by Nikki Bloom
“Yeah, let’s just hope he doesn’t realize how much I need this job. Otherwise my leverage would be out the window.” Sniggering a little, I arched my back hard, and a soft pop rippled up my spine. Benny was definitely the kind of boss that didn’t want any talk back but would blame everyone but himself for the things he said he wanted done. At this point, it was just easier to agree with him and do it my way. There was a fifty-fifty chance I’d get yelled at anyway.
Only once did Benny dare screw with me, and that wasn’t when he first started here as manager. He’d replaced someone completely running this place into the ground. We didn’t get awarded until two years after he came on, and it was entirely because of him...and he knew it.
Except Benny’s sense of all-encompassing supremacy had been knocked down a peg when he fucked with my schedule. Once, and only once, did he ever try anything with us waitstaff, which nipped the problem because he already knew not to fuck with the kitchen staff. My cheek twitched, my lips dragging down as memories floated up behind my shuttered lids.
Back then, I only worked four days, and I never pulled doubles like I did now.
Taking a gulp of my drink, the shock of the cold jolted my system and lodged ice in my veins, and I ducked my head between my knees to sigh heavily. When Benny called me to yell at me about being a no-call no-show after he screwed with my schedule intentionally, I went to the owners because ‘fuck him.’
And he almost got fired. And it scared him enough that he never tried anything shady again. Which is nice, admittedly, but he’s still an ass.
“He’s a better boss than some, but not as good as most. I guess that’s just how it goes.” Sniffling hard, I shook my head and drained my glass, and Steve shot me a sympathetic look as he swiped it gracefully. “Let me know if the red carpet gets rolled out.”
“The red carpet’s rolling out if those suits are anything to go by.” Instantly an ache shot down my legs at the idea of getting up again, and my stomach grumbled unhappily. “That guy’s shoes probably cost as much as I make in a month. Damn.”
“Yeah... what color are they?” Steve kicked me lightly at my question, and I bite back a groan and inhaled sharply through my nose. He handed me a full glass of water, smiling down at me and ducking to grab a fresh bottle of something.
“Dinner’s on me tonight, yeah?” Nodding gratefully, I stood up to head around the bar towards the party rooms. Taking deep, calming breaths on my way over, I put my most pleasant smile on my face and pinned it in place. Pushing open the door to the party room, shock hit my system at this huge, twenty-person table only occupied by three bodies.
“Good evening! I’m Madeline, and I’ll be your server tonight.” Glancing over the two men and one woman lounging at one end of the vast, solid oak table, I pulled out my pen and pad. “Can I start you off with some drinks while you look over the menu?”
3
Madeline
Propping up my elbows on the busser’s station by the kitchen exit, I ducked my head and managed a rasping breath. Two hours— two entire hours had passed, and those jerks in the party room still had only just managed to order appetizers. Every time I walked in, they were talking business, and from what little snippets I caught...they really didn’t know their demographic.
I thought that, at some point, I’d get asked some questions, but all I was told was to refill drinks. Not even alcoholic drinks. Just regular waters with lemon.
“What are you doing out here!?” The hairs on the back of my neck bristled as Benny shouted so fucking loud that the entire restaurant went silent for a fraction of a second. Anger swirled in his brown eyes as he stomped over to me to get closer to my face than he ever had before. “Don’t stand here doing nothing! Go back and serve the party room! Stand in the corner if you have to! If I see you out here again without drinks or food, you’re fired!”
“...Okay.” For a brief second, I debated arguing with Benny, but an evil idea crept up behind my eyes. He seemed shocked that I caved, and I nodded firmly. The party room was only about ten feet away, and there was absolutely, positively, one-hundred-percent no way that flimsy door was able to muffle his yelling. “I’ll go stand in the corner. Making things awkward. Probably really uncomfortable for the patrons considering they’re talking business. I’ll even face the wall to give them the illusion of privacy as I eavesdrop on everything they say. Not to mention distract them with my ass.”
Patting my backside just because, I watched with malicious glee engulfing my chest as Benny paled. His dumb look was seared into my brain, and I flounced off towards the party room before he could think up something to say.
This is what the boss said, and I didn’t want to be fired, did I? Nope!
The party room door was cracked open, and I pursed my lips thinly even as a smile stretched my face. A real, genuine, giddy smile that only got wider when I felt Benny’s horrified eyes boring holes into the back of my head. Slipping into the room, I ignored the curious stares from the three and simply continued smiling.
“I apologize for the interruption.” Oh-ho-ho, the man in charge was annoyed, and I relished it as I parked my ass at the far end of the room. The silence was awkward and heavy, and it just tickled me pink.
“Did you just get yelled at?” Turning with a flourish to nod firmly, my gaze settled on the more handsome of the two men as troubled curiosity furrowed his brows. Short, brown curls framed his face, and his dark eyes flashed with irritation. He scratched his thin, full beard before gesturing to the chairs. “Have a seat. I’m sure you deserve it. What was your name again?”
“Madeline. Thank you, but I’ve been told to stand in the corner or be fired.” He barked out a short laugh, and goosebumps swept up my arms under my pristine, white shirt. He stood up, pulling out a chair one over from himself, and I struggled not to frown when he gestured rather forcefully with a sweep of his arm.
“I insist.” My pained feet flared, and I ducked my head as I walked back down the long table to sit. He pushed my chair in for me, and my lungs rattled slightly when I took a deep, discreet breath through my nose. “I’m Carter Weston. I assume you know I’m looking to build in this town, and that’s why your boss told you to...stand in the corner.”
Distaste thickened his already deep voice, and I nodded again as expectation slithered through my veins. My legs tingled painfully, worse at my feet and knees, and Carter drummed his fingers on the table. The silence stretched well into discomfort, but it only lasted a few seconds before he spoke up again.
“Would you say building a hotel here would be a good investment?” Surprise sent a twitch through my cheek at that direct question, and I leaned back in my chair. Reaching to rub the back of my neck absently, I puffed out my lips as my mind whirled. Theoretically, I could say ‘no,’ but that’d be a lie. This town no longer had the proper capacity for how many people vacationed here.
At least, that’s what my landlord grumbles about every month. I really didn’t know anything about it. I loved this town, and my job, but I didn’t go to town meetings. “I think it’d be more than a good investment. And even if it’s not, at least you’d be the first to know. I’m just a waitress.” Speaking slowly, I tilted my head back and rubbed my legs furiously under the table. Carter grunted lowly in acknowledgment, and I shrugged lightly. “I’ve lived here all my life, and everyone feels the stress of the tourist season. Even my apartment manager grumbles about the lost money because no one is building here.”
“Why do you think no one wants to invest here?” Inhaling deeply at Carter’s probing, I bounced my knees trying to get rid of the tightness in my legs while I thought on that. “I’ve had my eye on this place for a while, and it seems to only go up.”
“That’s what they said about Detroit.” The woman snorted, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as she choked on a laugh. My deadpanned reply earned me a quizzical look from Carter, though, and I licked my lips nervously. “I mean, there are so many other towns, so it’s not like we
’re the only choice. We have a great restaurant scene, and we’re right on the water, but every other town also has that. I think, it just comes down to how much you’re willing to pay. Obviously you’re going to go somewhere with more or better availability.”
“That doesn’t really answer my question.” Only half-shrugging again, I really didn’t know what Carter wanted me to say. I didn’t know why investors didn’t come swooping in. This town wasn’t Vegas, but it had potential. Man, I need to stop catching my landlord in bad moods.
Puffing out my lips, I bopped my head side to side as the conversation dulled. Just a few seconds, and I’d get back to work. Briefly, I closed my eyes, and I secretly wondered how much smaller Carter’s suit made his shoulders. Shaking my head a bit, I shrugged again and tried not to overtly ogle him. I wasn’t so desperate that I had to hit on a customer.
“Yeah, sure... revolving doors don’t exactly work. There’s a lot of emphasis on stability. I’ve worked here for eight years. I’ve had regulars that come in just for me during peak season. You treat the locals right, they want to do a good job, and that brings the repeat tourists, who tell other tourists, and so on. It’s not quick cash.” Rolling my wrist in motion, I gazed at Carter through narrowed eyes. His thick brows furrowed in thought, and his sharp jaw ticked lightly. He’s really hot.
Man, why were rich people always so beautiful? I wonder how much money he spent on his personal trainer.
“I think we’re ready to order.” Changing the subject ruthlessly, Carter picked up his menu, and I hoisted myself to my feet to fish out my pen and pad.
4
Carter
“What about shops? We’ve barely seen any on the main drag.” Evan took a deep gulp of his water, and I glanced over at Madeline through shrewd eyes. She was obviously careful not to humblebrag, but also kept her answers very straightforward and honest. If I had asked anyone else, I’d probably get the spiel about how great this town was and how much I’d make and blah...blah...blah...
“There’s a bunch of little strip-mall type things, but no chain stores. Most stores are a little north of here. If you kept going, you’d see them about two miles up. On the east side is where the grocery store and stuff is located. Novelty shops don’t make a lot on their own, so they bunched it in with clothes and sandwiched between a takeout booth, and there you go.” Madeline was so laid back, and she scrunched up her nose with a slight wave of her hand. “Don’t go to any of those booths, though. They’re way overpriced.”
“What beers do you have here?” Reaching to grab one of the pamphlets from its holster, I scanned the selection through narrowed eyes. Madeline popped up again out of the corner of my eye, and I pointed at a random craft I didn’t recognize. “How’s this one?”
“I dunno. All beer tastes like piss to me. Your food should be up, so I’ll bring one back for you.” Every time she said something, Madeline surprised me with her bluntness. She then sauntered out of the room. Chuckling a little when the door shut behind her, I set the pamphlet on the table to sit back and sigh in satisfaction.
We’d only gone through appetizers, and they were perfect... not that I expected less. When that scream echoed through the whole restaurant, it was obvious that whoever managed the place wanted to give me the best. I was used to it but being treated well at the expense of someone else didn’t sit right with me.
“I like her. She’s got sass.” Irene sipped her water with a happy glow, and I arched a brow curiously. “It’s nice that at least one person here isn’t rolling over for us and exaggerating selling points. We’re lucky she’s our waitress.”
“Yes, we are.” When I blinked, I couldn’t help but remember how tired Madeline looked before agreeing to sit down. As if knowing that sitting down, she may not have the energy to get up again. Every time she did stand, she practically jumped out of her seat. “I’ll be right back.”
Leaving the party room, I headed for the nearby archway labelled ‘BATHROOM’ and paused outside the kitchen. Through the clanging and general mayhem, Madeline was practically begging the chef for anything they couldn’t serve customers. Leaning on the wall, I crossed my arms and frowned at the grout between the tiles scaling the wall.
“I haven’t had a break in seven hours. There’s nothing that sat out a few minutes too long? I’m literally going to pass out.” Grinding my teeth, I reached to scratch my jaw as a tortured groan floated from deep in the kitchen. “Okay. Can you just save me something? I’m probably not going to get out of here before midnight.”
When Madeline rounded the corner, she jumped a little in surprise, her big, brown eyes widening. My own narrowed into slits, and she frowned under brows knit with confusion.
“Can I help you? It’ll be another few minutes for your food.”
“I’ve decided to add another entrée.” With a flourish, Madeline produced her pen and pad, and I automatically reached to cover her poised hands with my palm. Warmth slithered up under my shirt cuffs, and her smile froze on her dimpled face. “Whatever you think is the best meal here. I’d like to try it.”
“O-oh... are you sure?” Her lips parted to form an ‘o’ at my pointed look, and a brief, blaring loud thought passed between my ears. She’s actually pretty cute when she’s not faking it.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t pass out. Yes, I am sure.” Tinging red that battled the absolute relief gushing from her eyes, Madeline simply nodded before turning on her heel to head back into the kitchen. This place had really good food, and obviously morale wasn’t too low, but I was disgusted with this restaurant. Heading back to my party room, I inhaled sharply before turning my gaze to Irene. “We were going to talk to the owners of this place to supply the hotel, right?”
“It was one of several on the list, yeah. Why?” Seating myself, I crossed my legs under the table, humming thoughtfully. “What’s that face for, Carter? If you’re thinking of something that’ll change logistics, I need to know about it. That’s why you hired me.”
“I may buy the place if the owners are open to it. Just something to keep in mind. Madeline said they’re elderly snow birds, so it’d be worth it to at least open discussion.” Just then, the door opened behind me, and Madeline set down my beer on a coaster before disappearing again wordlessly. Even so, the brief flash I caught of her was more genuine and energetic, and my lips quirked slightly. Taking a small gulp of the beer, I hissed in pleasant surprise. “This is a good beer.”
“I know you’re not one to drink during appetizers, Carter, but gimme that—” Evan snatched my beer before I could, and I scowled at him as he practically chugged the whole thing. His eyes lit up when they met mine, his smile massive as he set the empty glass on the coaster. “You’re right. That is good beer.”
“I suppose you won’t mind paying for it, then.” He gasped, holding his hand against his chest, and a chuckle breached my lips. “I thought you learned your lesson in college.”
“More like high school. You always stuck me with the bill because my dad was a piece of shit.” A shit-eating grin stretched my lips, and Evan’s dark brown eyes lit up as he opened his mouth. The door opened behind me, cutting him off before he had a chance to start, and Madeline set down a loaded serving platter that was nearly half as tall as she was. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea, though. Definitely worth looking into, like you said.”
Madeline set down a plate of shrimp pasta to pause ever so briefly, and her brows arched high. My view down her little vest unimpeded, I cleared my throat roughly, and she blinked those doe brown eyes as she rocked back. Skirting behind me with Evan’s plate, Madeline grabbed my empty beer glass before speaking up.
“Can I get you anything else? Like, maybe, a tourist brochure?” That wasn’t something I expected, and I couldn’t help but be impressed when Madeline flashed a downright beautiful smile. My lips quirked up, and I turned to my plate before she continued. “I’ll refill your beers and be back in a second. If you want anything, just let me know. I’m exclusive
.” Waving a hand in dismissal, she picked up Irene’s plate to bring it around the end of the table to her.
“No wonder you have repeat customers year after year. Maybe, if Carter’s not gonna try to impress you with a monstrous tip, we’ll be able to split the bill and tip you separately.” She laughed, and I liked the sound as it caressed my ears and raced down my spine.
“Please. He can impress me with a monstrous tip and split the bill.” Grabbing the serving tray, Madeline stared me dead in the face with a flirty glint in her eye. I couldn’t avoid it anymore, and I sat back to scan her in admiration. She was smart in her uniform, and I pursed my lips thinly before I did something inappropriate. “I’ll be back with those brochures.”
She spoke so assuredly, so flippantly, that coupled with her intense stare, I couldn’t help but laugh. Chuckling lightly, my chest tightened when she tinged red, and I grabbed at my collar when it threatened to choke me. Giving her some relief, I fixed my focus on my plate, and my smirk widened as Madeline scurried out of my peripheral vision. Shivers danced down my spine, and Evan and Irene’s awkward stares bored into the side of my face.
Covering my mouth with the back of my hand, I struggled to gain control of myself as her words and expression just flooded my veins. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm the fire in my blood, and Evan frowned at me under tightly knit brows. She fled the room, and I resisted the urge to turn and check out her ass before noticing my friend’s gaze.
