Chapter 14. New Projects 2

I was not just blushing but happy that my tricks worked. I smiled softly and said, "What are friends for? You can always count on me."

He swallowed his food and spoke, "Thank you for the gesture. When will she resume the training?"

On hearing the gender of the new employee, I had butterflies in my stomach. To cover up my disappointment, I picked up a glass of water and began to drink it while he continued to eat.

At that point, I came up with a suitable answer for him.

"Oh! I thought you employed a male miner."

"Not at all. She is a clerk for one of my managers," he explained.

"It's okay. I will help when you employ a miner," I said conclusively and he accepted my proposal.

We continued to eat but my appetite was affected. To avoid his questions, I ate all the same and he suspected nothing.

It was not a bad search even though I could not find Julius. At least, I chatted with an old friend and caught up with the past. I returned to the office and my men were scared to death when they saw me.

After I drove in, they held an emergency meeting on how to find Julius.

"One of you will go to Westminster in the morning," the CSO declared.

The others focused on him and he explained, "He must have gone there out of desperation."

"That would not change anything. He won't be employed," another person said.

"I am aware. But he must have dropped his application letter. All we need is his contact."

"That would be nice if they would release his information to us," another staff member stated.

Despite the vagueness of their plans, they agreed to harness that area.

The Bar And Resort 

I saw some patronizers sitting in groups. Some were with children who were celebrating their birthdays while some were having one meeting or the other. The atmosphere was relaxing and serving them was not tasking.

Nevertheless, we took part in the celebration, and it made me love the work. The children were no doubt from the elite families. They paid the designated f*e for bringing in outside food and cakes while we supplied the drinks, popcorn, and music. They closed before 6 PM and greased our palms with many tips.

"This is good," I told one of my colleagues smiling from ear to ear.

"You have not seen anything. With the time tips, we don't use our salaries for anything but to save it," he informed me.

"Really?" I asked him in astonishment.

"Yes. That is why no one resigns."

"I was lucky then to have been employed."

"Too lucky. I guess you were considered because one of us is sick."

"I got it," I said not bothered what would become of the sick staff if he returned.

Afterward, we began to arrange the place for the night crawlers who always sit in twos and in the dark.

When we were through, I returned to Andrea, and he complimented me, "You are a hard-working boy, Julius."

I was not expecting it but I appreciated him all the same, "Thank you for the compliment, Andrea. I promise to do more."

"You are welcome. Don't be bothered about the fights. It happens often," he encouraged me.

"I won't. I will only stand by and entertain myself with a live movie," I said with a silly grin.

He laughed softly and said, "That is the spirit."

We continued with the mixing of the drinks. Soon, the orders began to come in from the waiters. We attended to their requests. When it overwhelmed them, the supervisor asked me to help out.

"Attend to tables forty and forty-one," he instructed me.

"I got it, Andrea," I said and carried their stuff according to the order.

As I was going, I heard the security guard say, "Stop it."

I was attracted by that and looked at the tables. The two male occupants were arguing sharply and were about to exchange blows.

I ignored them and faced my direction. Despite the darkness, I was able to recognize my father. He was alone at table fifteen and had yet to order anything.

'Shameless man,' I cursed him and moved on.

When I got to table forty, the two male occupants were happy with each other and wished that I should do my work and leave them at once. To hasten my departure, one of them slipped some cash into my pocket. I appreciated him and walked to  table forty one.

A frantic woman was sitting alone and angry with her phone. Probably, her partner was late for their meeting. She mumbled her response to my greeting and I walked away after serving her.

On my way back, I saw my father with the old woman and Felicia. They seemed to be on the same side and against my father.

"Huh!" I exclaimed and walked away quickly.

Before I got to the bar, I heard Felicia's voice, "What do you mean by I will regret it, Mark? I only asked for a refund and you spew nonsense."

"I don't know what you are talking about. You interrupted my services yesterday," my father tried to defend himself.

My colleagues were busy, but their attention was on the three. I wished to hang around but Andrea may need me. 

From the look of things, my father was not there for any of them and they were trying to disrupt his appointment. At that point, his client for the day arrived and was resentful of the two. 

As though they were not there, the lady in her mid-twenties crossed her hand on my father's shoulders, kissed his temple, and greeted him, "Good evening, Mark."

He adjusted the only seat for her and she sat down. Likewise, he returned the gesture and responded, "Good evening, Dear. How was your day?"

The two women felt slighted. Before she could respond, Felicia revolted by asking my father, "Did you hear me, Mark? Where is my refund?"