"Hi, Dad," I said as soon as my father, Vaidas, picked up the phone.
"Hello, Gabi. How are you doing, sweetheart?"
"I'm good. I wanted to let you know that I started a new job today. I'll be a waitress at a restaurant here in Kaunas."
"A restaurant? But Gabi, you're only twenty-four... you're so young," my father's voice suddenly sharpened with a hint of anxiety. "Why don't you travel instead? See more of the world? I told you there was no need to rush into finding a job."
"Dad, I've told you before—I don't want to keep spending your hard-earned money. I'm an adult now; I can take care of myself. Don't worry, everything is fine. Besides, if you ever want to stop by, the place is called Dyva, on Klaipėda Street 51."
The silence on the other end was heavy. Then, his voice dropped to a panicked whisper. "Where did you say? Dyva?"
"Yes, Dad. Is something wrong? It's a great restaurant with wonderful reviews. The staff is nice, and the director, Dimitri Cheshkov, is very professional."
"No... no, everything is fine, daughter. I'm just... worried about you. I'll come to visit soon. You just go back to work now, okay?"
"Alright, Dad. Talk to you later. Love you."
Three hours had passed since that conversation, but an uneasy feeling lingered in my chest. Why was he so worried? I wondered as I stood in the kitchen, scrubbing dishes.
"Gabi!" a voice called out, snapping me back to reality.
"Yes, Gintarė?"
"Could you take out the trash? And please, hurry back—we have a lot of customers waiting."
"Sure," I replied, untying my apron.
I grabbed the heavy bags and headed out the back exit. I was walking down the small path toward the bins when, just as I tossed the trash away and turned to head back, I heard a voice that made me freeze.
It can't be... is that my father?
Keeping my footsteps light, I crept toward the sound. What I saw made my heart race—my father was there, deep in conversation with my director, Dimitri. And what I heard next chilled me to the bone.
"Do you have any idea what will happen if they—and especially him—find out she's working here, Dimitri?" my father hissed. "Why did you hire her? You're well-known, they recognize you! If they see her... if he sees her... he has wanted her since she was sixteen! I won't be able to protect her. He's a dangerous man, obsessed. Why do you think I had to leave her and her mother? I thought he'd forget, that it would all end. But even now, I can still hear his words: 'When she turns eighteen, she will be mine. She shall have no other man before me.' He's a psychopath!"
"Vaidas, calm down. They won't find out. Especially not that man," Dimitri replied calmly. "Nothing will happen to her, believe me. You're my old friend; she is like a daughter to me. I'll watch over her like the gold in my own eyes."
"Don't even let her step out of that kitchen!" my father growled. "If even a single hair falls from her head, you'll regret it!"
"Relax. I have everything under control."
I leaned against the wall, my hands and legs shaking uncontrollably. Danger? Who were 'they'? And who was this 'he'? I couldn't understand anything, but fear was already taking hold. I forced myself to take a deep breath, rushed back inside, and threw myself into my work, desperate to forget the words I had just overheard.
By 3:00 PM, I was exhausted but doing well. Only two hours left of my shift. I had almost managed to push the conversation out of my mind when Gintarė burst into the kitchen, her eyes red from crying.
I quickly wiped my hands on my apron and ran to her. "Gintarė! What happened?"
"Gabi... some man is demanding to see you," she sobbed. "The director told me not to let you out, but that man... he said if I didn't bring you to him, he'd make sure I was fired immediately. I don't know what to do!"
"Gintarė, calm down. It's okay. Don't say anything to the director, I'll go."
I straightened my hair, composed myself, and walked out into the dining area. Gintarė had said the man was sitting at table five. When I arrived, I saw a man who looked to be around my father's age. I forced a polite, professional smile.
"Welcome to Dyva. I'll be your server today. Have you decided on—"
The man lifted his head, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his face.
"Finally. I thought I'd never get to see you," he murmured. He stood up, looking me over with an intensity that made my skin crawl. "You've certainly grown up. And you've become a beauty. He is going to love this. He'll be absolutely stunned."
"I'm sorry? Do I know you? Who are you talking about?" I stammered.
The man was about to speak again when Dimitri's booming voice interrupted.
"Gabi! What are you doing here? Get back to your station!"
"Yes, Director," I whispered, practically fleeing back to the kitchen.
Later that evening, the house was quiet, but my mind was a chaotic mess. What did my father mean? Who were 'they'? I didn't want to lose my father again. He had left my mother and me when I was a child, and we had only reunited two years ago. I had finally built a bond with him, his daughter Miglė, and his son Karlas. It had been difficult at first, but we were finally a family.
I returned home but didn't say a word to my father. I couldn't let him know I had heard his secret or that a strange man was already hunting me. I locked myself in my room and collapsed onto the bed. Downstairs, I could see my father with his new girlfriend, Angela. She was draped over him in the living room—a sight that always made my blood boil. I couldn't understand how Miglė and Karlas could stand her.
But as I stared at the ceiling, Angela was the least of my worries. The shadows of my father's past were no longer just whispers—they were at my doorstep.