The Only Choice (The Choices Trilogy #3) (13 page)

I huff out a steely breath because yes I do want her to take this. I do want to go and hide in the kitchen but I’m not going to. She doesn’t frighten me, my uncontrollable reactions to him, however, scare the shit out of me. “No I’ve got this.” I take the tray with a bottle of red and a bottle of sparkling water. I fix my most fake smile and sigh. “Here goes.” Lili starts humming the theme from Rocky and it makes me snicker so that when I reach there table I have a genuine smile on my face. Daniel straightens and I can see his jaw tick, he looks uncomfortable and I realise he wasn’t expecting me to serve. Well, I am made of stronger stuff, apparently. I place the tray down, open the water, pour and then start to uncork the wine. I pour two glasses, slip the tray under my arm and take out my pad, with my sweetest voice I ask what they would like. I know she has recognised me, she probably knew from the moment I served coffee but she chooses now to acknowledge me.

“Oh my goodness Bethany, how lovely. I didn’t recognise you, what a surprise. Did you know Bethany worked here darling?” Her voice is soft her smile is slight, like a china doll and just as sinister.

“No.” His abrupt curt response highlighting his unease. “I didn’t know she was back working here.”

“So would you like to hear the specials?” I don’t want to enter into small talk. I think we are past that. I just want to be mature and professional, take their order and leave. Angel reaches her hand and lays it on my arm squeezing lightly. I can’t help but flinch and I tense my muscles to prevent the instant image in my head playing out. The one with me flipping that hold and pulling her to the floor, laying her out with my knee on her throat. I love my inner dialogue sometimes.

“Bethany,” Her voice dripping with maleficent sincerity. “I am so sorry
things
didn’t work out. .”

“Angel.” Daniels warning tone is gruff but she ignores it.

“You have to know I am hoping you two will work things out. I am so grateful to Daniel but devastated that you don’t understand . . . I just pray—”

I promised myself I wouldn’t stoop because I know from bitter experience how easy it is to become the villain but I can’t stand it. I slap the pad down and lean my slight frame right over her, my finger in her face. She looks startled and pushes back into the cushion back of the booth. “Look bitch! You can fool Daniel with whatever this saintly desperate doting wife act you’ve got going on but don’t think for one fucking minute I don’t know exactly what you’re up to.” My voice doesn’t sound like my own, feral and dark.

“Bethany!” Daniel shouts and slams his fist on the table

“No Daniel.” I draw in a sharp breath through my nose, so much for professional and mature. “You know what? I’d like you to leave.” Petty and childishness rule: I step back giving them enough room to comply.

“Excuse me?” Daniel chokes out with a laugh.

I straighten my shoulders. “I said I would like you both to leave. Daniel you are friends with Tony Junior so I won’t ban you from coming again but you . . .” I look directly at a very surprised Angel. “You have no friends here so you are never welcome back!” I maintain my scowl, adrenalin and fury pumping wildly through my veins. Shit! I have never acted like this at work, Jesus Tony is going to kill me but even as I start to regret my unprofessional outburst I have to keep my steely façade for fear of looking even more foolish.

Daniel smiles and rubs his fingers along the edge of the table cloth but other than that small movement shows no other sign of leaving. “I don’t think you have the authority to do that Bethany but I will accept your apology if you also apologise to my guest.”

I can feel my hands shake with rage and because I don’t trust my brain to censor my mouth I turn and head to the kitchen. Swinging the doors wide with a crash I effectively draw the attention of Joe, whose head was in a paper and several of the other chefs and kitchen porters. “Get your knives I need help throwing someone out, full strength if you don’t mind boys.”

Joe stands and waves his hands in a calming motion “Ok Annie put your gun down, why am I doing this exactly?”

I can feel my tears prickle in my eyes as they pool but don’t fall. “You remember what you said you’d do to my sister if she ever showed her face?” Joe’s expression darkens and he reaches for his large carving knife. “Honestly, the woman out there is worse and the man she’s with, isn’t much better at the moment. I know you know about what I’ve been through with this break-up Joe. Marco would’ve given you the heads up before I came back to work and I told you myself about Daniel’s ex from hell . . . Well now you get an up close and personal with the bitch.” I blink and a few drops hit my cheek it’s like a red rag and Joe motions for the others to follow him. At his side he hesitates when he sees who I am talking about.

“Ah Shit Bets you didn’t say it was Danny out there too. Tony will be pissed if this back fires.” He says under his breath.

“Does it make a difference?” I look up into his face and he grins and nudges me.

“No sweetheart, none at all.” He strides forward stopping beside the table, his staff forming a very intimidating semi-circle and me tucked in beside him. “I believe Bethany asked you to leave. So I think its best you do just that.” His voice is calm and filled with authority or maybe it’s that he is the size of a house.

Daniel pinches his lips together but fails to hide his grin, smiling he stands and pats Joe lightly on the shoulder. He nods to Angel who scrabbles to get her bag from the floor and pull her coat from the hook on the wall. “See ya later Joe.” Daniel nods, winks at me and flashes a heart stopping smile. Not waiting for Angel he walks out of the restaurant; she trots to follow, tripping on her heels to catch up after him.

I FELT STRANGELY
empowered by my show of borrowed strength but that vanished when Anthony Junior called me into the office. Loyalty in the kitchen is akin to a cult at times so I know no one has grassed me up so I could only assume Daniel had done the honours.’ Anthony is sitting back in his chair his dark brows furrowed over his chocolate brown eyes, his hands steepled in contemplation or prayer, not sure which. He is dressed in a smart light grey suit, no tie and petrol blue and white striped shirt. He doesn’t look angry which is good but I decide to pre-empt a dressing down. Because, however right it felt at the time, I was out of line and I
don’t
have the authority to ban patrons. He nods for me to take a seat, his silence is a standard tactic for making anyone he is reprimanding uncomfortable. It is effective and I have seen it make those much stronger than I, crumble. My words rush out in a garbled apology.

“Anthony I’m really sorry. I’m not sure what came over me, it won’t
ever
happen again.” I bite my lip to stop myself when he raises his hand.

“Well, it’s a first for you so I am inclined to believe you. Would you mind telling me why my head chef has threatened one of my best customers with a knife?” He tilts his head; his voice is the epitome of measured calm.

“Joe didn’t threaten as such, he just asked him to leave on my behalf.” I add, to clarify this was my decision and Joe had just ‘got my back.’ “It wasn’t his biggest
big
knife.” I smile but quickly flatten my lips at his sharp narrow eyes, not ready to make jokes, good to know.

“This is serious Bethany, Danny could take this further.” He sighs and shakes his head. “I will back your decision, you know that. But if I ban Danny I think this will get ugly pretty quickly, in fact I know it will.” He taps his Mont Blanc pen lightly on his desk with agitation.

“I didn’t ban Daniel just the bit. .just his guest and you don’t really have to exclude her. I was just . . . well like I said I don’t know what came over me. If they come back I’ll just get one of the others to serve.” I offer a tentative smile and I am relieved when he smiles back.

“No you are right, she is not welcome. I may try and stay out of the family gossip but I’d have to be a hermit not to know what’s going on, maybe not the specifics but enough.” He lays the pen flat, taps his fingers nervously on his lips while he chews his bottom lip like he doesn’t want to say what he is about to say. “Right, not sure how to put this exactly so I’m just going to say it. Danny has asked for your shift schedule.” I let out a deep breath and rub my forehead, squeezing my eyes at the instant pressure.

“Okaay.” I say slowly, “and you’re not giving it to him because it’s intrusive, an invasion of my privacy or just that it’s weird . . . Any or all of the above really Anthony?” I offer.

He bursts out a short laugh. “Everything between you two is weird but no, I mean yes. I am going to give it to him. Don’t look so shocked, Joe pulled a knife on him! He’s got leverage. Beside you don’t have to serve him, the worst he can do is what? Order some great food and not get served by my best waitress.” I snort at his attempt to flatter. He tips his head, excusing me and effectively finishing all further discussion. “Oh Bethany?” I turn and see he is grinning. “Maybe try and keep a lid on the restaurant rage from now on?” I smile tightly, fuming as I shut his door with a little more force than was necessary.

I finish the rest of my shift in a complete state of confusion. I don’t know whether to be mad that Daniel is infiltrating my life again, after I had barely started to come to terms with his exit, or be pleased by it. My stomach is tied in knots and I know I can’t think straight when he is near. That has always been the case but it’s made so much worse by my shocking lack of control. I don’t believe anything has changed so I don’t really know what he wants from me. This is so fucked up I can’t think straight and I can’t even ask my best friend for advice, yet. I just have to keep my distance, difficult if he shows up at work every day; not impossible, just difficult.

I thank Joe again for his help and he laughs telling me it was fun and I admit Angel did look like she was about to shit herself and that was funny. I am still laughing as I open the back door and slip my pale denim jacket over my shoulders. I stumble to a stop when I see Daniel leaning against his Bentley, loose fitted jeans, a fitted pale blue button up shirt and casual deck shoes that show a hint of his tanned skin in lieu of socks. His dark hair is a little too long to style but it flops with a rough sexy quality. Like my fingers have just pulled it just so in the heat of a passionate exchange. Dammit I can feel a liquid heat burning deep inside and I tense to stop my legs from squeezing together, because I know he is staring. Just waiting for such a blatant display of the arousal he evokes.

He pushes off the side of his car and holds out the single white avalanche rose for me to take. I just look at the beautiful flower, full open petals and a subtle sweet fragrance, strong even from just one flower. I keep my hands at my side, fighting my ingrain manors to accept such a pretty gift. “An olive branch?” His voice is tempered softness. I arch a suspicious brow and he chuckles. “Where’s the trust Bethany? After all
you
did kick
me
out and I’m the one standing making an apology.” He opens his arms wide, almost as wide and seductive as his smile. I fold my arms over my middle and stand my ground.

“Tell me, why are you apologising? You never apologise.” My quip full of attitude.

“Exactly, so you must take my offering as sincere. Several reasons actually. I am sorry for you loosing your job, never my intention. I am sorry for bringing Angel here, I would never had I known but mostly I’m sorry for letting you go. I am unbelievably sorry for that.” He steps toward me and I am frozen to the spot by his utterly unexpected declaration.

I shake my head like I hadn’t just heard what he said and look in to his clear blue sparkling eyes, smiling and sure. “What’s changed?” I ask, afraid of the answer.

He traces his the back of his fingers along my cheek and I curse myself for leaning into his touch. “I realised I made a mistake, rare I know, but apparently I do make them.” His light tone does nothing to stop my fear being realised.

“No Daniel, I mean what has actually changed?” I take his fingers that are cupped against my jaw and gently push them from my touch.

He coughs and straightens. “Nothing has changed, but I want you back so we will sort this out.”