CHAPTER FOURTEEN - CINDY
The first two galas going well should have been a sign that things were destined to fall apart on the third and final night. I had been running at the last minute trying to make sure that everything was in place, but there were unfinished tables and missing flower arrangements that I’d had to track down.
Patrick had it just as bad on his end and tempers were rising behind the scenes as part of the menu items didn’t arrive in stock. He was having to go over the entire menu again and make-due with what they had onhand, and he was not a happy camper.
Selena was in a terrible mood and barking orders to everyone including me, and it was all I could do not to tell her to go jump off a building and take Enzo up on his offer. I hadn’t heard much out of him over the past few days and had only gotten a couple of texts to check on my well-being.
I had asked for it though; I’d told him it wasn’t going to work, and he was simply respecting my wishes. He would move on soon enough, and I would be a distant memory to him. The thought of that had me aching inside and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to feel this way about anyone else.
Patrick strolled up in a hurry, only pausing long enough to whisper in my ear, “That nosy reporter is out front already.”
“I’ll put him out.” I started around the counter, but when I went to the door, I opened it to see Selena and Greg Levinas shaking hands. She had invited him. I hoped like hell that Enzo wouldn’t show up and that he’d gone back to Aramis where he’d be safe from further scrutiny. He wouldn’t have to worry about me, and I’d make sure that Greg Levinas didn’t get anything more on either of us.
I turned and stormed back through the tables and people to get to Patrick. “Selena was just shaking hands with our friend the reporter.”
“She’s a piece of work. Do you think our favorite prince will show up or has he died from that broken heart yet?”
“Please, he’s a grown man, he’s not going to die over me. He’s probably moved on already. No telling how many women he has all over him back in his country.” I let out a long breath and turned to go back to my station.
An hour later, I was still tracking down centerpieces and tablecloths, when the guests really started packing in. All of the fashionably late ones were still at the door, but the place was overwhelmingly crowded.
I went out to the floor to make sure the final dressings were on the tables and found out those tables had been added by Selena after my count had been handed in. She had wanted me to fail. She even brought in the press to make sure it was very public when I did. I imagined she’d want to humiliate me and probably fire me in front of the entire place, so I made sure to steer clear.
I walked around the corner just where the crowd was thinning and found Enzo and his friend sitting at a table where they were speaking with a few ladies that were standing close. They smiled and laughed, and Enzo even kissed the hand of one of them. I walked past and turned to look over my shoulder. Sure enough, our eyes met, and he gave me a polite nod and a half-smile. I kept going knowing that I needed to keep busy. I was working, and the last thing I’d need was Selena and Greg seeing us together.
Enzo made his rounds and spoke to many of the other people, and I even noticed him dancing with a few of them. Lucas did the same, but the two stayed pretty close.
I walked to his table and cleared off the empty glasses to help the wait staff, who I knew would be bringing food out at any minute and decided to say hello.
He nodded and took a sip of his drink.
“I said, hello, Enzo.” I met his eyes, and he looked down at his drink.
“I heard you. But you don’t get to pick and choose when you want to be my friend and expect me to be waiting for your attention.”
“What do you mean?”
“All night. I’ve been here all night, and you’re just coming over to say hi? If that’s how you’re going to be, Cindy, you can save it.”
“I was working, and that’s not really fair.”
He leaned forward in his chair and grabbed my apron. “Fair?” He shot to his feet and got right up at my face. “You want to talk about what’s not fair? How fair is it that everyone around me wants to make decisions for me; if I’m the king, who I love, if my daughter’s worthy of my name or not.” He slammed his drink down on the table.
“Well, if it’s so horrible, renounce your throne. You think it’s so easy for me to quit a job, how about you do it?” I turned to walk away, and his voice sounded behind me.
“I tried that today.”
I spun around, truly shocked. I hadn’t actually expected him to do it. “You what?”
“Yeah, I told my father I didn’t want to be king. My dying father who was more disappointed in me than I’d ever seen him.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, some of us don’t have choices. But you do, and I see how you choose.” He turned and headed out to the main room as if he were leaving and I hurried to catch him. I grabbed his arm, and he spun around nearly slipping on the floor.
“You really tried to give up the throne?”
“Yes. Because I’m in love with you Cindy, and if I can’t have you, then I don’t want any of it.”
Before I could react, Selena came up and tapped me on the shoulder, and it just so happened that Greg Levinas was paused nearby with his trusty camera fixed on me. I suddenly felt the eyes of everyone around me on us.
“I had hoped I’d seen the last of your incompetence, Cindy, but it seems that you’re getting worse by the hour.”
I glanced at Enzo who was glaring at Selena with enough venom to kill. I knew if I didn’t react, he would, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
“Since you don’t think I can handle my job, maybe you should do it. You didn’t have any problems setting up a few extra tables tonight, how about you dress them yourself?”
“You’re fired,” she said, glaring down her nose.
“You’re not paying attention, Selena. I quit!” The entire room was watching now, and the reporter was now only inches away from us both. I got in his face too. “Did you catch that, Levinas, I quit!”
Enzo burst out laughing and took my hand, and we were halfway to the door when Lucas arrived and stood between Greg and the door as we made our getaway.
We got to the car, and he had his driver get us out of there before any more of the photogs could catch up.
Alone with him in the car, it hit me as he leaned up to speak to the driver through the privacy window. “You’re in love with me?”
“You’re damn right.” He sat back and then pulled me close kissing me hard.