Adam slams open the swinging kitchen door, making his way over to me. Before he can speak, Wes and Trey are next to me. The kitchen almost comes to a complete standstill as everyone reacts to his dramatic entrance.

“Torrance's party has arrived,” he announces.

Why is the fucking dinner tonight?

“Did we really agree to having his party here? Isn't the wedding at the end of the month?” I snap. “After that fucker’s last review, why the fuck does he want to eat here?”

“Because he likes to be an ass, and yes it is,” Trey answers. “Now, Darlin’, get your ass moving. We need to make him eat his words.”

“This isn't his rehearsal dinner. I heard through some friends that they want an announcement dinner,” Wes informs us, moving to his station.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. As I open my eyes, I catch Wes rolling his eyes and mumbling something inaudible. Trey bends down, grabs a small jar from the shelf under the counter, and places it on the counter with a clink. The jar is filled with fresh belladonna. Deadly Nightshade. I snort.

“My luck, I’d put too much in and actually kill them.” I nod toward the jar.

Forest walks quickly over to the counter and smoothly places a box of rat poison next to the jar. I cover my mouth, trying to hold in my cackle. Wes booms out a laugh, shaking his head in excitement. Adam tries to fight back his laugh, but it breaks through, filling the room along with everyone else’s. I shake my head, trying not to consider their suggestions.

“As much as I’d love to do that,” I chuckle and gesture to the poisons, “we can't.” However, the want in my voice is as clear as day.

Wes picks up the jar, studying the contents. “I can create something with this.”

I snatch the jar forcefully from him. “Give me that!” I smile wickedly at them before putting the jar and box away.

Blood boiling, I slam the kitchen door open, and it barely misses me when it swings back. I stomp into the dining room, glowering at anyone that gets close. That causes a few servers to quickly step out of my way. The Thrill is Gone by B.B. King plays overhead. Patrons closest to the kitchen turn toward the commotion, and they glimpse me walking with a purpose across the floor.

I hope this doesn’t turn ugly. I don’t need the humiliation of a scene in my restaurant.

I nod as I pass the curious patrons. A waitress is standing at Torrance’s table on the opposite side of the restaurant. When I make my way over, Torrance's friends look up, all smiles.

“Good evening,” I greet the table, trying my damnedest not to say something bitchy and rude. God, this is a fucking nightmare. I was supposed to be the one having this dinner with the lying, cheating asshat.

Everyone nods at me. Everyone except Torrance's fiancée. She gives me this half-smirking, half-sneering face, and I want to smack it off her. Slut. Just wait until he cheats on you.

“How are you, Calla?” Torrance’s mother asks.

I smile at her before glancing around the table at other faces I know... the other critics who judge my food on a regular basis.

“I'm good. I hope y’all enjoy your dinner. If there’s anything we can do to make your time with us more enjoyable, please let my staff know.” I am just about to turn when Torrance's mother touches my hand lightly.

Torrance's fiancée flinches at the gesture. Torrance takes in a deep breath, tensing, while his friends watch with anticipation. It’s as if they know something big is going to happen.

What the hell?

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Torrance’s fiancée՛growls, scowling at me.

I glare back at her, the rest of the table sitting back in shock. I can feel Adam watching this situation unfold from across the dining room, over by the bar.

I really don’t need this. Is this why Torrance wanted to have this dinner here? To rub it in my face? He so isn’t the man I once thought he was. Guess I should’ve realized that when he slept with this bitch.

My cheeks begin to heat, and Torrance's mother squeezes my hand.

My temper explodes. “At least I don't sleep….” Strong hands grab me before I can finish my thought.

“Don’t say another thing. Just watch and listen,” Adam whispers in my ear as he slowly moves me away from the table, pulling me back toward the kitchen, I suspect.

There's a collective gush of breaths at Torrance's table as his guests stare after me then glare at him and his fiancée.

“Did we come here for this?” His mom gestures toward me. “Did you want to humiliate Calla all over again?”

Again? Does she know what happened? Did he actually come clean with his family?

“Mom, I-” He swallows hard. “No.”

The poor dark-haired waitress remains standing to the left of the table. She’s looking on in shock at the scene unfolding in front of her. She glances back and forth, her mouth agape at Adam’s and my retreat, and the bitch from hell. Torrance's fiancée focuses on the waitress. Adam abruptly stops, and I gather my wits. He has stopped us by the bar where we can still hear the conversation, but out of the way enough that no one will notice us gawking.

“I would like to order the eggplant parmesan,” Torrance’s fiancée says haughtily, without opening the menu.

“We don't have that,” the waitress replies, getting down to business.

“Nessa sure can call them,” I whisper to Adam.

“Yes, she can. That intuition of hers is uncanny. Drink this.” He places a glass of clear liquid in my hand, and I take a sip. Tequila. Damn, I love him. He holds up a drink in his hand, and we clink glasses.

“That's what I want, so she will make it,” the bitch exclaims, pointing toward the kitchen.

Not only is everyone at their table staring at her, but so are the customers at the surrounding tables. The waitress shifts her stance to face Torrance, even as he is sitting quietly next to his future wife. He shakes his head.

“Little did everyone know that they would have dinner and a show tonight.” I gesture with the glass to the dining room.

Torrance runs a hand through his hair. “Can we have a few minutes?”

The waitress nods and heads to the kitchen, grimacing. I finish my drink and follow her into my sanctuary.

Adam keeps pace with me as I make my way in. The staff stop preparing food as I enter. Great. Someone must have reported back to the kitchen staff what happened in the dining room. A few inaudible sounds stream out of my mouth, and Adam squeezes my shoulder.

“Fuck them,” he murmurs, so only I can hear him.

Wes steps away from his station, heading toward us, but Adam holds up a hand stopping him. The waitress glances back at us. Frustration is written all over her face. Even though for the life of me I can't place her name right now, I know this isn't an expression I’ve seen on her before. I hastily walk over to the freezer and step in, leaving the door ajar so I can answer questions, if need be.

“What the hell happened?” Wes demands.

“Torrance's fiancée!” Those two words are the only ones Adam needs to say.

An audible groan fills the kitchen.

“It gets worse. She wants Calla to make her Eggplant Parmesan,” the waitress adds in irritation.

Trey, Wes, and the staff look at her like she’s got to be joking. I huff from the freezer, knowing it is not a joke. The sound catches everyone's attention, and the waitress shakes her head.

“No, that bitch is certifiable!” She covers her mouth quickly. “Sorry. I shouldn't have said that.”

“It's the truth,” I respond.

“Oh, hell no!” Wes explodes, heading for the kitchen door.

I dart out of the freezer to stop Wes as he storms out. Trey glances at me and shakes his head.

“The fiancée, right?” He pivots around to face the non-moving staff. “Back to work! We still need to get the food out.” He snaps his fingers, and the silence is broken as our chefs get back to work.

Taking a deep breath, I move to my station where an appetizer sits, waiting to be inspected before going out. The ticket next to it has a note in Trey’s handwriting that tells me it’s going to Torrance’s table. I study the plate. It’s a dish we went over earlier. It's perfect, yet I still bend down and grab the small jar of belladonna hidden under my workspace. Adam, Trey, and Forest watch me intently as I pick up the plate and carry it, and the belladonna, toward the swinging door, stopping only to make eye contact with them. With my head, I gesture for them to follow then slowly slip out of the kitchen.

Wes

My long, quick strides make it impossible for my friends to stop me as I head for Torrance’s table. Kat, the waitress, is practically running to keep up. Overhead, Michael Bublé's Feeling Good plays, adding to my surly mood. I am about ten feet away from their table when Torrance and his wedding party notice me. A few of their expressions are full of concern, including the fucker himself. I stop at the table about twenty seconds before Kat. Two of Torrance's friends smile at me, both giving me a chin-nod. I return the gesture before giving Torrance my full attention.

I glare at the asshat. “I’m only going to say this once. We will not create a special dinner for you or your guests. We will serve you what is on either the regular or daily menu. If you need to substitute something for allergies, please let us know. Otherwise, your dinner will be prepared as it’s described on the menu in front of you.”

“That's not acceptable!” the woman Torrance cheated on Calla with nearly shouts. I really want to reach over the table and slap her.

The guests at the table turn toward her, different expressions of shock written all over their faces, including Torrance’s. I narrow my eyes at her, and a sound rumbles deep in my throat. My eyes move back to Torrance's.

“Calla was right. It was a very bad idea for you to come here. You can leave at any time.”

“Wes, I swear we’ll make the rest of the night-” Torrance’s words cut off, and I follow his gaze.

The kitchen door swings open, and Calla walks out carrying a plate. She heads this direction. Fuck! What is she going to do? Why didn’t the guys stop her? The door swings closed and quickly reopens as Adam, Trey, and Forest dash out after her.

“Calla, it's not worth it,” I read Trey’s lips. Oh shit! What did she do?

Calla quickens her pace, arriving at the table before Trey or the others can reach her. She hands Kat the plate, as I stare between her and Trey, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Trey shakes his head at me as Calla pivots and quickly passes him. Giving him her evil smile, she slowly pulls the jar of belladonna out of her coat pocket, passing it to him.

“I don't think this will be needed.” I take the plate from Kat and hand it to Trey.

Two of Torrance’s guests smile, and a few others chuckle lightly as if guessing what Calla has done. I glance at them then back at Trey.

“One of us should hold on to that tonight,” I suggest, and Trey slides the jar in his pocket.

“We’ll move the rat poison too. Just in case.” Trey’s gaze flicks to Torrance then to his fiancée.

“Wes, there won't be any more issues. I swear,” Torrance promises, his eyes widening.

Trey leans closer, so only I can hear what he is about to tell me. “I watched. She actually didn’t put the belladonna on the food. I think she wanted to fuck with Torrance and his bitch of a woman.”

I take a moment, but I don’t respond. I think Calla’s gag might have actually worked to scare the hell out of Torrance and his fiancée, which is all I care about. Trey takes his leave, and I focus back on the party. Kat explains the specials we have tonight and begins to take orders as I wait with her. We turn to leave, and I overhear the murmurs of a disagreement brewing.

“…Calla….” one of the guests mumbles.

With a big shit-eating grin, I saunter back into the kitchen. Adam follows me through the swinging door, with a line of servers on his heels.

“Wes told Torrance and his fiancée off,” one of the male servers announces.

Chuckling, Adam adds, “Their faces were priceless.”

A few of the servers try to mimic the expressions from the table. Kat and I crack up, but even with the laughter, I am still frustrated. So, I walk into freezer for five minutes to literally cool off.

“Some of his friends were griping as Wes walked off,” one of the other servers comments.

I saunter out of the freezer and make my way back to my work station. Before I am halfway across the room, Calla runs over, giving me a big hug and knocking me back a little as she plants a kiss on my cheek. Hoots and hollers fill the room. Trey whistles, increasing her blush and my excitement. Quickly, Calla yells at us all to get back to work. From that point on, the night seems to move faster. Soon the staff start cleaning up. Once the dining room is empty and locked, Adam walks through the swinging door with four bottles of our best wine. He pops the corks and pours us five glasses before offering the rest of the staff some. The celebration continues until the wee hours of the morning.