Page 24 of The Viper

“Tell me, what’s it like serving people?” Ruben’s question is genuine, though surprising.

I turn my full attention to Ruben and smile. “It’s a job that pays the bills.” I shrug. “It’s what I make of it, and I enjoy it. I like meeting people, and talking to them.” Dominic’s growl is low and I don’t think anyone else catches it, because no one else even looks at him. “I have great work friends, and the boss is really nice.”

“Is he decent?” Ruben asks.

“She is.”

Adrian lights yet another cigarette and blows the smoke directly over toward me. “A fucking woman boss?” he scoffs dramatically.

“Adrian,” Ruben warns and cuts him a cautionary glare.

The uncomfortable tension rises as we awkwardly sit here, forced to be in Adrian's presence. What did my sister ever see in him? I wasn’t a particular fan of his before the wedding, but now, he’s not even trying to be human. He’s a downright pig. I turn to Eliza and grip her hand in mine. “What have you been doing?” I’m not here for them, I’m here for my sister and only her.

Dominic and Ruben begin speaking about something, but what they’re saying is of no interest to me. Adrian’s continuing to blow cigarette smoke toward me, and I glance over at him. His narrowed eyes are glued to me. His tight jaw and stiff posture screams psychotic stalker-slash-killer-slash-fucked in the head. What is his problem? Whatever it is, it’s his problem, not mine.

“First course.” Five waiters lower the plates in front of us simultaneously.

I look to my server, a young man maybe my age and smile. “Thank you,” I say.

The corners of his lips pull up as his eyes meet mine. “You’re welcome,” he replies before turning to leave.

I return my attention to the plate of food then look around the table. Everyone has a delicately plated dish of shrimps with a white sauce. I have a beautiful looking salad. I’m confused, why do I have a salad while the others have shrimp? “Rosa, is everything okay?” Dominic asks.

“You all have shrimp, and I have a salad.”

“Because you’re a vegetarian.”

My mouth falls open and I slump my shoulders. I lift my hand and absentmindedly run my fingers across my bottom lip.

“No, she’s not,” Eliza says matter-of-factly.

I look to Dominic whose deep frown creases his forehead. “I recently became vegetarian,” the lie slips out of my mouth easily.

“What? Since when?” Eliza asks.

“Before you were married.” She narrows her eyes as she looks at her plate of food. “I asked the chef to give me vegetarian food on the day.”

“Oh.” Eliza adds a nod as if my lies are all plausible. I guess, they are or she’d be fighting me on this.

I steal another look at Dominic, who’s now engrossed in a conversation with Ruben. He remembered. Not only did he remember, he ensured the chef prepared vegetarian courses for me. It’s so stupid to be impressed by something like this, but, that’s exactly what I am. Impressed.

Adrian is only adding a few words in the conversation between Dominic and Ruben. His main focus seems to be me. I push past his intimidating glare and turn to speak with my sister while in the front of my mind I’m reminded of Dominic’s kindness every time a new course is offered to us.

Thankfully, by the end of the courses Eliza has loosened up and is smiling much more than she was at the start of the night. “This is how I remember my sister,” I whisper when the men are all deep in conversation.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she says as she hugs me. “I’m sorry, Rose, I shouldn’t have shut you out.”

“Dessert,” one of the waiters announces and all five again simultaneously lower the dishes in front of us.

“Thank you,” I smile to my waiter, the same guy who’s been serving me all night.

“You’re welcome, ma’am,” he says as he spends a second too long with his eyes locked with mine before he leaves.

Adrian clicks his tongue to the roof of his mouth, but it’s Dominic who pushes up out if his chair abruptly. He takes off down the stairs and disappears. I look around the table and notice how Ruben and Adrian are both smirking, while Eliza’s staring at her dessert as she takes small nibbles of the cake that’s been served.

Am I the only one who has no idea what’s happening? “Miss Hopkins there’s something you need to know about my boys.” Ruben gestures toward Dominic’s empty chair and Adrian. His boys? What a bizarre way to refer to them. “They both work for me.”

“I know that,” I say. I don’t dare say anything else, though I’m certainly thinking it. What has them working for you have anything to do with why Dominic has taken off?

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