78 - SHE'S HIRED

PRESENT

ARIA’S POV

It had been a few days since I said yes to being Kyle’s girlfriend and while it had been a few days of whirlwind romance that I never wanted to end but I knew I needed to knock myself back to reality and get a new job, something different, something a little liberating with more flexible hours that would give me the opportunity to be the lazy girl I dreamed of being. So when I found the opening at an high end restaurant upstate, I knew I needed to get it. So that morning, I carefully gulped down a small cup of coffee to avoid smudging my red stained lips and staining my white silk shirt. I quickly threw my hair into a sleek pony tail straightening out my facial features before stepping out of my house.

I stood at the corner of 62nd street while I took a quick selfie with my phone and sent it to Kyle but I wasn’t telling him I was getting a job. This was something I needed to figure out on my own without the unsolicited heroic actions of a man.

“Oh you don’t need a job, I’ll take care of you” I imagined Kyle saying and I rolled my eyes at the thought. Of course I needed a job, what do I do when he’s out for the day with his crisp suit? I know some would wish for that life but I had been let down one too many times by a man who promised the world at the last minute.

Working at a fine dining restaurant wasn’t exactly a dream but it was going to be a worthwhile experience. So immediately, I took a deep breath, smoothing down my white crips shirt and adjusting my black pencil skirt that hugged my skinny legs. I quickly glanced at my reflection at a nearby storefront window, checking my appearance one more time before crossing the threshold.

As I approached the entrance of the restaurant with gold rimmed motion sensor sliding doors, I was greeted by a towering security officer in a tailored suit who assessed me from head to toe as I walked in

“Hello” I offered a polite smile and he nodded at me, urging me to go on. He had a half smile on his face and at the same time maintained a neutral expression.

“I’m here concerning the opening, I saw it online”

“Right” he nodded again then he gestured towards the ornate revolving doors “You can go inside and to your left there’s a door, Marvis will guid you through the rest”

“Marvis?”

He gave me an odd look like I was weird for asking who Marvis was “Marvis is the manager but Matteo is in today and maybe you’ll deal with him directly instead”

“Matteo?” I raised a brow and the doorman looked frustrated with me but he can’t throw random names around and expect me to know who they are.

“The CEO, owner of Lextrel Fine Dining restaurant. Matteo D’angelo, no clue?”

I have never heard that name before in my life so I shook my head to the judgemental gaze of the doorman “Did you do any research at all of where you want to work?”

“I was supposed to?”

He sighed and pointed towards the doors he gestured me to “Just go in honey”

I stept through the doors and was immediately enveloped into an atmosphere of luxury and refinement even better than K&H. The interior of the restaurant was breathtaking, like something out of a vintage movie. A symphony of soft lighting casting gentle glows on the polished marble floors, plush velvet chairs with tasteful artwork adorning the walls.

I walked through the directions the doorman had given, bypassing a receptionist who directed me further down to an office. I knocked on the door but there was no response, I tried opening the door either ways but it was locked, anticipation rose in my throat. Immediately I turned around to walk back to the receptionist when I heard the footsteps of someone approaching and throwing me a curious glance, dressed in a crisp suit with dark eyes that searched me curiously, I immediately assumed he was Marvis.

“Marvis?” I called out when he finally reached me, he had a look of surprise on his face and he seemed a bit confused at first but quickly he regained himself and offered a hand.

“Oh yes, I’m Marvis and you are – ”

“Aria Thorne and I’m here regarding the job opening, I was directed here by the doorman”

“Oh – right” he said again, and this time more relaxed but his gaze unwavered.

“Well then come with me, let’s discuss in my office” he said and turned around to lead me, walking away from the office that I assumed was Marvis’s office.

“Isn’t that your office?” I called out to his tall back that stood huge and well built, he was so tall and he towered above me with no remorse, quickly he turned around to give me an odd look.

“How could that be my – oh” he stopped immediately “There’s some construction going on there, so we can sit at the outdoor tables and discuss your employment if you like” he looked at me with those dark eyes that held a hint of mystery but there was something definitely off about him and I just couldn’t place a hand on it.

“Sure” I said to him and he continued walking on with me following diligently behind him until he led me to an outdoor setting with carefully crafted wooden tables and similar chairs and delicate lighting that would glow differently in the night but for that morning, the early morning gazed down on us as he gestured me to sit opposite him which I did.

“So you want to work here?” he started and I nodded at him.

“So what happened to your job at K&H” he asked and I stopped midway, my turn to search his eyes for any hint of familiarity and so far there was none forthcoming. Then he smirked and breaking the awkwardness with a brief smile that didn’t seem to go all the way, I wasn’t sure he was used to the art of smiling.

“When I saw you standing there I knew you looked familiar and only because recently I’ve been paying more attention to mainstream media gossip”

“Oh” I managed to say, I didn’t think people would register my face from the blog but apparently they did.

“So did you quit or were you fired?”

“Does it matter?” I said back and we held each other’s stare for what felt like an eternity but was actually just a few seconds. Then he smirked again and was about to say something when someone walked in on us, a tall lanky guy dressed in a similar suit only it was less sophisticate than what Marvis was wearing and his gaze wandered between the both of us, he had the look of someone who was eager to please.
Marvis turned to look at the approaching guy “Miss Aria sitting here is here for the open waitress position”

“Oh that position has already – ”

“She’s hired” Marvis cut in immediately before I could catch the other guys words “She’s hired, effective immediately”