I look over. The other waitress is busy. I swallow. ‘I should go.’
‘Ugh. Tell us what he says,’ Jewel hisses as I get to my feet.
As I turn and approach him, I feel Brody’s gaze burn a trail down my body, dressed in my Bounty uniform.
‘Good morning, sir,’ I say tightly when I reach him, sweat breaking out on my upper lip. ‘Have a seat, I’ll fetch you a menu.’
I don’t allow him time to respond as I head straight to the bar for the menu and my notepad. All three girls are brazenly looking his way.
When I return, he’s sitting down, his back to Jewel, Shawny and Leona. My gaze flits to them and they’re still gawking. I pass him a menu, and I feel self-conscious that there are stains on it. He’s not dressed like our usual clientele. I’ve never mentioned my regular job to him, so in order to find out where to find me, I suspect, once again he’s gotten the information from my CMC employee record.
‘What can I get you?’ I ask.
‘Honestly?’ he drawls as he peruses the contents. ‘A reply would be nice, Serenity.’
Over the last four nights he’s sent more sexually charged messages to my phone. I’ve not replied to a single one.
‘I’ve been busy,’ I say stoically.
‘With what?’ he asks, and he makes eye contact with me for the first time, my stomach rolling over with dread.
‘You should know there are three CMC members sat over there. They’re all wondering what you’re doing here.’
He turns around on purpose and looks pointedly at them. Shawny and Jewel produce charming smiles. Leona looks away.
‘How did you know I worked here?’ I ask.
‘Oh, I’ve known for a while. I like how that skirt is so short it only just covers your ass. Reminds me of your cheerleader uniform.’
‘Not here,’ I swallow. ‘Please.’
‘You seem to be ignoring me, Serenity. Is the idea of clearing your father’s debt not attractive to you?’
I’m conscious I’m being watched. ‘Would you like to order breakfast?’ I ask, my pen still poised.
‘What would you recommend?’
‘The American classic is always good.’
‘I’ll take an espresso and a date for our night together.’
I feel my cheeks burn. ‘This is my place of work,’ I whisper. ‘This is so totally inappropriate.’
‘Well, you seem to be running me around in circles, like the tease that you are. You know what I want, so just give in to me. I’ve told you; I’ll make it good for you.’
‘Like I said, this is my place of work. I can’t discuss this in here.’
His gaze darkens and he lowers his tone. ‘I don’t get an answer now, then your life will implode, Serenity. I’ll make sure your father’s debt to Kale isdoubled. And perhaps I’ll go see your friends over there. Talk to them about what you do after the sun goes down.’
It’s everything I can do to hold it together. ‘Please. Just, please. Take your coffee and leave.’
He gets back to his feet. I glance at the girls to my left. In the booth, they are finishing their meals and appear to have lost interest in what I’m doing. ‘Friday night,’ Brody says with a gruesome smirk, as he leans closer to my face. ‘I want you naked in my bed, primed and wet for me, and you’d better come there willingly. You’re not there, I’ll spill all your dirty little secrets to the goddamned world. I’ll take that espresso to go.’
I try to stop my fingers from trembling as I prepare his coffee and ring it through the cash register. Brody pays and walks out of the diner without so much as a backward look. I watch him walk back over to his expensive car, and I swear I don’t breathe for a whole minute. When he’s gone, I glance back over to Jewel. The girls have finished eating and are talking amongst themselves. I shrink away from the register, bypass the kitchen, and go to the cramped, windowless staff room where Bounty employees take their breaks.
Alone, I pace, and cover my mouth with my hands. I can’t stop shaking. I go to my locker and the tears are already falling. I can’t stop the tide. I open the padlock and pull out my bag, my fingers still trembling as I pull out the phone I use with Jake and switch it on.
‘Hey,’ he answers. He’s in his pickup, his tone upbeat. He sent me a message late last night asking if I would permit him to help me if it didn’t involve money.
