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Eddie sat in his office, adjusting the numbers from the previous night’s receipts. He removed most of the cash, but left some to avoid suspicion. He placed the cash into his pocket and made the new, adjusted notations in the accounting log. No computers for him. Too much accountability. The cash in his pocket would later be transferred to a safe he’d hidden under a loose floorboard in the closet floor of his bedroom at Micola’s house. The total was growing nicely.
As he cooked the books, he took calls from Tau and Dario, who were handling some hot prospects. He then went upstairs to meet with a couple of restaurant purveyors.
Next, he met with Regina to discuss staffing and scheduling issues, and then—there was Micola. He loved her, but still, she talked his ear off about stupid shit like, waitresses puttin’ too many sprinkles of parmaseana on the risotto. He could barely stand it on a normal day, let alone with the hangover he was nurturing from his fling with Shari the night before.
He’d finally escaped to his office for some peace and quiet and a quick nap after the lunch rush. It wasn’t more than fifteen minutes when he’d heard a light tap on the door. He flipped his feet off the desk and sat forward.
“Yeah,” he called.
The door opened. “Hi-ya’ Eddie. Ya’ busy?”
Shari. Shit.
He frowned as he picked up his pen. “Yeah, I’m busy. What-d-ya’ want?”
Shari opened the door wider and walked in, wearing an uncertain smile. Eddie’s eyes immediately fell to her exposed cleavage, as she walked toward him. She adjusted her tight floral dress and clicked her fingertips on the desk.
“I-ah’. I didn’t like the way we left things last night, so I came to apologize. Hope we can get back on track, ya’ know? Try things again?”
“Listen, yeah,” Eddie waved his hands over the desk. “I gotta’ lotta’ work-ta do, so I ain’t really got time for this. But, yeah. It’s fine. Forget it.”
He went back to his books hoping she’d leave, but she made her way around his desk and bent forward, her chest near his face as he turned.
“You sure you’re busy?” she giggled.
Eddie smiled and dropped his pen. “I suppose I gotta’ few minutes.”
He grabbed her by her waist, and pulled her onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He started to moan but checked himself and kept it quiet. He thought about pulling away to lock the door, but things got hot pretty quickly, and that idea faded fast.
A quiet tap on the door startled them. The door opened abruptly and Kate leaned in.
“Hi Eddie. I’m—Oh! I’m so sorry. I—”
She attempted to retreat out to the hallway but instead backed into the doorframe.
Eddie shoved Shari off his lap and hurried to stand. He had to grab her arm before she fell on her ass.
“Jesus, Eddie,” Shari snapped. She collected herself and adjusted her dress.
“No, Kate,” Eddie said, as he tucked in his shirt and straightened his tie. “It’s fine. Come in. Please.”
Eddie grabbed Shari’s shoulder and pushed her toward the door.
Kate raised her hand. “I didn’t mean to—”
Eddie shook his head. “No-no. Shari was just leavin’—weren’t ya’ sweetheart?” He nudged her toward the door. “I’ll see ya’ tomorrow.”
Shari let out a whine and stomped her foot.
“Come on, Eddie. Can’t ya’ come over ta-night?”
Eddie pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
“No. Tomorrow. Now, come on. I gotta’ get-ta work.”
He gave her a gentle shove.
Shari jerked her arm from him.
“Just forget it, Eddie. Don’t bother.”
She gave Kate the once-over, before storming past her and out of the office.
Kate gave Eddie an awkward smile as they listened to Shari’s swearing. Her high heels pounded heavily down the tiny hallway, the sound fading as she climbed the stairs.
Eddie smiled, flipping his hand. “Sorry about that, Kate. This is embarrassin’.”
Kate chuckled as she shook her head. “I think you’re in trou-ble,” she sang.
Eddie laughed and set his hands on his hips. “Yeah. I think I am.” He paused and turned toward the desk.
“Please,” he said. “Where are my manners?”
He pulled out one of the chairs in front of his desk for Kate. He pressed his hair down at the sides, as he returned to his seat at the desk.
“Eddie, I’m so sorry to interrupt. You didn’t have to send her off. I was just looking for Marco.”
Eddie shook his head and frowned.
“It’s no problem. I was already tryna’ get ridda’ her. You helped me out, really.”
Kate laughed. “Okay. Well, anyway ...”
“You’re lookin’ lovely today, Kate. Did you ah’ ... do somethin’ new with your hair?”
She pushed a strand behind her ear. “I—ah’. No. It ... maybe it’s ... it just works out different sometimes ....”
Eddie nodded, but said nothing as he tried not to stare.
“So,” Kate said, “the restaurant seems to be doing well, right?”
Eddie perked up. “Yeah. Doin’ great.” He put his hand out toward her. “Couldn’t have done it with you, right?”
She laughed. “Well, I’m glad we were able to find this location. It really worked out perfectly.” They talked briefly about the bustling lunch crowd and the restaurant’s business. Once the small-talk was over, the room grew silent.
“And Marco seems to be enjoying driving you around town.”
“Marco’s great,” Eddie said. “Great guy. Great driver, right?”
She nodded. “He is. I’m glad that’s working out—for both of you.”
Eddie nodded. “Yeah. Me too.”
Kate stood. “Well, I’d better get going.”
Eddie stood too, and walked around the desk.
“Marco?” Kate asked. “Is he around? I need to talk to him about Renzo’s soccer schedule.”
“Yeah. Sorry. He’s out back. I think he’s workin’ on the car.”
“Okay,” she said. “Thanks. I’ll see ya’ later. And again, I’m so sorry for interrupting.”
Eddie shook his head and his finger at the same time. “No, Kate. I’m the one who’s apologizin’ here. Take care, now. Good to see ya’.”
“Good to see you too, Eddie.”
She nodded and left the office.
Eddie shut the door behind her, and walked in a circle mouthing the word ‘fuck’ over and over. After thirty seconds of that, he stormed out of the office, down the hall, up the stairs and around the corner, through the dining room and into the kitchen. He passed a couple of cooks, and then the dishwasher, to get to the backdoor. He stopped to listen and then cracked it open.
He couldn’t hear what Kate and Marco were saying, but he had a good view of them. They talked quietly for a moment, then, smiling, Kate leaned in. Eddie watched them as they kissed each other slowly, neither touching the other so as not to get grease on Kate, but it was passionate.
Eddie shut the door and stormed back to his office. He slammed the door and circled the small room before returning to his desk. He sat there for several minutes thinking about Kate and that kiss she gave to Marco.
Thankfully, the phone rang and he was forced to shake the image from his mind and get back to work.
