“They called around. We can’t get anyone else in on such short notice,” says a voice nearby. A woman dressed in a black pantsuit. “It’s going to be a couple of hours at least.”
The waiter’s face tightens.
“I’m sorry, I have to get back.” She heads into the hotel restaurant next door. It’s busy in there as well.
“Problem?” I ask.
The waiter, his name tag says Isaac, gives me a wary look. “No, Miss Lawrence. Just some members of staff are off sick. It happens. Everything is fine. Is your coffee okay?”
I climb off the stool. “You need help for a couple of hours? I’m a waitress. Tell me what to do.”
His mouth just kind of hangs open.
“Isaac, I can help,” I repeat.
“Oh, no. Mr. Elliot—”
“Won’t mind in the least. I promise.” I survey the room. “Tell you what, I’m going to start by clearing those tables and giving them a wipe down. You let me know what you’d like done after that.”
And off I go. If I want to be part of this world then I need to be on the lookout for ways to contribute. This is a pretty straightforward way to help Beck.
Of course, the only downside to getting a whole bunch of new shoes is having to break them in. My feet are going to be sore by the end of the day. Lucky I wore low wedge booties with my Oscar de la Renta black sleeveless midi dress. Both are black so I mostly blend in with the staff. They don’t seem to have a uniform in this area so much as just wear clothes that are black or white. Makes sense. Those colors tend to be easier to clean.
I raise a few eyebrows back in the kitchen, but it’s easy enough to figure out where the dirty dishes go and where to find a cloth to clean off the tables. Isaac handles the computer for ordering and taking payment, while I deliver and do cleanup. We work well together and the time goes by quickly. It’s actually kind of nice to be doing something in my comfort zone. Not that waitressing is how I want to spend all of my days.
By the time the extra person appears, we’re edging into happy hour, so I hang around a bit longer to help out with the larger crowd. In fact, everything is going great right up until a group of four men walk out of the restaurant. And at the front of the group is Ethan. Beck’s brother freezes in place at the sight of me carrying dirty dishes. The man has an impressive frown. I have never been quite so thoroughly disapproved of. Such condemnation. Like shame on me for existing in his general vicinity. These damn people.
“Alice,” says Beck, stepping around his brother.
“Hey. Some of your staff are out sick. I’m just helping.”
“Thank you. Let me grab those for you.” He picks up the used glassware and follows me back into the kitchen. We both wash our hands before heading back out.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” says Ethan as we return.
At least I look okay. The hairdresser and makeup artist gave me lessons yesterday. While he may not like what I’m doing, he can’t disapprove of my appearance. “Ethan. Nice to see you again.”
“She can’t be doing this,” he says to his little brother. “What’ll people think?”
“Do people think? That’s the real question.” Beck’s frown is not quite as fierce as his brother’s, but it’s not bad. “And as far as I’m concerned, she can do whatever she wants. Currently, she’s choosing to help run this business. A family business until the sale goes through. How can you possibly fault her for that?”
“You want the board to take you seriously or not?”
“Of course I do.”
“Having your new girlfriend join the kitchen staff is not the way to go about it,” growls Ethan. “I realize her employment options are limited, given her experience. But if you need to keep her busy then Emma can get her involved in some charities or something more suitable.”
My fingers curl into fists. Confrontation sucks, but I’m not about to stand here and take this. “Could we not talk about me like I’m not here, please?”
“You had Alice investigated?” asks Beck, his face still and voice cold.
“Of course we did.” His brother doesn’t even hesitate. Like it’s the most normal thing in the world. Damn creep. “Most positive thing I can say about her is that I almost fell asleep reading the report. I know Dad setting you up with Selah pissed you off, but did you have to hit back by finding a woman who encapsulates average to quite this degree?”
Beck’s jaw is rigid.
“But then you’ve always had a weakness for unloved and neglected things. It’s how you first got your hands on this hotel.”
Ouch.
But he isn’t finished yet. “I suppose I should be relieved it’s not some coked-up pop princess on your arm like last time.”
“That’s enough,” I say, teeth gritted. My parents raised me to be nice, to be polite. But I’m not into being a doormat. Some people are just never going to like you for whatever reason and that’s life. “You’ve said your piece, Ethan, and rest assured we’re all in awe at your level of dickery. It’s time, however, for you to think about leaving.”
Ethan’s nostrils flare in anger.
And the suit beside him makes a strangled sort of noise.
I care not. “Look around you; you’re causing a scene. People are watching and listening and soon this’ll be talked about all over town. Of course, no one expects any better from the likes of me. But you…that’s not very Elliot behavior now, is it?”
Beck bites back a smile.
“I need you at that meeting tomorrow, Beck.” Ethan’s face is tense. “Don’t be late.”
“I’ll be there,” says Beck.
With a final glare thrown in my direction, his brother strides away with dude number three hot on his heels. The fourth member of the group, however, gives me a warm smile. “Nice to see you again, Alice.”
“Matías. Hi.”
A new waitress emerges from out back and Isaac gives me a smile. Guess I’m done waitressing for the day.
Without saying a word, Beck takes my hand and leads me toward the elevators. I didn’t tell any lies. People are indeed watching. Matías follows a couple of steps behind us. But it isn’t until we’re in an elevator heading up to the apartment that the scene is discussed.
“Is dickery even a word?” asks Beck.
Matías cocks his head. “If it isn’t, it should be. And your older brother’s behavior certainly encapsulates the very essence of it.”
“I hope you’re not angry at me,” I say. “But I’d kind of had enough. There’s constructive feedback and then there’s character assassination and his little speech was closer to the latter. For both of us.”
“You were absolutely perfect.” Beck raises my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a girlfriend who’d been willing to protect me from Ethan before. I like it.”
Phew. “What do you think is in the file on me?”
“Try not to let it worry you,” says Matías. “They have files on everyone.”
Beck smiles and says a whole lot of nothing.