Something Red

Part Eight

"I'm not on the bloody menu."

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Arlo is here, it's no big deal really. He didn't acknowledge me either but that's also not a big deal. I go on with the rest of my shift without any incident and I push him to the back of my thoughts.

My shift is about to end in fifteen more minutes but Zelda doesn't care as she waves me over again ready to send me upstairs.

"My shift's about to end, Zelda. I can't serve a private booth anymore. It's too late."
I state factually but I can tell Zelda's ears are not functional at the moment as she gives me a blank stare.

"I'll pay you extra if you spend another half hour."

I don't even bother to attest to this, the only other option is a possible  'do-not-come-back-to-work' letter. I resist the growl mounting in my throat as I take the tray up again with ice this time.

I ignore Nars' stare as I serve the table, listening to their commands with silent submission. When it's his turn, he doesn't say anything to me, he just gestures with his long lithe fingers at the bottle of Magnum Grey Goose Vodka and the ice. I keep my head down, pouring him a drink with an unsettling calm. He is watching my face now quite unabashedly and I can tell his companion, the same girl from before with the horrid hair, is not pleased with this. She is snarky when she demands that I pour her some champagne.

I try not to listen to what they're saying but it is hard not to.

"Your brother is very careful."

"He won't come out of hiding just yet"

"He's here."

It is Nars that speaks then and I have to look up at him as I pour his girlfriend her expensive Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne. The gravel in his voice is like nothing I have ever heard from him before but as soon as I look up I know I should've just minded my own business.

The champagne spills over the rim of the slender glass and onto expensive Coco Chanel, I blanch. She lets out an enraged shriek that doesn't terrify me as much as the fact that I just spilt $2,000,000 worth of alcohol on a $1,000 and something dress.

She's saying some very colorful things as she stands up but I don't hear them, all I can hear is the blood roaring in my ears as I quickly start mopping up the spill and attempt to wipe her down. Everyone else is silent watching the spectacle.

I catch Nars from the corner of my eye, he's clearly amused if the slight tilt of his lips proves anything. I don't know what to do as I try to provide half ass apologies to her. Her pale skin looks so red as she storms out that I fear she might just burst with her rage and embarrassment. I clean up the mess quietly as the attention leaves me and the conversation continues.

"You have intel that he's here, in Dark Side, as we speak?" The man with the gruff voice has dark skin that contrasts with his silvery hair and a roguish grin as he speaks now.

Arlo takes a sip of his Vodka carefully while leveling him with a stolid look before he speaks.

"He's been here for a few weeks on business matters."

I get the feeling that he's being vague for my sake as I tidy things up the best I can and go stand in the corner like a scolded child.

"Do you know where he's going to be at next? We need to start making plans on how to intercept him."

One of the men seated around the mahogany table waves me over with a leer which I ignore as I pour him a glass of Ciroc. I turn around and make to move back to the corner but that's when the idiot does something stupid. He slaps my ass. I freeze up immediately and before anyone can blink I'm turning to face the disgusting sleaze bag with a glare. What's left of his glass of Ciroc meets with his face at lightning speed.