She shakes her head. "We're ready for some cocktails now."
I sift through my memories for her favorite cocktail. "Strawberry daiquiris, yes?"
Signora Silvano smiles, pleased that I remembered. "That would be lovely,cara."
I nod and head to the bar to ask the new guy for the drinks. To my surprise he immediately starts assembling the correct ingredients. Maybe he is just a bartender.
While I'm waiting for him to mix the drinks, Giorgio comes over.
"We need to talk."
"I'm fetching drinks for Signora Silvano."
"That's not your job. Let one of the servers do it." He waves over Sidonie and tersely tells her to see to the drinks. Then he puts a hand at my elbow and steers me away. He leads me through to the staff corridor.
"Why did Bardi have his hands all over you?"
Outrage courses through me. "He touched my arm. It was nothing. I was handling it."
"Didn't look like it to me and I doubt Damiano will see it that way."
"You're planning on telling him?"
Giorgio nods. "It's more than my life is worth to conceal things from him."
"But it was nothing." Actually, the proprietorial way he laid his hands on me was annoying, and Giorgio's intervention had allowed me to wriggle out of the situation, but I'm not about to admit that to him. I blow out a breath. "If this is going to be your reaction every time a man gets handsy, it will be impossible for me to do my job." As I speak, it dawns on me that perhaps that's the point. "You don't want me here?"
"You're a complication I don't need." Giorgio leans back against the wall. "Look, Vee, I like you and so do the staff and customers."
"But?"
"Having you out there on the floor is just too much to manage. We all have other tasks."
My heart sinks. I hate that I can see his point of view.
"So you want me to quit?"
He shakes his head. "I want to move you to another role."
There aren't many options as far as I can see. "I don't want to work behind the bar."
"I'm not sure that would be any better."
"So what then?"
"I want you to take over our social media. Paolo didn't do enough with our online presence."
"But wouldn't I still have to spend time in the club to create content?"
Giorgio straightens when he realizes I'm interested in the idea.
"Yes, but it wouldn't be all the time. It would be much easier to manage."
It's tempting. Though I love my job, it doesn't offer me much of a challenge. This could allow me to put my creativity to use. A part of me wants to agree straight away, but I don't want Giorgio to think I've given in too easily.
"Can I give you an answer at the end of the night?"
"Of course, but give it some serious thought. I think you'd be great at this."
