Skylar pulled Riley through the back entrance meant for staff.
"Take an apron, a book, and a pen. Go attend to customers outside," a woman instructed without even looking up.
Skylar leaned closer.
"Like I told you—they don't even recognise their own staff."
Riley grabbed what she needed, glancing around.
"So we just take orders?" she asked quietly.
"If it's drinks, give it to the barman. Food goes to the chefs," Skylar replied, pointing both out quickly. "You'll get used to it."
Riley nodded and stepped out. She took a deep breath before approaching a table. She was ready for this.
"Good evening, sirs. Can I have your–"
They looked at her strangely.
Another waitress appeared beside her and placed drinks down.
Riley paused.
"Oh–sorry," she muttered, stepping back.
As she turned, the waitress leaned in.
"You don't ask. They call you."
Riley blinked.
"So I just… wait?"
"Exactly. Just walk around, and um…look useful."
Right.
Riley adjusted her grip on the tray and moved through the room, slower this time. Watching as the others approached customers, learning from their actions. It didn't take long before she blended in.
"Riley, you're doing great! You don't look lost anymore," Skylar had pointed out. That alone boosted her courage to a reasonable level.
"Waitress," This is it, her first order.
Riley turned to attend to the guests who had called her, but when she got to the table…she froze. Just for a split second. Her expression didn't change though, not outwardly.
Seated at the round table was the co-founder of BlueCrest. One Mr…whatever his name was. Riley took his order and left instantly, remembering the third rue of not lingering around for long.
Everything normal.
She delivered the request, picked up the drinks, and returned.
That was when she noticed the second man.
The CEO. The actual CEO. The man whose house she was supposed to infiltrate.
Nathaniel Marcello. Her target.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass. Up close… he looked exactly like what she expected. Expensive suit piece, signature 'cross the legs' sitting posture, and an air of authority.
She held out the drink for him.
He reached for it, and when she didn't let go immediately—
He took it from her. "Thank you," he said.
His voice caught her off guard. Oh wait, it didn't.
Low. Soothing. Deep. Two words and she was already having an eargasm. No wonder he was always on the front pages of fashion magazine as the most eligible bachelor.
She nodded quickly and turned away.
"Girl," another waitress whispered as she passed, "I get it. Anyone would stare. But he's gay. That's his boyfriend."
Riley didn't respond.
She wasn't even sure what she was reacting to.
---
"I got sixty today."
"I made a hundred."
"Fifty for just one table."
Everyone announced their profits as they made their way out of the bar to head home. Their voices blended as they stepped out of the bar.
Riley looked at the chicken change in her hand. She had served two orders and got only thirty dollars.
Skylar leaned over.
"That's terrible."
"That's poor. Very poor," Skylar said. "Who did you serve that gave you that for a tip? Did you even collect from the second table?"
That was when it hit Riley, she hadn't taken payment from the first one.
She grabbed the card machine from the barman and hurried back, but the table was already empty.
After asking around, she finally spotted one of them, the CEO, outside, standing beside a car.
She headed straight for him, he wasn't the one who had placed the order, but if he had been part of the table, he could settle it.
"Sir," She waved the card machine in his direction. She didn't need to explain. He understood and brought out his card.
She ran it through the machine and handed it to him when she was done. He was busy on his phone and didn't make any movement to collect it. She didn't know how it started, but she later found herself admiring nature's handwork on his face. Of course she told herself 'it was to inspect whether he had scars. You know, like a mafia boss would'.
He looked up in the process. She tried to explain that she was not admiring him, just checking for scars, but her mouth refused to move.
"My–" He started, and she spoke quickly before she'd have an earful of that illegal voice.
"Ah, yes. Your card. Here,"
She handed it to him and left, applauding herself for saving herself from that embarrassing situation.
---
She saw him again on her way home. He was looking in her direction, maybe at her. It was rude to stare, but it was more rude to break from an obvious stare. So she did something to scare him off.
Her fingers moved before she could think.
A small wave. Then—An air kiss. He turned away immediately, looking like he had seen a ghost. And that honestly made Riley laugh a little.
"Is there a problem?" Skylar asked. "You've been staring at that car."
Riley turned away quickly.
"I don't think it was that long."
---
Nathaniel got home a few minutes to midnight. The butler was still awake, waiting for his return.
"Is Melanie sleeping?" That was the first thing he asked.
"I don't know, sir. She locked herself in your room some hours ago and refused to come out," the butler replied, taking his boss's suitcase.
Nathaniel asked nothing else. He went straight to his room. The door had an electronic lock, so he could access it even if it was locked from inside.
He looked at his sleeping daughter with rare tenderness. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and picked her up in a bridal carry, taking her to her room.
He laid her down gently and tucked her in.
Then he studied the feminine replica of his own face.
He was glad she took nothing from her mother. Except her boldness. That definitely wasn't from him.
Speaking of her mother, it seemed the woman had disappeared from the face of the earth. When Melanie started school, he had tried looking for her. Melanie asked too many questions about her mother, and since he couldn't answer them, he withdrew her from school.
She was home-schooled instead. It was for the better.
Melanie turned in her sleep.
Consciousness snapped into Nathaniel's mind.
What are you doing, man? You're not supposed to get attached.
He reminded himself of his rule: show no affection, show no emotion at all.
Call him a bad father if you like, but it was for Melanie's survival. He didn't want his enemies using her to threaten him again.
It was his grandfather who brought him into this life. And while he searched for a way out, he refused to let his family suffer for it.
---
Riley woke up to a walkie-talkie message from Mrs Miller.
"Miss Knox, the site has been updated. I expect you to have applied for the position already. Currently, you are the one holding this mission from starting. Remember, crime does not wait for you before it happens. You know the right thing to do, Miss Knox. Do it. I expect a response soonest. Take care."
The message ended with a beep.
Riley stared at the ceiling, unsure whether to feel pressured, angry, or afraid.
She didn't know how to react.