Page 37 of Hard Lessons
“You get one more side.”
“A salad with whatever dressing you recommend,” he ordered, handing over the menu.
I took the menu and stuck it under my arm. “I’ll get that put in.”
I finally turned and rushed off. Stopping at the register, I placed his order and then rushed around to deliver the food that had arrived for other guests.
He watched my every step with interest. He studied my every expression as I moved about, talking to one guest and then the next. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for or what was so intriguing to him. He seemed like the overbearing boyfriend who was terrified to let anyone get close to me, but I knew he wasn’t watching for my benefit. He was watching for his own. He was looking for any little thing he could find that would give him the permission he needed to punish me again.
His punishments were becoming something I wasn’t expecting. My knees were still killing me from kneeling on the hardwood floor of his office. I wasn’t sure what the point was. All I could figure out was that he wanted to break me in any way he could, physically, emotionally, mentally.
I wondered what he needed to see from me to consider his job to be done. Maybe I just needed to follow his every step exactly. But that was easier said than done. Especially when it came to Chase. I didn’t want to push him away. I liked him, and I could see a future with us. But how did Elliot fit into that future?
Elliot’s food came up, so I grabbed everything and took it over to his table. “Steak, medium-well, side of fire-roasted vegetables, and a salad with raspberry vinaigrette,” I repeated his order as I put everything down in front of him.
He looked up at me with his brows furrowed. “That isn’t right.”
“What?” I frowned at him. “What isn’t right?”
“Any of it.”
I knew I was right, but I pulled out my pad anyway and reread what I had written. “That’s everything word for word.”
He pushed his plate away. “I wanted my steak to be medium-rare, not medium-well. I wanted ranch for dressing, not this raspberry slop. You’ve screwed up the entire order.”
“I did not,” I whispered weakly, knowing what he was doing to me. “That is exactly what you ordered.”
“No, it is not,” he said, his voice stern and deep.
“Is there a problem over here?” my manager said, stepping up to my side.
I looked down at Elliot, and he glanced at me. His steel-colored eyes sparkled before he turned them to my manager, James.
“Yes, your waitress is arguing with me. She screwed up my order, and now she’s trying to tell me that I’m the one who ordered it this way.”
“I’m so sorry about that, sir. How did you want your order? I’ll have it remade right away.”
He informed James about the order, and James immediately began removing the items.
“Grab that and follow me,” James said.
I grabbed the plate and followed him to the kitchen, where we both disposed of the dishes.
James turned to me. “That meal will come out of your pay. That was a fifty-nine-dollar steak that’s been wasted.”
My mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious! I can’t afford that. I-I didn’t do anything wrong! It’s him. He ordered it that way?—”
“He clearly didn’t. I suggest you listen a little better to avoid mishaps like this.” He turned to the cook. “Wrap this up for Ms. Ashford. She can take it home and have a late dinner since she just bought it.”
My throat tightened as I tried not to cry. A few of the people on the backline shot me a sympathetic look.
I shook off the tears, knowing I couldn’t stand around and cry even though it was all I wanted to do in that moment. I had to work.
I couldn’t afford a steak at that price, but I couldn’t afford to lose my job either, so I had to grin and bear it.
The moment I stepped out of the kitchen and got back to work, I saw Elliot staring at me again, no emotion on his face. Ididn’t want to hate him, but God help me, I was close to it. If I didn’t know the guy he used to be, I’d have poured his whiskey over his head already.
I avoided his table as I waited on the others. Once I could no longer avoid him, I grabbed his fresh order and took everything over to him.
