**Chapter 2: Inquiries**

Two months ago, Jake had walked out of the restaurant, his mind racing with thoughts of Michelle. He couldn't shake the image of her from his mind - her black hair, her gray-brown eyes, and her kind smile. He had to learn more about her. Jake returned to his office, a luxurious suite in a high-rise building, and sat down at his desk. He picked up the phone and dialed a number, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up. "Vinnie, it's Jake. I need some information about a waitress I met at a restaurant tonight," he said, his voice low and smooth. Vinnie, a trusted associate, replied, "What's the restaurant, boss?" Jake gave him the name of the restaurant, and Vinnie promised to look into it. Jake hung up the phone, his eyes drifting out the window as he waited for Vinnie to get back to him. Twenty minutes later, the phone rang, and Jake answered it. "What did you find out, Vinnie?" "She's a real sweetheart, boss," Vinnie said. "Her name is Michelle, and she's been working at the restaurant for a few months. She's 22 years old, and she lives alone in a small apartment." Jake's eyes narrowed as he listened. "What else?" Vinnie hesitated before answering, "She's a bit of a loner, boss. She doesn't have any close friends or family that we can find. She's been struggling to make ends meet, working multiple jobs to pay the bills." Jake's grip on the phone tightened. He had a reputation for being ruthless in business, but there was something about Michelle that tugged at his heartstrings. He wanted to help her, to protect her, and to make her his. "Vinnie, I want you to find out more about her," Jake said, his voice firm. "I want to know everything there is to know about Michelle. I want to know her schedule, her habits, and her likes and dislikes. I want to know what makes her tick." "Yes, boss," Vinnie replied. "I'll get right on it." Jake hung up the phone, a plan forming in his mind. He would learn everything there was to know about Michelle, and then he would make his move. He couldn't just walk into her life and sweep her off her feet; he needed to be strategic. He needed to make sure she was safe, and that she would be willing to take a chance on him. As he sat at his desk, Jake couldn't help but think about Michelle. He wondered what she was like outside of work, what she enjoyed doing in her free time, and what she hoped to achieve in life. He felt a pang of excitement at the prospect of getting to know her better, of learning her secrets and her desires. Jake's eyes drifted to the photo on his desk, a picture of Michelle that he had taken from the restaurant's staff directory. Her gray-brown eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light, and her black hair fell in loose waves down her back. He felt a surge of desire, and he knew that he would stop at nothing to make her his. The plan was already in motion, and Jake was confident that it would work. He would learn everything there was to know about Michelle, and then he would take her. He would make her his, and he would do whatever it took to keep her safe and happy. As the night wore on, Jake's thoughts turned to the logistics of the plan. He would need to move quickly, to ensure that Michelle was taken care of before she even knew what was happening. He would need to be careful, to avoid raising any suspicions or alerting her to his intentions. But Jake was a master of manipulation, and he was confident that he could pull it off. He would get what he wanted, no matter what it took. And what he wanted was Michelle, the beautiful and kind-hearted waitress with black hair and gray-brown eyes. The game was afoot, and Jake was ready to play. He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, and he would do whatever it took to make Michelle his.