Chapter Sixteen

Irene

The night couldn’t be more chaotic. Apparently, one of Irene’s colleagues was new and did everything the wrong way, so the rest had to make up for his mistakes.

“Can you take table twelve over from Roy, the new guy?” Daisy asked, her eyes looking at her pleadingly. “Apparently, he can’t handle the pressure.”

“Sure. Did they order already?”

“I think they did. They only need their drinks. Here, this is their order.” Daisy pointed at the screen of the tablet they used for the orders.

“Alright, I’ll handle it.” Irene quickly made sure the wine they ordered was ready and put the glasses on a tray to bring them to the customers.

When she arrived at the table, she said, “Here are your drinks. Did you both order a glass of red wine?”

One of the men at the table nodded and smiled at her. “Sebastian, look, don’t you think we are in luck today?”

Irene quickly put the glasses on the table and held the tray to her chest, her arms folded around it.

“What do you mean?” the man named Sebastian said, and he looked at Irene.

“Well, look at the stunning waitress we just got. It’s a huge improvement on the clumsy kid.” He gave her a wink.

She smiled back at him, then turned around to continue with her work.

Every time she passed table twelve, she got a smile or a wink from the man who had winked at her before. After a while, a few customers left, so it became a little less hectic.

“Irene, did you already take your break tonight?” Daisy asked her when Irene walked through the door to the kitchen.

“No, I didn’t have time yet.”

“Go, you need your break.” Daisy smiled. “I should fire you, just because you work way too hard and don’t take your breaks as you should.”

Irene smiled. “Thanks.” She walked out of the kitchen into the bathroom. When she was done doing her business, she washed her hands.

Just as she stepped through the door, she bumped into someone. She immediately took a step back. “Excuse me,” she said, and when she looked up, she noticed a man with reddish eyes.

She saw his flushed cheeks and the sweat on his forehead. “The men’s room is next door,” she said, pointing her finger to the next door on her left.

“Oh, I know.” The man smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “But I like the view here better.” He came closer to her, invading her personal space, blocking her way. “What is your name, beautiful?”

He slurred a little. The man had clearly had too much to drink.

“Please, can you let me go? I would like to go back to work.” Irene tried to remain polite, although she felt a little threatened.

“But I just want to have a little fun,” the man said indignantly. “What is wrong with a little fun? Come, let me buy you a drink.” He grabbed her hand and tried to pull her into the restaurant.

Irene tried to free her hand and protested, “No, I work here. I can’t have a drink with you right now. I’ll get fired.”

The man became impatient and pushed her against the wall, closing her in with his arms on both sides of her head. His face was right in front of hers.

“What is your problem, missy? Are you a picky little brat? Is what I offer you not good enough?” He slammed his fist into the wall to the left of her head.

Just when she saw him raise his fist to hit her instead of the wall, he was pushed to the ground with great force. The man from table twelve was on top of him and planted his fist into the other’s face.

“Leave the women alone, you drunk ass!”

The drunk man tried to cover his face, begging for the man to stop hitting.

“Get a cab and get home!”

The man from table twelve got up and smoothed his clothes. Then he turned to look at Irene. “Are you alright?” he asked.

“Er, I think so,” she said with a shaky voice. She ran a hand through her hair. “Thank you for helping me out.”

“Anytime.” The man smiled, then he extended his hand to shake hers. “I am Angelo.”

She put her hand in his, though hers was a little shaky, and she instantly was comforted by the warmth of his hand. “I am Irene, and thank you again.”

When she looked him in the eye, she noticed that he had very special green-colored eyes. He reached into his jacket and took a pen and piece of paper from his inside pocket.

He scribbled something on the paper and handed it to her. “Here. When you’re in trouble, or if there’s anything you need, just call me.”

“Thank you.” She smiled again.

“Now go, your colleagues are probably wondering where you are.” He smiled.

A little shaky, she walked back into the kitchen.

When her shift was done, she walked to the other end of the parking lot to her car. She noticed that there were two men next to a dark sedan. They were busy talking.

When she gave them a better look, she saw that it was Angelo and the man named Sebastian. Once at her car, she quickly got in, put the key into the ignition, and turned it. Nothing. She tried to start the car again.

The car hiccupped a couple of times, but she didn’t get it moving. “No, not right now,” she sighed loudly. Again, she tried to start it but to no avail. “Damn it.” Now she had to walk all the way home.

A shadow appeared on her left through the window, and someone tapped on the glass. When she looked up, she looked into a familiar pair of green eyes. Quickly, she lowered her window.

“Do you need help?” Angelo asked her, smiling lightly. He lowered his head so he could look at her better.

“I think my car died,” she said, a little sadly. “I don’t know how to get home now.”

“Can I offer you a ride?” Without asking, he opened her door and smiled. “I swear, I won’t bite. I think after tonight, you do deserve something good.”

“Er…” She was doubtful. She didn’t know the man too well. But, on the other hand, he had already proven that he was a nice man. She grabbed her stuff and stepped out of her car.

“Are you sure you don’t bite?” she asked with a mischievous smile.

With a hand lightly on her lower back, he led her to a shiny black car. He opened the passenger door for her and helped her in. Then he walked over to the driver’s side and got in himself.

“Where do I go?” he asked. Irene typed her address on the screen of his navigation system. “There,” she said.

He started his car and drove in the direction of her apartment. They were quiet for a while.

She looked at the lights on the side of the road. “Are you always such a decent gentleman, helping damsels in distress? Or is this just for me?”

She looked at his profile while he drove. She saw the corner of his mouth lift, and a smile appear.

“It’s just for you,” he admitted. “When I first saw you, I was enchanted by your beauty.”

She blushed; she hadn’t expected him to say such a thing.

The drive was quick, and a few moments later they arrived at her apartment building.

“This is it. Thank you so much for your help today.” She grabbed her things and put her hand on the door handle.

He laid his hand on her left hand. “It is a pleasure.” He smiled.

When she looked into his eyes, his head moved closer. He placed a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. “Good night, Irene.”

“Good night, Angelo, and thanks again.” She opened the door and stepped out.

It was a few days later when she got a call from an unknown number again. “Irene Turner speaking,” she said when she picked up.

“Good morning. Hunter Corporation, this is Denise Lewis speaking. Is this Irene Turner?”

“Yes, that is me.” Irene instantly got nervous; this was about her application.

“I am calling you about your application. I think I may have some good news for you. You are hired for the position of PA. Mr. Saunders wants to see you as soon as possible for you to sign the contract.”

“Well, that is good news indeed!” Irene said excitedly. “Will it take long? Otherwise, I can come by this afternoon, around one?” she suggested. The quicker this was done, the better.

She should quickly write her resignation letter and give it to Daisy. There was a lot to arrange to get everything in order.

“That will be fine. I’ll have a badge ready for you at the security office at the entrance of the parking lot.

“You can go straight to the top floor. You don’t have to register. Just knock on Mr. Saunders’s door; he will expect you.”

“Okay, thank you very much.” Irene smiled. When she hung up, she shouted happily, “I got it! I am in! Yes!”