Rebirth Of Vengeance.

The Beginning After The End.

As Circe asked this question, her voice carried a note of familiarity that hinted at a deeper connection between them. Leon’s expression remained unchanged, accepting the use of his true name without any personal attachment. After everything they had been through together for the last five years, only she had that privilege.

 

“Those useless shareholders had quite a lot to say.” Noel- rather Leon, briefly informed her of how the meeting had gone before he fixed his gaze on the tinted windows of his car, watching as the building went by.

 

Circe chuckled at his debriefing as she continued to flip through the pictures on her tablet. “What would you have expected.” She uttered and at last, passed the tablet to Leon. “The venue for the gathering has been booked,” She informed him as he collected the tablet and allowed his eyes roam across the details.

 

From the venue, cuisine to be served and even down to the arrangements, Leon memories everything in a short Span of time before flipping to the next picture- a photo of the guest list.

 

“Is this everyone coming?” He asked to which Circe nodded her head With a hum and answered,

 

“This year’s number skyrocketed by a whopping twenty more attendants. Who would have expected that?” She joked.

 

However, her words fell on deaf ears as Leon’s eyes remained glued on two particular names displayed on the screen.

 

Celine Barrette and Mark Barrette, the two individuals he considered the true stars for that night. He had so much planned out for them that seeing their names alone ignited a fire of impatient within him.

 

Circe noticed Leon's sudden quietness after a few seconds had gone by and turned to face him. She looked at the photo he was staring at- the guest list- and soon came to understand why he had fallen silent.

 

Leon, who has gone too deep I to his head, flinched when he felt Circe’s hand gently land on his shoulder, pulling him away from the prying hands of his past memories.

 

“You okay?” She asked him, her eyes holding the exact same concern and care as they had five years ago.

 

It warmed whatever was left of his dead heart.

 

Smiling, he nodded his head and Flipped the tablet close, before he handed it back to Circe.

 

“I’m fine.” He dismissed her worries politely.

 

“I’ve heard that for five years, yet I still don’t believe it.” Circe mused whilst she shoved the tablet back into her bag.

 

“You chose not to, how’s that any of my fault.” Leon retorted as he once again fixed his gaze outside the window, watching as the buildings flashy lights went by.

 

His mind slowly began to cloud with memories. He had left New Orleans five years ago, poor and under a different name due to the betrayal of his wife and brother, but now he was back, under yet another name and this time, as the richest man in the city.

 

Who would have thought? Leon thought and couldn’t help but snicker.

 

This caught Circe’s attention and she asked, “What’s funny.”

 

“Life.” Leon deadpanned and turned to face her with a smirk on his lips. “Don’t you think so?”

 

“Indeed, however, Leon, I need you to take this slow. I know you’ve wanted this for years, but if you were capable of waiting five years for this moment, I’m sure you’re capable of waiting a few weeks until the real deal begins, so please, don’t screw this up for yourself, okay?”

 

Leon was about to speak up when his phone buzzed, interrupting their conversation.

 

 

 

“Excuse me, Circe,” He said, glancing at his phone. His curiosity piqued, he answered the call, his thoughts shifting momentarily from their ongoing conversation.

 

 

 

A worried employee from one of his restaurants spoke rapidly on the other end as soon as the line connected. “Mr. Leon, we have a situation here. A customer is causing a scene by the restaurant and ls demanding to see the boss.”

 

 

 

Leon furrowed his brow. He had handled more than fifty customers of such ever since opening his restaurants here in New Orleans. So, these type of people, he knew them and their strategies all too well.

 

Although he had left the day-to-day management to his capable employees, he couldn’t help but address the problem head-on this time around. He sighed and turned to Circe, who glanced at her watch with a touch of concern right in that moment.

 

 

 

“Leon, I’m afraid I’ll have to leave. The movie set needs my attention.” Circe informed. Like Leon, she also had many businesses she managed. Make up lines, jewelry series and several entertainment industries.

 

 Because of this, some people- those who have had the privilege of meeting them- nick named them ‘It power couple.’

 

And that name, they stayed true to.

 

"Anyways, You can drop me off here,” she suggested, gathering her belongings and shoving it into her bag. “Things by the restaurant can Handled by you, right?”

 

Leon nodded his head and instructed his driver to stop the car and then ordered another one to pick Circe up. As she stepped out, she extended a supportive hand and placed it on his arm. “Good luck, Leon. Remember, this is just the beginning.”

 

 

 

With those encouraging words, Circe stepped back and opened her umbrella, waving her hand as Leon’s car drove off towards the restaurant where chaos awaited him.

 

** ** **

 

Inside the restaurant, the air was heavy with tension. Waiters scurried around, desperately trying to tend to the disgruntled customer causing a ruckus while the other customers gossiped and watched the scene.

 

“Were you deaf when I told you that I wanted my steak, medium rare?! How dare you serve me this abomination?!” The female customer raged. Her utensils clattered against the floor as she flung them away. “Bring me your manager, right this instance.” She demanded.

 

 The waiters glanced between each other before they scurried away in search of higher ups. As they stepped into the kitchen, Their eyes widened when they saw their boss enter through the bag door, knowing that he would handle the situation with finesse.

 

“Mr. Heroux!” They cried out in sync with relief.

 

“Explain what’s going on.” Leon demanded, glancing in between the two waiter, one of the two who looked like he had been drenched in water.

 

“It’s the new customer, Sir. She had requested Dasis prepare her a steak, medium rare, but when he served her, she flipped out and accused him of putting a secret ingredient in it because he knew she was a famous actress and wanted to gain money from her.”

 

Leon’s face scrunched. Like he had said, he had handled a lot of customers of her type, but they all always had valid reasons, and this…this wasn’t a valid reason.

 

How could someone had just sat down and thought of a dumb reason to cause commotion? Sighing at the thought, he shook his head.

 

“I didn’t do so, Sir.” Dasis, the waiter who had been caught in a cross fire and was currently drenched, tried to defend.

 

“I know.” Leon said with a wave of his hand. “Go get yourself cleaned up before you catch a cold, kid.”

 

“But, what about…” Dasis had began with a tentative stance but Leon interrupted him before he could go any further.

 

“I’ll take care of it, so, go now.”

 

“Yes Sir.” Dasis said and along with his co waiter, they both bowed before disappearing from his sight.

 

When they were gone, Leon began approaching the commotion, his expression calm and composed. As he moved out of the kitchen, the voice and uproar of the unsatisfied customer got louder. She barked orders at any and every waiter or waitress she came across.

 

As Leon got closer, he noticed that the customer was a woman, stunningly beautiful but filled with fury, stood at the center of attention. She yelled and berated the staff, her rage escalating as she poured red wine over a waiter’s head, yet again.

 

 

 

“That…!” Frank, the restaurant manager has begun as he had heard enough, but Leon raised his hand and silenced him as he watched the scene before him unfold, an unsettling feeling gnawed at his gut.

 

Something about the woman he was watching seemed familiar. Too familiar to be dismissed. If he hadn’t know better, Leon would have mistook the lady for his ex wife, Celine.

 

However, even though he knew it might be an impossible coincident, he still entertained such thoughts.

 

 

 

Needing confirmation, Leon inquired, “Who is that woman causing such a disturbance?”

 

 

 

Frank quickly pulled out the clipboard which had all the names of their guest for tonight recorded. He read through it for a few seconds before responding.

 

“She’s a famous actress who made her debut four years ago and goes by the name Celine Barrette.”

 

 

 

A jolt of dread coursed through Leon’s body, momentarily freezing him in place.

 

Just as he had indeed thought. The familiar silhouette of the woman was His ex-wife, the one who had shattered his heart. Now, she stood here, causing pandemonium in his very own restaurant!

 

Realization struck him with an intensity of rage he wasn’t prepared for and his jaws tightened.

 

 

 

For a brief moment, Leon’s dark eyes locked onto Celine’s Figure as she continued her tantrum, unaware of his presence. Memories of their past flooded his mind, reigniting old wounds and reigniting the pain he thought he had buried deep within. The years of hurt blended with the fire of his revenge, leaving him torn between the desire to confront her and the need to remain hidden.