Chapter 48 Chapter 48
He stared at me, his eyes running a full diagnostic check on my clothes, my posture, and my expression. He wasn't looking for experience; he was looking for desperation and control. I gave him the control.
“We had a server unexpectedly quit last night. We’re short-staffed, and we are booked solid tonight,” he said, his lips barely moving. “Can you learn a twelve-table section, the wine pairings, and the full tasting menu by 6 PM?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, without blinking.
“Good. You’re hired. Report back at three for training and clock in for your first shift at seven. Don’t be late. And if you speak about anything you see, hear, or witness outside these walls, I will ensure you never work in a legitimate restaurant again. Understood?” he said
“Understood,” I replied.
He finally gave a tiny nod, a sign of dismissal. I walked out. This would keep me busy and keep Kai away from me. When I walked out, I headed to the department store and bought some new black slacks and a white shirt. I bought a black pair of slip-resistant black shoes. I made a quick stop at the salon and had my hair recolored to brown-to-white lights and had a manicure. By the time I was finished it was almost three, so I went back to the restaurant after a quick bite to eat.
I spent three hours of rote memorization with the training supervisor, who had the patience of a very bored saint, cramming the eight-course tasting menu, the difference between the Bordeaux regions, and the specific allergies of the VIP clientele.
When I finally clocked in at 7 PM, the dining room was already buzzing. My section was in the middle, small but demanding.
I met the core crew during the pre-shift rush. Sarah Maria, Chloe, James, Liam, Ben, and Jessica. Daniel was the maitre d', and Ashley was the lead bartender.
“Welcome to the thunderdome, fresh meat. Rule one: if Daniel is looking at you, you’re doing something wrong. Rule two: if Chef is looking at you, you’re about to be yelled at. Good luck.” Sara said.
“Don’t worry, we’ll save you if you’re drowning. Just don’t crash into ‘Matt’ Clark, the sommelier. He cries if you touch his glassware.” James said.
I exchanged a sympathetic look with Chloe, who had a quiet, calm energy, as we both waited for orders from the kitchen pass. “Just focus on the rhythm,” Chloe advised, noticing my wide eyes. “It’s like dancing, but with hot plates and rich jerks,” she said with a smile.
The shift hit, and it was total chaos, but honestly? It was my kind of chaos. I didn't miss a beat. Years of serving kicked in, and running those complicated food passes and keeping track of the wine list felt easy, like autopilot. The whole place the pressure, the speed, the fake smiles it was the perfect background noise. Every time I hit a table perfectly, it felt like I was putting distance between me and Kai. I didn't have to think about him.
Around ten o’clock, the rush started to thin out, but the elite crowd stayed put, nursing expensive digestifs and plotting corporate espionage. I was wiping down a cleared table in the corner, finally allowing myself to take a slow, deep breath, when the energy in the room shifted, all the air just disappeared, and my entire body went stiff. That only happens when Kai is around. My head whipped around so fast.
I saw Daniel straighten his tie in an almost reverent gesture. He personally escorted a party of three from the front door to the back, bypassing all the occupied tables. The man leading the party was immaculate. Dark suit, impeccably sharp hair, and a commanding air that made every other powerful man in the room shrink. It was Rhyland, but it wasn't the Zaiel Rhyland I knew.
The Zaiel Rhyland I met in Athena Tower was smug, an asshole, and a complete idiot, but his person was cold and calculated, and he looked like he would snap at any moment. I turned away; I didn't want to deal with him.
He was led to Table 20, the semi-private booth in the center of my section. I watched him sit down, his back facing the main dining room, giving him a full, unobstructed view of the service station.
“Who’s that?” Maria asked.
Ben snorted, rolling his eyes back at the service station. “Oh, great. That’s the king of Manhattan. Zaiel Rhyland. CEO of Rhyland Empire. He owns a penthouse two blocks over and treats the waitstaff like furniture. He’s at Table 20. Your worst nightmare “Good luck, Tessa,” he muttered, and I groaned.
Sarah immediately squeezed my arm. "Deep breaths, Tess. Just be a ghost. Take the order and bounce. He's ice, remember? Don't engage." she said in a rush.
I forced myself forward. “Welcome to The Luxe, sir. May I start you with some sparkling water?” I asked, my voice completely smooth and professional.
Zaiel, who was sitting with his two associates, finally lifted his head. His mask, the cold, ruthless CEO, was on tight. But the second his eyes met mine, the mask dropped. It wasn't the CEO look anymore; it was the same cocky, familiar grin the asshole uses with me. He leaned back, looking completely relaxed. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. Firecracker, I wondered where you were,” he said.
The silence hit the dining room like a punch. Zaiel Rhyland, the King of Manhattan, just used a nickname on the new server. I kept my professional smile on. “Don’t you dare,” I hissed under my breath, and he just smiled. I heard a clatter somewhere. He leaned forward and looked at me.
“I missed our elevator rides,” he said quietly, and I froze. Before I could even answer, he snapped his fingers, a sound that made Daniel practically materialize at the side of the table.
“Daniel,” he said, still grinning directly at me. “I had no idea that Tessa was working here.”
“Sir, is there a problem with the server?” Daniel asked, sounding terrified that his newest hire had already ruined the most important table.
“A problem? No, quite the opposite,” he said, “Tessa and I are… friends. We have some history. I would never be so rude as to have a friend serve me.” He leaned closer to me, his voice low, just for my ears. “It wouldn’t be professional, right, Firecracker?” he asked.
He pulled back, smiling at Daniel. “Please get her a backup position tonight and find me a new server. And please, ensure Tessa’s tip-out for the entire night is covered. It was my oversight.”
Daniel was nodding before Zaiel even finished speaking. “Right away, Mr. Rhyland. Of course.” Daniel said, scurrying away.
“Asshole,” I muttered.
“Likewise, firecracker,” he replied. Great, now everyone in this restaurant knew I was a friend of his. I walked away, needing to put distance between me and that idiot. The fact that the most powerful, coldest CEO in the city called me a nickname publicly and claimed I was his "friend" meant I was in for trouble.