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A table of three men wrapped up in a very serious discussion catches my eye just as Ethan walks in and I approach them.
My cheeks flush red as soon as his eyes meet mine, a tingle running up my spine. He smiles, a small, sly smile that makes me believe he knows exactly how my body reacts to him.
“Drinks,” a gruff looking man says. He’s leaning over the table and barks up at me in between his angry rambling with his buddies.
I’m not even sure he’s speaking to me since he didn’t look my way. I stand there waiting for him to tell me what he would like, too afraid to interrupt him and ask. Out of nowhere, I feel a hand grab my arm tightly and shake me.
“I said bring us our drinks. Are you stupid?” he roars.
I step away from him instinctively, but his grip on my arm is too tight. He yanks me back toward him and I scramble to stay on my feet.
The room falls silent. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, but no one moves. It’s only me struggling against this man’s death grip.
“Where are our drinks?” he shouts again, splattering at me.
“Wh- what drinks would you like, sir?” I stammer.
The man flares his nostrils, the corner of his lips twitching menacingly. “You really are stupid,” he sniggers. “What do you think you’re here to do? Listen in on our private conversations?”
My heart is pounding; I can feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead. My mouth goes dry and I feel as if my tongue has swollen so much that I can’t speak.
“Is this a new charity initiative? Hiring complete idiots?” the man spits.
Someone walks up behind me. I’m too startled to move; I don’t know who it is until I feel a protective arm circle my shoulders then another arm move to pull the angry man’s hand off me.
“Have you lost your goddamn mind, Christopher?” Ethan’s voice comes from right next to me.
He is standing so close that I feel his body shake as he hisses angrily.
“Stay out of it, Ethan! Someone needs to tell this girl how things work around here,” he says standing up and pushing his chair back.
I grab onto Ethan desperately. My face pressed against his chest, I hear the steady beating of his heart despite his anger. He isn’t moved by my attacker’s display.
“It’s more like you don’t understand how things work here,” Ethan says, glaring at Christopher.
The tension thickens in the room. We all hold our breaths at once and wait for something, someone to move.
The two men stare at each other until my manager, a mousy man, comes over and gently pries me from Ethan’s arms. He apologizes profusely for absolutely everything, bowing his head as he ushers me into the kitchen, bowing his head as he tries to dissolve the situation without offending anyone.
“Are you alright, I’m so sorry, I should have warned you,” he says, looking me over, inspecting me for any injuries.
I stare at him wide-eyed and confused. I have never been treated this way, and least of all expected it in a place like this.
“Have some water, and calm down. I think you should head home early today. You’re shaking like a leaf,” he says, handing me a glass of water.
“And that’s it?” Ethan asks, bursting into the kitchen.
I turn to him, feeling inexplicably drawn to this stranger. My protector, my hero. When no one else cared how I, a lowly waitress, was being treated by someone rich and powerful, he came forward. He didn’t have to.
“I’m sorry sir,” the manager says and hurries back to the dining area to continue doing damage control.
“Are you okay?” Ethan asks, his eyebrows folded in a concerned frown.
“Yes, thanks to you,” I say blushing. I can’t bear to look up at him for too long afraid my heart will burst out of my chest.
“I’m so sorry. Christopher is an ass. He had no right to treat you that way,” he says, gently reaching out and holding my hand as he speaks.
His hands are warm and soft, his skin as smooth as I have imagined. I feel my heart leap up into my throat.
