The Green-Eyed Billionaire...

Chapter 2: Brief Conversations

I slowly made my way over to the man that would hopefully be the reason for a good tip on a week night and not the reason for me being fired.

In my time working at the restaurant I had picked up on the family dynamic with my colleagues, they made sure to look out for one another and the key way to that was usually giving a heads up on unpleasant customers.

I had never heard anything bad about him, which was a good sign or maybe they were just too afraid to say anything...

I had always seen him from across the room, he would usually be on his own and if not, there was rarely ever a large crowd of men with him.

I may have observed most of the men that walked through the glass doors but I made it a point not to get too close to the big spenders. I feared saying something stupid and infuriating them and then where would I be?

Tracy throwing me a warning about him being particular didn’t make me feel any better about him being the first high spender I would be dealing with on my own. At least he was seated alone so there would be no witnesses to whatever he subjected me to…

He seemed to be very into whoever he was communicating with on his phone as he didn’t notice my presence until I was right in front of him. Even then he didn’t seem too bothered with finishing up as he had briefly glanced at me in the corner of his eye but continued typing. My eyes wandered the space to find Tracy who gave me an apologetic smile as she probably noticed me awkwardly standing beside him.

I tore my eyes off her when I saw him lock his phone and set it down on the table before his gaze was on me and I was met with green eyes staring into mine. I smiled politely as he looked at me and I wasn’t sure why I had done it when I hadnt even said anything yet and he seemed confused by it as well.

I was meant to introduce myself yet I had stood in silence and suddenly forgot what my role was just by him looking at me.

It wasn’t because he was one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. I worked in an establishment filled with rich, gorgeous men but there was something about him that didn’t give off the entitled dickhead vibe. His suit was certainly tailored and he even had a waistcoat beneath it yet hadnt bothered to wear a tie and buttoned down his shirt subtly, not revealing much of his chest but giving a further look at his tanned skin traced in black ink nonetheless. I wasn’t sure why my eyes fell to his hand on the table or why I felt a sense of relief not seeing a wedding band. One thing I was sure of was that I had been openly observing him and he was very aware of it as his fingers slowly tapped onto the table one by one, impatiently.

I immediately met his eyes again but he didn’t seem annoyed, his face was blank and I was uncertain whether that was a good or bad sign but I knew I needed to say something.

I cleared my throat and took the notepad from the pocket of my apron while trying to locate my pen as well, “Good evening, Sir. My name is…”

I hadnt even gotten out my full sentence when I dropped my pen I had finally managed to locate within my apron. I quickly did a little squat which my feet hated me for due to the extra pressure on the heels but I didn’t see the pen. I saw him shift beside me and he held out the pen in front of my face and I took it with a soft thank you before I straightened myself up.

“You’re new.” Were the first two words he chose to say to me, an acknowledgement of the fact that this was the first time we would be interacting.

I wanted to say not really but it hadnt been a question, my observing and clumsiness had drawn him to that conclusion and even though I had been working at the restaurant for almost a year I didn’t correct him. Maybe it would make him go easier on me..

“Or I make you nervous.” He added and I still wasn’t sure whether he wanted me to answer or not or if he just happened to be a loud thinker.

“Which one is it?” A definite question.

“I…” I began but a soft chuckle caused me to stop and I briefly glanced at the table a few feet away but realized the sound was emitting from the man in front of me.

“Please ask Sean to prepare my usual. That will be all.” He shook his head and I felt like a small child being dismissed.

“Are you sure?” I found myself asking and couldn’t get rid of the shakiness in my voice.

He nodded but then seemed to change his mind almost immediately and spoke as his green eyes fixed on me. I didn’t look away because I didn’t want to offend him even though the eye contact killed me, “Your name.”

“My name?” I found myself repeating and I heard him scoff softly and I wondered if he prided himself on not giving away much emotion while I was sure that I was a clear bundle of nerves.

“You do have one, I would hope.” The words were probably to mock me yet his tone didn’t match it, his tone hadn’t changed at all since he started talking. His voice was low and deep and he wasn’t forcing it at all.

My eyes widened as I realized how confused I had sounded by his confusion but it was mostly because no one had ever bothered to ask it. We didn’t wear name tags and most clients didn’t care enough to question it. The only time they enquired about more was if there was a complaint to be lodged or they were a bit too interested. “I do.. I mean...yes, Im Emily”

“That will be all.” He dismissively stated before he focused on his phone just like he had been before I made my way over to him.

I nodded and walked away as fast and as calmly as I could without making it obvious that I was scurrying away to safety before he had any more questions.

I knew that was it though, he was going to complain and tomorrow I would have to start looking for something else. I didn’t even know where to begin…

“Mr Richmond will have the usual, whatever that is, and Tracy will you please take it to him?” I turned to Tracy as I stood in the kitchen after placing the order with Sean who had simply nodded before getting to work.

“Why? Its your section” She casually stated as she restocked some items.

“I know but he hates me and I don’t want to worsen the situation” I mumbled or half groaned I didn’t even know.

“I saw him laughing. He never laughs” She frowned as she focused on me and the fact that she had been watching my entire encounter with him didn’t make me feel any better.

“I don’t think that was meant to be a good sign” I sighed as it certainly wasn’t a friendly laugh.

“Fine but only this one time, if he sits in your section again you just have to grow a pair and deal with him. Especially if you plan on making the big bucks, these guys have huge egos. If they see someone spending a lot on your tips they’ll start wondering whats so special about you and boom more high rollers in your section and even better tips” She created an explosion with her hands for effect but I immediately placed my hands over them to crush her dreams for me.

“I don’t want anyone here thinking I am special. And that man out there wont be sending any tips my way anyway” I rolled my eyes before I peeked through the small window in the door to where he was seated.

I wasn’t surprised to see him still fixed on the screen of his phone. I just knew that even though I had managed to convince Tracy to take over his table I would still have to be near him because of my other tables.

I was always able to be professional, even when I thought a client was drop dead gorgeous and I wanted to jump his bones but this man unnerved me and I didn’t like it one bit. Just one look from him made me feel like the shy, awkward teen I had been in high school and yes mostly I still was but I had grown abit and I was proud of it.

I just hoped tonight would be the first and last time he chose a table in my section...