A Canine Conundrum
Joey's POV
Flying down the street with his tongue lolling out of his mouth, the manic looking blonde was drawing quite a bit of attention to himself. "Damn Greebs." He muttered to himself, drawing yet more concerned looks from slightly started passers-by, "Givin' me detention for talkin' to Yuuug…I mean, how ma meant to get the answers to his damn equations without askin' for em?"
Panting and puffing, Joey skidded to a halt at the back of a fancy looking restaurant. Peering at his watch he let out a whine, he was almost half an hour late. Of course, it wasn't really his fault. After all, students at Domino High were forbidden from getting jobs of any description. Consequently, he'd been forced to endure more than an hour of Greebs' stupid equations before he could finally make his escape. Opening the heavy door that led to the kitchens, he prepared himself to receive the lecture of a lifetime from his boss, Alessandria.
His anticipation was not to be disappointed. Alessandria had been hurling all sorts of profanities at him for a good twenty minutes before she finally realised that the food wasn't going to serve itself and that Joey had to start work lest the beautifully prepared meals were to go to waste. Of course, there were other waiters, but the new restaurant was dreadfully understaffed.
Joey knew that that was the only reason they had hired him. Why else would they hire someone with a Brooklyn accent and matted hair for their snobby, overpriced restaurant? However, Joey didn't mind. As long as he had a job, even a temporary one, he could start paying off the outrageous debts his dad had racked up through his excessive gambling and drinking habits.
A few hours into his shift and things still hadn't started looking up. His habitual clumsiness seemed to have taken a turn for the worse and developed into chronic incompetence. This had resulted in no less than four broken plates, five smashed glasses and two severely bruised waiters who he had walked into whilst laden with dishes. By eight o'clock, despite an almost inherent aversion to gambling, Joey was willing to bet on his beloved Red Eyes card that things couldn't possibly get much worse. He was wrong. By a long shot.
Kaiba's POV
Kaiba sighed as he slipped his feet into a pair of his newest Italian shoes. Passing a mirror, he couldn't help but admire his reflection. Too bad it would be wasted on a bunch of middle aged suits. They wouldn't be able to tell his hand-stitched, bespoke leather shoes from those mass produced atrocities that most people purchased at "Low-Price".
He hated these business meetings. After all, most of the people he associated with were not nearly as intelligent as himself, not to mention far too intimidated by his cold manner and stoic attitude to make conversation that was even halfway worthy of his participation. Walking leisurely to his limo, he tried to repress a sigh; this was going to be an extremely boring evening. If only he could have predicted what the next few hours had in store for him.
Joey's POV
At half past eight exactly, Alessandria grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, pulled him into the pantry and locked the door. Feeling her fingers close around his neck, Joey began to feel rather uncomfortable, "Um, Alice, I know you're kinda mad at me at the moment but come on! If ya wanna kill me, wouldn't it best to wait till there's less folks out dere? I mean, as ya keep tellin' me, dat food ain't gonna serve itself!"
Alessandria closed her eyes and tried to keep her fiery temper under control. "Listen Mr Wheeler, a very important customer has just walked in, a customer that has the power to decide whether this business becomes the most successful of its kind or effectively goes down the gutter. Therefore, if you put just one toe out of line, your ass will be moving through that door so fast you're gonna have to wave goodbye to it from my kitchen. Get my drift?" Alessandria decided to add a sinister a smile for good measure.
"Um, so you're basically sayin', that I can't make any goofs or I'm outta here?"
"Good boy, little Joey. I see you understand. Now go take the orders for Table 11 and make it snappy."
"Um, I don't mean no offence or nutin, but, if this big shot is dat important and all, perhaps it would be better to send someone a little more…experienced?"
"Normally that would be the case. However, it seems you have single-handedly incapacitated most of our staff, thus you are the only one left who has no physical ailments preventing your tray from wobbling. So I suggest you start moving right now before you also have a physical impediment."
His eyes wide with horror at the terrifying look on the face of the little yet incredibly scary women standing in front of him, Joey moved as quickly as possible towards Table 11, one of the rarely used tables situated in the most expensive, secluded area of the restaurant. "Wow" thought Joey, "This person's gotta be pretty well loaded to have hired this area." Moving into sight of the table, Joey poised his pad and prepared his pre-learnt spiel.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, ta "Da Blue Star". We have a variety of drinks here so, whether ya hopin' ta quench ya thirst, drown your sorrows or ta experience some of the country's finest beverages, we are sure ta have somethin' you desire."
With that, the guests started naming their orders and it didn't take Joey very long to realise the importance of not goofing. The beverages they were naming cost more than he was paid in a month! Finally, after some frantic scribbling on his part, there was a lengthy silence so, keeping his eyes down, as was his custom, he began to depart.
It was then he heard a voice that chilled him to the bone and, though his eyes were still down, he could perfectly picture the smirk that was doubtlessly accompanying the comment, "And I suppose I don't get a drink? Then again, I suppose I should be grateful. After all, a mutt like you probably would get my order wrong or, even worse, end up drooling over a drink you'd never be able to afford…not even if you sold your entire collection of doggy bones."
Feeling the familiar heat surge through his body, he opened his mouth to voice the retort that flew to his lips, "Ya…" Suddenly he stopped. He couldn't do this. As hard as it would be, he had to stay calm and collected. Otherwise there was no way he would be allowed to keep his job. Otherwise he and his dad would find themselves on the street and all their possessions in the hands of the bailiffs. No. There was no way he was going to let rich boy provoke him. Not tonight when there was so much ridding on his actions.
"My sincere apologies, Sir. What can I get you?"
Kaiba's look of mottled shock and disappointment lasted only a moment. By the time he opened his mouth his smirk was firmly back in place, "Hm, I seem to have forgotten my reading glasses, perhaps you can read the list for me? That is, assuming mutts can read."
"Of course, Sir."
Going through the list, Joey felt his cheeks begin to burn.
"Oh, dear. You've forgotten to say the prices. Go back to the beginning and this time tell me how much each drink will cost. And perhaps you can give me your opinion on each drink?"
By this point Joey's hands were beginning to shake, however, he was determined to keep as calm an appearance as possible. Therefore, with his infamous strength of mind, he was able to make it through the list without succumbing to the increasingly stifling urge to wring Kaiba's neck.
"So, have you made a decision, Sir?" He managed to get out, having gone through the list three times at Kaiba's request."
"You know, I'm actually not that thirsty. I don't think I'll have anything."
"N-no problem, S-sir." Joey managed to stammer before hurrying away with his orders, trying to put as much space between him and the object of his detestation lest he surrendered to the overwhelming urge to punch his lights out.
As far as he was concerned, he couldn't have been more wrong declaring the evening a disaster so early. It had just turned into a nightmare and he had a feeling it was only going to get worse.
Well…that's it for chapter one! Will Joey be able to keep his cool with Kaiba? And just what exactly is Kaiba planning next? All this and more to be revealed in chapter 2!
Hope you're enjoying it so far…reviews will be very much appreciated!