My gaze stops at the hostess stand. She has a smile that lights up her whole face as she interacts with the customers she’s about to seat. Her body has all the right curves. She’s not one of those skinny women that you usually see running up and down around here. No, she has substance on her. Something you can grab onto and not be afraid to hurt.
Her hips sway as she walks the customer to their table and when she turns around to leave them to enjoy their dinner, her ass. It’s perfectly heart shaped and has me thinking of all the dirty things I’d like to do to her. If only she wasn’t my employee. She’s temptation wrapped in a bow and I’d give my right arm to unwrap her slowly.
I turn around and head back towards my office to get the paperwork that’s been piling up on my desk taken care of. I grab a bottle of water from the mini fridge I keep in here, that way I don’t have to go back and forth to the kitchen, I fall back into my chair and fire up my computer to see what I can take care of while the evening shift continues their duties.
Getting lost in my work for the past four hours wasn’t something I was thinking would really happen. I’m going to eventually have to hire an assistant for this restaurant. I grimace thinking back to the last one I hired. It was a train wreck; she was messing things up left and right. Orders never got submitted, vendors weren’t getting paid on time, and add in the petty cash disappearing. It didn’t take long to go through the video feeds to see where the money was going. She was escorted out of the building and we put a trespass warrant against her. It wasn’t worth pressing charges over and then creating a scandal in the news, too. I know how small towns work, once the cops show up, then it’s the news crew, and the next thing you know social media is being blown up.
I stand up stretching my back and look towards the view from my desk. The waves are crashing in the dark night. The peacefulness luring me into its beauty. I lean up against the floor to ceiling window and take it all in. I’m so deep in thought I don’t realize there is a knock at my door until I hear, “Mr. Jackson, can we come in?”
I walk to my door, unlocking it and swinging the door open. My breath leaves my lungs as I look past Jessica, our head waitress, to the beauty that’s knocking my world off its axis with her smile alone.
“Come on in Jessica,” I say with a sweep of my hand allowing both of them to enter.
“This is Harlow, Mr. Jackson. She’s the new hostess and will be bussing tables when she’s not doing her job as a hostess,” she says as I grasp Harlow’s hand. The connection I feel is instantaneous.
“Nice to meet you Mr. Jackson,” Harlow whispers out with a shyness in her voice.
“Harlow, it’s a pleasure to have you on our team,” I tell her honestly. I was unaware she’d be bussing tables after working her first shift as a hostess. My gut clenches thinking how hard she’ll be working and how I don’t want her eyes tired and weary from work. I want them to always sparkle with joy.
“Thank you. I’m already loving working here and the customers. They make it that much better,” she says with a bright smile.
“You’re welcome. I look forward to working with you,” I tell her as I slowly walk back towards my office door, knowing full well she is now finished with her hostess shift and will be transitioning into bussing tables.
“Likewise,” Harlow says as Jessica walks out with her.
I go back to my desk and sit down in my chair. I have a strict policy of no fraternizing between employees. One that includes myself as well, and that’s when I know I’m truly fucked. I’ll break every one of my rules for Harlow.
3
Harlow
I’m exhausted, there’s no other word for it. Okay, maybe there is but I’m just too tired to even think of another word. I pull into my driveway of my house and sit there for a few minutes. I finally find the energy to pull myself up and out of my car. I go into my house, not even bothering to turn on the lights. All that is on my mind is a shower and my bed, in that exact order. I slip my shoes off by the front door and strip out of my clothes on my way to the bathroom.
When I finally arrive to my much needed destination, I’m left in just my bra and panties I turn the water on full blast in the shower. I make sure it’s on the hottest setting to get some of these knots out of my back. What I’d really love is a massage, unfortunately that’s not in my budget. One day, I’ll be able to breathe easier and not have to work forty plus hours just to survive.