Annihilation - h.s.

Chapter Three.

There is an abrupt, high-pitched ring of a bell signaling that the hosts of tonight's event have arrived. I glance at the analogue clock hung above the table.

8:00. Punctual, as always.

"Ready to party with the lawyers?" I ask, throwing a lazy smirk in Katie's direction.

Since our first introduction, and the phone call that left her unsettled for at least twenty minutes, Katie has slightly warmed up to me. She is still sweet and bashful, but at least she doesn't seem so terrified. "As ready as I'll ever be." She answers with a shadow of a smile on her lips.

The other waitresses and kitchen staff were gradually filing in as Katie and I finished setting the dining room up, creating what is - for me - a comfortable, high-energy buzz in the atmosphere. It seemed to agitate Katie's anxiety, though. As they each signed in, I introduced her to them, but every time, she crawled back into herself - just as she had when we first met.

For that reason, I don't ask her to go out to the lobby to greet the lawyers who just walked in. She's going to have to deal with enough confrontation tonight as it is. Instead, I let her trail behind me in the click of my high heels as I slightly hike my dress up my thighs, pull my shoulders back, and stride towards the three men.

"Gentlemen," I greet them, specifically eyeing the one in the center of the group. He's tall, young enough, and obviously the man funding tonight's festivities. His blonde hair is gelled back, his grey eyes bright. He wears an ashen suit - perfectly tailored to his body - and his wrist is decorated with a golden watch. It shines almost as much as his shoes do. "You're here to review the Coulter Law Firm Gala, am I correct?" I direct my gaze to pin down the shorter man to the left as I speak.

He clears his throat abruptly, willing his mouth to formulate a response. "That is correct."

"Wonderful." I play the slightest of smiles on my lips as I eye the less than average man standing to my right. "My name is August, and this is Katie. If you could please follow me, we would love to know if our team has set up the dining room and hall to your standards."

I turn to direct them toward the dining hall, swaying my hips with every determined step I take towards the colossal glass doors. I glance back toward the man in the grey suit, once, before we reach the blockade between the foyer and the dinette.

I look at Katie, silently telling her to help me push back the doors. She complies and we reveal the results from our last three hours of work.

"Look around Gentlemen, there is always time to fix any issues you may have with the set up." I give the men a few seconds to absorb the scene in front of them - my best interpretation of sophisticated elegance.

I guide the men along the polished, black marbled floors, starting at the copper themed bar, finishing with the dish samples of tonight's choice meals, and making it a point to linger my eyes specifically on the lawyer in the tall grey suit.

"Are there any specific questions or concerns?" I ask him as I finish the tour, deliberately tilting my head to the left to show off more of my neck.

"It's perfect," he tells me, trailing his gaze over my bare skin.

"Excellent. I'll see you around, then." I say, taking a step backwards before turning to stride towards the kitchen doors. "Enjoy your evening, Gentlemen."

I click through the busy kitchen and up the narrow stairway. Katie is barely heard until the door shuts behind her - slightly harder than necessary.

I sit on the leather chair as I drop my mask to smile at her. "And that's how it starts."

"How what starts?" She flops into the chair across from me, sliding her hands under her thighs.