The Waitress He Couldn't forget

Chapter 1: The Man Who Stayed for a Month: |At 9:47 p.m., Elena Rose almost dropped a glass on the most expensive pair of shoes she'd ever seen. The glass slipped from her fingers as she stepped out of the private dining area. Her heart jumped into her throat, but before it could hit the marble floor, a hand caught it. Elena froze. Her eyes moved from the glass to the man's hand, then slowly up his black suit, crisp white shirt, and finally to his face. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and ridiculously composed for someone who had just saved a glass from smashing against the floor. His dark hair was slightly messy, as if he'd run his fingers through it too many times, and his grey eyes were fixed on her. For a second, neither of them said anything. Then he handed the glass back. "You should be more careful." Elena took it from him. "I was." His eyebrow lifted. "You nearly dropped it." "I said nearly." A faint smile touched his lips. "That's one way to look at it." Elena pressed her lips together, trying not to smile back. She wasn't usually this bold with guests, especially not guests wearing a watch that probably cost more than everything in her apartment combined. Before she could say anything else, the hotel manager hurried toward them. "Mr. Sterling, I'm so sorry. We were expecting you at the entrance." The man's expression changed immediately. "There's no need to apologize." Elena's eyes widened slightly. So this was him. Roman Sterling. She had heard his name all week. The businessman was staying at Royal Crest Hotel for an entire month while working on a major deal in the city. Every department had been warned to be extra careful around him. His suite had been prepared days ago, his meals arranged according to his preferences, and even the hotel manager seemed nervous whenever his name was mentioned. Roman glanced at Elena's name badge. "Elena." She looked down at it. "Yes?" "You're blocking the elevator." She stepped aside immediately. "Sorry." The elevator doors opened. Roman walked inside, but just before they closed, he looked back at her. Their eyes met. Then the doors shut. Elena stared at them for a moment. "Well." She turned to see Maya standing a few feet away, trying very hard not to laugh. "What?" "You were staring." "I was not." "You absolutely were." Elena picked up the tray from the nearby service table. "I was embarrassed." Maya grinned. "Sure. Embarrassed." "Go back to work." "Yes, ma'am." Elena shook her head and walked away. She told herself Roman Sterling meant nothing to her. He was just another guest. A very rich, very handsome, slightly annoying guest. That was all. At least, that's what she thought. An hour later, Elena stood outside Suite 1807 with a dinner tray balanced carefully in both hands. She stared at the number on the door. She had spent the last ten minutes hoping someone else would be sent. No such luck. She took a breath and knocked. "Come in." His voice was unmistakable. Elena opened the door. The suite was even more impressive than she'd imagined. Huge windows covered one entire wall, showing the city glittering beneath the dark sky. The furniture was simple but expensive, and a warm lamp near the sofa cast a soft glow across the room. Roman stood near the window with his back toward her. He had taken off his jacket and loosened his tie. His sleeves were rolled to his elbows. He turned when he heard the door close. His eyes immediately found her. "You again." Elena raised an eyebrow. "Disappointed?" "Surprised." "I brought your dinner." "I can see that." She walked toward the table. "You could try saying thank you." Roman watched her place the plates down. "Thank you." She looked at him. "That sounded painful." A quiet laugh escaped him. It was different from his earlier smile. Warmer. For the first time, Elena noticed that when Roman laughed, the hard expression on his face disappeared completely. She quickly looked away. "Anything else, Mr. Sterling?" "Roman." She paused. "What?" "Don't call me Mr. Sterling." "It's your name." "It's my surname." "You're still my guest." He took a step toward her. "And you're still avoiding my question." "What question?" He stopped in front of her. "What should I call you?" Elena looked at him for a moment. "Elena." "I know." "Then why ask?" His lips curved slightly. "I wanted to hear you say it." Her stomach gave an unexpected little flip. She hated that. "Good night, Roman." She turned toward the door. "Elena." She looked back. He was still standing there, his hands in his pockets. "Don't drop anything tomorrow." She stared at him. Then a smile finally broke through. "Try not to annoy me tomorrow." Roman's smile grew. "I'll try." She left before he could see how warm her face had become. The next two days passed without anything unusual happening. Except Roman kept appearing wherever Elena happened to be. At breakfast. In the lobby. Near the restaurant. And somehow, he always seemed to notice her. On Friday evening, Elena was carrying a stack of fresh towels through the staff corridor when someone stepped in front of her. Daniel Hayes. A hotel guest who had been drinking too much for the past two nights. "Elena." She kept walking. "Excuse me." He moved with her. "I've been trying to talk to you." "I have work." "You always have work." "Because I work here." Daniel laughed. "You could take a break." "I don't want to." His smile disappeared. "Why are you acting like you're better than me?" "I'm not." "Then stop walking away." Elena tightened her grip on the towels. "Please move." Instead, Daniel reached for her wrist. She pulled back. "Don't touch me." He laughed again. "You need to learn how to be nicer to guests." "I'm being perfectly nice." "You call this nice?" His fingers tightened around her wrist. Elena's stomach turned. "Let go." Daniel leaned closer. "You know, you're much prettier when you smile." "Let. Go." This time her voice was firm. Daniel didn't. Then another voice came from behind him. "She told you to let go." Daniel's grip loosened. Elena looked over his shoulder. Roman stood at the other end of the corridor. He wasn't smiling. He walked toward them slowly, his expression unreadable. Daniel scoffed. "This doesn't concern you." Roman stopped beside Elena. "It does now." Daniel looked at him. "And who are you supposed to be?" Roman's eyes hardened. "Someone telling you to take your hand off her." Daniel finally released Elena. She immediately stepped back. Roman looked at her first. "Are you okay?" She nodded. "Yes." His eyes dropped to her wrist. A red mark was beginning to appear. His jaw tightened. "Did he hurt you?" "No." Daniel rolled his eyes. "It was nothing." Roman turned toward him. "I wasn't talking to you." The corridor went silent. Daniel looked uncomfortable for the first time. Roman's voice remained calm. "Stay away from her." Daniel laughed nervously. "You're threatening me?" "No." Roman took one step closer. "I'm giving you a chance to walk away before this becomes something else." Daniel stared at him for several seconds before finally walking away. Elena watched him disappear around the corner. Only then did she realize she was still holding her breath. Roman turned toward her. "You should report him." "I will." "When?" She hesitated. "Tomorrow." "Why tomorrow?" "Because I don't want to lose my job." Roman's expression softened. "You won't." "You don't know that." "I know enough." Elena looked at him. "You're not my boss." "No." "Then you can't promise me that." Roman gave her a long look. "You're right." For a moment, neither spoke. Then he quietly said, "But I can make sure nobody makes you feel unsafe at work." Elena looked down. "Thank you." Roman nodded. She started walking away. "Elena." She stopped. "Yes?" "Your wrist." She looked at it. "I'm fine." "You say that a lot." "Because I am." Roman smiled faintly. "I'll see you tomorrow." She frowned. "Why?" "Because I'm staying here for a month." Elena's eyes widened. "You're staying for a whole month?" "That's what I said." She couldn't help smiling. "Poor me." His eyebrow rose. "Poor you?" "Now I have to deal with you for thirty days." Roman stepped slightly closer. "Thirty days isn't very long." Something about the way he said it made her smile disappear. His eyes stayed on hers. "Maybe we should make them count." Elena's heart skipped. She looked away first. "Good night, Roman." "Good night, Elena." She walked away. But this time, she could feel his eyes following her. The following evening, Elena finished her shift later than usual. Most of the staff had already gone home when she returned to the restaurant to collect a forgotten notebook. The lights were dim. The room was almost empty. She found her notebook beneath a chair and turned around. Roman was sitting at one of the tables. Alone. His jacket was draped over the back of his chair, and a cup of coffee sat untouched in front of him. Elena blinked. "You scared me." "Sorry." "You don't usually sit here this late." "I was waiting." "For what?" He looked directly at her. "You." Elena's fingers tightened around her notebook. "Why?" Roman stood. "Because I want to ask you something." She swallowed. "What?" He walked toward her, stopping at a respectful distance. "Have dinner with me tomorrow." Elena stared at him. "You're asking your waitress out?" "I'm asking Elena." She shook her head. "Roman, that's not a good idea." "Why?" "Because you're a guest." "Only for a month." "And I'm an employee." "I know." "We're different." Roman's gaze softened. "I know that too." Elena looked down. "Then why?" He waited until she looked back at him. "Because every time you walk away from me, I find myself wanting to call you back." Her breath caught. Roman continued quietly. "I don't know what this is yet, Elena. I just know I don't want to pretend I haven't noticed you." She didn't know what to say. Nobody had ever spoken to her like that. Not with such certainty. Not without asking for anything in return. "One dinner," Roman said. "If you don't enjoy it, I'll never ask again." Elena studied his face. The man everyone described as cold and impossible suddenly looked almost nervous. It made her smile. "Fine." His expression changed. "Fine?" "One dinner." "When?" "Tomorrow." Roman nodded. "Tomorrow." Elena started toward the exit, but his voice stopped her. "Elena." She turned. "Yes?" He smiled. "Don't be late." She smiled back. "I won't." Neither of them knew that the dinner they had just agreed to would be the beginning of something neither could control. Because Roman Sterling had come to Royal Crest Hotel for one month. He had planned to leave with nothing more than a completed business deal. But by the time that month was over, Elena Rose would be carrying a secret that would change both of their lives forever.