A Taste of You

18: My Conditions

Ronnie quickly comes inside the office and presses the door shut behind her, leaning against it. She gawks at me. "What do you mean you know?"

"I recognized Mateo's voice this morning when I called you." I lie because I don't want to give away the fact that I was just completely blindsided and figuring out what to do for the last 20 minutes.

She's staring at me, a mix of shock and horror on her face. "Alise, I didn't want you to find out this way."

I keep my voice flat. "Just promise me it's not going to jeopardize your working relationship."

Ronnie does a double take. "That's what you're worried about? You aren't mad?"

"This doesn't involve me, Ronnie. You two are adults. I am your boss." I keep it professional because it's the only way I'm getting through this.

"You're our friend, too, Alise. We don't want to hurt you." Ronnie says in a small voice.

"Well it may be too late for that." It flies out of my mouth before I can stop it.

Ronnie's shoulders slump. "Shit. I knew it. I am so so sorry. It was a mistake. He showed up last night at the bar. I was a few drinks in. He had been drinking for a few hours...because of you. We had a few more together and..."

"Stop right there. Do not even begin to blame me for you two ending up together. You can have any guy, Ronnie. You don't even get along with Mateo." I hiss.

"I know...I'm mad at myself." She confesses and I believe it, but it doesn't make me feel any better.

"But not mad enough to keep yourself away from him, right?" I accuse her.

Ronnie looks at me with wide eyes, seeing an opportunity. "Say the word and I will."

"I shouldn't have to say anything, Ronnie. God! You are totally missing the point." I yell at her.

She gets defensive. "No offense, but you rejected him. Why do you care?"

I shake my head, disbelieving that I have to explain this. "Ronnie, it was never about me not liking Mateo. It was always about our relationship as colleagues first, lovers second."

Ronnie folds her arms and challenges me. "And where does Ethan fit into the equation? Or do you just want to string them both along until you decide?"

We are both staring each other down, hurt and angry at the other's words. We're at an impasse and we both know it.

"Look we need to find a common ground if we're all going to work together." I sigh, knowing the restaurant has to come before my hurt feelings.

"What do you propose?" Ronnie asks, probably also coming to the same realization.

"Look, I don't care who you fuck at this point. The damage is done. Don't do it here, don't comment on my personal relationships, and we keep it strictly business. If things fall apart between you and him, you handle your personal shit outside of work. Don't bring it here." I lay out the terms.

"Fine." She gets up to go and pauses before she leaves. "Alise, I'm really sorry. You know how important this place is to me. I won't let the work suffer."

I nod as she walks out. I push myself out of my chair. Time to get to work for the evening. It's thankfully a quiet night so I spend time doing tasks that take me out of the kitchen. Bar inventory, front of the house safety inventory, quarterly budget.

It's the end of the night. I'm seated at the bar, sipping whiskey neat, staring at spreadsheets. I'm waiting for everyone to clear out of the kitchen. I don't want to risk running into Ronnie and Mateo. Sometimes the things you hope to avoid find you anyway.