10. Savvy
Savvy
D o not stab the blonde with a corkscrew. I repeat, DO NOT stab the blonde with a corkscrew. Don’t do or say anything Savvy. Just get their order and get out of here.
I have never been a violent person, but if seeing her cling to my alpha earlier hadn’t been enough to trigger me, discovering what she’s doing to him and his friends has made me feel all kinds of stabby.
Instead I focus on Oliver, giving him a soft smile and asking if he would like anything to drink.
“Do you not have a cocktail menu?” his date asks, not giving him a chance to respond.
I turn my head to look at her. “We certainly do! Unfortunately, we can’t sell alcohol to anyone under the age of twenty-one.”
“I am twenty-one you idiot.” she spit out of me. Oliver lets out a low growl, pissed at her disrespecting me, but I nudge him with my foot and he settles down. “Hello? Are you slow or something? Go get me the menu.”
I clench my fists at my side but manage to keep the smile on my face. “I just need a quick peek at your ID and I’ll be happy to get that for you.”
“I left it at home.”
“Oh no, how unfortunate. I’m happy to bring you anything else to drink that doesn’t contain alcohol. I have some other tables to take care of so if you need a few I can come back. ”
“The fucking audacity,” she says through clenched teeth, acting like it’s my fault we’re prohibited from selling alcohol without checking IDs. “Just bring me a peach ice tea.”
“And for you?” I ask Oliver.
“Just some water, please. Thanks, Savvy.” He flinches, realizing he used my name without me mentioning it, and Valerie narrows her eyes at him.
“Do you know what you want to eat?” I ask quickly, hoping the question will distract her from his fumble.
Her gaze snaps to meet mine, a condescending smile playing on her lips. “You know my boyfriend?” she asks sweetly, too sweetly. “He and his pack are courting me. They’re all in a band together.”
“Jesus Valerie, can you keep your fucking mouth shut?” Oliver bites out at her.
“Oh, come on, Oliver,” she scoffs. “Who is she going to tell? Besides, you two look like you know each other; shouldn’t she know you’re in a relationship?”
Her words shouldn’t hurt me, but, fuck, I’m only so strong. The omega - who I am still trying to come to terms with having - lets out a small whine, and I know I have to get away from them before I start crying.
I mumble something about getting their drinks and dart off toward the bar where Todd is working, ignoring his concerned expression.
“Do you mind taking it to them, or asking someone else to?” I ask, needing a few minutes to myself.
“Yeah, sure,” he nods as his eyes roam up and down my body, but it doesn’t creep me out like it would coming from someone else.
I know he’s just worried about me. “I got Lily to cover your other tables, but your uncle is looking for you. I wouldn’t make him wait too long; he seems pissed about something. ”
Fuck, this is bad. So bad. The last thing I needed tonight was to be summoned by my uncle. I had hoped he would have left by now, but if he’s still here, he’s probably been monitoring the security cams. He knows I was locked in the bathroom with Oliver.
I swallow down a lump in my throat, trying to reign in my panic. “Thanks, Todd. Did he maybe mention what he wanted?”
“He didn’t say anything kid, just yelled at me to find you. I would suggest getting it over with.”
“Yeah, I’m going.”
“Maybe ask him if you can have off tonight, Savannah; you really don’t look well.”
I smile at him but don’t respond. I push away from the counter and go up the stairs right next to it, stopping in front of Greg’s office. I give the door a soft knock, before pushing it open. He is sitting behind his desk, nursing a beer and looking pissed as all hell.
“Don’t you fucking knock before entering a room?
” he spits out at me before downing the rest of his beer and reaching for another one.
I notice the trashcan- the one I cleaned this afternoon- is already filled with empty beer bottles.
Great, he is pissed and drunk. This is going to end badly for me.
“I’m sorry Greg, Todd said you were looking for me, and I didn’t want to keep you waiting any longer. Can I help you with anything? I have a few tables I need to check on if we can make this quick?”
His eyes narrow. “You didn’t seem to be worried about your customers when you spent an hour in the bathroom with that boy. Were you fucking him? ”
“Was I - ?” Did he seriously just ask me that? “NO! I wasn’t in there for that long, Greg, I haven’t been feeling great today, and when I was done, he was already there. He didn’t go in there because of me. He spilled something on his jacket, and I tried to help him clean it.”
He just stares at me for what feels like forever, finishing another beer. " I swear to God, Savannah, if you lose your virginity while staying under my roof, you won’t like what happens. Don’t test me girl.”
Like it’s any of your business.
“I’m not planning on doing anything to disappoint you, I promise. Is there anything else?”
Just keep telling him what he wants to hear, Savvy. Don’t give him anything to use against you.
“You need to lock up tonight.”
I was here until three am this morning, waiting for a bunch of your friends to leave so that I could lock up.
I was up at six am so I could get here before school and open up for the morning staff.
I have a double shift tomorrow and Sunday.
I have an exam in 2 days I still have to study for.
I am exhausted.
I don’t feel safe walking to your house late at night, alone.
All valid reasons right?
“Sure Uncle, I don’t mind. Anything else?”
“You will be serving me and some of my friends tomorrow night. I’m hosting a poker night in one of the private rooms, and it goes without saying you best be on your best behavior, girl.”
“Understood. ”
“Get the fuck out of my office Savannah. If I get a single complaint about you tonight we will be having a little chat when you get home.”
I give him a curt nod before leaving his office, pulling the door closed with a little more force than necessary. I know I need to be on my best behavior for the rest of the night; his little chats never end well for me.
I spent the next thirty minutes busying myself with other tables and cleaning the waiter station, anything really to avoid going back over to Oliver’s table. I desperately want to be close to him, but the risks are too high with Greg being suspicious.
Since moving here, Greg has kept a tight leash on me.
I’m not allowed to see friends, engage in after-school activities, or question any of the rules he has in place.
So, seeing Oliver at all is going to be impossible.
Since moving here, Greg has only been away from home one night- the night I went to Ferality.
Do I wait out the five months? Not see Oliver, and put up with Greg’s abuse until I turn eighteen?
Or do I take what little I have and run away? Would Oliver run away with me if I asked?
If I wait until I’m eighteen, I get access to my trust fund, and I’d be set for life. If I stay I might not make it until my eighteenth. My body is littered with bruises, and Greg has threatened to kill me on multiple occasions.
Would my dad be okay if I left? Would my mom keep him alive if I’m gone? She said not to tell anyone about Karl, but if I disappeared, would that piss her off enough to do something so drastic?
“Savvy, could you maybe take table sixteen their order?” Helen - the chef - startles me from my thoughts .
Fucking FUCK. That’s Oliver’s table, but I know I can’t say no. I grab their plates, a cheeseburger, and an overpriced seafood platter, and head out into the dining area.
I’m met with the sight of Oliver yelling at Valerie.
He’s standing, gripping the table so hard his knuckles are turning white.
Valerie looks pissed off at something he says to her, but her face goes pale when a guy I hadn’t noticed steps up next to Oliver.
He’s fucking huge, and recognition hits me when he runs his hand through his icy blonde hair, short at the sides and a little longer at the top.
I had my hands in his hair that night at Ferality when he carried me towards the stage.
He says something to Valerie, who now looks pissed off, before turning around and marching out the door, Oliver right on his heels.
What the fuck is going on?