Caries Juice

“You’re doing well out there, Daisy.” Daisy gave Trevor her best smile in response, grateful for the position he had given her. It certainly wasn’t an apprenticeship with the best chef in town, but it was a good start. A part-time gig as a waitress for the upper echelon of the city wasn’t too shabby, right?

Even if it meant being on her feet for hours and plastering a smile on her face for the entire night. Trevor had warned her tonight would be a busy evening, but the pay was decent, so she could hardly complain.

“Thank you,” she replied, wondering when it would be a good time to ask him if she could swap the black slacks and white shirt out for a white double-breasted jacket.

She was getting ahead of herself again, but she couldn’t help it. Some passions were just too strong to be tamed. Daisy accepted a full tray, this time with wine instead of the appetizers she had been previously going around with. Next time, she thought to herself, bracing the tray as she walked through the swinging doors. Next time, she would ask Trevor if there was an opening in his catering team. This party was not the time to discuss business matters, anyway; she needed to focus on her current tasks.

The ornate hall was full of exquisitely dressed people, and Daisy knew that some of the dresses she had seen tonight were worth more than she would ever make. Even glancing at the men, who looked simple enough in their tailored black tuxes, Daisy knew there was nothing simple about the price tag. They were designer, which meant they could probably finance a small country if they sold every suit in this place.

The guests took the glasses with ease, paying no attention to Daisy as she moved through the room. In a couple of minutes, her tray was empty again, allowing Daisy to lower her arm, gently flexing while she headed back to the kitchen. She quickly refilled the silver tray with a dozen more drinks, eager for the dinner to start and the promised few minutes of rest, nestled between serving the dinner and preparing for the dessert.

Doors swinging on her heels, Daisy got back to work, noticing with a grimace how everyone still ambled around the room, chatting and networking with the other partygoers.

“You look like a statue,” One of the other servers, Toni, whispered as she passed, laughing as she startled Daisy.

Toni had been employed for Trevor much longer than Daisy had, and it showed through her confidence while serving. Daisy smiled at her bubbly colleague, who took an appetizer for the tray she was holding and popped it into her mouth with a wink.

“What did Trevor say about eating in front of the guests?” Daisy asked with a shake of her head, biting down the chuckle that threatened to burst forward.

“I’m going to faint running around the hall. One bite won’t hurt anyone. In fact, I’m still the picture of professionalism!” While it was true that Toni looked better in the uniform than Daisy ever would, her appearance could be deceiving, as they both knew just how much trouble Toni could get into at these events.

“You are way too serious,” Toni teased, rolling her eyes. “No wonder Trevor likes you. Now let’s hurry and get refills.”

Daisy looked down at the few shrimp tartlets that were resting on Toni’s tray, but they disappeared before she could say anything. She laughed at Toni’s full cheeks, which made her look adorable, despite her mischief.

Daisy quickly handed out her last two glasses, and a few guests placed their empty ones on her tray as they made their way back. The two were out of the hectic kitchen within a minute, going separate directions. A few guests smiled at her as she passed by, while others were too immersed in their conversation. Daisy walked towards the end of the room, frowning when she saw a bracelet on the floor.

She carefully picked it up, admiring the sparkling diamonds that were certainly real. Only a couple of older men were standing nearby, and neither looked as if they had worn the bracelet to the party. Daisy hurriedly put the bracelet in her pocket to drop off in the lost and found bin on her way back to the kitchen.

Daisy only had one drink left on her tray and was about to head back to refill the drinks when she heard a sound behind her coming from the empty dining room. She ducked around the corner, immediately stopping when she saw a man and a woman locked in a heated embrace. Her eyes widened in recognition as she kept looking at the couple in front of her, wondering if she had started to hallucinate because of her fatigue. Maybe she needed to take a quick break before the dinner after all. And probably have something to eat; when was the last time she had eaten something, anyway? She couldn’t remember. But that would probably explain the horrific vision in front of her. She felt her knees trembling as she took a step closer.

If it had been any other guest interlocked in the kiss, Daisy would have quickly turned away and minded her own business, but not when the tall, defined silhouette demanded her attention.

“James?” Daisy demanded in shock.

The dim light streaming in from the hall made it difficult to see details, but she would know that head of hair anywhere. The man guiltily jerked up, confirming what she already knew to be true: It was indeed her boyfriend. Her boyfriend, who seemed very occupied with someone else at the moment. Earlier this morning, James had mentioned that he would be at a work event all night, but he’d been rather vague about the details and Daisy hadn’t pushed. Of all the parties for New York’s finest, he just had to be at this one.

“Daisy?” James asked, looking as confused as she felt. “What are you doing here?”

That was his biggest concern right now? The black and white server’s uniform and tray she was holding should have been a dead giveaway, not that it mattered. What did matter, however, was the blonde he still had his arm around, and the lipstick stain which was slightly imprinted on his mouth. She was breathtaking in her long red gown, which matched the bright matte lipstick that both she and James were now wearing. Her long wavy hair was carefully tossed over her shoulders, every strand in place. Daisy’s uniform and split ends didn’t stand a chance against this woman, and James had clearly recognized this as well. He was still by the blonde’s side while her world fell apart.

“It’s not what you think,” he said, finally taking a step towards her.

As if stabbing her with his betrayal was not enough, he had to twist the knife in her chest too. There was nothing for her to even think about here, as everything seemed obvious from her vantage point. There were two facts in this situation that were clear as day. One, James was her boyfriend. And two, said boyfriend had been searching for the key to the universe’s mysteries in the blonde woman’s tonsils. How stupid did James think she was?

Daisy opened her mouth to tell James exactly what she thought of him, but the words wouldn’t come. She felt tears stinging her eyes and willed them to stay put. There was no way she would cry in front of James and his... date. Her chest filled with pain and humiliation, and she was certain she would burst into tears if she had to stay in the room. So, she did the only thing that she could do right now: she turned and ran.

The main hall was a blur, but Daisy knew the way to the kitchen like the back of her hand from all her trips around the room. Too bad her built in sense of direction didn’t account for any obstacles, nor the drink that was still left in her tray.

Her eyes glazed over, and Daisy wasn’t even aware of the disaster until it occurred. One second she was strolling quickly across the marble floor, and the next she was tumbling to the floor. Strong hands gripped her arms before she landed, but before the rush of relief could fully hit, she heard the light tinkling of glass breaking. Trevor’s expensive glass, Daisy realized with a sense of foreboding dread. She looked up slowly, vision focusing on the wet stain soaking through the fabric of an expensive dress shirt before her.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, preparing for the guest’s inevitable wrath.

When she finally made eye contact with him, she couldn’t help but stare. The man was gorgeous. He had a serious look about him, but his eyes were kind, searching rapidly over her face as if examining her for injuries.

“Are you okay?” he asked, voice deep and gentle, something she had not been expecting.

Daisy didn’t understand why he was worried about her when she was the one who had ruined his shirt and jacket. Still, there was something about him that pulled her in. She had seen a lot of handsome men before and hadn’t given them a second glance. But this man was something else, and Daisy couldn’t take his eyes off him. Never had she felt such an instant attraction to anyone.

Daisy wondered if it was legal for one person to be that good looking and, judging by his suit, rich. The suit she had just spilled a drink all over. Her panic rose as she returned to reality, but she couldn’t even form the hurried apologies that were stuck in her throat.

“Come with me,” he said, putting his hand on her elbow gently and steering her away from the crowd.