15

Cara's Pov



"Psst...psst...psst." For a second I think I am imagining the annoying hissing sound until I feel a wet towel fall on my shoulder.

I awkwardly smile at the family seated on the table I am currently cleaning. I put the dirty dishes on a tray. I turn with a grim face to find Kelly smiling at me. She signals at me to look at the entrance. I do.

My favourite pair of couple walk in. Some of the customers turn to look at the newest couple in town. Instagram has turned them into couple goals. Their matching outfits, their live sessions on social media doing things together, working out together, they have even become marriage counsellors.

I quickly carry my tray and hurry back to the kitchen.

"Should I go to their table and accidentally trip carrying hot, super hot pepper soup?" Kelly walks in after me.

"No, that is what they want. Drama." I throw the wet towel back to Kelly. It leaves a damp spot on my shoulder.

I walk back to the door and peep to see where Quinn, Courtney, Roxanna and Chad are seated.

Tony, our supervisor, pushes the door almost knocking my teeth out.

"Why are you both idling around?" He beckons at us.

Tony is a short man with a tiny frame. Despite that, he has an insatiable appetite for big girls with big behinds. He compensates his lack of body build with a mouth full of dirty jokes. He is annoying as fuck and most of the times he knows no boundaries.

"Let's keep working if neither of you wants to be selling..." He spanks Kelly and pinches her butt. "... This on the roadside."

The action is disgusting and I see Kelly fight so hard to control her anger. She blinks severally before straightening her shoulders.

"The table with the Nickels has requested your services for the night." He says.

"I am a cleaner, not a waiter."

"They are paying a good amount."

"Not interested."

"You have no option or you say bye-bye to your internship at the big office." I have a week to go before I start working at the Cooper Tower. I am sure just one mistake like disobeying your supervisor and the opportunity slips away.

I breathe in and out before marching to the cursed table. I am met by three pair of eyes, all of them glinting with mischief. Only one person has no interest, Quinn.

The moment I stop in front of them Chad knocks a glass from the stem it falls over and the red wine in it pours on the table down the floor.

"Oops," He tilts his head and says in a mock.

I retrieve the towel on my shoulder and start to wipe the table. All this time Quinn is busy on his phone.

"My name is Cara, I will be your server." I stand and wait for their orders. A short silence stretches a while before Roxanna and Courtney break into laughter.

"You are what?" Courtney asks and picks her glass of wine. I look behind me, Tony is looking at me with keen interest.

I clear my throat, "Server." I whisper.

"That's right, server...no...servant." Courtney clarifies. My finger roughly tightens around the towel on my hand. For a second I think of knocking the table over their faces and drenching their overpriced designer clothes with wine. I count slowly to calm myself otherwise, those months I have suffered here will go down the drain if I irrationally react.

"What are your orders?" I ask after I talk myself to calmness.

"Who are you really? What exactly are you doing here?" Courtney asks and that makes Quinn raise his head to look at me.

"That is none of your concerns. Your only concern is if, what you get is what you asked for." I reply.

Her fingers brush over Quinn's gaining his attention. "Honey, you be the judge of that." She says at him but staring back at me.

"Judge of what?" Quinn furrows his brows in confusion.

"You have had a share of her with other men. Did you get what you asked for?" She asks him.

Quinn sighs and shakes his head in frustration.

"Let's not do this here. Stop harassing her just order." Quinn angrily states.

Courtney goes silent for a moment. She seems to have an internal conflict with herself. I know her too well to know public outburst isn't her style.

"Fine." She glares back at Quinn and I know that this isn't over between them. Maybe in the comfort of their privacy, she will bring it up again.

I listen tentatively as I note down their orders. Quinn's appetite seems to have vanished because he orders nothing, not even water.

I finally release my breath once I am back at the kitchen. I find Kelly anxiously waiting for me.

"Should we poison their foods?" She follows me as I give out my orders. "I have watched a lot of investigation series and I know a way none of this will be traced back to us." She adds.

"I don't get paid enough to commit murder," I say. I see Tony walking towards me. His big teeth are out in display as his mouth stretches in an uncomfortable grin.

"You dirty girl." He says to me. I am taken back because despite his foul mouth since I started working here. I made it clear that I will not entertain his rotten behaviour and he has somehow tried to stay clear of my way.

"uh!" I breathe.

"How could I not see it. You were the Nickel's other woman, yet since your arrival, you have pretended to be a Saint. Calling me out for my dirty mouth while you are the dirtiest of all of us. Kelly is even more innocent than you, and she has slept with almost everyone here. " He moves closer to me.

"Excuse me?" Kelly moves to his face.

"Table 4," Ali, the head chef call out for my order. I step back and go to retrieve the food. I place it in a cart and I slowly push it back to one place I would trade hell for.

Quinn is no longer with the group.

"It is your fault my marriage is not working," Courtney says all over sudden.

I choose silence and continue arranging their meals per order.

"This isn't what I ordered for!" Roxanna shouts attracting the attention of other customers.

"That is what you ordered," I speak through my teeth, just to appear calm.

Within seconds Tony is already on my side.

"Ladies and Gentlemen is there a problem?" He courteously asks.

"My friend didn't get what she ordered for, neither did I," Courtney answers and pushes her plate forward.

"That is what each of you ordered." I lose it and raise my voice.

"Is that how your servants should talk to customers?" Chad speaks.

"Here at La Cooper, our customers are our first priority. We are here to make you comfortable and feel at home. On behalf of La Cooper accept our apologies for any inconvenience. You are all welcomed to order anything it will be on the house. And because of that, I guarantee you a five-star service. I will get you our best waiters and waitresses." Tony politely says you would think the prick is the most humble creature on earth.

"You should fire her." Courtney spits.

"She will be dealt with," Tony assures her.

"Make sure it is done. Mr Cooper sweated enough to build this empire, don't let someone who can never understand that destroy it." Courtney says

At the mention of my father's name, I feel my eyes well up. I know very well, how it teared him up just to get one hotel up and running.

"Excuse me." I rush past Tony not caring how later this will be an issue. I head towards the exit door that leads towards the underground parking. I need to get into my car and breath.

The area is silent, just occasion cars that are getting in and out. I curse when I realise my keys are inside my locker.

"Looking for me?" As I am about to turn around Quinn's voice stops me.

I stare ahead of me until Quinn's full figure comes to sight.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

When he swings a bottle of beer to his mouth I realise he is drinking.

"Trouble in Paradise?" I don't know why I ask that. I shouldn't be opening room for any conversation between us.

"Want a drink?" He lifts the bottle towards me.

I badly want to reject it but my legs start walking towards him. I take it once I am on his side.

He leans on a black range rover, I don't know if it is his but I follow his lead and do the same. I take a sip of his beer as silence envelopes us.

"What are you even doing here?" He asks.

"Working." I am precise.

"Why?" He persists.

I take another sip before he takes it away. "You know why," I reply.

"Why can't you just come out in public and tell the world who you are? You don't have to endure all of this." He says.

"I tried once. It is not as easy as you think." I answer.

"But this is easy, deceiving people, lying and getting close to people to use them as a tool of revenge." I can tell he is slowly getting angry. My deception must have done a number on him.

I shake my head and stand upright. This conversation of my revenge is getting old. The last time I checked we both agreed to stay clear of each other then he shows up with his wife where I work like there aren't enough fancy hotels they could go dine in? "I am tired of this," I say.

I take a few steps before his next confession stops me, "You were right, your father was step up." I turn my mouth wide open.

"By your father," I confirm.

"However, the accusations against him were true. He did launder money." He ignores me and continues.

"That is not true. My father was a man of integrity."

"That is subjective, just like happiness. He might have been a good father, husband, brother but he was a dishonest businessman."

My head is reeling, something about how Quinn confidently says that makes me believe him, just a little.

"Can you prove that?" I ask.

"Yes, there are witnesses too."

"I need to confirm it to believe everything you are saying."

"I can't let you do that, you will have to trust my words."

"Why?" I am confused. Words are not enough before a judge.

"My family has its own secrets attached to that and if I let you confirm that, there is no guarantee that you won't destroy us. After all, your goal is to ruin us."

"But you are okay that your family killed my parents?" I ask in utter shock.

"Don't pursue this further Cara. It is deeper than you think at the end whatever you unravel won't be worth the pain you have been through" His eyes don't leave mine as he stares back at me.

"That is my decision to make," I say.

"How much do you need to stop all of this madness. I can compensate for what you have lost."

I am speechless. What I have lost is priceless, no amount of money can buy that. I just stare at him, feeling disgusted and sorry for him. If at this point he thinks money will solve all the pain I have. He isn't even worth me raising my hand and slapping him hard cause, despite that, the reality is still oblivious to him. I turn on my heels and head back. I have a date with Jack.

I don't care to look back when he warns, "Careful with whom you trust."