Too soon, girl. It had only been two weeks since she shrieked at Danica to get out of her life forever. The woman had taken it to heart. Not a single word for her. Not a single word in the press, which was probably how she liked it. Had Russell received word that Alicia was no longer a nuisance? Was Alicia in the clear, free to live her life?
Which meant dating again?
Yeah, so it was too soon, but this wasn’t even a date, technically. Could it turn into a date? She supposed so.God, look at me, wondering if I should date a guy next.She felt like a stupid stereotype. Actually, she just felt stupid.
An intimidating hand clapped Liam on the shoulder. The head waiter nearly jumped out of his freckled skin.
“Don’t you have some work to do, Mr. Gable?”
Alicia dropped her marker.
She was hallucinating. Definitely,definitelyhallucinating!
Liam craned his head around with an unsolicited whimper. Danica glared back at him.
“How’d you know my name?”
“Let’s get one thing straight, Mr. Gable.” The whole gang was here. Ms. Sarah Clayborn, one of the bodyguards… for fuck’s sake, was that the driver? Alicia looked around for the exit. All blocked! Her only chance for salvation was running back to the staff room, but she had a feeling Danica wouldn’t give a shit about honoring the sacred line between (difficult) guest and employee safe-haven. “Ms. Colbert is already spoken for. By me.”
“Who the hell are you?”
Danica released him. “Her fiancée. Get out of here.”
“Uh, boss?” Liam spared Alicia one glance before rushing off to the back of the restaurant. A party of three stepped through the doors. The bodyguard advanced on them, sending the two men and one woman back into the elevator from whence they came.
Alicia picked up her marker. She needed something to channel her spite into.
“Party of four?” she cheerily asked after doing a quick headcount of her ex-girlfriend’s entourage. “We have Japanese-style or normal style seating.” When Danica didn’t immediately answer, she continued her spiel. “I suggest the Japanese-style seating if you’ve never tried it before. Really completes the experience we’ve set up here.”
Danica slapped her hand on the podium. Alicia did not flinch. The spite was taking over, though. Her smile died the moment Danica came closer.
That. Perfume.
Damn that fucking perfume. Damn Danica Moreau, for evoking a shitton of memories Alicia didn’t want to have.
“We need to talk.”
Alicia would not budge from where she stood. Her boss would surely be coming out of his office soon enough. Danica didn’t own this place. She would have to leave.
“We don’t have to do anything,” she chirped, as if she were a singsong bird. “But I do need to ask you to please step back, ma’am. Guests are not allowed in the podium area.”
“Alicia!” Danica gripped both sides of the podium. If the thing hadn’t been bolted to the floor, it might have shaken in front of Alicia. “God fucking damnit, this is important!”
If there was one thing she learned during their brief time together, it was how to level her piercing gaze at anyone. Man. Woman. Janitor. Multibillionaire with some serious fucking complexes. “God’s not here to damn anything, Ms. Moreau.”
She dared her. She dared her to call herself agod.
“If you don’t come with me right now,” she grumbled, “there will be consequences.”
A part of her had missed this snarling beauty, but mostly, Alicia saw her with new eyes.Wow. She’s got issues. “What consequences would that be, ma’am?”
Danica leaned across the podium, breath kissing Alicia’s lips. “I will take you over my knee and strike your ass crimson.”
She dropped the marker again.
“Now, do I have your attention?”
Alicia leaned closer to her, refusing to back down. At the very least, she wouldmakeDanica take her down. “I dare say you do.”
