by Lulu Pratt
She opens her mouth to defend herself, but closes it before saying a word.
“That’s what I thought. You were one of the top students in your class. My co-owner and I hand-picked you because we feel you can give this place what it needs. And maybe this place can give you what you need. Don’t be scared before you find out what that might be.”
She looks around as if trying to validate why she is still here. Nodding in agreement gives me hope that I still have a chance with her. I just have to play it cool.
Chapter 3
MADDIE
My mind tells me to leave, to find employment elsewhere. If they chose me to be part of Bistro Italiano, I shouldn’t have a problem getting a job someplace else, right? So why am I still standing in front of this man? This gorgeous Italian who seems to look directly into me? He isn’t like any of the guys back home. He is clean cut, the blackest of hair slicked back to show his dark features. His eyes are penetrating, his jaw chiseled and strong, flawless dark skin, his lips. I force myself to pay attention to his words and wonder if this is honestly something I should be doing. I feel so out of my league.
That woman he was with is not his girlfriend, so what? He randomly sleeps with women for the hell of it? Where is the love? Where is the romance? Is chivalry really dead? I’m thinking it was never discovered in New York.
I convince myself to give this a chance, trying to prove to my boss and to myself that I can try something before walking away from it. I can do this, I just need to keep my mind focused on my career and not on Rocco Santoro.
“I’d like you to meet my colleague, co-owner of the business and older sister,” he says. “This is Joanne Santoro. Joanne, this is Maddie Levere. She will be starting tomorrow.”
I realize it is the first time he takes his eyes off me since we have officially met. Deep down, I feel a sense of abandonment. It is something I had never felt before. What is it? Why do I feel the need to have his attention? I force my hand out and smile.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” I say. “I like to put a face with a voice.”
“Yes. We have spoken over the phone several times. Welcome to Bistro Italiano.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ll be starting tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“I look forward to seeing what you have to offer. You’ll have to pardon the many changes that will be going on here. We will be revamping the look as well as the staff.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“I’ll start you off at the salary we had discussed and review in three months. Does that sound fair?”
“Absolutely. Thank you, again, for this opportunity. I am looking forward to it.”
“We have strict rules here as well. They are set in place so we continue to run a successful business and take care of our customers. The best advertising is word of mouth and with so many high-end restaurants to compete with in Manhattan, we have to stay on top of our game.”
“I completely understand.”
“So, as with most places of employment, if you are late more than three times without sufficient notice, you are fired. If you screw up a dish more than three times a month, you are fired. There will be no relationships within the company.” She glances at Rocco before continuing. “This includes heavy petting and casual sex.”
It’s my turn to glance at Rocco. Did that apply to everyone?
“Some of these rules are fairly new, but will be adhered to. Here is an employee handbook,” she says, handing me a thin booklet. “Inside are other health and safety regulations, contact information, benefits and other information. Do you have any questions?”
“No, ma’am.”
“One other thing. If you want to work here, don’t call me ma’am. Call me Joanne, please, and welcome on board.”
“Thank you, Joanne.” I smile at her.
*
It was a good meeting, I think to myself. I turn on the water in my new tub and wait for the warmth to infuse with the cold. Joanne is so nice. I pull up my top over my head and look at my image in the mirror. I’m not so sure about the waitresses. It worries me as I wonder if it will be a game to try to win over their friendship. I couldn’t imagine working in an environment where everyone hated or was jealous over someone else. I pull off my skirt and let it drop over my top.
My thoughts then go to Rocco again. He was all I could think about on the way home. What I saw in his office and how he spoke to me afterwards have stayed with me. I think he could see straight inside of me.
“Rocco,” I whisper, watching my lips in the mirror. They stay parted. My fingertips glide down my neck as I imagine his face, his hands, his body in my mind. I bet you get lots of women, don’t you Rocco? I glide my hand over my bra, my nipple taut and sensitive. I bet they swoon over you and fall at your feet, don’t they?
My finger slides into my bra and over my nipple causing a sensation to radiate through my chest. I take off my bra and panties, discarding them in the same pile and step into the steaming water as it cascades from the large shower head. The water causes a goosebump effect all over my skin and I let a small steady stream that has escaped the natural flow to run over teasingly my nipple. I bring my hand to my breast and roll my nipple between my fingers causing electricity to flow through me.
A fresh bar of soap fills my senses as I run it underneath the water and then glide it across my stomach. “Rocco,” I say again, closing my eyes. I push the soap between my legs, allowing it to slide back and forth causing the thoughts and sensations from my body to target directly between my legs. The soap falls from my hand, clunking into the tub.
I run my hand down to where the soap had been, my fingers sliding between the slick folds of my pussy. I imagine Rocco behind me, directing my hand where he wants it to go. I imagine his mouth on my neck, the same way I saw him do with Tasha. I imagine him inside me, fucking me like I saw him fucking Tasha. My breathing is ragged and my fingers move faster.
Make love to me, Rocco. My other hand is busy, I push my fingers inside me, my thumb circling around my clit, arousal heightening as my imagination runs wild. I’m sitting on him in his desk chair, riding him slowly at first. He turns me around, pushing me over his desk and grabbing my hair.
“This is how bad I want you, Maddie,” he growls, fucking me until he comes. The thought brings my orgasm to the edge until it spills over and makes my body spasm.
“Oh, God.” I pick up the soap and finish bathing, feeling the heat in my cheeks and wondering why I find such a man so irresistible.
Chapter 4
ROCCO
I see Joanne making up the menus for the week when I walk into my sister’s office.
“What do you think?” she asks without looking up.
“About what?” I plop down in the chair on the other side of her desk. It was a long day and I wanted to pound some drinks back so I can fall into bed and sleep heavily. When she stops writing and looks at me from above her dark-rimmed glasses, I know exactly what she is talking about.
“The new girl, Rocco.”
“Well, she’s been here a week now.”
“Yes?”
“Definitely fuckable.”
“Rocco, come on. I thought we talked about this? You promised me you would stop doing this.”
“Asking me to stop my very natural and healthy sex life is like asking Charlie Sheen to play by the rules.”
“That’s not fair. You know I can’t fire you, even though I should have that right.”
“You love me too much to get rid of me.”
“And you know how important this restaurant is to me.”
“Okay, okay. Don’t break my heart with that look again, please.”
“So, do you have anything to say?”
“I do. I think if we are going to make this work, we need to let Tasha and Mary go, or at the very least, have a meeting with them and possibly give them some training on how to improve.”
“Really?” she says
, pulling her glasses from her face. Her pleasant surprise is worth admitting my issues with them. “I couldn’t agree with you more, on the first part, anyway. I’m not training them again.”
“Maybe you’re right. With the history between us and the drama they like to start, I think it’s a good business choice. They aren’t very good at their jobs.”
“They never were,” she says, looking at me with a sly grin.
I know what she is thinking, and she’s right. The only reason I kept them on is because I liked playing around with Tasha and Mary could be good at her job, but her personality kept her back.
“You just have to promise me something.”
“What is that, Rocco?”
“You just hired the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Let’s not be so quick to do that again, huh?”
“Maddie?”
“Yes.”
“You say that about every single woman I hire,” she says, dismissing my request with a wave of her hand.
“I’m not kidding. This is different…”
“Oh, no. You and I had this conversation. You promised me you would leave my staff alone from here on out. Maddie is no exception.”
She’s right. I’m a fool for even thinking I have a chance with her. Maddie is nothing like the other women in my life.
“Yeah, no, I agree. I told you I would change. You have my word.” I say the words, but I didn’t want to.
“Okay. Good,” she said, keeping her eyes on me. “Give me a couple of days to find some replacements. We can let Tasha and Mary go Wednesday after their shifts. That should give me time to train some new girls and get them ready for the weekend crowd.”
Joanne looks at me for a long time without saying a word. She’s worse than our mother was. I couldn’t have a private thought without her knowing what I was thinking.
“Why do I not believe you about staying away from my girls?”
I shrug and look away without saying a word.
“Leave Maddie alone. Please. I need her here. She is an excellent pastry chef and I don’t want you ruining her before she has a chance.”
“I didn’t say anything,” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
“I know that look. I don’t like that look. It’s more than knowing a new girl is working here.”
“Can’t get anything past you, can I? Honestly, I will admit, I’m having a hard time getting her out of my head.”
“It’s more than that. I can see it in your eyes. Rocco, I need you to focus. Please.”
“What the hell do you want me to do? I didn’t hire her. She just shows up in my doorway and stops me dead in my tracks.”
“Shit.” She rubs her forehead because she knows. She knows how I am with women, and this woman has already done something to me.
“Tell me what to do, Joanne. Unless you are going to tell her she can’t work here, you need to tell me what to do. I don’t understand this. I love women with long hair, she has short hair! No, it’s not even a sassy sexy bob, it’s shoulder length. How boring is that? I love women with experience. Maddie is so innocent I wouldn’t put it past her that she is a virgin! I love women with curves and moves, she has none of that!”
“I’m not getting rid of her. Not unless she screws up, or screws you.”
“That’s not fair.”
“It’s not fair that you think with your dick. She is your pastry chef, Rocco, not one of your lovers. What is the problem?”
“I can’t stop thinking about her.”
“Try harder.” She goes back to her menus and looks back up at me after a few moments. “We are done here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me that.”
I smirk and lean over the desk, giving her a peck on her forehead before leaving for the night. I am in trouble, and Joanne knew this. I’m hoping deep down that she does something about it, before I am forced to.
The next day is slow at the restaurant, so I hole myself up in my office and catch up on some paperwork. I’ll use that excuse because it sounds better than trying to stay away from trouble.
When the shifts end, I clean up, shut down my computer and smile as I leave my office, proud that I make it through the day with only thoughts instead of acts.
I walk into the dining area and look around. Everything is cleaned and put away as it should be. I peek in the restrooms and upon inspection, they are spotless as well. Walking back through the dining room, I hear a noise in the kitchen.
Maddie is leaning over the deep kitchen basin, washing some large cooking pots.
“You’re here late,” I say, leaning against the wall. I startle her and watch her body move as she turns and looks at me.
“I didn’t know anyone was still here. I was just trying out a few recipes before leaving. I hope that is okay. They came out beautifully. I was thinking we could use them on tomorrow’s menu.”
“That is up to Joanne.” I want to move the strand of hair from in front of Maddie’s face. It hangs there, taunting me, teasing me. I want to move it, I want to touch her. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
“No. I’m just cleaning up. I’m almost done.”
My presence makes her uneasy. Her body language clearly shows that I affect her. If she only knew how badly she affected me, too. How am I supposed to stay away from such an angel when all I can think about is her?
“Maddie,” I say, softening my voice as I lean against the counter near her. Her breathing is faster. She isn’t cleaning the pot. She is standing there, nervous.
“Tell me what you feel when you see me. Tell me I am not reading the signs your body screams when you are near me. Tell me you are attracted to me.”
“I can’t,” she whispers but her eyes tell me differently.
“You can,” I tell her.
“I see it in you. You are unlike anyone I have ever met, Maddie. I feel a connection with you. I need to pursue it. It will drive me crazy if I don’t.”
“Rocco, please. Don’t do this. I need this job.” She is trembling and I just want to pull her in to protect her.
“No one needs to know. I want to be with you. I want to explore this feeling I have. I saw you in my office doorway when I was with Tasha. I saw the need in your eyes. You didn’t want to go. Did you, Maddie?”
She shakes her head slightly, but enough that I know she admits it.
“Don’t, please,” she says.
“Listen to me. I stopped because of you. As soon as I saw you, something changed in me. I don’t want Tasha. I don’t want anyone now, except for you.”
“Please, Rocco. Don’t do this. I don’t want this.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’m not going to be just another one of your lovers. I hear how they talk. You’ve slept with more than half the women here. I refuse to be added to your collection.”
She walks away from me, the pot unwashed and I hear the front door open and close.
“Damn it.”
Chapter 5
MADDIE
“Good morning, Maddie.” I look up from my work at the kitchen counter and smile as Joanne walks into the kitchen. “You are here early. I didn’t expect you in until later.”
“Good morning. I hope it’s okay.”
“Yes, of course. But we don’t open until eleven. It gives you plenty of time to prepare.”
“I wanted to look at some new recipes.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with that. I like an employee who takes initiative to go above and beyond what is expected. If you need anything, any help at all, I’ll be around.”
“Thank you.”
I like Joanne. To be honest, I didn’t choose to start my shift early to gain brownie points or take initiative. I had to get my mind off Rocco and what better way to do that than to delve into work? Besides, I figure if I can get the majority of my work done before he comes in, I have a better chance to avoid him when the time comes. I just hope my libido can stay put when it does hap
pen again. I fell asleep to the image of him kissing me again.
Lunch comes and goes with no issues, work related or boss related. If everything goes well the rest of the day, my hopes of getting through this job will be stronger. Just as I finish that thought, I am interrupted by a crying waitress dressed in black and white, running through the kitchen.
“Tasha?” I call out. “Are you okay?”
She runs out the back and slams the door. Do I go after her? Without another thought, I wipe my hands on a nearby cloth and walk through the back door to find her sitting on a wooden crate in the alley, her face in her hands.
“Tasha?”
“What do you want?” she mumbles, sobbing.
“I just want to help. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“No. I’m not. I just got fired.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Just go back to your work. Leave me alone. I have to figure out what I’m going to do. I should have known not to get involved with him.”
She had to be talking about Rocco. Joanne must have found out about them and she fired her. “How long have you been here?”
“If you even care, three years. Just stay out of it.”
She gets up without looking at me and walks away, disappearing around the corner of the building.
I walk back in, determined to help. Joanne is a sweet woman. As soon as I walk into the dining area, I see Joanne disappear into her office so I follow her and knock lightly on her door before entering.
“Come in, how is everything going so far?”
“Good, for me.”
“Ah, you just ran into Tasha.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.” She clasps her hands together, giving me her full attention.
“I saw Tasha. She was pretty upset after getting fired. Can I ask why you let her go?” I pretend that I don’t know, even though I’m sure I do.
“There are a number of reasons. She has been late twice lately without enough notice and her breakage rate is very high. She is just not cut out for this line of work.”
