lemon in her water.

Gently she places it aside.

"No," she answers softly. "I don't know who he is. My mother never wanted to talk about it."

"Wait," she looks at me and Luther with renewed interest.

Do you know who my father is?"

"I don't know," I answer honestly. "We have little to work with. A married man had an affair with a woman, Edith, who used to work here. A girl was born in 1999, and the father paid Edith to disappear with the child."

"Then it's not me," Missy grins sourly. "Because we were piss poor. Or Edith Chester for that matter. If they had money, they wouldn't have worked here and raised their daughters in the corner booth."

"Were either of the Ediths an alcoholic?" Luther asks.

"No," Missy replies fiercely. "They were good, hardworking and honest people who did the best they could."

"I'm sorry," I say quickly. "Luther didn't imply they weren't.

He simply asked because the birthfather mentioned it. Do you know what happened to Nicolette's father?"

"No," she shakes her head and stands up. "I was six last I saw her and her mother, and it's not a conversation Edith Chester would have with a child. I'm sorry, but you should talk to the man again because he's either lying or hiding something. Nicolette and I might have had a tough childhood, but we had good mothers. Not the drunken slut he's portraying."

"Missy..." I try to stop her from walking away.

"I must go, we'll talk again later," she shouts over her shoulder as she walks away.

"My father could be lying to cover his ass," Luther grunts when the door shuts behind Missy.

"And that could be your sister," I look at him. "I've seen her in action, Luther. She's fearless and strong. I will not be surprised if there's alpha blood running through her veins."

"If she's my sister, why did she grow up poor?" Luther raises his eyebrows.

"Either your dad didn't give the money or she refused it," I sigh. "We'll have to replace Nicolette. Maybe she knows more."