Chapter Three

So, I uh, *clears throat* *adjusts nonexistent tie* hi there. *waves*

Miss me?

Bella resisted the urge to tear her hair off her head as she looked around at the chaos that was currently her kitchen. Half the staff wasn't there, the chef looked half cocked and the sous chef was part of the missing party. She had two waitresses and more orders than she would have expected on a Tuesday night. But lack of staff or not, lots of orders equals big revenue and that's all she allowed herself to focus on at the moment.

She had learned over the past weekend that the second she let her mind wander, her thoughts focused on a set of piercing green eyes. The same gaze that had tormented her in her sleep since she saw him last.

Bella took a deep breath and stepped into the kitchen, resting her palms on her hips as she glared at every staff member in front of her. It took them all a while, but they finally stopped their idle chatter and turned to look at her.

"I don't know where the fuck everyone is," she started, wishing she sounded calmer. "But I'll be damned if that's going to cost me customers tonight. I don't want to hear one word of complaining until you're blocks away from the restaurant. If I hear anything resembling complaining on these grounds I will fire you, no question about it." She paused, making eye-contact with everyone. "Am I clear on the subject?"

Everyone nodded, a few saying "crystal" with forced smiles, which in turn helped Bella relax slightly. She knew her staff was trustworthy - to a point - and if she and her restaurant survived tonight, then everything would slowly fall back on track.

At least two hours into the after five o'clock rush, Bella's white blouse was covered in war paint from the kitchen, half of her hair had fallen out of the meticulously tight bun she had it in earlier, and her black slacks were covered in flour. To be frank, she looked like shit and was grateful the rest of the waiters/waitresses had shown up before they opened the kitchen.

"Bella?" Tiffany, one of the newer waitresses asked as she slowly walked into the kitchen. Bella blew her bangs off her forehead, closing her eyes briefly before acknowledging her. "There's a customer who wants to speak with the owner."

"Now?" Bella cringed at the high pitched squeal that left her lips out of fear. "Give me five minutes."

Bella pulled her hair free and started unbuttoning her top as she ran down the hall and turned into her office. She slammed the door shut and quickly changed into the grey slacks and blue shirt she had stored in her desk earlier. Her hair on the other hand, she wet in the small sink and put it back up, making sure it was less loose hair and more bun this time around.

As she stalked her way back into the kitchen, she noticed Tiffany was standing exactly where she had left her, holding her checkbook in front of her waist.

"Okay." Bella said quietly, tilting her head up as she followed Tiffany into the dining room.

She smiled at the other guests, asking a few how their meal was so far, and so far she received no complaints. As they rounded the corner and entered the larger room, Bella felt her heart skip in her chest. Angie was here, with Kate and, Edward.

"Fuck." Bella murmured to herself.

She cursed a few more times under her breath before approaching the table, trying to hide her frown as Edward pushed his chair back. Kate grabbed his arm, her fingers almost instantly turning white at the exertion. "Stay." she hissed.

Bella cringed as her sister stood up and enveloped her in a hug. "I'm so sorry." Angie hugged Bella tighter as she started to cry, causing a lump to form in Bella's throat.

She awkwardly patted her sister on the back, hoping she wasn't coming off as bitchy as she extracted herself from Angie's arms. Bella mentally put her mask back on, forcing a smile as she guided her sister back into her seat.

"What can I do for you all?"

Angela saw right through the facade. "Don't you dare start with that shit Bells." Angela tugged on her hand, forcing her into the seat directly across from Edward. "You sit down, shut up and listen."

Bella bit back her retort, instead crossing her legs and arms with a scowl. She kept her eyes on the table as she calmed her breathing. It was odd whenever Angela spoke up to her, it went against the grain to have her younger sister act more mature than she was. Bella laughed internally, 'cause that's possible, Angie could never be more mature.

"Bella? Did you hear me?"

Whoops.

Bella felt the heat rising to her cheeks. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts."What did you say?"

Angela sighed heavily, crinkling her nose in disgust, a face she normally made whenever she was pissed off. "I was asking you to regale us all on what the hell happened on Thanksgiving."

"Edward won't tell us a damn thing and since I was in town, I figured I'd drag his sorry ass along and make you two work it out." Kate pipped in.

Edward still had yet to say anything since Bella had joined them. "Look," Bella said, resting her fist on the table. "What happened between Edward and I is just that. Between Edward and I. I'm sorry this isn't fucking convenient for you two but at the moment, your happiness isn't my concern." Bella, stood up from the table, pushing her chair back in. "I have an entire fucking restaurant full of people, a kitchen in shambles to say the absolute least. I don't have time for this."

Bella took a deep breath, quickly making eye-contact with Edward as she took a step back. "Now if you'll excuse me."

"We're not leaving until one of you speaks!" Angela hollered at Bella's back.

Bella scowled as she entered the kitchen.

Don't hold your breath.

It's short. I get that, but it's something. Does that make up for it? *shrugs* Sorry?

Reviews are better than making eye-contact.

Unless your eye-fucking someone hot. Then it's different.