Chapter 2 – Bitter Sweet.
Trish breathed deeply and grabbed her pen and pad from her apron pocket looking over at table twelve she knew she had to go soon so what was the problem. She took a quick look over at Jeff who shot her a reassuring smile then continued to serve. Trish took the first step and then the next and before she knew it she was walking over to table twelve. When she reached it the three men looked up at her the cocky one smiling widely at her.
"Back again I see," Randy smirked.
"Can I take your order?" Trish asked ignoring the comment trying to be as pleasant although it was getting harder by the second the way he was looking at her.
"Sure," Chris said quickly looking round at the other men, "we all ready?"
"Yeah," AJ nodded glancing over the menu one more time.
"What's the sushi like?" Chris asked after a long pause.
"It's excellent we have our own Japanese chef here," Trish said in her best sales person voice.
"What about the meat?" Randy asked suggestively licking his lips.
Trish didn't look at him, "which one Lamb, Pork, Beef, Chicken, Duck… " Trish began to reel off the list.
The rest of the conversation went by with Randy making more suggestive comment before AJ and Chris finally made him order his food and after all the trouble he simply ordered a simple pasta dish. Trish quickly took the orders and walked away as fast as possible knowing he was looking at her as she did.
Walking into the back area where the door to the kitchen was located she walked through immediately being hit with hot air and an assortment of smells. Trish called her order out to the Chef Tajiri and then placed it down on the board and left the kitchen picking up some orders that were ready to go. As she was walking out she almost ran in to Torrie who was just coming out of the staff room.
"Whoa careful this outfits brand new," Torrie laughed as she stepped backwards.
Trish laughed a little, "could you get the door for me my hands are pretty full?" Trish motioned towards the door with her head.
"Sure," Torrie opened the door as Trish walked past, "so are those guys on table twelve okay?" Torrie asked walking behind Trish.
"No," Trish laughed a little, "just your normal jerks one in particular," Trish sighed rolling her eyes.
"Someone say jerks?" Victoria asked leaning over the bar looking at the two women.
"Yeah table twelve," Torrie answered immediately.
"You want me to handle it?" Victoria said putting her pencil behind her ear, "I'll just pretend their Jay's mom if they give me any shit," Victoria smirked.
Trish laughed a little, "no I got it really I'm fine," Trish reassured her friends with a nod.
"You sure?" Victoria asked with raised eyebrows.
"YES!" Trish said loudly getting agitated by the second.
"What's up with you guy's?" Amy asked joining the conversation at the side of Victoria she was holding a tray full of drinks.
"Oh guys on table twelve their giving Trish a hard time," Torrie answered.
"No their not so everyone calm down okay," Trish said frustrated.
"You want me to take the table?" Amy asked as she put the tray down and tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear.
"NO!" Trish yelled frustrated, "will everyone stop treating me like I'm fragile I'm not going to brake okay."
At that Trish walked away realising the food she had in her hands was probably getting cold by now so she had better serve it up either that or she would get the urge to throw it at somebody. Shaking her heads at her friends reactions Trish didn't understand why everyone thought she was so weak. Sure she wasn't the loudest or most confident of the group but that didn't mean she didn't know how to handle herself.
Trish placed the food down on the right table and made her way back towards the bar she realised that maybe she had overreacted a little as they were only trying to look out for her as she was still new to the job and although she would hate to admit it still a little unsure of herself. Trish had been working there the least amount of time as all the other girls had a few years experience on her. She was glad of their mothering sometimes but tonight she just didn't need it. As she approached the bar she could see Jeff talking to someone next to him. As she got closer she could see it was Jake.
"Your mothers going to kill you when she sees you've moved," Trish said raising her eyebrows knowingly.
"I was bored so Jeff's teaching me how to make cocktails," Jake shrugged smiled widely he was obviously unaware just how much of a bad mood his mother was in.
Trish laughed a little at the small boy throwing a cocktail shaker around mainly on the floor, Trish's smiled stoppedwhen she saw Melina approaching not looking very happy as she saw what her son who was supposed to be out of the way was doing.
"Jake what do you think your doing I told you not to move!" Melina shouted.
"Jeff's showing me how to make cocktails like Tom Cruise," Jake defended himself.
"Well you're not Tom Cruise and this isn't a movie so get back in there room now!" Melina yelled again.
"Come on Mel he was bored and we're just having a bit of fun it's no big deal," Jeff said shrugging.
"Your not going to get fired over a bit of fun though are you!" Melina said impatiently her eyes narrowing.
"She's got a point champ best get going," Jeff nodded and motioned behind him.
Jake muttered something under his breath and walked away back into the back area. Melina watched him walk away and sighed she wasn't having the best day.
"You okay?" Trish asked.
"I will be when this day is over and my husband disappears," Melina sighed.
"Things not going well with you two?" Trish asked.
Melina sighed and rubbed her eyes, "you could say that."
"You two have so much history though and at least he's trying," Trish said sympathetically.
"Not hard enough he thinks he can just waltz back in after everything that happened and he's wrong, i'm not going to be made a fool of again," Melina sighed.
"I'm sure he's more than learned his lesson Mel and trust me your not a fool," Trish smiled.
"Those months were really hard on me Trish and i'm just not sure i'm ready to just move on."
Trish went to say something but was interrupted by someone calling her name. Looking round she saw one of the kitchen staff Maria telling her that the order for table twelve was ready. Trish rubbed Melina's arm supportively as she knew just what Melina had gone through in the last year with her husband and she knew it had taken its toll on the brunette but like Trish Melina was strong.
Giving her a smile Trish and walked over to the counter and collected her order then turning back round she dreading walking back over to the table with Randy on. Trish took a deep breath and made her way over slowly putting the plates down when she arrived. After giving each one the correct order she stood back Randy's eyes permanently on her, she tried her best to ignore it but he was getting to her.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Trish dreaded asking the question but she had to.
"No thank you," AJ replied smiling at his food.
Chris shook his head.
Randy was quiet for a few seconds then tilted his head and looked up at Trish, "no I think we're okay…Trish."
Trish noticed he was looking at her chest smiling widely it wasn't just her name tag he was looking at. Trish faked a smiled holding back the urge to gauge his eyes out with her pencil and turned around then walked away. She got about halfway before she heard her name being called out behind her she knew it was him. Slowly taking another deep long breath she turned and smiled.
Forty five minutes later Trish returned to the table and saw the half empty plates. Since she had served their food she had been called back a bunch of times as they wanted more drinks, or sauces or there was something wrong with the food, she'd had to replace Randy's meal already as he claimed it was to salty. Each time she returned to the table he would use the opportunity to make some sexual innuendo type of remark. Trish wasn't sure how much more she could take and had regretted not letting Amy or Victoria take the table instead, but she was strong she thought all she had to do now was clear the dishes hand them the bill then he would out of her hair forever.
"Was everything okay with your meal?" Trish asked piling up the dishes about to take them away.
"No it was still too bitter," Randy said casually pushing his plate near her, "I wanted something sweet," Randy smirked again.
"Well I'm sorry about that sir would you like to speak to the manager?" Trish asked as it was procedure.
"No that's okay maybe you could help me," Randy smirked.
"Only the manager can give you a refund sir I'm not authorized to," Trish said refraining from rolling her eyes did this guy think he was funny or something?
"Well it's not a refund I'm after if you get my drift," Randy smirked as he moved his hand to Trish backside.
"Hey what the hell do you think your doing?" Trish yelled stepping back.
"I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about," Randy said as though he was confused.
"You know what I mean!" Trish yelled loudly. Nearly everyone in the club was looking over at her now.
"Maybe you're imagining it," Randy smirked and looked over at Chris and AJ who were in complete silence.
Trish sighed loudly then picked up the half full glass of water on the table and tipped in to Randy's lap. Randy shrieked loudly and sat back looking up at Trish horrified.
"Crazy bitch!"
"Maybe you imagined it sir," Trish smirked.
By now Paul had ran over and was stood next to Trish as was Melina and Amy. Torrie had ran through the back to get Eric.
"Is there a problem here?" Paul asked putting an arm between Trish and Randy.
"Yeah your stupid waitress poured a drink on me," Randy yelled pointing to his crotch.
"He touched my ass!" Trish yelled disgusted.
"Is that true?" Paul asked looking at Randy.
"No of course it isn't she wishes I did," Randy yelled louder.
"How dare you! You bastard!" Trish yelled, "ask them they saw it," Trish pointed to a very quiet Chris and AJ who said nothing.
Amy put her arm on Trish's and spoke calmly, "maybe we should go into the back room."
"That's a good idea get her out of here before she assaults someone else," Randy said now wiping his crotch with some napkins.
A few seconds later a very flustered Eric came running through followed by Torrie. He ran up to the table and stopped looking from Trish to Randy.
"What happened?"
"She poured a drink on me for no reason," Randy said confidently.
"You liar!" Trish practically screamed her face now red with rage.
"Hey I was only making a suggestion about the food and she poured a drink on me," Randy said shrugging.
"Fine here's a suggestion for you," Trish grabbed the plate off the table and tipped the remainder of Randy's pasta over his head, "go to HELL."
Everyone was in complete shock especially Randy who let out anther yell as he wiped pasta sauce out of his eyes. Chris and AJ looked stunned but then couldn't help but laugh under their breath. Eric was completely silent his mouth open wide he looked as though he was about to have a heart attack. The others just stood by silent Amy was lost for words as never in all the time she had known Trish had she ever done anything like that.
"Erm Trish lets go," Amy finally spoke grabbing Trish arm and dragging her away.
Trish walked away with Amy after shooting Randy a very satisfied look to which he just narrowed his eyes at her. Torrie came running back to the table a few seconds later with hands full of napkins and wash clothes. She immediately tried to help clean Randy whil Eric suggested he come into the back on use the wash facilities. Randy however just didn't want any of it he just stood up and looked at Eric with a very annoyed expression.
"You'll be hearing from my lawyers."
At that Randy walked away out of the restaurant followed by AJ and Chris who were still laughing. In all the time they had known Randy no one had ever humiliated him like that before especially a woman. They decided to take a separate cab home as they knew the foul mood Randy would be in and that it was best to avoid him.
"That was awesome I never knew you had it in you," Victoria laughed.
"Me neither it was just something about him that made me crazy," Trish said sighing.
"Well I'm sure we won't see him again anyway," Melina laughed.
"Except in court maybe," Amy laughed.
It had been an hour since Trish's outburst and the restaurant was now closed for the evening so like always the staff were doing there usual clean up and splitting of tips. Trish had been banished to the back room for the remainder of her shift and Eric had been on the phone to Vince McMahon the owner of Phoenix trying to explain why they might getting a lawsuit in the near future.
Currently a hand full of the staff at Phoenix were sat around a table in the main dinning area discussing this evenings events. Most were surprised by Trish outburst as she was regarded as the quiet shy one who never made trouble, they looked to Amy or Victoria or even Melina to do something so outrageous. They had finished the cleaning and where waiting for Eric to come out with the verdict as they were positive Trish would probably get fired for what she did.
Trish was the most nervous as she had enjoyed doing it to him but had immediately regretted it straight away as she remembered she was in no situation to be getting fired from her job especially with rent due and a huge bill for repairs to her car that had broken down last week on the way to work. Trish sighed and put her head down on the table knowing the outcome couldn't be good. Sat next to her was Jeff who just patted her on the back trying to make her feel batter but nothing would work at the moment.
Although there were a wide majority of personalities working at Phoenix one thing you could count on was they stuck together. The restaurant had been going just over eight years and at the moment was employing just over thirty people all different ages, sex's, races, religions even nationalities ranging from American to Japanese with a little Italian and Mexican thrown in. Like any business people had disagreements and arguments between each other but they always managed to settle them professionally and never let it interfere with work. Trish was to say the least happy working there as she had left her family up in Canada and so her co-workers were like a replacement always there when she needed them like tonight. Only she was more than worried now, was she about to lose this all over a rash impulse that felt good at the time.
At the moment still there out of the waitress's was Trish, Amy, Victoria and Melina. Also present were bartenders Jeff and Rob who were close friends to Trish and were worried about her. The at the and of the table was Paul Wight head of security and Ric Flair who was head waiter and needed to be there as anything to do with the wait staff was his responsibility. Everyone suddenly stopped talking looked up as they saw Eric walking out of the back area towards the table not looking to happy. He stopped walking as he reached the table and looked directly at Trish.
"Well Vince isn't pleased but by some stroke of luck he plays golf with Bob Orton so he thinks he can persuade Randy not to press charges," Eric said breathing out.
"That was Randy Orton?" Jeff asked loudly immediately laughing.
"Yeah," Eric sighed.
"Whoa go Trish," Amy laughed, "even I wouldn't be that brave."
"How was I supposed to know he was one of the richest guy's in the city he was just another jerk to me…please Eric I am really sorry," Trish pleaded.
"Jerk had it coming to him anyway I'd be proud if I were you," Victoria nodded.
"Well as much as he may or may not have deserved it as you can imagine Vince isn't happy and he's coming here next week to see us," Eric explained as everyone went deadly silent as they knew this wasn't good as Vince never came to see them unless it was vitally important.
"Ah crap," Trish sighed rubbing her eyes.
"What about Trish?" Ric asked finally, "you know we can't afford to lose her."
Eric looked at Trish, "I'm not going to fire you but you are on probation okay," Eric nodded and smiled then looked serious, "don't let it happen again."
Trish let out relieved sigh and smiled widely as Amy and Jeff hugged her, "thank you Eric."
Eric nodded and then turned to everyone else, "right now let's go home."
Everyone quickly stood up glad the evening was finally over. Gathering their coats and other belongings they all headed out the door and began to make their journeys home knowing in a matter of hours they would be back. As they were walking out they glanced at the clock, which read two o'clock in the morning.
A/N: So it took me longer than I had intended to post this as I eneded up re-writing the end, but anyway I hope you liked it.
Thank you for all the great reviews I was surprised at how much people liked it, Anyway i'm expecting some more great ones as they keep me focused.
