A Game of Ordeal

Chapter five

The terrible storm had passed late in the evening, allowing the group to return home. The streets of Denver were almost flooded by the rain, with broken trees decorating the roads. Despite the havoc, everyone had made it back safely, carrying wonderful memories and beautiful experiences with them.

Two weeks had passed since the last events—everyone's life had gone back to normal, and the daily routine had taken hold of them again, without a second thought. Time never waited, did it?

Today was an exceptionally pleasant day—the sun shone over the streets of Denver, which were once again starting to buzz with life. The sky was crystal clear, with white clouds dancing back and forth, playing with the sun's rays. Children were back to playing, chasing each other through the large neighborhoods, their rosy faces adorned with bright smiles from exhaustion. The weather was perfect for long walks or relaxation. On such warm, sunny days, many people preferred to go outside to blow off steam.

Alexander had been at work since early this morning—his first shifts started at nine and ended around six. Saturdays were definitely busy for him—most people had the day off and went out with their families. The restaurant where he worked was full today, as it usually was on weekends, but somehow Alex didn't quite feel the pressure of the work.

He was managing a relatively small section by himself—six tables in total. Four tables were for four people, and two were for eight. It wasn't a task that would challenge him, and the blond handled it with ease. His uniform was clean and looked good on him—a pearl-white shirt with the black logo of the beautiful restaurant and comfortable black pants. Always smiling brightly, charming, talkative, and sociable, he won over the hearts of his customers, and they almost always left satisfied, returning again and again. The joy he felt working in restaurants, being so close to his big dream, was incomparable to anything else. His heart seemed to beat differently, and his hands tingled with excitement.

Alexander stood by the waiter's cabinet, his expression one of calm focus, carefully preparing the workspace for the next shift. With habitual, smooth movements, he folded the clean silverware as if each gesture were part of a ritual that brought order and harmony to the space around him. His delicate hands wrapped the white napkins with precision, speaking of experience and care, before meticulously arranging the prepared utensils in the lacquered wooden cabinet. This cabinet, radiating the warmth of the wood and carefully maintained, housed other necessary supplies, each in its rightful place. The workday was nearly over—only a few moments of silence and calm remained, and all that was required of him was a bit more patience. Soon, everything would be finished, and order would reign until the next day, or at least until someone else took over the shift.

The blond-haired boy had just finished his duties and was calmly leaning against the massive cabinet, patiently waiting for new customers when Rachel, the new trainee hostess, quickly approached him. Her nervousness was evident on her beautifully made-up face.

Her smile was innocent and wide, but her eyes darted around anxiously, looking for Alex. The blond noticed her, and a wave of joy filled his soul—she was still incredibly confused, and the new place was unfamiliar to her, which amused him. Somehow, everyone had been strict with her, pushing her to learn quickly, while Alexander had shown patience and understanding—he vividly remembered where he had started and was ready to help.

"Rach, what is it now? Need help with a reservation?" A warm smile appeared on his pale face as he looked at the girl. She only giggled, touched by his kind words, and replied:

"Do you have a free table for four, Alex?"

His sea-blue eyes scanned the area, analyzing the surroundings. In the middle, he spotted an empty table waiting for new customers. The young man turned to Rachel, who was trembling with anticipation, and confidently said: