Control

11 - A Smile Bigger Than Normal

authors note- y'all better eat this up

"You're sure you don't want a pastry?"

"I'm fine, dear, thank you." They both sit down at one of the tables. "So, What's going on in the life of Ellie Taylor?"

I smile at her softly as she adjusts her purse next to her, the brown bag uncharacteristic of the rest of her outfit; a monochromatic purple set that would only work for someone like Lorraine. "Same old, same old."

Her mouth sets into a thin line. "You're still working at my family's retched club?"

"I need to, Lorraine. I need to pay for college, pay to raise Eddie, and pay for everything else. It's a miracle that I'm allowed to live upstairs, otherwise I'd be broke." Even the idea makes me slightly shiver in my seat, and I can't tell if she noticed or not.

"Honey, that little apartment up there is too small for one person, let alone two. I don't understand why you don't just work as me or my sons' assistant, you'd get paid plenty."

"But then I'd have to live somewhere else, and everything in this city is too expensive, even for what you or your son would be paying me."

"You could live at the hotel! And you have experience as an assistant, it'd be perfect for you."

I laugh. "You just want someone to talk to all day."

"I will say that's a plus." We both laugh now, before the sound of the bell startles me. I get up from the booth to tend to the customer, and find Lorraine with a sympathetic look on her face. "Honey, are you still the only one working here?" I nod. "That owner of yours is horrible, I don't understand how he can just refuse to hire more than one person. You're a college student with another full-time job and you're taking care of a child, for goodness sakes."

I shrug. "He says it's a waste of money if I can do it. Besides, if I'm the only one here, he lets me stay upstairs, and I'm really grateful for that."

Lorraine leaves after a while, promising to come back soon, and I continue my work day. Eventually, Alexander comes in alone, wearing a suit this time, seeing how it's Friday and we don't have class together. "Hi, Mr. Marcello!"

He looks me up and down as he speaks. "Hi, darling. And please, anything but Mr. Marcello."

What does he want me to call him then? "...Can I call you Alex? Alexander is a long name."

"Sure, call me anything you'd like." His eyes move between mine, like he's thinking. I watch him, his brown curls falling slightly over his forehead, giving him a youthful appearance. We stay like this, not saying a word to one another for what has to be minutes, before he shakes his head and begins to order.

"Hey, I know it's short notice, but my two friends and I run the AVE foundation over on Market Street and have a meeting around 4 tomorrow. I was wondering, if you were free, if you could make one of those deliveries you were talking about for after the meeting? It wouldn't be a lot of food, just a few pastries for three people."

Oh my gosh, a delivery, and to Alex at that! "I would love that!" I pull out a notepad from behind the desk. "Pick out anything you'd like me to make for tomorrow and I'll bring it over around 4:30?"

"That sounds great, darling, thank you." Just then, a hideous man walks through the door. It's clear he hasn't shaved in weeks, his hair isn't combed through, his pot belly is sticking out of his discolored shirt, and his sweatpants are riding very very low.

This was the owner.

I tried to pay him no mind, talking to Alexander once again, even though he seems to notice my nervousness right away. "Ellie." The owner, Arnold Hadner, grumbles from his place towards the end of the cashier counter.