by Jenna Brandt
“Wait, hold on a second,” Bryce pleaded. “At least let me give you my card in case you change your mind.”
The dress wasn’t the only reason he wanted to give her his number. He hoped if she called about the dry cleaning, he could move the conversation towards asking her out. Something about the willowy woman intrigued him.
Hesitantly, she took the card with a small smile. “Have a good day, Sir.”
“Bryce. The name’s Bryce Montgomery.”
She nodded in acceptance—without giving him her own name he noted—then headed down the hallway and out of sight.
As he stood there for several moments, he wondered what it would be like to date a woman so clearly unaffected by him. It wasn’t the usual response he got from women, especially ever since the list came out. He liked that she viewed him simply as a man, not a prize to win. He hoped she would call.
As Lana headed into the employee’s room at the end of the side hallway, she continued to stare at the business card in her hands.
Bryce Montgomery
CEO of Titan Enterprises
With a job title like that, he obviously had money; the kind of money that made her uncomfortable. Men who had money often tried to use it to lure young women into their beds. Plenty had tried and failed with her since she moved to New York three years ago. She had assumed he was wealthy when she took in his expensive suit and Rolex on his wrist, but this confirmed it.
She wondered what he was doing wandering the back halls of the restaurant. It was unusual for a guest to be in the employee areas. She had been as shocked to see him as he had been when he found her covered in red wine. What surprised her even more was the effect he had on her.
Yes, he was good-looking, standing well over six feet tall with brown hair and piercing blue eyes, but it was more than that. She encountered plenty of handsome men working at the various trendy restaurants in Manhattan, not to mention the ones she ran into during casting calls. It was the way he treated the new server with kindness and even offered to take responsibility with the manager. Most guests that frequented their establishment would have been angry over the incident and would’ve raised a ruckus over it. Instead, he apologized and tried to make it right for both of them.
Lana placed the card in her purse, then put it in her locker before she removed her beige heels. At least they hadn’t gotten ruined by the accident.
“What on earth happened to you?” Celeste asked with a bewildered look on her face as she entered the back room.
“A guest crashed into me and a server when I was coming into work. I got splattered with red wine.”
“Oh my gosh, what was the guest doing back here?” Celeste made her way over to her friend’s side, then inspected the edge of the lace dress. “You know that’s not coming out, right?”
“Yes, he offered to dry clean it, but I knew it was a lost cause.”
“Well, you should have told him that. Maybe, he would have offered to replace it. Too bad you didn’t think about getting his name.”
“He did in a way, since he gave me his business card,” Lana said as she pulled it out and handed it to her friend. “He told me I could call him if I changed my mind, but I’m not going to.”
“Why not? You can’t afford to replace it, and he ruined it after all.” Celeste inhaled sharply, then shook the card at her friend. “You know who this is right?”
Lana shook her head as she slipped off the ruined dress and put on her work one. “I have no idea.”
“Bryce Montgomery is #1 on the Most Eligible Bachelor list in Manhattan Magazine. He’s rich—I mean really rich, like billions, and he’s hot. His picture was in the profile. I can’t believe you got his phone number and you’re not planning to use it.”
“I don’t have time,” Lana stated firmly.
“You don’t have time to call the hottest billionaire bachelor in all of New York?” Celeste asked with incredulousness.
Lana shrugged as she averted her eyes from her friend’s probing gaze. “I got the feeling he was into me, and I don’t want to give him the wrong idea by calling.”
“Wait, let me get this straight. A hot, available, rich man is interested in you and you’re not going to do anything about it?”
“Exactly,” Lana said as she put on her work pumps. “I need to focus on landing an acting role, not chasing after some billionaire playboy.”
Celeste rolled her eyes. “Man, you and I are so different. I would call this number right now if it was me.”
“Go ahead and knock yourself out,” Lana stated with a smirk. “But good luck explaining how you got his number.”
“Haha, very funny. No, I think I will put this back for you,” Celeste stated as she placed the card back in Lana’s locker, then shut it. “In case you change your mind.”
“Not going to happen,” Lana promised. “So, let’s stop talking about it.” Changing the subject, she added, “We need to get out on the floor before Rick comes looking for us.”
3
Concentrate on the ball. You got this. Bryce encouraged himself. Stop thinking about the woman from the restaurant.
The ball whizzed by and Bryce missed it with his racquet.
“What is wrong with you? You never do this bad when we play racquetball.”
“Sorry,” Bryce apologized. “My head’s somewhere else.”
“And where might that be? Please tell me it’s not on business but on something with a little more curves.”
“Leave it to you to always be thinking about women.”
“Nice try, but you’re not evading my question. I’ll just keep on asking,” Roger threatened.
Bryce picked up the ball and raised it up in one hand and his racquet in the other. “Unless you want to lose, concentrate on the game.”
Bryce served the ball against the wall as hard as he could, wanting to force Roger to focus on the ball rather than him.
Fifteen minutes later, both were sweating and panting from playing a voracious game in which Bryce barely beat Roger. They both picked up their towels and water bottles, patting their faces and then taking swigs of the cool liquid.
“Where do you want to go for Sunday brunch?” Roger inquired.
Bryce wondered if anyone at The Spot would know who the woman was. If she was a regular guest, there was a chance someone would. If they went there to eat, he could ask around.
“Why don’t we head over to The Spot.”
“I mean, you own the place and all, but weren’t you just there the other day?”
Bryce quirked one of his eyebrows in surprise. “Are you keeping tabs on me?”
Roger rolled his eyes. “Hardly. I was nearby and an alert on my phone told me you were there.”
“Well, what can I say, I enjoy the swordfish. It took a lot of convincing—along with a hefty salary—to entice Chef Howard to take the helm when the previous chef vacated the post a week ago. I figure I might as well take advantage of having him being there before we advertise his arrival.”
“If I didn’t know better, I would think there’s another reason you want to go there,” Roger stated with suspicion.
“Assume what you want, but I’m only going for the swordfish.”
“Okay, keep your secrets for now. I’m sure they’ll come out soon enough.”
“Let’s go shower before we head out,” Bryce suggested. “That last game left me drenched in sweat.”
“Agreed. We need to look our best for whoever you’re trying to impress at The Spot.”
Bryce wanted to dispute the point but decided against it. Arguing with Roger would get him nowhere and would only convince his friend he was right.
The irony wasn't lost on Bryce that there was an underlying truth to it. He wanted to head over to The Spot to find out more about the brown-haired beauty who had captivated his thoughts.
The contemporary music of Journey Church—the newest and hippest church in all of Soho—cascaded over Lana and Celeste. The sanctuary had exposed meta
l beams and industrial decor along with an electronically lit stage with movie screens on either side.
Worship was led by musicians who could be easily mistaken for rock stars but had the humbleness to lead worship for the congregation. They were in the middle of their first song and everyone was singing and fully immersed in the experience. Lana loved that the worship team could perform as well as any mainstream rock band but didn’t let it go to their heads. Every Sunday, they made it their job to lead everyone into the presence of God.
The best friends took seats towards the back of the room, grateful there were still some available. On many Sundays, there was standing room only.
Once the worship ended, a video played, announcing the upcoming events and groups taking place at the church. Once the announcements were over, the pastor climbed the steps of the stage, and took his usual spot in the middle. He sat down on a stool as he placed his Bible and notebook on the glass podium.
“Good morning, Journey Church. We’re so glad you joined us today. Can you believe fall is already here? Where did the time go? The leaves are changing colors and the cool air is settling in around us. This is my favorite time of the year, and I can’t wait for the fall carnival happening in just a few weeks. You know why I love this time of year so much? Because I can fully see the circle of life through the changing of the leaves. In Isaiah 64:6, the Word states, ‘we do all fade as a leaf.’ The autumn leaves remind us that summer is past and we are marching into a new season. God has plans for us, and just as we say goodbye to where we have been and what we have done, He has magnificent plans for our future. As the leaves change, they usher in winter, followed by the spring, and finally the return of summer. This cycle is a reminder of our own lives and how we will have difficulties, but through it all, God is with us. As we enter the new season, we should weigh our relationship with God, remembering that God will always provide safe passage for us.”
Lana loved hearing the powerful and profound words of Pastor Greg. For the past year, he had been the senior pastor at Journey Church, and his sermons always provided the exact encouragement Lana needed for each week.
She had been contemplating giving up on acting, but she realized instead she needed to trust in God to make a way in His timing.
“What did you think of the sermon?” Celeste asked as they both hopped into the Uber ride they ordered to take them to work.
“I love how God always uses the sermon each week to show me what I need. It revitalizes me.”
“I know,” Celeste said with a smile. “I’m so glad we found Journey.”
“Me too,” Lana agreed.
After getting ready in the employees’ room, Lana and Celeste headed over to the computer to check which section Rick assigned them for the day.
Celeste’s hands clasped together in excitement as her eyes grew round with recognition. “I can’t believe it, Lana. You will not believe who is back here today.”
“From your reaction, I’m betting its Mick Taylor?” Lana guessed, suspecting the famous actor came for a hangover meal after a long night of partying. “I know how you went ga-ga over him last time he was here.”
“Nope, not even close. You are way off, but let me assure you, you’re so lucky he’s sitting in your section.”
Lana made her way to the table, wanting to be prompt and make a good impression on whoever it was, knowing if Celeste was gushing over them, they were a good tipper. She didn’t recognize the blond man, but he had a relaxed air about him, yet he also presented confidence. As she came to the side of the table, the other man’s face came into view. She stiffened, recognizing Bryce Montgomery instantly.
She would strangle Celeste for not saving her from this situation by swapping sections with her. Celeste must have known this would make Lana uncomfortable, yet she had purposely not identified the mystery man.
“Good afternoon. My name is Lana, what can I get you?” she asked, hoping that maybe he wouldn’t recognize her.
Bryce’s eyes drifted from his friend to meet hers and grew wide with recognition.
No such luck. He definitely remembers me, Lana lamented internally. Just breathe, get through this, and he’ll be out of your hair in an hour.
He gave her a lopsided grin, causing his dimples to appear, and Lana's heart did a flip-flop. Stop that. Don’t let this guy have that kind of effect on you, Lana chastised herself. But even her own warning wasn’t penetrating the haze of warmth his smoldering blue eyes manifested inside her chest.
“Lana, so that’s your name,” Bryce stated in a friendly tone. “You know, you never called me to take care of your dress.”
“There was no need. It was an old dress,” Lana explained, not wanting to admit it was the dress her mother had bought her for high school graduation, or the fact she had cried when she had to throw it away.
“Well, you could at least let me take you out to dinner to make up for the inconvenience,” Bryce offered.
She shook her head. “My manager wouldn’t want me accepting an invitation to dinner with a guest.”
“I’m sure Rick won’t mind since I’m an owner of the place,” Bryce countered.
Lana's face flamed pink with embarrassment. Even though she was new to working at The Spot, she should have known who the owners were and been better prepared for when they came in. Suddenly, it made sense why he had been in the back halls of the restaurant the other day. He owned the place. Still, it didn’t mean she would go out with him, because he was technically her boss. Correction, especially because he was her boss. There was no way she would be that woman.
“All the more reason I can’t accept your offer.”
“Honestly, I think it would be—”
“Geez, Bryce, can’t you take a hint,” the friend sitting at the table interrupted with audible irritation. “The girl isn’t interested. Stop while you still have a little dignity left.”
Realizing she might have embarrassed him, Lana clamored to offer an apology. “I’m sorry. Please forgive my wording. I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t think it would be appropriate.” She sensed the thick tension and added, “If you will excuse me, I will get another server to switch with me.”
Bryce reached out and placed his hand on her arm. “That won’t be necessary. I promise I won’t bring it up again while we’re here.”
A surge of electricity shot up her arm from where his skin touched her own. Without thinking, she licked her lips as her eyes drifted to meet his. He must have noticed the chemistry too. He had a knowing look on his face as he allowed his hand to linger on her arm a little longer than needed.
“If that’s what you think is best.” She opened her tablet and focused on the screen. “Can I take your drink orders?”
“I’ll have a Mimosa,” the blond guy ordered. “Oh, and you can bring an order of the goat cheese balls while you’re at it.”
“And I’ll have an iced tea with lemon, please,” Bryce requested, then glancing at his friend, he added with an apologetic smile, “and no rush on the goat cheese balls.”
Lana punched in the order, then turned around and exited from the lounge as quickly as possible.
How was she going to get through the rest of his service without letting him get to her? She prided herself on being a professional, but Bryce had a way of getting under her skin. She felt like a giddy schoolgirl when around him. It took all her restraint to not let it show.
She returned with the glasses and goat cheese balls after putting it in as a rush order, stating it was for the owner. She placed the items on the table, then pulled out her tablet again. “Would you like any other appetizers?” Lana inquired.
Both men shook their heads.
“I’ll take the ribeye steak with the cauliflower puree,” the blond man ordered. “Make sure it’s rare. I hate it when it’s overcooked. I want it as red as a woman’s lipstick and just as tender, so make sure the cook knows it. If it turns up here anything but red, it’s going back.”
Lana bl
ushed at the man’s uncouth comment, but she knew there was nothing to be done about it. Instead, she turned her attention to Bryce hoping his order would fare better in making her comfortable.
“I’ll just have the Bourbon burger with sweet potato fries,” Bryce stated, giving her a second apologetic smile for the day.
It was weird, the difference in the two men’s orders. Bryce seemed down to earth from his drink to his meal. His friend was pretentious and his tastes matched his disposition.
She pushed the observation aside and placed their choices into the tablet. “Will there be anything else in the meantime?” Lana asked, plastering on the friendliest smile she could muster under the circumstances.
“No, that will be all,” the annoying blond man said dismissively.
Lana quickly moved on to one of her other tables and focused on doing her work. She didn’t care if Bryce’s friend was rude. Neither of them would ever hold a position of importance in her life.
An hour and a half later, Lana took a ten-minute break in the back room. She had gotten through it and Bryce was out of her hair. Granted, now that she knew he was the owner, it meant he could show up any time and disrupt her work environment, but at least she had gotten through today. She sent up a silent prayer and asked God to give her the ability to deal with the situation in the right way if he should return.
4
Bryce could barely stomach Roger sitting next to him inside his limo. He had wanted to throttle Roger for acting like such a jerk while they were at The Spot. Bryce had wanted to make a good impression on Lana. I should have left Roger out of it to make that happen, Bryce rebuked himself. What was I thinking taking him along?
He never realized what a complete elitist his friend was until he watched how he behaved around Lana. At every turn, Roger had made ridiculous requests about his drinks and food while snubbing his nose at her the whole time.