Isabella stood in the center of the room until the front doors closed completely.
The manager rushed over to her with a look of pure panic on his face.
He scolded her for stepping in instead of waiting for the security guards outside.
Isabella ignored his weak words and walked straight back into her hot kitchen area.
Her hands began to shake violently once she was safely hidden behind the doors.
She gripped the edge of a clean metal table to steady her shaking body.
That dangerous man named Vinnie was not an ordinary upset restaurant customer.
He moved with the calm confidence of someone who owned the entire city block.
The line cooks watched her silently as she resumed her duties at the station.
No one dared to speak about what had just happened in the dining room.
Late that night, Isabella finished up the kitchen audit and stepped out back.
The narrow alley behind the restaurant was completely cold, dark, and silent.
She carried her heavy black leather bag over her shoulder as she walked home.
Suddenly, a pair of bright yellow headlights turned on at the street corner.
A sleek black luxury sedan pulled up beside her curb and stopped rolling.
The dark tinted rear window slowly rolled down to reveal a shadowy figure.
Vinnie was sitting comfortably in the back seat while wearing a grey coat.
Vinnie: Get in the car, Chef Rossi.
Isabella: I am walking home alone.
Vinnie: We have important business matters to discuss regarding your restaurant's heavy debt.
Isabella froze in her tracks as a cold chill ran down her spine.
She knew the restaurant owner had been taking out massive private bank loans lately.
She had no idea that the money came from dangerous figures like Vinnie.
She stepped closer to the car door with her head held very high.