“I did tell you that. And common sense, but then again, common sense isn’t always so common.” His words sting, sharp as broken glass.
Alexa laughs like he just delivered the line of the year.
“Alexa,” Nick growls, then turns to face me. “It's not a big deal, I’ll run the drinks or Alexa can if she isn’t busy.”
I hear her start to say something, but Nick holds up a hand. “We are a team, just like how they taught us in the military, ain’t that right, Alexa?"
“Yes, sir,” she says through pursed lips.
“How am I supposed to get my license, and how long will it take?
“You can apply online, but you’ll need a credit card to pay a fee.”
“I don’t have one.”
“You don’t have a credit card?” Alexa's eyes widen as she pauses on the glass cup she was cleaning.
I lie. “I do, but…never mind.”I shake the thought away.. “I’ll figure it out.”
“You sure? Or did Mommy and Daddy finally cut you off after finding out their princess was a?—”
“That’s enough,” Nick snaps, and Alexa wilts. Her humiliation is almost satisfying. Almost. But nothing takes the sting out of her words. Not even Nick’s defense.
He looks at me, tone colder now.”You’ve got another table to hit, then take that anniversary couple’s order. They’re big spenders. If you want a paycheck, you better earn it, Princess.”
He grabs the two glasses of wine, turns on his heels, and walks back to my table.
Alexa leans in, venom dripping from her voice.“The good news is that if this doesn’t work out, there’s always that bar downtown. I hear the owner hires his servers on the spot if they get down on all knees, and he even pays them a little extra on the side, so that maybe more up your alley.” Her grin spreads wide from cheek to cheek and it takes everything in me not to jump over this counter and punch that bitch right in the throat.
“I get it—you hate me because I’m prettier. And richer. But don’t blame me for your face. Blame your parents. Honestly, it should be illegal for ugly people to reproduce.”
Her smirk fades. Good.
I smile my biggest fake smile and walk off. If Alexa wanted to play with fire, then let's turn up the heat.
It was almost one in the morning, and my feet ached and my lower back throbbed. I was in the back now helping wash the dishes. Nick got flustered with me after I messed up two tables’ orders in a row. I wouldn’t even say mess up, I just didn’t bring the appetizers out before the meal. The man acted as if anything was out of order, we would all die. And just when I thought he had a sliver of hope of being nice after offering to pay for my liquor license tonight, he acts like a complete asshole again.
I don’t know why I haven't taken my apron off and stormed out of here. Everyone was right; I didn’t need this job. I could leave if I wanted to, but what they don’t know is the price I would have to pay. No one knows the price I have paid for that lavish life I've been living. It would be a long shot of anyone believing me even if I did tell someone. Men with money have power, and most people with authority abuse that power for their own benefit. Hell, I wasn’t sure if I was going to get paid tonight by the way Nick was acting. He hasn’t even acknowledged my prescience, like I'm invisible after two mistakes. The other waitress told me tonight that Nick does this as part of his hiring process. She said he’ll throw you to the wolves and see if you sink or swim since he has been trained to be a survivor for years in the military.
A tear trickles down my cheek as I feel the walls caving in on me. I wish I had my mom back. The one that cared and acted like it was just me and her against the world. The one who didn’t get all wrapped up in money and fame.
Gosh, I could use a drink right about now so I didn't have tothink about any of this, but I can't even get any alcohol without money. Another tear falls and I angrily brush it away.
A thud noise causes me to jump and when I look up it’s Nick storming through the double doors.
“You can head home, Mario is going to finish the rest of the dishes and mop the floors.” I dry my hands off on the apron and push the volcano that's boiling inside me all the way down.
“Is there anything else I can help you with before I go, sir?” I say in such a sugary sweet tone my teeth ached. I clenched down on my teeth so hard I felt like I might crack a tooth.
“No,” he says in a low, rumbling voice.
I start to walk off and the moment I'm about to pass him he stops me with a white envelope in his hand. “Here’s your cut from tonight.”
I slowly reach for the envelope and when I look inside there's a wad of cash, tens and twenties and a couple a crisp hundred dollar bill . There had to be three hundred dollars in cash in here. A sense of pride flutters in my chest when I know I’m the one who earned this money. All on my own, with my sweat and tears, literally.
I look up at him in disbelief. “I didn’t think I was going to get paid tonight.”
“Everyone gets paid. The waitresses, bartenders and cooks get a cut from all the tips. That’s how it works around here. We are a team, a unit. Can’t survive without the other. Now go home and get some rest.”
