Page 41 of Very Special Forces

"My exnever did stuff like this. Why do you? Do you deliberately want toembarrass me? In front of our family and friends?"

"No, ofcourse I don't!"

I jumpedwhen a slap sound emanated from the room and my heart thumped. "Nowlook what you've done! I'm mad enough to hit the wall!" hegrowled.

"Pleasedon't do that. You'll hurt yourself. Please don't be so mad at me!I really am sorry!"

"If youweren't such a clumsy shit, none of this would have happened. Ispent a lot of time planning the perfect party for you. I doeverything to make you happy and you can't even make an effort thisone time."

"I'm sosorry. I really am. I'll try harder I promise."

"Cleanyourself up and fix your makeup. I'm sure no one will mention thehuge stain on your dress. People are polite like that," huffedBryce.

"And youhad the foresight to order the extra sheet cake. I think we shouldbe careful about the drinks though. It's a lot of money to spendand we're supposed to be careful."

"Now youwant to talk about money? I've told you, I'll pay you back butyou're never satisfied," he sighed.

"I'mreally sorry. Okay, Bryce? It won't happen again. I promise. Anddon’t worry about the money. I’ll pay for the party."

"I knowyou'll try harder, honey," he said, softly this time. "I just wanteverything to be perfect for us. You clean up. I'll go check on thecake." Footsteps started towards me and I darted back, letting goof the door. The closest room was the stockroom so I jogged into itand grabbed some more paper towels to clean my hands before Igrabbed a knife and bent over the cake, like I'd been there thewhole time. Plus, it gave me chance to cover my shocked face at thedisgusting way Bryce addressed his fiancée.

"Oh,hi," Bryce said when he stepped inside. "Lexi, right? I didn'trealize you were here. Julia is just using the employee washroom. Ihope that's okay. She didn't want to walk through the bar to therestrooms."

"Sure!"I plastered a smile on my face. "That's no problem. I just startedto cut the cake and I'll bring it through in a few minutes if youwant to rejoin your guests. I can handle it from here!" I wasprobably too perky but he didn't seem to notice as he leanedagainst the doorframe.

"I betyou've never dropped a cake in your life," Bryce said, smiling now,his personality a contradiction to his shocking comments onlymoments before. "The way you carry all those glasses. It's a trueskill."

"Thankyou," I said, not sure if he was offering a compliment.

"And inheels too. How long have you worked here?"

"I justhelp out from time to time."

"What doyou do for a regular job?"

"I'm atemp," I lied quickly. "I do office work."

Brycepulled a card from his pocket and laid it on the table next to me."We hire temps in the office all the time. If you ever need a job,give me a call. I'm sure I can set you up. Can you type? Answer thephones?" He flashed a broad smile full of white teeth. Where he hadonce looked friendly, he now looked like a crocodile, ready to snapmy head off.

"Sure!"

"Thenyou're already a mile ahead of most our temps. I'll leave you toit, okay?"

"Great!"I hesitated, then added, "We checked the table the cake wasstanding on and the leg was splintered. I think that's why the cakefell. I'm sure Lily will cover the cost." If not, I would, but Icouldn't let him think the smashed cake was Julia's fault. He'dbeen so angry and she apologized too many times for something thatwasn't even her fault.

"Thatso? No harm done," he said, surprising me. "Don't mention it toJulia. She's upset enough. I'll take care of everything. Let's getthat cake out to the guests as fast as we can though, okay?" Hewinked and stepped back out of the door, disappearing fromview.

I set towork slicing cake and filling the plates as quickly as I could.After a couple of minutes, Julia dashed past the doorway. When Ireturned to the party room with my laden tray so Ruby and Lilycould hand the plates out, the atmosphere had returned to the samejovial one it was before the cake incident.

Aftertwo more trips, all the cake was served and I took the moment torest and observe the party from the bar. Bryce and Julia werehand-in-hand, smiling and chatting like nothing ever happened.Julia looked strained and her smile a little false, but Bryceseemed not to have a care in the world. Everyone was eating cakeand the cake table had disappeared.

"Can Iget another glass of wine?" asked Jas, approaching me with an emptyglass in her hand.

"Whiteor red?" I replied, taking the glass and replacing it with a freshone.

"White.What do you think of the party?"

"Mosteveryone seems supportive," I said, thinking of the unidentifiedpair of women and Julia's father.

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