Paid to love

ect their drink order for almost two minutes," Collin, the manage

h time. I wondered if he saw my arms full of food for a separate table. When he looked over h

oo

ck or the table was cursed. But, whoever sat there was invariably the rudest, crudest, and most arrogant individual on the planet.

ced one of the dishes in front of a hu

re whether he referred to the

entlemen would undoubtedly give me a

?" I said after I'd distributed all of th

lue Moon," Star-Sp

nd grin. "As so

I the only one working?" I whispered to myself as I approached the table. I calmed a

d I'll be serving you tonig

to this restaurant by this time, but the sensation of inferiority lingered. They were both dressed in button-ups with their sleeves turned up to display their veiny forearms.

ealing? Wasn't the fact that they had money enough? Did they have to take everyo

n hair that was nicely parted and pulled up in the front. It was a touch curly at the show, and

ckle. He had chestnut-colored hair, brown eyes, a lovely face, a

m for five minutes when it was just five seconds. His remark irritated me. I'd alr

Next Door said, pol

y were straight and white. Why would I have thought otherwise? Even if I s

ur ID," half-smiling. He didn't seem to be underage, and I was sure I'

have no ide

have t

to place, and he nodded. "I suppose I should

or or musician. However, someone like me would know if he was. He was most likely the son of a we

, and the name Hermes was sewn along with the bottom le

Mateo? I pondered. Mateo? What was the significance of the word? It also didn't ring a bell. Therefore, he wasn't well-kn

ntification back into his wal

a grin. "Kinda stinks, doesn't it? I'm sure your

aid calmly, witho

igures. "Do you need anything

ome ice wate

; he'll have a good shot of whis

cking wi

est not to know. I'd kill myself if I heard something like "not being able to afford three Porsches." I disliked be

ll this a cata

three-Porsche ordeal! What

ob; give her your I.D. I swear I won't make you do mor

iling and removing this wallet from h

gavulin," Mateo

turned to their table, I caught Mateo staring at me, and I gazed back at him until he noticed. Usually, the other side would turn away, humiliated at bei

The Fu

Moon?" I asked Trav. "I complete

gave it to me. "He's been following you like a hawk all

le seven. As I got closer, I forced the nicest grin I could m

rain, "For the tip

aking my skin crawl. Ew, ew, ew. "Doe

ith a brief grin. Tables two and eight still needed to be wipe

k towards the rear, startling me a little. "Geez,

" he said, tugging on his necktie. "Th

id he constantly feel the need to tell me what to do? I probab

; go welcome them, Hadley.

ed before moving out to

-end restaurant for even higher-end clientele. So, even though I was generally a waitress/busgirl/hostess/bartender while the other workers barely performed one job, the money kept me going. I could l

g not to feel inadequate in my black pencil skirt and white

ed the soile

tar Spangled Moron, knowing that someo

to the supposedly fam

ropping my head and hoping they didn't

stian gave me a sympathetic

de, you've been gone for fifteen minutes." "Do you make

taken aback by his abrupt statements to thin

re taken immediately upon arrival. "We've been here for almost 30 minutes and have only had ou

I was dumbfounded as I stared at Mateo. I d

compensate for t

ay calm. "I'm sorry,"

anages this establishment; surely this isn't appropri

was

yelled, my hands shaking with embarrassment. Did he need to make light of the

d back his

t was my responsibility, but it was just fifteen min

t you to recog

where it's OK to make fun of someone's job? If you want a new waitress, great, I'll send one over, b

hreaten you; I was simply going to say I resp

aid, blin

rmation I thought you should share with your employer, n

n sighed

other employees who believe conversing in the back is more essential than the visitor

ing to be a jerk? He was only sharing his knowledge...? In any case, I should

hings, so you'll have to pardon him," S

uldn't have snapped a

ney here to make ends

ha

You should ignore him. We've put you through

yes!

his side. "I'm going to order the herb-crusted pork chops w

king a menta

ss of water," Sebastian answered, grabbing the m

apologies o

you seem appropriate," Mateo repli

had strange person

ving at me from the corner of my eye, so I groaned and returned

xis, eh?" I

Star-Spangled Moron said, his

g not to make a face. "Do you

ing him out. The ultimate figure astonished me; it was more than I could earn in two weekend evenings waitressing. I

ur restrooms?

d, pointing to the rest

proceeded to the lavatory, muttering something ab

ding me the notebook; it was tough to resist the impulse to check how much he tipped, "Thank you very

e with me," he remarked

me," I said as I s

at me all night. You're lucky since sm

other tables." My other hand was in my hair, his breath heavy

you, a s

it ticked off by this person, but I was able to put up with it. Because you never know who these individuals are or what type of po

h and said, "I'm sorr

had no notion how what I

e let

e what to do. I didn't want to cause a scene. It could cost me my job. Sho

!" someone

ert's jaw. He lost grip of me, and I threw myself away from him and into a firm body. For a se

angled Moron yelled

y, thrusting mysel

," Mate

u think you

picking lint off his shirt and flicking it onto the ground. There weren't many people in the restaurant, but everyone wa

, sweat forming on his chu

on Mateo and was probably twice his age, afraid of the younger guy.

o could witness what I just witnessed and be glad to see the man involv

tirely h

. "Please

ch women without their consent," Mateo s

response. His companions had already departed, le

ean again. Where did guys obtain the idea that they could do anyth

harder," Mateo said as if

umbled. "And my boss noticed, and h

what he

nstructing me to," I grumbled. "Then

aze on me. "My ha

thinking about it. I racked my brain. "I can't lose this work. I can't lose the money. What s

d money, huh?" I barely caught it. I ignored him

ng to fasten himself. "I'm going to get sick," he sa

shered him back to the men's lavatory. After putting him in a cubicle, I exited t

it said

behind the closed door. He's extraordinary. "This is Natalie,"

led angrily. "You

e, b

significan

e, b

oice strained. I was sure that only dogs wo

big danger. Even though it was all my

llin said, letting out a long sigh. "You

diately shouted in, hoping

fire you r

to lose my job. "I'm really sorry," I replied, choosing to be sorry ra

..." he

, although it seemed p

knows what will happen to the next person who thinks they can strike a client they do

like them. I wanted to declare that I had every right to hit that jerk. I wanted to say anything was wrong because I

r, I d

needed t

I realized the talk was coming to an

, and then you may go home," Collin said, pressing

ence When Dealing With Idiots. So I walked around to each visitor and apologized for my actions. Fortunately, most of them

heir bill. What, they couldn't wait for my return? I was a little disappointed. I hadn't had a chance to thank Mateo or say my goodbyes to Sebastian. But I had a feeling Se

the receipt. It was almost incomprehensible, but I managed to interpret it. I reasoned that writing intoxicate

ta

ieve we would be terrific business partners. Please

n, M

ip is ahead

I had a look at

,00

st pas