"Ah shit," I muttered as I stared at the blonde-haired nightmare standing in the foyer of my restaurant, "Your last name is Northwest, isn't it?"
"Damn right it is, Pacifica Northwest," She snapped with a self-assured smirk, "Now what were you saying about kicking me out of your restaurant?"
I sighed, "Well, I was saying that if you continued to be a pain in my ass, I would ban you from the restaurant, but now that I know you're a Northwest...you're definitely banned."
The satisfaction I got from watching the smirk melt off of Pacifica's face was almost worth the target I was drawing on my back.
The spoiled brat blinked as if I had just slapped her with the back of my hand, "W-wait w-what?"
"Yeah, you see, I'm already on your father's bad side, or it's more accurate to say that I can't stand pompous, arrogant assholes like your family. Also, it doesn't help that he's messing with a close friend of mine who stands to make me a lot of money." I answered with a small smirk across my lips, feeling a strong sense of catharsis after a lifetime of managing the accounts owned by people like Pacifica's family, "So yeah, please leave the restaurant or I will call the cops for trespassing."
I watched as a red tide steadily spread across Pacifica's face, her eyes igniting with flames of pure anger. "You're threatening to kick me out?"
"Not threatening, I am kicking you out," I corrected, my smile turning into a frown, "Now you and your friends need to leave before I carry you out myself."
Pacifica took a step towards me and pointed a finger at my face, "You wouldn't dare lay a finger on me!"
Staring down at her, I didn't flinch in the slightest, "Try me."
"Pacifica, don't do it. This guy looks like he picks up trucks for fun." One of her friends muttered as she stared up at me with wide eyes.
"Shut up, Bonnie," Pacifica growled, but some part of her friend's advice seemed to register as she took a step back, "Fine, we're leaving, but I swear to fucking god you're going to regret this."
She then turned to address the whole restaurant, "Better enjoy your food now because this place is fucking history!"
"Please, just leave." I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, as I felt a headache forming in the back of my skull, "I got like five steaks a minute away from being well-done, and if that happens, you're not going to like what happens next."
"Is that a threat?" Pacifica screeched as she took a step forward, only for her friends to grab her by the shoulders and start dragging her out of the restaurant, "Hey, let me go! T-this isn't over, you damn cook!"
After a few seconds of struggling, the trio was gone, and I finally let out a sigh of relief, though it didn't last long when I realized the storm brewing on the horizon. 'Probably wasn't my most brilliant move, but I'm positive the conflict with her family was bound to happen eventually.'
Turning to face the restaurant, I clapped my hands loudly and smiled, "I apologize for the disruption, everyone. I hope that this incident has ruined your appetite."
--[Summer]--
After his quick apology, Ramon was hurried back to the kitchen, leaving me and everyone else to wonder what the hell had just happened.
Picking up my phone, I dialed his number, half expecting the call to go to voicemail, but was pleasantly surprised when Ramon picked up on the second ring, "Was wondering if you were going to call back."
"I was just wondering if you made it back in time to save those steaks?" I asked with a smile while crossing my legs underneath the table.
Ramon paused for a second before he let out a short laugh, "That's what you're worried about? You didn't even order the steak."
"So what? A well-done steak is a universally offensive crime; I should be concerned regardless," I insisted in a serious tone, "Though now that you mention it, I am a bit curious about your whole beef with the Northwest family."
Ramon let out an unimpressed grunt, "Long story short, he's trying to buy my friend's farm after suing them for all they were worth because his spoiled brat fell off a tractor ride."
"Damn, that's like straight out of a cartoon or something," I muttered, miffed, "Aren't you afraid he's going to do the same to you?"
"He can try, but I'm not going to make it easy for him," Ramon replied confidently, "Though I wouldn't mind hearing about anything you know about them."
I hummed in thought, "There's not much special about the family, besides the fact that they've been around since the town was created, and have more money than they know what to do with."
"Nothing special, huh?" Ramon laughed, "Alright then, anything else?"
I pursed my lips in thought, "Well, they throw these supposed fundraisers, but they're the kind where no one really says what they're raising funds for. So it's really just a Great Gatsby-style party where all the attendees get tax credits and write-offs."
"I unfortunately know exactly what you're talking about," Ramon muttered, his disgust evident, "I made the mistake of attending one once during my accounting days and was offered far too many drugs and propositioned by far too many married couples."
"Wait a minute," I held up my hand in shock, "You were an accountant?"
"Again, I feel like you're focusing on the wrong part."
I rolled my eyes, "Everyone knows that rich people are into weird shit, because the dopamine and reward centers of their brains are fucked from having everything they could ever want. Honestly, I'd say swinging is on the tamer side of things."
"I don't think anyone's ever reacted that way when I tell that part of the story," Ramon replied in disbelief.
I smirked, "Well, I'm a one of one kind of bitch, so that checks out."
"You most certainly are," Ramon replied a little too eagerly.
I started to reply when Meg stopped by my table and dropped off a glass filled with a sparkling amber liquid, "Enjoy."
Picking up the glass, I took a cautionary sip and was rewarded with the crisp and fresh flavor of apples mixed with a warm spice blend, "Holy shit, that's amazing."
"Megan, give you the cider?" Ramon asked knowingly.
"Yes, and I'm so thankful she did," I answered with a self-satisfied smile as I took another sip, "This might ruin all other alcohol for me."
"I had the exact same reaction when I first tasted it myself," Ramon agreed, "And now you see why I reacted so harshly when I found that girl was a Northwest."
"Wait, this is from the farm?" I asked, shocked, "How could they ever go out of business if they were selling this stuff?"
"From what I was told, it was just a side project of the previous owner. Fortunately, he stocked up quite a supply, so I can sell for a while before we need to resume production. Which is going to be a difficult bridge to cross because he was apparently a master brewer."
"Well then, I'd better get all I can while scarcity is low," I replied with a smile as I drained the glass and raised my hand, looking for Meg or the other waiter so I could order another.
"You did hear when I said there is a well-stocked reserve?"
"Yes, though why you're arguing for me to be more sober tonight I don't know," I answered with a sly smirk, "You've already got me all hot and bothered after your dominant display. If I get a few more drinks in me, there's no telling what I might be willing to do."
Ramon was silent for a long second before he replied, "You make a very good point. I'll tell Meg to make it a double."
"Mhhh, I like the sound of that," I purred in agreement.
---
From that point on, the night became a blur of smells and flavors that I had never experienced before, enhanced by the most pleasant buzz of my life.
While I lost track of exactly what I ordered, I knew I had never been fuller in my life, and that there were probably only one or two items on the menu that hadn't made their way onto my plate.
I also lost track of time because I didn't notice that the restaurant had emptied out around me until I looked up and saw Ramon walking towards me with his sleeves rolled up from a hard day's work, revealing his large, muscular forearms.
"Hey there, handsome," I slurred, as a tispy smile spread across my lips, "I've been waiting for you."
"I'm surprised you're still conscious after eight drinks in the span of two hours," Ramon muttered as he stopped in front of me before moving so fast that I barely registered what he had done.
But then I reached up and felt the heavy leather collar around my neck, and the warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach shot to the rest of my body as I watched the look in Ramon's eyes shift into something that drove me absolutely crazy.
"Come on, it's time to take you to bed."