Scarlet scars

CHAPTER 7: Mr Grande's

Scarlet

"Scarlet take care of table number 4 too, I’m leaving now!" Grace, my colleague called out as she entered the locker room. She was also a part timer so her shift would end after I came in. Mr grandes restaurant was not that big, with only a few tables. Mr grande only employed two waiters and 2 waitresses, infact the other waiter was his son who worked whenever he felt like it.

"I wouldn't want to pay a bunch of people to do nothing" he'd say. In my opinion, he just loved money too much. He kind of reminded me of 'Mr crabs from spongeBob squarepants'. So basically Grace and the other waiter, (his name must be Bobby, or was it Marley? I kept forgetting his name and it had been a year since he’d started working at grandes. All I could remember was that he had one of the reggae artist’s names), worked mornings during weekdays, I worked evenings and vice versa. I put my uniform, a little black dress that was an inch above my knees and an apron. We looked ridiculous but Mr Grande said he liked them and we had no choice.

I was now in professional mode as I headed to table 4. I took my notepad and pen from my pocket, plastered on a serious face with a fake smile, my best, and approached the man sitting there.

"can I take your order Sir" I said. He was wearing a grey Armani suit. He looked hot even though I couldn’t see his face because he had the menu hiding it. My attentive little mind does make sure to take in every little detail of everything I see, Except remember people’s names. The man had a good physique, muscly in the right places, like a god, Thor. If I were to put my thoughts into one word. His white crisp shirt had two of the top buttons undone, showing of his chest, I wondered what more I could see when I heard him clear his throat. I was startled sure he’d caught me staring when I looked at his face.

I blinked twice and rubbed my eyes not believing what I was seeing. I was probably seeing things. But why would I be seeing Jerald of all people?

”you?" I couldn't help but be surprised "you are here?” obviously dummy! I could clearly see him yet I had to ask that. I mentally rolled my eyes at my own stupidity.

"excuse me?.." he looked amused "did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"what? I-I did?" I honestly didn't mean to. I did that in my own head and I didn’t roll them at him but at myself.

"you did" he said as a matter of fact, looking at me intently.

"I wasn't trying to, honestly, uhm.. I .I.I " I shut my mouth, not knowing what to say. I didn’t want to say anything wrong like I always did and he was just looking at me without saying anything. we looked at each other for what seemed like an hour.

"well this is awkward.... uhm can I take your order now?" I broke the silence trying to disperse the awkwardness.

"well I already ordered but it seems you were stuck your little mind" he said in all seriousness and I gaped. When did he do that?

"you did?" I asked him, flustered hoping he was joking but no. He looked really serious and I expected him to lash at me but what he did next I did not expect.

he friggin laughed, like deep, deep laughter and all I could do was stare at him in confusion. he continued to laugh that I had no choice but to smile. his laughter was contagious, and it was the same even when we were kids. But then I had to remind myself that if Mr Grande found me like this, I'd be in trouble. I'm always in trouble and I hated it.

"ahem" it was my turn to clear my throat now, and honestly, it felt good. like being in charge. tee hee! He stopped laughing but I could still see him suppressing his laughter.

"well I didn't order but the look on your face when I said I did.. it was gold" he laughed. It was funny how he was this fine grown, man but he was behaving childishly right now that I just shook my head and chuckled. "your face was like..." he tried to paste my reaction on his handsome face. We both laughed this time around.

"so what are you ordering before you get me fired for chatting away with a customer" I said with a smile on my face, still recovering from the laughter. It'd been long I laughed genuinely like that.

"back to being professional aren't we? ...well, I'll have the special" he ordered quickly and I took to attending to his order. I quickly served his dishes but as I was about to leave he called out. "Cally... won't you have dinner with me" he asked with a perfect smile on his face.

"I'm working Jay.." I quickly cut my words short as I saw something flash in his eye's "I mean Jerald... I'm not allowed to do that " I said meekly as I corrected my self. He frowned and I knew I made a mistake by calling him by his name. He was a customer after all and one of class, and then there was me.

I was always cautious with whatever I said because of the unending punishments I was used to getting. I used to call him Jay when we were kids, I got carried away with our little laughing fit and thought we were back to the good ol'days. I mentally face palmed myself. Stupid! I cursed myself under my breath.

"I'm sorry Sir.. if I said anything wrong.. just that I... I" I hesitated when he frowned even more, he looked, hurt, if I was reading his face correctly. I didn’t understand him. I couldn't continue whatever I wanted to say, I just stared at him waiting for the worst.

"Cally, there are no other customers currently, so you could sit for a few minutes" he said with a pained expression or maybe I was just imagining things.

"I-I-I can't.... I’m sorry" I stammered while looking at Mr Grande's office door and then back at him. He looked at me sadly as he stood up from his seat, my first reaction was to close my eyes and hide my face thinking he was going to hit me but after a few seconds, I didn’t feel anything. I opened my eyes wondering why it was taking so long and all I saw was Jerald staring at me, confused.

I straightened up, clearing my throat and said "I'm...I'm sorry Sir... enjoy your meal" I left without even looking back. I must have looked like a fool now. So embarrassing!

I didn’t see Jerald after some time and I figured he must have left. I waited about 5 more tables untill it was time for me to clean up and close. Mr Grande and the chefs had already left too so I was the only one left. I finished up quickly, picked up my backpack and the money I had earned from tips and headed out. I had made quite a good sum today, my biggest customer being Jerald.

"done?" I heard a deep, familiar, voice ask. I stopped in my tracks and looked towards the direction in which the voice had come from. It was Jerald. He was leaning on his car and this time he didn't have his jacket on, his sleeves rolled up. I kept looking at him and wondering, how he grew from that chubby boy I knew, to this handsome god standing in front of me.

"Done staring?” he asked with a smirk on his face that said 'I know I'm handsome'. cocky jerk! I rolled my eyes.

"It seems you have developed a habit of rolling your eyes young lady" he said with a smile on his face and I got flustered, and mentally smacking the back of my head. I remembered that my aunt once told me she'd gouge my eyes out if I ever rolled my eyes at her and since then, I developed a habit of doing it mentally. I couldn’t just not do it when something was eye roll worthy.

"silent treatment?" he asked making me realise I hadn't said anything yet.

"uhm... sorry.." I laughed nervously "I was just thinking... why are you still here by the way? don't tell me you've waited all these hours for me?"

"no no" he chuckled and man! Was he hot. "I just came back to pick you up... I want to talk to you" he said simply..

pick me up? as in send me home? in his car?! That Caleb crossed my mind. And I shook my head. No way!

"I can go by myself ..thank you" I said smiling meekly.

" I know you can go by yourself Cally.. But I want to take you home today... why are you treating me like a stranger?" he looked annoyed. He didn’t understand. How could I tell him that he couldn’t without sounding rude?