Omorfia and the Beast

Blue eyes scanned around the room, but it was with some kind of light in them. If you didn’t know the owner of these very eyes, you would have trouble trying to figure out just what those eyes were saying but for a stranger the eyes would most likely give the idea of irritation or disinterest. Omorfia Bradshaw wiped a strand of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. As a waitress you would want Friday night shifts. Those are the nights where your regulars, and people out to have fun would come out and spend money, however this night was different. There were only a few tables visible in the restaurant of which only one was in her bay. She sighed, sticking her hand into her black jeans pocket and pulled out the mere two dollars she received from her first table as a tip. This was not good, she needed more if she wanted to get to her goal. Maybe the rainy weather is putting people off from coming out… but then again it’s fall, people are probably unhappy about the change of weather. She sneaked a look at the two dollars again as if they would have doubled in amount by some kind of miracle, but it didn’t and another grimace made place on her beautiful young face. Who would have thought at the age of twenty three that she would be worrying about paying bills and running a household. After her mother left her and her father, Omorfia was around 10 years old, it was only her and her dad. They were a team, always having each others backs but this came with a slight burden. Her father was not a very healthy man, he had a weak heart and hospital visits occurred regularly. This of course meant that he lost jobs more than he could keep them, especially due to the fact that he was more in the hospital than anything else. It is a miracle that he managed to put Omorfia through school and even more so that she could study because they could barely make ends meet. Being poor was nothing to be ashamed about, and she has never felt unhappy about it, even though she has had many a time of being picked on by popular mean girls in school but Omorfia did feel guilty and severely worried. She is in her final year of law school, and has been working as a waiter during nights and on holidays for her own pocket money but she received bad news. Her father had another episode and was taken to the hospital where he was informed that he would need a heart transplant, but nothing can be done really because there is no money. When Omorfia heard the news she told her father to take a loan out and put their family home up for security and that’s when her father informed her that he couldn’t… he already did that to get her in to collage. This meant that she’s the reason that he might die. This very thought has made her have sleepless nights and she has been irritated beyond explanation. Why would her father do something like this just to make sure she studies. She could have taken a gap year, gotten a job somewhere and saved for school.. and now this. This is exactly what makes her look at the two dollars and sigh, because she decided to use her tips and some of her wages to try and pay for her fathers operation. She isn’t even halfway there because everything has taken dreadful turns in her life since the news. A nudge in the ribs made her drift back to reality and she looked down at the person standing next to her, her brows slightly lifted. “Do you see that table there in the corner in my bay?” the nervous waitress chirped and Omorfia lazily looked over, spotting the rather well dressed godlike man in a grey suit with sunglasses on sitting by himself with no expression on his face. There was another glass on the table opposite him but no person so she deduced that the other person might have gone to the bathrooms. “What of it?” The other waitress made a begging gesture with her hands, her eyes looking desperate. “Will you please take it over from me?” Omorfia snorted, walking away with the intend to go to her section. “Not my bay, not my problem.” The girl grabbed her hand. “Please Omorfia!! I am begging you. I am still new here and I am not in a million years ready to take on such a difficult table!” She stopped and stared back at the well dressed man. “Difficult how?” Even though she has never been ashamed of coming from a poor background, she did feel highly annoyed when well-off people had this sense of entitlement as if they have the right to look down on people, and she has always made it her mission to place those exact people back in their place. Seeing that man gave her the exact feeling of some rich boy with superiority issues. “Eloise did that man make any advances or said anything to you?” she questioned the other waitress and the girl shook her head. “Not him, but the lady with him is really a god-awful human being. She has been nothing but overly rude and demanding, and I accidentally made a mistake by saying that I hope the gentleman liked his table, as it was my first ever decorated table for someone who reserved it and the lady made this snarly comment about me being insensitive because he is blind and I should know better.” She sounded out of breath after that ramble and Omorfia rolled her eyes, “So you didn’t know he is blind, innocent mistake. The lady is a b***h, deal with it.” She was about to walkaway again when Eloise grabbed her hand with almost tearful expression. “Please Omorfia! You can keep the tip and anything else, I just cant handle rude people like that woman. She is just too much.” Omorfia inwardly sighed. She really was in no mood to deal with drama. It was not the right day for anyone or anything to make their way to her and present drama, but Eloise is their newest employee and she honestly has never worked with difficult people before. “Fine, but then you take my shift tomorrow, I have to study for an important test.” Eloise beamed. “Deal!” Omorfia gave a nod and turned around, making her way to the table, now noticing a stunning red headed figure joining the man at the table. On closer inspection as Omorfia went closer, she noticed how short, yet sparkly the dress was the woman was wearing. She took one more step closer, her hand behind her back, forcing the fakest yet friendliest smile she could master. “Good evening sir, madame. My name is Omorfia and I will be taking over your table for Eloise, if there is anyth….” “Oh so they finally decided to give us another waiter! I do hope you’re not as wretched as the previous little imp.” The redhead interrupted her before she could finish her sentence and Omorfia took a slight step backwards. ‘aaaahhh, so we have a little spoiled b***h in our midst …’ It flashed through her mind and she looked at the young woman. By all means this woman probably in her late twenties, early thirties, is a beauty queen in her own right but the make up choice made her look rather cheap, almost desperate to impress and Omorfia silently wondered who this woman was trying to fool. The man opposite her was blind, he would not even notice if she had worn nothing but her underwear, thus all this caked make-up and short yet revealing dress honestly was for naught. “I am terribly sorry if you were not satisfied with the previous waitress madame, but I assure you that you are in good hands….” The read head waved uninterested and picked up her wine glass, holding it up. “Yeah yeah, whatever. My glass is almost empty. Fill it up.” The redhead demanded and Omorfia bit on her teeth, obliging. “Omorfia… Such an interesting name. It is Greek I believe?” A strong yet soothing voice sounded up and Omorfia looked up from where she was busy pouring, almost taken aback. The man had his face turned in her direction and there was a noticed a healed cut slightly over his left cheekbone going up to his eye yet hidden by the sunglasses. She realized that he was awaiting an answer and she cleared her throat slightly “Uhhh.. yes.. Yes it is Greek sir. My mother was Greek.” The man gave a nod and just as Omorfia looked back to the woman she was just in time to see how the brat tilted her glass and made some whine spill on to the white table cloth. “UGH!! You imbecile, look what you have done, spilling my drink because you’re not paying attention to what you’re doing!” “Pardon me madame, how clumsy of me, let me clean that up for you.”Omorfia stated through gritted teeth with an ice cold voice. She cleaned the table and then retracted, inwardly cringing. Walking past the manager, he grabbed her arm, a dark expression on his face. “What just happened ?” She shrugged a bit, “A spoiled brat throwing a fannywobble .” Her manager narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening around her wrist. “Omorfia we all know you’re good in your job, but you will be on your best behaviour. That is the billionaire , Bash Linchfield and the lady with him is Miss Clarke. They are some of the most important people in Manhattan not to mention all over the world. Be very attentive to them and their needs.” Omorfia lazily looked up at her manager, supressing the urge to roll her eyes. “Of course.” She has never really had any interest in who’s who when it came to celebrities or important people. To her there was far more important things to take note of and care about than gawking at every celebrity and their dramas. Besides that, she could care less about how rich a person is or their importance, especially when they act like that redhead she now knows is Miss Clarke.. She gave her manager a nod and made a turn to the table she had in her original bay, taking their food order and then going to the screen to carefully enter the order she received only to hear a faint snapping sound from the ‘elite’ table and when she looked up she saw the redhead slightly turned in her seat looking at her with a pout. “Excuse me waiter person?!” Omorfia sighed and made her way to the table. “Madam?” “So???” The woman looked at her with raised brows as if expecting some kind of explanation or something and Omorfia in return lifted her brows, “Madam?” The woman gave a dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes. “I saw you talking with the manager. What kind of compensation are you going to give for the fact that you spilled my wine?” Omorfia snorted, before she could even stop herself and gave a smile that spoke of ice and annoyance. “We didn’t speak about compensation Miss Clarke. My manager simply informed me about who you were and that this table needs to be taken care of.” The redhead sat back, slight arrogance spewing from her whole demeanour. “Exactly. So why are you not taking care of this table in the right way after spilling my wine?” Omorfia frowned. She wanted to tell the b***h to go f**k herself, knowing very well that she didn’t spill the wine but the woman herself did by tilting her glass, however she was in no mood for more careless drama. Perhaps she should just back down and do her do diligence by speaking to the manager. “I shall sort it out right away mam.” She was about to turn away when the same soothing strong voice sounded up, stopping her in her tracks. “There is no need.” The red head gasped. “But Bash! She could have ruined my dress if this wine spilled on me….” He lifted his hand, a blank expression on his face. “For Godsake Anne, it was an accident. You are really being unnecessarily difficult.” Omorfia inwardly smiled, enjoying the scene in front of her a bit too much but when she glanced over to the woman she realized that she had no choice but to speak to the manager to make her shut up. “No really, it is no trouble at all.” She walked off and found her manager having a chat with one of the other waiters and she winked him closer. “We have a little situation. The woman whom you referred to as Miss Clarke, spilled her own wine and now blames me for it. She demands compensation.” If she thought her manager would be on her side she was completely wrong. He looked agitated. “Get them another bottle of the same wine they are having and apologize immediately!” Omorfia was slightly taken aback, looking at her manager with disbelief. “But I didn’t spill the wine…” He snapped his fingers in front of her face with an angry expression on his face. “I don’t care. You will fix this. These people are important and the fact that they chose our restaurant to dine in means good business for us. You should have been more careful!” She went pale, not because she was shocked at her managers treatment but because of the fact that that he dared to blame her for this whole incident. He knew very well that she is a capable waitress and wasn’t placed headwaitress on this floor for no reason, yet this is his reaction to a rich brat throwing a tantrum. She turned around to do as told but her manager stopped her, “And Omorfia….” She slightly turned, “Yes?” “This bottle will come off your paycheck!” She gasped, anger now taking over her whole being. “What?! No ! You cannot do this Jason! That bottle will take my whole paycheck…” He looked smug. “Make that two paychecks.” For a moment she felt like she was going to scream, yet she gulped and turned away feeling defeated. The last thing she needed right now was her money being touched. She needed every cent now more than ever. Thise whole situation was completely unfair. She swallowed her pride, took the bottle out and with no expression yet the fakest friendliest customer service voice she could master she spoke to the woman. “The manager has agreed to giving you another bottle of wine with sincerest apologies.” The woman looked at her with no expression at all. “Good, now we would like to order. You have taken so long my appetite is busy depleting.” Omorfia gave an inward scream and took out her note book, removing the pen from behind her ear and quickly tucking away a strand of hair that fell over her left eye. It revealed a brow piercing which slightly flickered in the dim light due to the tiny diamond stone in it. The redhead had a slight pull of disgust on her face as she gave her order and after Omorfia took the mans order she retracted to the desk to ring up their food order. All this unnecessary commotion almost made her forget about her other table but she rushed over to find that his food was already served, Eloise passing by and giving her a wink. She gave a slight sigh of relief, “I am so sorry I neglected you for a bit sir…” The older gentleman dressed in a dark suit and white shirt smiled almost fatherly as he waved her apology away. “Do not worry my dear, your friend Eloise had it covered plus I saw you had a bit of table drama over there.” He nudged his head towards the other bay and she smiled, an actual genuine smile. “Thank you for understanding. If you need anything else, just shout.” She was about to walk away when he stopped her. “I do not mean to pry but I heard your conversation with that other gentleman- the manager I presume. Is the bottle of wines cost really going to be taken from your paycheck?” She forced a smile, she really didn’t want to think about that matter now and besides its highly unprofessional to speak to a customer about semi personal issues. “Don’t worry about it.” The old man frowned. “So it is true then?” She shrugged it off. “It is what it is.” He gave a nod and could see that she was not going to elaborate on anything more than she already did and he did not want to make her uncomfortable in any way. Omorfia walked off just as the bell rang to indicate that her ‘elite’ tables food was ready, and she hurried herself towards the kitchen side. She carried the food out as quick as possible, not wanting the wretched redhead to claim the food is cold and have even more money taken from her. Placing the food down the woman glanced up at her. “I ordered the Creamy Butternut Soup, where is it? Or did you stupidly forget my order?” Omorfia looked down at the three plates she already carried out and wondered how the woman thought shed carry out five plates at once when she clearly only have two hands, but looking up at the womans face she saw nothing but menace on the redheads face and realized it was nothing but a deliberate attempt to go out of her way to be difficult. “The soup is on its way madam.” Omorfia turned away and went back to the kitchen, wishing there was some way she could get this woman back for her complete unnecessary behaviour, but as she carried the soup and two side plates out she once again faked her politeness and pretended to be as helpful as possible. “Please be careful, the plate is quite hot.” She instructed as she was about to place the soup down in front of the woman, but just then the redhead leaned forward to grab her glass of wine, tilting the plate of soup over and it spilled all over her dress. She jumped up screaming, causing the whole restaurant to quiet down and everyone was now staring at them. Omorfia looked flabbergasted at the plate that laid empty and shattered on the floor because when it tilted, some of the hot liquid ran over her fingers and her instant reaction was to throw the plate down. “You absolute imbecile!! Look at what you have done!” Omorfia took a step back, lifting her hands in an almost pleading way. “I… I am so sorry… I…” The redhead slapped her hands away getting up. “You… You what? Such a retard you cant even speak properly, and by the looks of you its quite clear that you have no braincells.” Omorfia straightened her back. “Excuse me?” Holding her dress even higher the redhead nodded with her head Omorfia’s way. “I mean look at you, you represent trashiness with your face covered in piercings, and besides, we all know a waiter doesn’t come from money or education- if you had both you wouldn’t be working here or look like you do.” The light in Omorfia’s eyes darkened as she took a step closer, finally having enough of this unfounded treatment from a woman whom she didn’t even knew existed until tonight. “Look here, I get it you have money, hurray for you but attacking me doesn’t really speak anything of education nor elegance. What exactly have you to show? Daddys money? Because I can clearly tell you are a spoiled airheaded brat who maybe barely graduated school but that’s okay for you because your aim is clearly not to think but to marry rich and go to posh parties where you can pretend to be the queen bee. Yes I am a waitress but that does not mean I am uneducated, you see unlike you, I actually work to put myself through my last year of law school and to support my family. No shame in that because I can guarantee you since you spoiled brats cant think further than your noses, its going to be people like me having a good law education and degree who will end up representing you in court for some kind of dui or s****l assault scandle.” Omorfia was out on a rampage, she knew she should rather shut up but for some reason she couldn’t make herself stop as she continued taking a step closer. “And for the f*****g record, I am not full of piercings, unless you need glasses to see too.” The redhead looked slightly taken aback, not quite sure how to handle what was just happening at that very moment. It was clear she had never in her life have someone stand up against her and at that moment she had no words to say but she lifted her hand and slapped Omorfia through the face. The girl gasped, touching her cheek in dismay and calculated whether she wanted to react and maybe lose her job, if she hasn’t already, but before she could make any remark her manager rushed himself over and hardhandedly grabbed her by the arm. “Omorfia how dare you treat a client in such a way that?!” – he turned to the redhead, “Miss Clarke I am so terribly sorry for all of this. This whole dinner will be on the restaurant, no costs towards you…” She pouted, lifting her dress even more, “Your waitress is highly unprofessional and honestly disgusting. I have it right in my mind never to sit foot in this place again. I mean just look at this mess, my dress is ruined and I will have to go to the hospital for the burns caused by the soup she spilled on me.” Omorfia snorted. “Oh please, we all know you caused that on purpose.” The managers grip around Omorfias arm tightened. “Omorfia please!”- he looked at the redhead apologetically. “Again I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do to make this right?” The woman lifted her heard with stubbornness written all over her face. “Fire her.” Omorfias head flew in to the managers direction, shocked at how far this woman would go. “Jason please! You know just as well as I do that this imp has been nothing but difficult the whole night. How is the things she caused my ….” The manager icely glared at omorfia silencing her. “Shut up. You have been nothing but a menace in my life since you started working here. I suggest you take your things and leave at once, you are as of now- fired.” “What?!! Jason please…” Her begging didn’t help as he silenced her once more, hardhandedly pushing her away. “I said leave!” Shock and absolute devastation filled Omorfia as she bit hard on her teeth and turned away to grab her stuff. Everyone else was still standing there, looking at her as if they waited for the show to continue but she couldn’t care less. She grabbed her jacket and handbag, rushing out of the restaurant, but its only as she reached the small bench not far from the place that everything came crumbling down and she burst in to a heart wrenching sob. So much for trying to safe her dads life… She has no idea how long she sad there with her hands covering her face while she cried but when someone cleared their throat right in front of her she came back to reality and sniffed looking up. The older gentleman she assisted earlier on was standing in front of her, holding an umbrella over them both and holding out a crisp white handkerchief. He gestured that she should take it and she tried smiling as she took it, only realizing then that she felt slightly cold and wet from the drizzling rain. “Thank you, but I am okay, really.” The older man scoffed taking a seat next to her. “I have three daughters miss, I can see you are not well, and though this might look creepy or weird as you young people would say for me taking interest in you- I do have to say that I genuinely do care. I will always try and assist a young woman in distress because she is someones daughter and I’d like to think that a stranger would do the same thing for one of my own daughters.” A genuine smile broke through Omorfias tears and she tried wiping her face with the back of her hand, only to smear her flowing mascara even more. “Thanks… it does mean a lot.” The man patted her shoulder and looked at her with a concerned look in his eyes. “Now tell me what is going on.” She has never been one to speak about personal issues with other people, especially complete strangers. The only person she dared to have a heart to heart with has always been her father yet she found herself telling this man everything. About her father needing money for an operation, them not having it and her trying to make money to assist with it as well as the anticks of the so called very important Miss Clarke.. After she finished speaking, she gave a big sigh- almost feeling a bit lighter after sharing her troubles and the man gave a slow nod, as if thinking very deeply. He dug in his pocket and took out his wallet, counting out money and she instantly knew what was coming, “Oh no please…” He hushed her, holding out a roll of cash. “It is not much, but take it. See it as my donation to your fathers cause.” She shook her head. “I honestly cant take it. Please don’t feel like I told you this story to gain sympathy…” The man waved her silent and forcefully placed the money inn to her hand. “Take it. Don’t worry, you do not need to give it back, just pay it forward.” Omorfia dumbfoundedly stared at the wad of cash and then looked at the man. “Thank you…” He smiled getting up. “Now let’s get out of this rain. You need to wash that pretty face of yours. Do you need a ride?” She shook her head. “No, I’m fine, I honestly just live around the corner, I can walk.” He gave a nod, realizing that if he insisted that she might feel awkward and alarmed, so he handed the umbrella to her instead. “Take this with you then. My ride is just across the street.” Omorfia reluctantly took the umbrella and got up as well, thanking him again and then they said their good byes. She didn’t wait to see which car he walked to as a sudden sensation of cold creeping through her ribs made her realize just how wet and cold she felt and she chose to run as quickly as she could to her apartment. The older man watched just for a minute as she ran and then he got in to the back of the black Audi. “You were gone for quite a while Richard, I was beginning to grow impatient.” “My apologies sir, I went to get the information on the girl as you requested but as I left the restaurant luck would have it that she was sitting outside on a bench.” The other person lifted their head. “And?” “It is much worse than we initially thought the damage miss Clarke did sir.” The old man said strapping himself in and the other man grimaced. “Let us go home and you can tell me all about it.” “Of course sir.” The car ride was rather quiet but before they stopped in front of the mansion the other man grabbed Ridchards arm. “Just how full of piercings is this woman?” The old man chuckled, odd question to be asked but then again since his boss became blind some of the questions asked how random it might be its out of pure curiosity simply because he couldn’t see for himself. “Miss Clarke over exaggerated sir. The young lady has two piercings. A nose piercing and one by her brow. Even so she is a very attractive young woman with dark brown hair and sapphire blue eyes.”