Eleven
Rhett
After a long day of negotiating, Mr. Walters and I settled on a deal and the sale of not just one but three horses. This guy was serious, and the best part is that pickup will coincide with the days Selena and I are back at the farm when. I’m sure Laney will be glad that I’m there too, it’ll be one less thing on her plate as well as the rest of the farmhands. Not to mention the amount of cake that is about to line our bank accounts.
That’s why when I finally make it to the Maria’s Cucina, the yelling that’s going on is out of control, and the place is completely empty save for the employees.
“I don’t want to hear the excuses. You’re fired. I’ll mail you your last check,” Mr. Perez is standing with his arms crossed over his chest, legs spread wide enough apart that you know he’s not standing down.
“This is bullshit. You’re just firing us because your daughter is lazy,” the blonde-haired girl, Kate, says.
“The only two people lazy in this room are you and Will. You’ve heard my husband. It’s time for you to leave.” Mrs. Perez shoos them with her hands, clearly over the conversation.
“You’re a fucking bitch.” Will looks like he’s ready to do something stupid, and I’m not about to stand by. Not on my fucking watch anyway.
“I think it’s about time you leave now. We all know Selena didn’t say dick to anyone. Instead, she watched you both fuck off and try to reap the rewards.” I stand beside Selena. The woman who’s stronger than anyone I know is folding in on herself, and I know exactly why. She hates confrontation. In the many times I’ve been around her, I picked up things when a customer got too rowdy. She’d try and calm him down, offer him an appetizer or a drink on the house. When Dumb and Dumber would pull their shit while she was working, Selena would ignore them, picking up their slack, not saying one single word to them. It pissed me off, not to mention her best friend Raven wasn’t having it either. Though she held her tongue, which I know was hard for her. That girl is at her wits’ ends, that’s for sure.
“You don’t even know what’s going on. Why don’t you take your dumb fuck self out of here,” is his reply. Oh, this fucker. Shit is about to get real. I clench and unclench my hand that’s down by my side. My other arm is at the base of Selena’s back, hoping she’ll relax.
“Know enough. I know that if you don’t leave, I’ve got no problem laying your ass out and that you don’t have the time or money to go head-to-head with me if you get the cops involved.” Something on my face makes his go white as a sheet.
“Let’s go, Kate. These people aren’t worth it. They’re nothing but trash.” I don’t say shit but watch as he grabs the girl by her wrist, albeit a little too tightly for my liking. She made her bed, though ,and this is where she’ll have to lie in it. Sucks that she’s in this situation, but Kate put herself in it.
“I’m glad you came in when you did. Not sure I wouldn’t have had to go behind the bar and grab the baseball bat,” Selena jokes. I not only see but feel the way the heaviness has eased out of her shoulders once those two leave.
“You were gonna be a Billy Badass, huh?” I kiss the side of her head, my eyes surveying the restaurant.
“Alright, let’s get back to work. Selena, call Raven. If she’s not working, we’ll need her help tonight now that those two are gone. Which we’ll be talking about later, how you allowed them to treat you like shit. You’re more than our daughter, you’re also an employee, and that won’t fly,” Michael, Selena’s father, says.
“Okay, I can do that.” She nods her head before scurrying to the back to make a phone call.
“We might need you here too, Rhett, at least until Raven gets here. I’m sorry you had to witness that and then, of course, being thrown into this fiasco.” Maria kisses my cheek, patting it when she’s done.
“Anytime. I’m off early today anyway.” I nod my head, then I’m put to work behind the bar. The dinner crowd will be coming, and with that the slew of people getting off work to relieve their stress from a busy day.
Twelve
Selena
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you were able to stay all week.” Rhett and I just finished our dinner he had cooked for us by the time I got home from my last class of the week. It was delicious—fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, and sweet carrots. I will have to thank Mrs. Spencer for teaching Rhett how to work around the kitchen. It was amazing, and I’m excited for the leftovers that tomorrow’s lunch will bring.