“Vincent.”
“Who’s Vincent? His driver?”
“Desmond is his driver. Vincent is his bodyguard,” said Dalton. “He stays in the background, but he’s always around. He just followed him outside.”
“He was in here?” asked Archie. “I didn’t see him.”
“That’s the point,” said Carter. “Harrison likes his autonomy. But his brother Felix? That’s another story. He’s a publicity hound. He loves being known and being seen. He needs plenty bodyguards. But Harrison? I agree with Carter. Vincent is enough.”
“I guess everything’s bothering me,” said Archie. “The board is getting restless and staying up my ass, while Harrison doesn’t seem to be taking any of it seriously. We rise and fall as he rises and falls. We need to protect our investment more. And the idea of bringing that waitress to his father’s estate is maddening to me. Now I’ve heard it all. Somebody like her as a guest at Bainbridge Manor? Please!”
“Or even at his party here in town,” said Dalton. “You know how the ladies in our circle can be. They’ll eat that poor child alive.”
“Gweneth has her faults,” said Archie. “Lord knows she has her faults. But she would have been such an easier choice.”
They all agreed with that. But Carter, who above all in their circle actually cared about Harrison, was worried. This could go so wrong. Instead of tipping the scales in his favor, it could all backfire. But it was the Harrison he knew. Always taking risks. Always going against the grain. Always making an easy path much more difficult.
But as soon as Jayda saw Harrison leave, she hurried over to the table. “Is everything alright?”
Carter pulled a card out of his wallet. “Our boss was supposed to take care of the bill,” he said to laughter from the other two men, “but he had to leave. I’ll put it on the company card.”
“Yes sir,” she said as she reached for the card.
“And also,” he added before releasing the card, “I wish to see the manager.”
Jayda’s heart dropped. Had their “boss” remembered her angry remark to him, not to mention that dent she put in his limo, and he wanted to get her back by getting her fired? It was a privilege of the rich she knew all too well. “Right away, sir,” she said, grabbed the card and the bill, and left their table.
Tears wanted to come, because she knew she was guilty as charged, but she fought with all she had to not let anybody ever see her cry. If she was forced to leave this job, she was leaving with her head held high. No matter what.
She went and got her boss.
CHAPTER TEN
“May I help you, sir?”
“Are you the manager?”
“Yes sir, I am.”
“Have a seat.”
It was unusual for a customer to demand that the managerhave a seat, but Raymond was an old hand. He knew money when he saw it. And the gentlemen at that table, that now was one-less gentleman, was rolling in it. He sat down. And handed Carter his credit card and the receipt.
Carter, in turn, handed Raymond five hundred freshly minted dollars. Carter could see the manager’s eyes expand. “What’s this for?” he asked him. “How can I help you?”
“That girl that waited on our table,” said Carter.
Raymond braced himself.Jayda had just told him about how she called one of them a pervert earlier that day, and had dented his limo, and that the guy might want her fired. “Yes?”
“What’s her name?”
“Jayda Robinson. How can I help you, sir?”
“We would like her to attend a private party. You think she’ll be interested?”
Raymond didn’t expect to hear that. But he was pleasantly surprised for Jayda’s sake. “I heard her boyfriend skipped out on her and she can’t carry the rent alone. If it pays good, she’s interested.”
“It pays quite well,” said Dalton sneeringly.
