Where you go - Carmen Berzatto x OC

Chapter 5

„You could sleep at mine tonight." Rafaela offered when they walked down the street a while later, still holding hands. „If you don't want to be alone." Carmen grinned at her and she blushed slightly. „Not- not to have sex or anything. We could watch a movie or something. Cuddle a bit, before going to sleep. I mean, my roommates will both be there, but I have a small TV in my room." He remembered. „Or I could come to yours." She then said. He just chuckled and looked at her, a soft expression on his face and squeezed her hand. He liked how worried she seemed to be about him.

Her gaze wandered over the street until she suddenly stopped. The man looked at her questioningly until she pointed with her chin. Then they both watched Richie talk to and exchange a little bag with a stranger. He then told the man something... calling him Nico. „Didn't you say the man who called was named Nico?" Carmen nodded. „That's what he said." She narrowed her eyes. If that wasn't suspicious she didn't know what it was. But she didn't know what to be suspicious of. Because, while Richie certainly was an asshole, he wasn't a criminal... right?

.

.

They exchanged a last kiss before separating their hands to go in through the back door as they both didn't want to make their still very fresh relationship public yet. The atmosphere in the diner was complicated enough as it was, without throwing in a work place romance.

Or at least that's what Rafaela had thought.

But when they were in the little office, while going over what of their produce they could save money on through outsourcing (mainly bread), she felt his gaze on her. She looked at him from her place at the whiteboard. „What?" Carmen smiled. „I just like the way you look when you're concentrating. It's cute." She huffed, though a smile was growing on her face as well. „Shouldn't you be in the kitchen and cook something up? You know, help your kitchen crew?" He leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. „Well, that's the good thing about a French Brigade. As Chef de Cuisine I'm doing mostly administrative stuff. Just have to check up on my chefs from time to time, make sure the system goes smoothly. Means I can spend all the time I want with my cute manager." She rolled with her eyes playfully. „Oh, I see it now. This was your plan from the beginning, huh. Though I hope you really intend to help me then, not just watch me work."

He chuckled, taking one of her hands and pulled her towards him, between his legs. „I'm still your boss, you know?" She raised an eyebrow, playing along. „That so?" She asked with a mischievous grin. Rafaela hadn't know that Carmen could be that playful. But she liked it. Loved, in fact, to see him so relaxed around her. He nodded. „And as your boss... I'm saying you give me a kiss to motivate me to work." She pouted. „Oh, I don't know. Wouldn't that be, like, exploitation of an employee? Are you trying to exploit me, Boss Carmen?" He just shrugged. She giggled and put her hands on his cheeks, about to lean down for a kiss - when they were interrupted.

„Hey - whoa." Sydney gasped and Rafaela almost jumped away from Carmen, a blush rising in her cheeks. Said man raised a brow before turning to his Sous, still relaxed. „Hey." He narrowed his eyes. „We should be outsourcing bread." Sydney switched her gaze between the pair a couple times before clearing her throat. „Way ahead of you." Carmen nodded. „Okay." Sydney let out a breath. „Alright... you didn't take my onions, did you?" The man shook his head before her gaze wandered to the girl behind him, who had seemingly caught herself again. „I have nothing to do with the cooking, what am I supposed to do with chopped onions?" She asked confused before frowning. „Wait, are they bullying you again?" When the dark skinned girl didn't say anything she sighed, starting to walk. „I'll go tell them to stop."

Before she could leave the room Carmen stopped her by hooking a finger in the empty belt loop of her jeans on her back. „No." He told her, before looking at Sydney again. „They did this to me last week. It's just part of paying your dues." With a huff the dark skinned girl left the office again and Rafaela made a face at him. „What?" He asked. She shook her head. „Nothing. If that's how you want to lead your crew that's your decision, boss. But I don't have to like it and I don't. Poor Syd looks like she's on the cusp of a breakdown." She leaned over the desk, leafing through the book Mikey had barely used for it's actual purpose. Carmen frowned. It kinda hurt that Rafaela wasn't taking his side on that matter - though he respected her for not suddenly trying to please him just because they had... whatever that exactly was. And maybe she was right. Sydney had looked drained and annoyed, what wasn't normal.