The Magic of Stories | ONC 2024 shortlist

17 - Confrontation

Oliver's eyes widened in recognition for a second before he scowled and stepped forward until his legs almost touched the table between us. This was far too close for my liking.

"Lynn, what are you doing here?"

My former elation evaporated as a wave of desperation rolled over me and crushed me. The last thing I needed tonight was my ex making an ugly scene at my workplace. I suppressed a sigh, plastered a pleasant smile to my face and addressed the brunette woman holding Oliver's arm—in the hope her reaction would be more civilised than her boyfriend's. "Welcome and a very nice evening to you. May I offer you a glass of red or of white wine? Orange juice?"

"White wine would be nice, thank you." She bat her dark lashes in an almost flirty way and offered me a smile that seemed genuine enough. "I see you support the local biological winery."

"Yes, we try to use local and sustainable produce only." I filled a fresh glass and handed it to her with a genuine smile before I turned to Oliver. "Can I offer you one of the same, or is there anything else you would prefer?"

"A straight answer. What are you doing here?"

Politeness hadn't done the trick. I felt my cheeks burn but tried to swallow my anger and filled another glass, the tremor of my hand too strong to hide. "Please, Oliver, don't make this difficult. I'm working here."

"As a waitress?" Surprise replaced the scowl for a moment, but he still loomed over me, his arms crossed now.

What was the man's problem? He walked into my my safe spot and behaved as if I were in the wrong for being here. "Yes, tonight, I'm stepping in as a server, among other things. Not that this is your business. Do want a drink or not, then?" I held the filled glass out to him, an offer of peace.

Instead of taking it, he kept staring down at me. "Lynn, I told you the other day to keep out of my way. I don't know how you keep popping up in my path, but I also told you I'll call the police if you keep stalking me."

"Excuse me?" A grey-haired woman I remembered seeing in the knitting circle touched his arm. "Can you take your glass and let me have a word with the nice young lady here, please?" She disregarded Oliver's sour expression and turned to me. "Lynn, I just wanted to felicitate you on your speech. You did very well tonight, and these are so lovely pictures."

"Thank you, Miss Garner. It was my pleasure. So glad you could make it to the opening." I refilled her glass, and she patted my hand before she moved on.

Unfortunately, Oliver stood still there, ignoring the tug on his sleeve his girlfriend gave to make him move on. "Olly? Can we check out the lovely pictures the lady mentioned? That's why we came, after all."

He ignored her, his scowl deepening, and I steeled myself for the next confrontation, when Becca found her way through the crowd like a colourful whirlwind. In front of the refreshment table, she stopped, placed her hands on her hips, the worry line on her brow telling me she was in attack mode.

"Lynn, what's going on?" Her unwavering gaze was fixed on Oliver. "What is this guy doing here?"

"That's the same question I asked Lynn, but I never got a plausible answer." He threw back his shoulders and tapped a foot on the floorboards. The brunette let go of his arm and rolled her eyes. For a second, I wondered if she was getting as fed up with the man as I was.

Becca, who reached Oliver's chest at best—and only if measured with the hat atop her curls—wasn't impressed. "Listen, wise guy, I don't know what game you're playing at, but this is not the place to make a scene. So, I suggest you either behave or get out."

"And who are you to order me around?"

"She's a friend of the house." The familiar voice was deep and sent a wave of relief through my knotted neck muscles. Paco stepped up to Becca, Amber in tow, and Sim and Danny only steps behind. The cavalry had arrived. "Please leave our Lynn alone. We're all guests tonight in her house, and I would appreciate if you respected this."