A la Carte

Chapter 19

Unedited

"You trying to impress someone I don't know about?" Perry asked in confusion as she took in Charlotte's appearance.

"No, just trying a new look out, that's all," Charlotte said with a shrug. She was in fact trying to blend in and in order to do so, she donned some makeup and let her hair hang loose a total change from her usual no makeup and hair in a pony-tail look. It was a look that her dad would not recognise or so she hoped.

"I need the cutlery on the table to be checked please Charlotte and also make sure the glasses are clean," Amanda ordered as she passed by.

"Yes ma'am," Charlotte said and giving Perry a 'I promise I'm not lying' smile, she set off to work.

Half an hour before the guests arrived and the kitchen was in a state of orderly chaos. The Chef was yelling orders and assistants started packing out rows and rows or plates so that plating the starters would go off smoothly. Instead of opting for the waiters to walk around serving the starters, the company had instead decided on a full sit-down meal. Twenty minutes to go and the personal assistants to the company heads arrived to make sure everything was in order before their bosses arrived.

Eventually all the guests arrived and half of the waiters were out serving and pouring drinks for them. Charlotte hadn't even dared to poke her nose out into the main serving area instead opting to lurk in the shadows and pass on new bottles of champagne to those serving.

"Charlotte, here," Amanda stuffed a tray of starters at Charlotte, "Serve the main table first, that's the bigwigs,"

Charlotte too stunned and shocked to move or even protest got a stern look from Amanda.

"Go!"

She nodded her head, after five years she would see the man that had made her childhood hell with his unrealistic expectations and oppressive and controlling nature. She came to a standstill and surveyed the hall, her eyes fixating on her brother and mother sitting calmly next to one another. To her mother's right sat the man who caused her to leave everything she knew behind. Frank Lockeheart. He hadn't changed much, only a little bit more grey than he was. He still held himself with that air or 'I'm more powerful than you, don't forget it' and spoke like he was trying to sell you something.

"Charlotte, get a move on!" Perry whispered urgently as she moved passed her.

Brought out of her stupor, Charlotte bent her head and hid her face behind her hair as she served the main table. She could hear his voice, cool, calm and collected as he asked how the business was doing and plans for the future, how he chuckled when a customer said something funny. It was all a charade and she hated him for it.

"How's the family Frank? Big deal to sign the company over to your son?" A man asked from across the table.

"We're all doing well, thank you and yes it is, but I feel that Benjamin is up to the task, I never do things without thoroughly thinking them over first," he replied.

"And that daughter of yours, still off at college?" Charlotte froze, so that's what he told everyone, a story to cover his ass and not publicly shame the family name that he had so carefully constructed.

"Yes, she is," He answered, his tone of voice didn't even change.

"I hope it's going well with her,"

"Thank you, I'll pass on your well wishes,"

Charlotte was so angry, that she hurriedly put down the starter and fled to the kitchen where she dashed to the service entrance and out into the ally.