Page 15 of A Dark Duet

It’s a stupid question that I find annoying. “Why do people work? Because they obviously need the money?” I say, sarcastically.

“I set myself up for that one, didn’t I?”

Jace interrupts and speaks up loudly to get my attention. “Hey, sweetheart. Can you stop the small talk and come over here so we can pay?”

I inwardly sigh and roll my eyes. Nate gets up and stands behind me as I look at Jace.

“Hey dickhead, why don’t you shut the fuck up and wait? We’re not done talking. When we’re done and I decide to let her go over there so you can pay, she will let you know.”

My heart races as I feel the rage radiating from him behind me.

Jace gives him a murderous glare. “You got a problem with me, champ?” Jace says.

“Yeah, I actually do. You’re fucking up my breakfast and my time. So just shut the fuck up and wait,” Nate says while Jaden chuckles.

Brie breaks the tension, “It’s okay, guys, chill. Jace, here is the bill.” She grabs it and sets it on their table and gives me a smile while Nate sits back down. Jaden looks pissed and gets up to go over to Brie.

She looks surprised when she sees him coming over her way. He stands next to her and whispers in her ear. Her eyes widen and she nods. He hands her a piece of paper, and he walks back to the booth with a grin on his face. Nate shakes his head, not believing him.

“What?” Jaden says.

“Nothing,” Nate says. I walk over so I can collect the payment from Jace and Jason’s table. Jason’s hand brushes mine as I pick up the money, noticing there are too many bills.

I frown, looking at a thousand-dollar tip. “We can’t accept this,” I whisper, looking up at him.

“Please take it.”

“We can’t. It’s not right and feels wrong.” I can’t believe they want to tip Brie and me this much money. I don’t want to feel that we owe them anything because we accepted a big tip.

He gets up from the booth as Jace walks out, looking down at me because of his height as I step back.

“I overheard you about needing the money and why you work here. If it was up to me, you wouldn’t work at these places, and I figure the more you make, the less you have to work, especially over there.” His words are above a whisper, and I can smell his spicy cologne.

I never expected him to say that. “I’ll see you later, beautiful,” he says as he walks out of the diner. I turn around and see Brie gaping at me as I give her the other half of the money. She looks at the amount of money and her eyebrows rise, just like mine did.

We go about working in the diner, serving the rest of the customers. Finally, Nate gives the signal that he is ready for me to come over. I head over to their table, and he has this unreadable look on his face I can’t figure out, while Jaden stays silent.

“Ready?” I ask as I clear their table and leave them the bill. He doesn’t even flip the paper over to see how much it is. He reaches inside his pocket as I place the dirty dishes in the bin for the dishwasher to clean.

When I turn around, they’re both gone, left without saying goodbye. I feel disappointed as I walk over to the table and see a two big rolls of hundreds and an extra fifty dollar bill. I count them and there are ten thousand dollars in total with a note on the bill. The money for the bill is also there, with a note written in his handwriting. It reads,Five thousand for Brie and five thousand for Giselle… See you soon, Beautiful.

I take the bill with the note and tell Brie. She puts her hand over her mouth. “Holy shit,” she whispers.

“I know,” I say.

She shows me the note Jaden gave her showing his phone number. I grin at her. I guess Joe was right.

Giselle

The next day, I search online and order a bed and some kitchen essentials because I’m too exhausted from work.

I was left with nothing from my childhood home, having nowhere to put it, and having to sell as much as I could. I have to sleep at Brie’s until my bed arrives, but at least it will be fun to have a girls’ sleepover.

“So, are you still nervous about this weekend?” Brie asks.

I inwardly sigh. “Yeah, of course. I’m going to his house alone and dancing for his eyes only. I’m nervous and he is obviously counting on me showing up.”

“I think he really has a thing for you.”

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