“Don’t you want to check the bill first?” she asked.
“Is it incorrect?”
“No, sir.”
“Then why would I need to check it first? Just bring me the slip to sign.”
“Yes, sir.” She accepted the black card from his hand, his fingers grazing hers, and heat spread through her body. She hurried to the computer and brought up the bill, gaping at the four-figure total. He didn’t need to see the amount before paying? Section One people really were different.
She read through the bill, double checking everything before printing the receipts, then placed them in a leather-bound book along with a heavy pen and took it to David.
“Emily, wait,” he said softly as she turned to leave. He opened the book without looking at her. “You’re in Amber’s old place?” The other men around the table chatted with one another or checked their phones.
“I am.”
He nodded, sliding a finger down the long receipt. “Do you have another table tonight?”
“No, sir.”
He was quiet for a long moment and Emily bit her lip, wondering if she should retreat to the back to finish up her work for the night.
“How long will you be?”
The sound of the pen scratching on the paper reached her ears. How could she hear that?
“Oh, um. Maybe an hour?” That gave her enough time to do her end-of-shift cleaning and walk home.
He smiled. “Maybe?”
She bit her lip. “I should be home within the hour.”
He signed the bill with a flourish and closed the book, handing it to her. “I will see you in an hour.” He smiled kindly at her and stood, reaching for his tailored suit jacket.
She stared at him until he raised his eyebrows at her.
“Y-yes, sir.” She backed away and smiled at the men, who were shrugging into their designer suit coats. “Good night.” She turned, clutching the book to her chest like a talisman of protection, and hurried to the kitchen, flustered. David clearly had expectations for her tonight but what were they? Would he be cruel, like Geoffrey?
Was there any other kind of man?
Did it matter?
An arm appeared in her vision and the book was snatched from her grasp. She opened her mouth to protest but snapped it shut again. Geoffrey opened it and raised his eyebrows and glanced at her. “He must have liked you.” He held up the book and Emily nearly choked when she saw the high three-figure tip.
Oh, with that money... The things she could do! She calculated what six nights a week with that amount of tips added up to and gasped. She could be free sooner than she thought.
Geoffrey narrowed his eyes and studied her. “I think I’ll hold back part of your tips for a while.” She opened her mouth to protest and he held up his hand. “You haven’t had this sort of money in a long time. I’ll put it in a safe place and give it to you when you’re ready.”
“Did Amber ever get hers?” She clapped her hand over her mouth when Geoffrey’s eyes flashed. “I’m sorry!”
He grabbed her arm and dragged her through the kitchen and into his office, where he pushed her inside and slammed the door closed.
“Your mouth is going to get you into trouble,” he growled, pushing his body against hers. He was hot and she trembled beneath his angry gaze, his eyes like glaciers. He grasped her neck and she swallowed as she lifted her chin.
He squeezed for a moment, then released her and stepped away. “Yes, Amber got hers after a year. That’s when the trouble began.” He frowned. “I expected more from you, Emily.” He slid his gaze down her body and back to her face, warning in his eyes. “Clean up and go home.” Emily stared at him for a long moment and he raised his eyebrows. “Do you want to find out what’s racing through my mind?”
She shook her head and scrambled past him and out into the kitchen, trembling. She leaned against the stainless-steel counter and hung her head, breathing heavily, eyes closed.
When she’d regained control of her body, she peeked out into the dining room and saw all the guests at her table had left. Teddy, the busboy, was cleaning the table and she went to help. He was young, barely eighteen, and sweet, with blue eyes and blond hair. She started gathering the drink glasses, of which there were many. The men had not taken it easy on the alcohol and she wondered how many would wake with hangovers in the morning.