Page 59 of The Cask

I bit my lip. “Not mad. Jealous, but not mad.”

“Phew!” She wiped fake sweat from her brow. “I really thought I blew that for you, and I was beating myself up about it.”

“So to recap, all is well with Omari. Nothing has changed with Luchesi. Now do you think you can focus on work? Festival weekend starts tomorrow and there are a couple of things we need to go over.”

“You got it, boss!”

Four hours later, the band was in the middle of an amazing set. There were three tables that were racking up a pretty huge tab. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. But then I noticed one scowling face.

What the hell?

I marched over to where she stood near the bar.

“Kim, what are you doing here?” I demanded just low enough that I wouldn’t be heard over the band.

“I don’t know what you did to him or what spell you have him under, but because you’ve fucked with my job, I will be fucking with yours,” she threatened.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I do know a threat when I hear one.”

“Oh, this isn’t a threat. This is a promise. You’re a conniving bitch and once I prove that to him, you’ll be out on your ass.”

“I could say the exact same thing to you.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“You’ve known him for a week. I’ve known him for years. When it comes down to it, he will know who has his best interests at heart and who is playing some sick game.”

“What would I have to gain from thissick game?”

“I don’t know, but I will find out.”

“Where is all this animosity coming from? You’ve been a bitch to me from the beginning. Unrequited love must be a helluva drug.”

She had her hands balled into fists. I knew she wanted to hit me. I also knew she wouldn’t dare.

“You’re not nearly as smart or as pretty as you think you are,” she hissed.

“But I’m exactly as smart and as pretty as Omari thinks I am.” I took a step toward her. “Speaking of Omari, does he know that you’re here threatening me?”

Her lip curled in disgust. “I don’t make threats. I make promises. Please believe I’m good at what I do. Omari can’t afford to lose me—especially not right now with the grand opening tomorrow. But know this… I will get Omari from your hooks, steal your customers, and ruin your business.”

“I’ve entertained you long enough. You should probably run along now,” I told her in an upbeat voice. “I’d hate for anything to happen to you.”

“What did you say?”

I smirked. “Goodbye, Kim.”

She glared at me before she stormed to the door, bumping into people on her way out.

For the rest of the night, I alternated between going over the festival weekend plan with my staff and tweaking my revenge plan with myself. With Alexis thinking I was smitten with Omari and Kim thinking I was out to get him, I had to walk a fine line with the managers. Because they would be watching me closely. It was a complication, but it wasn’t insurmountable.

“Ready for tomorrow?” I asked the servers who had just finished straightening their areas.

A chorus of yesses followed, and I giggled with excitement. We’d stayed a little later to prepare The Cask for the first night of festival and it looked amazing.

“Alexis?!” I called out. “Are you ready?”

“I’m coming! I’m coming!” She ran out of the kitchen with a bag. “Louis made me a to-go box and I couldn’t leave without it.”

When she reached us, I turned off the light and set the alarm. “No problem,” I told her. “I just didn’t want to leave you. It’s raining, by the way.”

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