I realize a couple of the other wait staff are hanging around in the hallway behind me, but they quickly scurry back to the diners, leaving Matt and I alone.
“What happened?” I ask.
“Marco fired James. He shouldn’t have done that.” His voice is low, full of anger.
I feel a flash of fear go through me. He made it sound like a threat, like Marco is going to come to some sort of harm. “Why —”
Matt walks towards the office door. “I’m sorry Callie, I have to make a phone call.” He storms out through the dining area of the restaurant.
Leaving me standing open mouthed watching his back as he strides quickly away. I can see the tension in his shoulders, and I wonder again what the fuck just happened.
Why does Matt care this much if James was fired? And what does he have over Marco that made him so compliant? It must have been something to do with that card Matt showed Marco. He must have something on him, and he’s blackmailing him.
I know I should be glad Marco is gone from the restaurant, gone from my life. And I am. But I can’t just let it go at that. I have to know what exactly I am getting into with Matt.
Chapter Eighteen
Matt
As I storm out of the restaurant, I can feel eyes on me. Callie’s eyes, the eyes of all of the staff, and most likely the eyes of a fair few of the diners as well. I know once I leave, the silence will end and everyone will have an opinion on what just happened. The only opinion I care about is Callie’s. I really do owe her an explanation, but first, I have to try and fix this mess. I just hope she’s still open to hearing what I have to say after that.
I can’t believe I let myself lose control that way, but Marco went too fucking far, especially when he swore at Callie and I just saw red. Who the fuck does he think he is? Some glorified little shit who thinks he’s more clever than everyone around him and has a right to just betray people and do whatever the fuck he likes. Well, at least that’s over. He has found out the hard way that isn’t the case.
I lean back against the wall around the side of the restaurant. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to calm down and come up with some sort of a plan. It doesn’t matter how I spin this in my head. The first step I have to take is obvious. I really do need to make a phone call. A phone call I’m absolutely dreading having to make.
With a loud sigh, I pull my phone out and scroll through my contacts. I hesitate for a moment before hitting call. I’ve really fucked this up and this call is going to make me feel like absolute shit. I have let my emotions affect me, something I swore to myself I wouldn’t do, and explaining that is going to be a low moment for me. I was trusted to do a job here, and I’ve fucked it up. Just like he was worried I would. I insisted I could do it, and eventually he put his trust in me. And look where that’s gotten us.
I can’t put the call off forever though, and already the gossip mill will be turning. The only thing worse than making this call will be someone else beating me to it. At least if he hears it from me, I can tell him how I plan to fix it. The problem is, I have no idea how to fix it. I guess I’ll just have to wing it.
I hit call, my stomach rolling as I wait for the call to be answered.
“Matt? What’s up? There’s an issue I’m dealing with here that requires my full attention. Can this wait?”
“Not really,” I say.
“Then spit it out. But for the love of God, don’t tell me you’ve messed this up.”
Oh fuck. This is going to be even worse than I thought.
Chapter Nineteen
Callie
As I make my way onto the restaurant floor after Matt storms away, two things hit me. Firstly, with Marco gone, and me as the shift supervisor, that means I’m in charge, at least for the minute, and I have to be the one to pull this all back together and get everyone working properly again, instead of standing around gossiping. Secondly, I cross my fingers that Marco moved quickly on informing HR about my promotion, otherwise, that’s gone along with him and I’m back to just being a waitress again, after less than twenty-four hours in my new job.
“Ok guys, show’s over,” I say. “Let's try and turn this shift around and have a great service.”
The wait staff grumble but they move off and at least make it look like they’re busy. The order for one of my tables is up, so I go to collect the meals and deliver them. I’m glad for the moment of activity. It means I can’t get pulled into the gossip, even though I’m dying to know if anyone knows what’s going on.
I move through the dining room, taking a few more orders out to hungry diners, taking a bill to one of my tables and cleaning down some empty tables in my section. Sasha beckons me over as I make my way back to her.
She’s standing polishing the silverware, a sure fire sign she wants to gossip because the silverware is always polished before it even gets put out into the dining room. The staff use it as an excuse to stand and chat while still looking busy to any casual observers.
“What’s up?” I ask as I reach her.
“What’s up? Are you on another planet Callie? I mean what could I possibly want to talk about right now?” Sasha says.
I roll my eyes. “I have
