Page 3 of Kaid's Empire

Helping out in the café for the rest of the day, it had been a busier day that normal and I'm happy when the time comes that I can finally lock the door behind the last customer.

“What time is your flight?” Mum asks, placing the chairs on the tables.

“Eight p.m., so I have about an hour to pack then I have to go,” I add.

“An hour? An hour? What the hell are you doing? Go upstairs and pack! You are a bloody nightmare. I'm a laidback person but you take things to a whole other level.” Mum sighs, shaking her head. I laugh and kiss her on the cheek before running upstairs to pack.

I don’t know what the fuss is, forty-five minutes later I'm packed and ready to go. I lug my big case down the stairs and book my taxi. “Mum, I'm leaving!” I yell.

She comes down and pulls me in for a hug. “Be careful, be safe, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Oh, and send me pictures daily with your location so I know where you are and that you are alive and haven’t been kidnaped by some traffickers,” she orders.

I roll my eyes. “Mum, I'm going to Monaco, I am staying in a five-star hotel. You need to stop watching the movie Taken.”

“It’s a good film, plus those things happen, you know… all the time,” she retorts.

“Yes, I do know this, Mum, but I am careful, okay? I've travelled a lot, and out of all the places I've been, Monaco is by far the safest,” I reassure.

My phone pings, alerting me that my taxi is outside. “Right, that’s me. I will be back in a few weeks, okay? And if you need help in the café, hire someone!” I order as I wheel my suitcase out to the taxi.

Mum stands in the doorway, crossing her arms across her chest. “I will, now go have some fun!”

I blow her a kiss from the taxi as it pulls off. As soon as we are out of sight, I sit back and sigh, smiling. Monaco here I come.

After a short two hour flight, the plane lands in Nice. As soon as I step out of the airport, I feel the warm sun. “God that feels good,” I whisper to myself, putting on my sunglasses.

I look around for the bus service that takes you to Monaco, and spotting a bus just up ahead, I make my way to it. I stand in line, waiting my turn to get on, feeling a little anxious about whether I'm queuing for the right bus. I tap the lady’s shoulder in front of me. “Excuse me, is this the bus for Monaco?” I ask.

“Yeah, it is, love. I have to say, it’s not very well sign posted. I was just saying to my husband, Clive, that it’s a good job the bus driver speaks English, or we would be well and truly buggered,” she states in a strong northern accent. “Didn’t I say we would be buggered, Clive?” she repeats, asking her husband.

“Aye, you did, love,” he agrees.

I smile warmly and nod. “Thank you.”

“Wheres your husband?” she asks.

“Oh, there is no husband, I'm on holiday on my own.” I smile.

“On your own?” She frowns in confusion. “Oh bloody hell, Clive, this young lass is travelling alone. Oh, my darling, are you staying at a hotel or renting an apartment?” she asks.

“I'm staying at Monte Carlo Beach hotel… I think it’s called that. I have the booking on my phone,” I answer, looking through my handbag.

“Oh, we are staying at beach apartment, I don’t think it’s too far from there, now you come find us. I hate the thought of you being all alone in that big hotel. It ain’t safe, you’ll have sleazy Frenchmen trying all sorts of nonsense, getting all handsy. Isn’t that right, Clive?” she states, turning to her husband.

“Yes, very handsy are the French,” he agrees.

I smile. “Well, I don’t mind if they get a little handsy.” I wink.

“Well, just you go careful, love. You give them just one taste of your peach and they will want the whole fruit basket, if you get my meaning. You just come to us if you get any trouble, my Clive here has a black belt in karate. Don’t you, Clive?” She smiles.

“That I do, love, that I do. And it only cost me a tenner from down t’market,” he adds.

I choke on my laughter, and when I realise he isn’t joking, I clear my throat. “Um, well I appreciate it, I'm Theia by the way,” I introduce myself.

“Oh, silly me, I'm Angie, and this is my husband, Clive.” I shake their hands.

“Nice to meet you both.” I look up and see everyone is getting on the bus. “Oh, look, on the bus we go,” I point out.

“Finally, I mean, we’ve been stood here for ten minutes,” Angie complains.

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