Chapter 32 HER BOSS IS A BULLY
The bell over the door chimed at 8:03 AM.
Mia was wiping down table seven when Alex walked in from the back office. No coffee in hand. No casual nod. Just the look he got when he was about to be a problem.
“Caruso,” Alex said.
Mia didn’t look up. “It’s Mia.”
“Not on the clock,” Alex said. “On the clock, you’re Caruso. And you’re five minutes behind on table seven. Table four’s been waiting for water for three minutes. Table two needs their check.”
Mia set the rag down slower than she needed to.
“You know I’ve been working here three years, right?” Mia said. “I know how to run a floor.”
“I know you’ve been running it like it’s Rosa’s diner,” Alex said. “It’s not. It’s 42nd Corner now. We run tight. No dragging. No attitude.”
Mia looked up.
Alex wasn’t smiling.
He was using that voice. The one he used with lieutenants who were about to get chewed out in front of the pack. Flat. Unbothered. Final.
The diner went quiet. Two tables stopped talking. Marcus glanced over from the register and immediately looked away.
Mia kept her voice low. “You’re doing this on purpose.”
“Doing what?” Alex asked.
“Turning me into a show,” Mia said.
Alex leaned on the counter, arms crossed. “I’m turning you into an employee. The same way I’m turning Marcus into a manager. The same way I’m turning this place into something that won’t get shut down the second Ivan’s guys walk through the door.”
Mia stepped closer. “Say it to my face. Not to the whole room.”
Alex’s eyes flicked to the room, then back to her.
“Caruso,” Alex said. “Table four. Now. Or you’re clocking out early.”
Mia stared at him.
For a second, the old Alpha was there. The one who gave orders and expected them followed without question.
Then he was gone, and it was just a guy in a black shirt who’d bought her workplace to keep her from getting grabbed off the street.
Mia grabbed the water pitcher and walked to table four.
“Sorry about the wait,” Mia said to the couple. Voice polite. Flat.
They didn’t notice anything wrong.
When she came back, Alex was at the register with Marcus.
“Floor’s covered?” Alex asked Marcus.
“Yeah,” Marcus said. “She’s got it.”
Alex nodded. “Good. Caruso, break room. Now.”
Mia followed.
The door closed behind them.
Alex didn’t waste time.
“You’re good at this,” Alex said. “Better than most. But you’re sloppy when you’re mad. You’re letting it show. If Ivan’s people come back, they’ll see it too.”
Mia leaned against the fridge. “So you’re training me?”
“I’m keeping you alive,” Alex said. “You think I like this? You think I like telling you to move faster when I’d rather be pulling you out of here?”
Mia laughed. “You have a funny way of showing it.”
Alex stepped closer. Not close enough to touch. Just close enough that she had to look up.
“I don’t get to be soft with you anymore, Mia,” Alex said. “Not when there’s a guy out there who wants to use you to take over two packs. So yeah, I’m going to be your boss. I’m going to be harder than Rosa ever was. Because if I’m not, you won’t be ready.”
Mia looked away first.
“Fine,” Mia said. “Be my boss.”
Alex nodded. “Good. Back on the floor. And Caruso?”
Mia stopped at the door.
“Don’t make me say it twice,” Alex said.
Mia walked out.
\---
10:47 AM
Mia was on table nine when the health inspector walked in.
Unannounced. Clipboard. Gray suit.
Mia saw Alex straighten from where he was restocking the soda fridge.
“Morning,” Alex said, walking over. “Marcus, front. Caruso, back.”
Mia didn’t argue. She headed to the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, Alex came in.
“Gloves,” Alex said. “You’re not wearing gloves on the salad station.”
Mia held up her hands. “I washed them thirty seconds ago.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Alex said. “Policy. Gloves. Every time. You want me to get written up because you’re stubborn?”
Mia grabbed the box of gloves and put them on.
Alex watched her for two seconds too long, then nodded.
“Better,” Alex said.
Mia muttered something under her breath.
“What was that?” Alex asked.
“Nothing, boss,” Mia said.
Alex’s mouth twitched. Not quite a smile.
“Good,” Alex said. “Keep it that way.”
He left.
Mia counted to ten before throwing the clean towel into the sink.
\---
2:15 PM
The rush died down.
Mia was refilling ketchup bottles when Alex came up behind her.
“Front,” Alex said. “Table twelve just sat. Two tops. They’re in a hurry.”
Mia set the bottle down. “Marcus has front.”
“Marcus is on register,” Alex said. “You’ve got table twelve.”
Mia turned. “I’m in the middle of—”
“I know what you’re in the middle of,” Alex said. “And it can wait. Tables first. That’s the rule.”
Mia looked at him.
He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t gloating.
He was just doing it.
Employer to employee.
No bond. No history. No favor.
Mia grabbed a menu and walked to table twelve.
“Hi, welcome to 42nd Corner,” Mia said. Voice perfect. Professional.
The couple ordered fast.
When Mia came back to the kitchen, Alex was there.
“Good,” Alex said. “That’s how it’s done.”
Mia set the order ticket down harder than necessary.
“You’re enjoying this,” Mia said.
Alex shook his head. “No.”
“Then stop,” Mia said.
Alex leaned against the counter.
“I can’t,” Alex said. “Not until I know you’ll be okay when I’m not here. And right now, you’re not.”
Mia looked at him.
“You don’t get to decide that,” Mia said.
“I do,” Alex said. “While you’re on my payroll, I do.”
Mia went quiet.
Alex saw it land.
“Clock out at four,” Alex said. “Don’t stay late. I’ll walk you home.”
Mia picked up the towel again. “I didn’t ask you to.”
“I know,” Alex said.
He walked out.
\---
3:58 PM
Mia was wiping down the last table when Alex came to the floor.
“Clock out,” Alex said.
Mia glanced at the clock. Two minutes early.
“You’re late,” Alex said. “Two minutes.”
Mia raised an eyebrow. “You’re kidding.”
Alex held out her timecard.
“You clocked in five minutes late this morning,” Alex said. “We’re even.”
Mia took the card.
“You’re impossible,” Mia said.
Alex shrugged. “I’m your boss.”
Mia signed out.
Alex waited by the door.
Mia walked past him.
“Don’t think this means I’m thanking you,” Mia said.
“I don’t,” Alex said.
They walked out together.
The street was busy. 42nd at shift change. Noise and people and cars.
Mia kept her hands in her pockets.
Alex kept his hands at his sides.
“Why today?” Mia asked.
“Why what?” Alex asked.
“Why the act?” Mia asked. “You could have just talked to me.”
Alex looked at her.
“Because if I talked to you, you’d leave,” Alex said. “If I’m your boss, you have a reason to stay. And a reason to listen.”
Mia stopped walking.
“And if I don’t want to listen?” Mia asked.
Alex stopped too.
“Then I fire you,” Alex said. “And hire you back tomorrow. Because I’m not letting you walk out there alone.”
Mia stared at him.
For a second, the anger slipped.
“You’re a control freak,” Mia said.
Alex smiled. Small. Real.
“I’m a werewolf,” Alex said. “Control is all I’ve got.”
Mia started walking again.
“Fine,” Mia said. “Be my boss.”
Alex fell into step beside her.
“Good,” Alex said. “Tomorrow, we work on response time. You’re slow on refills.”
Mia groaned.
“Can’t a girl get a day off from you?” Mia asked.
“Not while Ivan’s still breathing,” Alex said.
Mia didn’t argue.
She couldn’t.
Because as much as she hated it, the headache was gone.