Dancing On Thin Ice // KTH

Chapter 74

"You're late. Again." 

Valerio leaned against the door to his office, tapping his foot angrily, as Carmela hurried into the restaurant's kitchen. Everyone was already in uniform, bustling around and preparing for the morning rush.

"My bad. Again." She brushed past him, about to enter the locker room when she felt a hand on her bare shoulder from behind. Spinning around, she frowned as the bald headed manager stood in front of her.

"Come with me, kid. In my office, now." Valerio's blue eyes were hard and intimidating. Carmela gulped as she followed him into his little office. 

"So." He closed the door, as Carmela stood awkwardly in the stuffy room.

"What the hell is this Carmela?" He asked, looking down at her. 

Huh? Carmela felt suddenly alarmed as his eyes raked up and down over her body.

"W-what do you mean?" She asked, confused at his strange behaviour.

"Look at you. What the hell do you think you're wearing?" His voice was soft but stern, and he stared angrily at her shoulders and chest. 

"Valerio, I'm literally wearing clothes--" 

"Clothes?" He scoffed. "You call this wearing clothes? Look at this--" He gestured at her tube top, and Carmela stepped back away from him, towards the door.

"What the hell, Valerio, how dare you--"

"How dare I? I'm your boss. And I don't want you dressed like a damn stripper in the middle of my restaurant. It's hot but it's disgusting. You're disgusting. I mean, look at you--" He nudged Carmela's shoulder with his fingers, painfully, and she stumbled back. "Just fucking look at you--" He pushed her other shoulder this time, even harder and she felt her back press against the wall.

Carmela lifted her narrowed eyes to his snarling ones. He sneered down at her, and her breaths quickened angrily.

"You're fucking asking for it. I mean if you want it so bad, why didn't you just speak to me in private? No need to be so provocative..." He said in almost a whisper, leaning closer. 

But Carmela felt a burning anger boil in her blood and she lifted her chin, staring at him directly in the eyes.

"Say that again, asshole." She demanded, tightening her fist.

"What?" He looked confused at her confidence.

"Say I'm disgusting again. Go on, say it. I dare you." She squared her shoulders and stepped forward. This time, he moved back.

"Okay, you're disgust--" 

But he didn't finish the sentence because Carmela had smashed in his nose with her fist.

"OW, MY FACE!" He cried in pain, doubling over.

"Look at me! Say it again!" She shouted, as he clutched his nose.

"Fuck off, Carmela!" He said in a stuffy voice, his head bent down into his hands.

"LOOK AT ME AND SAY IT AGAIN!" She shouted, towering on top of him.

"GET OUT! YOU'RE FIRED, YOU BITCH!" He shrieked.

"ABOUT TIME! AND WOW I'M SO OFFENDED YOU CALLED ME A FEMALE ANIMAL!" With that, Carmela punched him again in the face and he groaned even louder.

She sighed in frustration before reaching over and grabbing the collar of his shirt between her fist. She yanked him up as he cried out, and dragged him over to the door. Then she opened the door with the other hand, and everyone outside froze what they were doing.