by Dawn, Tara
Hazel
"Roger, it's time to have that talk," I say as I go over the schedules at the bar Monday morning. I'm so frustrated trying to fill these shifts I want to pull my hair out. This morning's sales are through the roof and the staff is dragging from working six days a week. I've overheard several of them say when they didn't know I was listening that they were looking for another job. Everyone is overwhelmed, myself included.
"Hazel, I can't –" he starts to say.
"Hear me out, Roger. Sales are up. And not just the past few weeks. Look." I pull out sales reports from the past year. "This is not a fluke. Since last summer sales have increased. It started out small, but in the last three months we are pulling in double what we were the same time last year. You are wearing everyone out. With the overtime you are paying out to your highest paid employees, you could've hired three more people. It would alleviate call-ins, people could take their vacations without worrying you will cancel them because we don't have the people to cover, and everyone will be less stressed and happy to come to work. Did you know that Jimmy, Mandy, and Angela are talking about leaving? What are we supposed to do then?"
Roger takes the report from me and leans against the bar reading it. I slide the overtime report next to it and point to the total for the year. My name is at the top of the list for most overtime worked, then Mary, Jimmy, Mandy, and Angela. He's killing us with the hours we have to pull.
"I'll make you a deal. You hire three more people, and if in two months you see that they aren't needed, we will let them go. But I bet you will see that sales increase even more having more people to do the work. As a matter of fact, I bet we will have to alternate weeks where each person still has to work a sixth day. What do you say, Roger?"
He glances up at me over the top of his reading glasses and runs a hand through his salt and pepper hair. The man has no other choice than to do it. The tired lines around his eyes scream that even he needs a break. And he could have one if he agrees to this. This would free me up to learn more about the business and help him run it. Lord knows he needs a new perspective on business.
"Okay," he says and huge smile spreads over my face. "Don't get too excited. You have two months to prove to me it'll work. You're responsible for the hiring and firing if it doesn't work out since it's your idea and I want weekly reports on my desk every Monday showing that this is worth my money. Understand?"
"Yes, sir." I jump off my bar stool and wrap my arms around his neck squeezing him tight. "You won't be disappointed, I swear."
"Alright, alright." He pulls my arms away and pats my shoulder. The old man is blushing. That's something I've never seen. "Get back to work."
I walk through the kitchen with a bounce in my step heading to the office. All the kitchen staff watch me wondering what has made me so happy. I wag my brows at them and they look at each other and smile brushing me off as they go back to their tasks.
Jimmy follows me toward the office and says, "What's got you in such a great mood all of a sudden?"
"You'll see," I sing out. I pull out the bottom drawer of his desk and dust off the Help Wanted sign. I grip it from the corners and come dancing out of the office with it. Everyone's eyes widen as smiles break out across their faces.
"No way," Jimmy exclaims. "Seriously? He's letting you hire another person?"
"Not just one. Three." I smile at him and everyone in the kitchen starts hooting and hollering.
"Pinch me, I must be dreaming. You are a goddess." Jimmy wraps his arm around my shoulder and squeezes.
"I still have to hire people and train them. You guys are on the same schedule for the next couple of weeks. After that, it should be smooth sailing. Wait it out, guys. It's going to get better. I promise."
As I leave the kitchen, Mary and Angela watch me while waiting on tables. They heard the commotion coming from the kitchen, but they don't know what's happened yet. I walk toward the door and hang the sign. With a smile on my face, I turn to see Mary's and Angela's mouths dropped open in shock and surprise. They look at each other and smile before rushing me.
"I can't believe you finally got through to that man," Mary says, giving me a hug.
"How many people is he hiring?" Angela asks.
"Three."
"Three?" They say together. I nod and Angela starts doing a little dance.
"We will be able to have two for the kitchen, and one to waitress so that we can shuffle someone over to the bar side on weekends."
"It's a miracle." Mary claps her hands together and lets out a sigh of relief.
"Lunch time is coming, ladies. Let's get back to work," I say heading for the kitchen to make sure prep is caught up. "I'll bounce around as usual. Holler if you need me."
"You know it," Angela says as she gets back to her tables.
The afternoon is busy, just like I knew it would be. I spend time helping in the kitchen, busing tables, bringing orders out to customers, and rotating breaks out. Although we are busy, there's less stress since the announcement that we are hiring more people. Everyone is happy, working side-by-side with smiles on their faces and dancing along to the radio. I've missed this place being like this. After the majority of the rush is over, I start dinner prep and get ready to rotate breaks to the servers.
Jimmy comes back from his lunch break and takes my spot finishing dinner prep. He's full of energy and raring to go. I tell him where I left off and he waves me away telling me he's got this. Although Jimmy's a fast worker, he's not normally this fast, especially after working a couple of doubles back-to-back. Standing in the doorway, I watch him work at a furious pace. He turns to grab more product and catches me watching him. A smile spreads over his face, but it's his eyes that worry me. They are wide open, along with his pupils. Black saucers would be a pretty accurate description.
I want to say something to him, but I fear he will get angry and deny his drug use. Instead, I just smile back and leave him to work. I've never seen him like this before, so hopefully it's just a onetime occurrence. He's having a rough go of it right now, and surely hiring these people will allow him to get some rest and not rely on drugs to keep him going. If not, he could destroy his little family in the process of destroying himself. Making it a point to be more observant of Jimmy, I walk into the diner to break out Mary and Angela.
As Mary tells me about her last two tables, I glance up and see a familiar face sitting in her section. I latch onto chocolate eyes that are drinking me in. My stomach tightens trying to control the butterflies fluttering around. I take this time to check him out in the daylight. His dark hair is in messy disarray the way guys like to wear it these days. A bit of shadow darkens his face where he hasn't shaved. The white t-shirt he's wearing is fitting, but isn't skin tight. His finger starts tapping the table top to a beat I can't hear and then stops suddenly drawing my eyes back up to his quickly. He smirks and my face warms. I turn my attention back to Mary and take the pad from her hand tucking it into my back pocket.
"Go ahead to break, Mary."
"Thanks, Hazel." Mary walks away as I look back to him. His forearms rest on the table with his fingers laced together as he looks out the window watching traffic.
I walk to Mary's section and his head turns toward me, watching me like a predator watches its prey. A chill works its way down my spine as I pass him and check on the two business men sitting two tables away. They are finishing up their meals and ask for their check and to-go cups for their drinks. I leave their check behind as I go fetch their drinks. The entire time it feels like I'm being watched. It's exciting and creepy all at once.
"Here you go boys. Are you ready to pay?" They hand me the check along with cash and tell me to keep the change. "Have a great day," I tell them as I head to the counter and cash out their ticket and putting Mary's tip in my pocket to give to her later.
I walk back over to his table and it feels as though I'm entering the lion's den. He stares as I approach him and my heart starts pounding. I don't know how this man
does this to me. I don't even know his name or anything about him. He could be a serial killer for all I know. I stop next to his table and can't bring myself to say anything.
"Are you going to ask me if I'd like to order anything?" The deep tenor of his voice is mixed with humor.
My face flushes and I pull the pad and pen out of my back pocket. Clicking my pen, I ask, "What would you like?"
"What do you recommend, Hazel?" My name falling from his lips causes my insides to clinch. He stares at me waiting for an answer.
I clear my throat and try to make myself focus. "Depends on what you're in the mood for."
He stares at me blankly, as if I'm not there and he's seeing straight through me. I take a deep breath and scoot into the booth seat across from him. A strange look crosses his face as he cocks his head to the side. I take a deep breath and push it out before I lose my courage to speak to him.
"Um." I glance down flipping the corner of the pages of my notepad. "Thank you. For the other night." I lift my eyes to see him soften a bit. He nods his head looking down at the table for a moment before meeting my gaze.
"You're welcome. I would hope your boyfriend learned his lesson and doesn't…act that way again," he says, watching me.
A sarcastic laugh escapes me when he says boyfriend. "He's not my boyfriend. Never has been, never will be."
He raises a brow and I can see questions swirling behind his brown eyes. Questions that I don't want to hear or answer. Especially to a stranger. Getting that out in the open eased my nerves.
His head follows me as I slide out of the booth seat. I open his menu on the table in front of him and point to a few of the popular items. He listens to me describe them and never once looks down where my finger is pointing.
"I'll take the BBQ bacon burger with fries," he says quietly, watching me write it on my pad.
"Good choice. It's one of my faves, as you can see." I slap the outside of my thigh and chuckle. "You're one of the only customers, so I'll have it out to you shortly."
I turn and walk toward the kitchen feeling his eyes on my backside the whole way. At the window I shout his order and hang his ticket on the clip before heading toward the bar. Grabbing a Blue Moon, I pop the cap off and walk back into the dining area. His eyes were waiting for my return. I smile at him as I wiggle the bottle back and forth. His mouth quirks up at the corner in a semi-smile, but that's all he gives me. I was hoping to see a full-fledged grin.
"Thanks," he says before taking a drink.
"No problem."
I walk back to the register and comp his meal. It's the least I could do after he saved me the other night, and saved the bar from having the cops called. I could only imagine how that would've turned out. Roger would've had so many questions. I do need to talk to him about having Phil banned, but I'm hoping after the other night he will stay away from Maggie's. There aren't any doubts in my mind that he will try something else. I just hope that he won't try them here.
Roger comes around the corner and tosses me some apps to keep below the counter for convenience. "So, you have any ideas of who you'd like to hire?"
"Well, I have one person in mind," I reply with a smile.
"If Cady wants to work here, she and I will be having a talk about her mouth first. I love her, too, but I won't have her running around here cussing like a sailor and pissing off the customers. Don't think I didn't see her order tickets Saturday when I got back."
He tries to give me a stern face, but I can tell he's holding back his laughter. I try to play innocent, but can't help the giggle the slips through. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Roger."
"Mmhmm, I just bet you don't. She still has to fill out an app for her file. Let her know that I will be doing her interview since you two are too close."
I get nervous for a second wondering if he will deny her the job. She really needs this, and we work together well. Cady would really be an asset to the bar side on the weekends. Everyone knows her and she has an easy going personality that we all love.
"I'll hire her, Hazel, but she needs to understand what I expect from her. I know you would tell her the same thing, but since you're friends I worry it'll go through one ear and out the other. She'll be on probation, so-to-speak, for the first couple of weeks until I see how this will play out with her."
"Okay, Roger. I understand. Let me know when you want her to come in. I'll take her an app and tell her to fill it out before she comes."
"Order up, table four." I turn to the window and see his food sitting there.
"I will," Roger says as he walks to the bar.
I grab his plate and deliver it to his table. "You need anything else?" I ask as I set it down.
"No thank you."
"Alright. Enjoy." I scribble have a nice night with a smiley face on my pad and tear it off. Laying it face down on his table, I give him a smile and walk to the bar to speak to Roger about inventory.
Cash
The look on Hazel's face and the near snort she made when I said Phil was her boyfriend was enough to answer my question about her relationship with him. I could tell by the look in her eyes and the way she responded without hesitation that she thinks he's a joke. Thank God for that. The piece of shit is exactly that, a piece of shit. I think about what Dale said as I watch her confidently stroll through the tavern giving orders and talking to employees. Could she really be working with him and their interactions be an act?
I don't think so, but then again, I don't really know her. She seems genuinely good-natured, always having a smile on her face and positive things to say to those around her. Hazel would make a good boss. I know I wouldn't mind working beneath her.
With that thought, the vision of her slapping her thigh and making comments about her curvy figure enter my mind. I wanted to put my hands on her thighs and sink my fingers into them. It was a good thing she walked away right after because I almost reached out and did it. That wouldn't have ended well, me groping her while she was working. Then again, she may let me throw her on the table and have her for dinner with the small glances she's tossing my way.
I've stopped hiding the fact that I'm watching her. She knows I'm here now. No reason to be obscure about it. The physical attraction I feel toward her is a problem though. I've felt it since day one when I started following her weeks ago. But if I can use it as the excuse for watching her and getting answers, I'm going to use it. I'll just let her think that I'm interested and remind myself that I'm not. I did not come down here to get emotionally involved. I don't have time for that. There is no time for that in the business I'm in. When I feel the need for… physical interaction, I call for it. Escorts are an excellent release of pent up frustrations and stress. I'll never go down on a street corner and pick up a hooker. Escorts are of a higher standard and cleaner. Plus, I can take them to business functions if I need to have a date. They are also easier to shush. I have a feeling Hazel isn't the kind of woman you can shush easily.
I flip over the receipt on my table and read the note written there. Bingo. I've got an easy in if I choose to go this route. Dale would be fucking pissed if he knew what I'm thinking right now.
"Do not get involved."
If I do this, not only will I be getting involved, I will be putting myself right in the middle of the shit storm. My hands tighten into fists as I think about Phil putting his hands on Hazel and how he popped her tire. Knowing that he carries a knife on him, I worry about what will happen to her the next time he tries this psycho bullshit. I've found myself watching her more over the past couple of days than following him and finding out what he's doing. That's something that has to come to an end. But watching Hazel is…comforting.
Yep, it's time to move in, get answers, and get the fuck out. If I bring Phil down, Hazel will be safe and my worries will come to an end. I have no idea why I am so concerned with her to begin with. I don't even know her, and I've never cared before if someone was killed during all this shit as long as it doesn't come back
on us. That's their problem, not ours.
Finishing my food, I drink the last of my beer and watch as Hazel walks back into the bar. I slide out of the booth and follow her over. There's a few old farts sitting at the bar watching the news and drinking their beers. Hazel has her arm wrapped around one of them joking with him. The old man's eyes light up as she teases with him and his arm tightens around her waist making her head tilt back as she laughs. Her hair is pulled back in a knot leaving her long neck uncovered. For a moment I imagine myself in that man's place, making her laugh like that before rubbing my nose up the length of her neck to her ear. He makes eye contact and gives me the once over, studying me, before turning to her.
"I think someone wants you, sweetheart."
The smile disappears from her face as she turns in my direction. I almost wish he would've kept his mouth shut. Hazel pats his shoulder then walks around the bar toward me, her eyes roaming over my body. Although I did the same to her while she worked, I take a moment to get my fill of her before I leave. Her dark polo shirt hugs her breasts that bounce lightly as she moves. The slight sway of her hips is natural and hypnotizing. As she closes in, she raises her face to mine, but I can't discern what she's thinking.
I step off to the side so we can't be overheard by her other customers and she follows.
"Did you need something else?" She's trying to keep it strictly business, but I can hear a twinge of hope in there for something more.
Her eyes are a beautiful gunmetal blue. I could swear they were silver earlier. Easing her into a casual conversation, I try to get her right where I want her. "You didn't have to give me my meal for free. Any man with a set of balls would have helped you."
"I didn't have to, but I wanted to. Anyone who knew me may have helped, but you're a stranger who stepped up. Most strangers won't." Her voice drops down to almost a whisper as she says it and she glances around before looking back at me.