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Chapter 2
CHARITY
My name didn’t suit me, but no-one needed to know that, not until they had to know, of course.
“Can I help you, sir?” I asked the bristling hog in front of the reception desk.
“Yes, you can get your manager for me. Now.”
Ah yes. You want a white, middle-aged man, don’t you?“I am the manager, sir. And you’re upsetting my staff. So, how may I be of assistance?”
I ran the largest restaurant in town. My staff were mostly women. Moms who needed extra cash or time off from their families, or high school girls who wanted work after school.
“You can get me a table. Now.”
I glanced over at my concierge, Tania, a mom with five sons, who had the patience of a saint. Even she looked harried and annoyed.
I glanced down at our books, even though I knew we didn’t have a table to spare. “I’m sorry sir, we’re booked out this evening.”
I didn’t offer him a seat at the bar, or an alternative night. Tania would have done so already, and it was obvious that he’d already tried to push his way in.
“No. I want a table now. I have clients here from the city and this is the only decent restaurant in town.”
I glanced behind the huge lug and there were three other suits, all staring at their phones, ignoring his boorish behavior.
“I understand sir. Would you please excuse me for a moment?”
I tilted my head at Tania and we stepped out of earshot. “Okay, so, two choices. I can kick them out, obviously. Or we can offer them the private corporate room.”
Tania snorted. “I offered him the private room, not that he deserved it, but he shut me down. Too expensive.”
I grinned at her. “Perfect.” I would have loved to have just thrown him out on his ass, and I still might be able to, but I had a much more fun card to play now. “Go check on the staff and kitchen for me. I won’t be long.”
Tania hurried off and I stepped back to the desk with a grin firmly in place. “Good news, sir.” I raised my voice for his corporate clients to hear. “Our private room is available for your party. I’m sure you want to spoil your guests with the best of what our little town has to offer.”
I batted my eyelashes at him and directed my smile at the other men who’d walked up behind him.
“Barry? Have you got a table? We’re starving.”
I put on my brightest smile as Barry huffed and puffed. “Oh yes gentlemen, this way. Barry has booked our corporate room. You’ll have privacy and space.”
And a five-hundred-dollar bill just for the room.
