Beneath the surface

Chapter 2

Here is your order Sir'' Ariana spoke placing a tray of Grilled salmon, vegetable lasagna and Ice tea in front of the customer.He stared at Ariana with lust as she arranged his meal on the table.As Ariana walked away, the customer placed his right hand on her ass. Ariana's eyes widened as she turned swiftly.

''Are you f*****g crazy?!! Ariana yelled giving the customer a resounding slap. The customer's eyes widened in disbelief. The other customers turned to them as a result of the noise.

''How dare you slap me?!'' The customer growled. Ariana landed him another slap causing everyone watching to gasp. Mr.Geoffrey who was walking by witness the slap scene and ran to the customers seat.

''Rodriguez are you nuts?!!'' Mr.Geoffrey roared with rage.

''Do you have any idea who you just slapped?? He's the son of the freaking mayor!''

''I don't care if he's the son of the president'' Ariana snarled in response.

''How are you going to take responsibility for this mess??'' Mr.Geoffrey demanded pointing his finger furiously at Ariana.

''By giving this bastard two more slaps'' she replied. Mr.Geoffrey placed his palm on his forehead and sighed.

''You know what Rodriguez? You are fired. You aren't fit for this job at all.

''What!!'' Ariana exclaimed in horror.Different thoughts ran through her mind.

''How is she going to meet up with the needs of the house with one less job'' she thought to herself.

''Are you deaf Rodriguez??'' Mr.Geoffrey shouted snapping Ariana out of her thought.

''You can't fire me!!''

''That's not fair.I'm not the one at fault here,this bastard is!!''

''I don't ever wanna see this b***h at this restaurant or else I'll close it down'' The mayor's son threatened glaring daggers at Ariana.

''How dare a mere thing like her slap me'' he thought to himself.

''Ariana you heard me...pack your things and leave...NOW!!'' Mr.Geoffrey ordered furiously signalling with his hands.The other customers were already whispering among themselves.

''She really has the nerve to slap the Mayor's son'' a female customer stated.

''Tell me about it'' another customer replied shaking her head.

''So this is what you are going to do if someone grabbed your daughter's ass out of nowhere while helping out at the restaurant uh'' Ariana spat with anger. The customers in the restaurant let out another gasp again. Mr.Geoffrey's eyes widened as he turned to the mayor's son who scoffed and rolled his eyes.

''He totally deserves the slaps'' whispered a customer.

''B-But y... you should h-have said that first'' Mr Geoffrey stammered scratching the back of his head. Ariana scoffed placing her hands on her waist.

''We can find a way to fix this'' He continued glancing back and forth between Ariana and the mayor's son,trying to gauge their reaction.

''I said I want her fired!!'' The mayor son growled tightening his fists.

''You are still talking?!'' Ariana sneered with gritted teeth.

''You had the right to slap the me!!'' The mayor's son thundered banging his fist on the table.

''You had the right to slap my freaking ass!!'' Ariana fired back trembling with rage. The atmosphere was already thick with a mix of excitement and tension, the normal rhythm of the restaurant shattered by the unexpected altercation.

Mr Geoffrey stood between them trying to interfere but words could not be formed from his mouth.

The Mayor's son turned to Mr Geoffrey sharply.

''Are you f*****g deaf?!!''

''f*****g fire her!! I don't want to keep staring at her. She should leave... now'' he yelled pointing at the entrance door.

Ariana had already had enough. In a fit of rage,she grabbed the plate of vegetable lasagna and grilled salmon and smashed it on the face of the Mayor's son,leaving him stunned. This action elicited another gasp from the watching customers. Mr.Geoffrey eyes widened in utter shock.

''ARIANAA!!!''

The co workers who were in the kitchen started to whisper among one another.

''She's so leaving this place today.'' Kate laughed with a smug.

''Oh...I forgot the drink''Ariana smirked mischievously. She grabbed the ice tea and poured it over the mayor's son. He screamed looking at his messed up outfit.

''You know how much this cost??'' He yelled glaring at her.

''Go by another one, Richie rich brat” Ariana spat furiously.

''OK then'' Smiled the mayor's son slyly.

''He isn't gonna do anything about that!!'' A customer commented softly with utter disbelief.

The mayor's son took out his phone and dialled a number.

''Hey, I want you to come here right now.I'll send you my location. There's a restaurant here that is unfit to be in business.

''Oh my goodness!''Daya gasped loudly from the kitchen.

''Excuse me Sir, please don't do this to me'' Mr.Geoffrey pleaded profusely almost on his knees.Ariana just scoffed and rolled her eyes. The other workers and even some customers were begging the mayor's son to be lenient.

He's such a narcissist!'' A customer stated really pissed. She stood up picking her bag, ready to leave.

''And where you going to?'' Her husband who sat across to her questioned.

''I'm finna go pay for the food and get going''.

''Staying here for another minute makes me more furious... Come on, let's go.''

''Is you kidding me right now?'' The husband asked.

''This restaurant is gonna be closed down, I'm very sure of it. And you want me to have just one serving?''

''Bro...they serve good food. Lemme have another plate. This would be the last time anyways.''

''Let's freaking go home Josh. I could cook you some when we get home.''

''Yeah right.'' The husband scoffed rolling his eyes at the mention of her cooking.''

''Ariana...YOU ARE FIRED!'' Mr.Geoffrey declared.

''I won't let you take my source of income.''

''You can't fire me, I did nothing wrong!'' She yelled spreading out her arms.

''And you are just going to believe this mother fucker???, He doesn't even has the power to close down an approved restaurant.'' She continued glaring daggers at the mayor's son who was smirking as everyone was begging him. Mr.Geoffrey sighed and replied.

''We could have handled this situation properly,but you choose to be immature.''

''ME!! IMMATURE!!'' Ariana yelled in disbelief.

''You are such a coward Mr.Geoffrey. You couldn't even defend your employee.'' She spat pointing her fingers at him.

''Doesn't change the fact that you are fired.Pack your things and leave.''

''Of course... I would leave'' She smiled. She walked up to a table, picked the food and drink the customer was having.

''Hey feisty waitress, bring my order back. Don't involve it in your fight!!'' The male customer yelled as she walked to the table the mayor's son sat.

''It's about to go down!'' A customer commented in excitement, rubbing his palms together. As expected, Ariana dumped the food on him.

''Ooh!'' The customers exclaimed in unison.

''Eat that....bastard'' Ariana sneered. She walked away like a badass to her locker to get her things.

''Go girlie!'' A teenage customer cheered quietly as Ariana walked passed her.

''She put her things in her tote back and headed for the entrance.

''Don't forget to wire my wage or I would come here to cause trouble'' She sneered at her ex employer angrily.

''Good riddance.'' Kate smiled smugly watching Ariana walk towards the door. Ariana walked like a baddie with her head up high but all that attitude vanished as she closed the restaurant's door behind her.

''Now I have one less job'' She lamented holding her head in a squat position.

''How am I going to tell this to grandma? I should have just beared the attitude of that good for nothing bastard, but my feisty nature took control of me. She looked through the glass window of the restaurant and sighed heavily.

'' I wish all the bad things in this universe upon you'' she cursed sticking out her middle finger to the mayor's son. He was backing her anyways, so he couldn't see her.

'' And you, Coward Geoffrey... I wish your daughter would be harassed this way and you wouldn't be able to do any thing about it!!''

''Mr. Geoffrey doesn't have a daughter.'' Daya spoke moving close to Ariana. Ariana turned to her and rolled her eyes.

''Well, I wish that upon his son!'' She snarled tightening her fist.

''He doesn't have children Ariana.''

''Ha!'' Ariana scoffed in mockery.

''Of course, he would not have a child''

''God will never give such person children!''

''How do you feel right now?'' Daya asked sympathetically.

''I feel horrible.'' Ariana replied with a frown, then a sigh.

''I know that bimbo, Kate will be so happy right now.'' She scoffed pointing to the kitchen door.

''I promise if I come across any vacancy for a job, I would contact you.'' Data smiled lightly holding Ariana's hands, rubbing them softly.

''Thanks Daya.''

'' I'll be looking forward to the vacancy.''

''I'm so sorry Ariana.'' Daya apologized, hanging her head low.

'' I shouldn't have assigned you to that table. I just wanted you to get to work quickly so Mr. Geoffrey won't have any chance to give u a query.It's all my fault.''

''No Daya, it's not your fault'' Ariana sighed lifting her chin up and placing her right hand on Daya's shoulder.

''It's the fault of that jerk sitting over there.'' She hissed pointing to the mayor's son.

'' I swear if I ever come across him...I'll make sure I teach him a lesson!''Ariana threatened with gritted teeth.

The two stayed silent for a while looking at the restaurant through the glass window.

''I think you have to go now Daya. The restaurant his getting busier.'' Ariana informed turning to her.

''You are right.'' Daya answered.

''I also have to get going to the fast food restaurant. I have a five-hour shift to run.'' Ariana continued.

''I guess I would let you go then.'' Daya sighed sadly.

''I wish you all the best Ariana'' She continued, sobbed lightly and pulling her into a hug.

''Oh God... Why are u crying Daya?'' Ariana laughed patting Daya's back.Daya sniffed breaking the hug.

''You are being dramatic right now.'' Ariana teased, rolling her eyes.

I wish you all the best Ariana.''

''Thanks, I appreciate it.''

''And stay out of trouble.'' Daya ordered changing her posture immediately. She placed her hand on her waist looking into Ariana's eyes sternly.

''I'd try to.'' Ariana mumbled in reply with a smirk.

''What did you say?!'' Daya frowned.

''I said I'd stay out of trouble.'' Ariana answered giving a sheepish smile.

Daya suddenly heard her name from inside. She sighted from outside Mr. Geoffrey roaming round his restaurant looking for her.

''I've to get back inside. I heard my name just now and it seems Mr.Geoffrey is looking for me.''

'' He's already staring at us.'' Ariana hissed glaring at Mr.Geoffrey through the glass window. Mr. Geoffrey stared back at both of them from inside and sighed with guilt, walking away.

''Okay I'm going in now.''

''Take care of yourself Ariana.'' She spoke giving Ariana another hug, a quick one this time.

''I'll make sure your wage is wired to you.'' Ariana nodded slightly in response and waved at her.

''Bye Daya.''

''Bye Ariana.'' Daya waved back smiling sadly.

''I'll miss you.''

''Yeah right.'' Ariana laughed.

Daya waved once more and ran back to the kitchen. Ariana watched her as she left and took her eyes back to the restaurant.

As she pushed open the heavy gate of the restaurant, her hands trembled. The brisk evening air hit her like a slap. Tears welled up her eyes blurring the neon lights of the city.The realization that she had no idea how she would pay next month's rent or buy groceries for her and her grandmother hit her like a tidal wave. She clutched her jacket tighter around her and headed for her next place of work