Adele
It takes several hours for Alex and me to get the club ready for the night. There are a few hours before I had to be in and I want to go home to take a nap. I am terrified that Frank is leaving town and that Alex will totally be in charge. He doesn’t like me and the feeling is mutual. When Frank mentioned that he would be gone, I noticed that Alex’s eyes darkened when he looked at me. He is going to torture the hell out of me while Frank is away. I don’t know if I should go back and wait for him to fire me or just call in to quit. I doubt I’ll be working at the club when Frank returns. Why should I put myself through the harassment? It’s been a while since I had to work for a boss that I didn’t like and one that didn’t like me. When Garth and I moved in together he had me quit my job. I did so gladly since I hated the boss I had at the time. Now that I think about it, I should have kept the boss and gotten rid of Garth. The torture at home was ten times worse than the torture I experienced at work.
I walk to the back to grab my backpack and text Nick asking him if he can pick me up. It takes him a few seconds, but he texts that he’s close, so he’ll be at the club in ten minutes. I ask him to meet me two blocks over and I would start walking. I am not sure why but Nick set off Alex when he came in with my keys. The last thing I need is for Alex to see him pick me up. Especially when I must work in a few hours, I just don’t want the hassle. Nick responds with question marks, but I just give him the corner I will be standing at. I don’t see Alex as I leave and I thank God for small favors. I close the door and head off to meet Nick. Luckily, we get there about the same time, so I jump into the Suburban and he pulls off. He turns to look at me and I turn to stare out the window.
“Is there a reason I am picking you up on corners?” Nick asks.
“I have had a really bad day Nick. Can you please just drop me off and not ask a hundred questions?”
“Fine. You need to drive the car. It’s in the garage and it’s available. I don’t know what your problem; is if people want to be nice to you, let them.” He says and I close my eyes wishing he would just shut the hell up.
We pull into the driveway and Nick starts to get out. “Where are you going?” I ask as I slam the car door.
“I am going to do a sweep of the place. Frank would expect me to, so I am going to do it,” Nick informs me as he walks past me and into the house.
Once it’s all clear, he points out the garage door opener and picks up the car key from the coffee table. He hands it to me and walks out the door. When I have locked up, I drop the key back on the table and pick up the glass that is on the table to take it back to the kitchen. I stop the minute I get into the kitchen and walk back into the living room. I don’t recall taking out a glass? It was early when Alex called and I didn’t even have time to grab breakfast. Where did this glass come from? I stare into the glass and there is a brown liquid inside. I lift it up to smell what’s inside and its bourbon. I don’t drink bourbon, but Garth does. I glance around the house and everything is still in place. I know I am just being paranoid because Nick did a sweep of the place and there is no one here. I am just unsettled I tell myself once more. The glass was probably here when I got here yesterday and I just didn’t notice. Nick said that this place is used for the family when they visit. I am only being irrational I chant to myself as I back into the kitchen to wash the glass and put it away.
I grab a knife from the drawer and peep out of the kitchen before walking out. I hold the knife as I head to the bedroom and peek into every door as I walk past. I am here alone and it’s silly that I don’t realize that. I put the knife on the nightstand and take off my clothes to take a nap before work. Yet for some reason, I can’t shake the feeling that he’s found me.
When I wake from my nap, I have two hours until I should be at the club. I take a bubble bath and prepare myself for the night. I am not sure if I am preparing for a busy night of customers or to do battle with Alex. I just love the jasmine scented bubble bath that a previous guest left behind. It is so relaxing and I can almost forget about life’s problems as I let myself close my eyes and just chill. When I finally get out, I grab a towel to dry off and head back to the bedroom and put on my black skirt and white blouse. I bend over to look for my work shoes and remember I left them in the living room. As expected, they are exactly where I left them. I grab my backpack and pick up my cell phone to call Nick to ask him for a ride. As I am about to press the button I recall him telling me that I need to drive the car. I close my eyes and sigh as I head to the kitchen to get through to the garage. As I walk past the kitchen table, I come to a stop. I look at the kitchen table and there is another glass. I move over to it and pick it up and again, it’s bourbon. I think I am going to throw up and run over to the sink. I turn around and glance around the kitchen. I know this wasn’t here when I went to take my nap. There was a glass in the living room and I brought in in the kitchen and poured it out. I even washed the glass and put it away. I hold my head back and try to recall everything I did after I found that first glass. I was tired, did I really wash it and put it away? Or did I just set it on the kitchen table and got lost in the moment and forgot to put it away?
I laugh to myself because I realize that I am losing it. I obviously set it on the table and forget to wash it. That must be the explanation. I do know that I grabbed a knife and took it to the bedroom with me. I don’t want to leave it there so I run to the bedroom to grab the knife off the night stand. When I swing open the bedroom I stop in my tracks. The knife is gone! I think I am going to hyperventilate. I know I took the knife into the bedroom with me, I didn’t imagine that. I walk carefully out of the bedroom and head back to the kitchen. I open the garage door and walk to the car. I turn around, inspecting the house and praying that I just have an overactive imagination. I pray that all the time I spent with Garth just has me paranoid. I lock the door and run to the garage to get into the car. I head off to Deluca’s hoping that I am only losing my mind and that he hasn’t found me.
Traffic was awful on the way to the club, but when I finally arrive I realize I don’t know where to park. I have only been dropped off before, so it never occurred to me to ask. I pull into the alley and there is only one empty spot. I recall Alexis saying the parking in the back was for Alex and Frank. I will assume since I am using Frank’s family’s car that I can use his parking spot while he is gone. At least I’ll use it tonight until Alex finds out and makes me move it. The club is already busy when I arrive so I hurry to put my backpack into my locker so I can get to work. I check to see which tables I have been assigned to and I notice that I have more tables than the other girls do. I don’t know if I should complain or be happy. Hopefully, that will mean more tips. As I walk up the bar, I notice the bartender is talking to Alex. This is the last thing I need, time near Alex. The bartender nods his head at me and Alex turns around and sees me. He rolls his eyes and grabs the schedule. He sets the schedule down and walks past me and heads upstairs. He is such a rude bastard. I guess it would kill him to acknowledge me. The bartender notices the same thing because as I turn to look at the retreating Alex, I hear the bartender chuckle.
“Hi. I don’t think we ever were introduced. I’m Adele.” I reach over to shake his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Adele. I’m Teddy.” He extends his hand in response.
“I guess I am going to be a busy girl tonight, Teddy. It seems that I have more tables than the other girls. I guess Alex has decided to get his money’s worth with me tonight.”
“Trust me, Adele, Alex doesn’t like you having so many tables either,” Teddy tells me.
“I am confused. Why did he give them to me then?” I ask.
“Apparently, customers requested your table. These are all repeat customers and they liked you the last time they were here. Some of them were sat in Angie’s section and they didn’t want her, so the people you waited on the last time suggested they sit in your area. Alex was quite pissed off when that started to happen,” Teddy states.
“I bet he was,” I chuckle.
Teddy hands me one of my tables orders and I get to work. He was right. Every one of the customers was happy to be in my section. They even told me how polite I was and that I offered great service. A few even said they hoped I was replacing Angie and that she would be fired. I can understand why they would hope for that, but I would hate to see anyone get fired. After a few hours, I am working my ass off and totally loving having so many assigned tables assigned to me. I am also loving the tips and I am sure I have already made three hundred dollars in the few hours that I have worked. I will enjoy counting my tips at the end of the night. I am standing at the bar waiting for a drink for one of my tables and Alex walks behind the bar. He ignores me once again and chit chats with Teddy. It’s odd that he is so nice to Teddy and even the other girls. How can he be so nice to everyone else, but such a bastard to me? As Alex and Teddy laugh and joke with each other, Teddy hands me the drink I had been waiting for. I thank him and narrow my eyes at Alex. I turn around and I glance toward the door as I hear the greeter welcome someone inside. I drop the glass when I see it’s Garth.