40
New Year’s Eve
Dani slicked back her hair from her face and put it in a tight low bun at the nape of her neck.
She slipped in a couple of grips to secure some loose strands of hair.
Carefully she put on her black top and pulled on her black sweat pants, then she padded over to the bathroom to apply her makeup.
She scrutinised the picture of Marilyn Monroe she had printed out and propped it up against the mirror.
Then pulling out her eyeliner she carefully slicked a line on the top lid of her right eye, then repeated the action to her left.
Carefully she added a beauty spot above the left side of her mouth, outlined her lips in scarlet red and filled them in.
Dani straightened up and checked her look to the photo.
Not bad, she thought, though she looked too made up for yoga pants.
Dani applied a few coats of black mascara, then quickly slipped on her biker boots, collected her garment bag that housed her dress, and her small sports bag that had her blonde wig, stockings and shoes in it.
She ran down the stairs. It was four o’clock, her shift started in an hour.
Yesterday had flown by and Dani marvelled at how fast her time at La Casa d’Italia was passing.
Thankfully she wasn’t working through the afternoon today, giving her a chance to prepare her fancy dress costume.
Chloe had worked her magical sewing skills and made the dress fit perfectly, adding an extra lining so that the dress wasn’t see-through.
Chloe gasped when she saw her as Dani walked into the sitting room.
“Wow! You look great like that. Your hair looks so good swept back.”
Dani wrinkled her nose, “I just slicked it out of the way so I can put on the wig later. I’m getting changed at the restaurant. I didn’t fancy travelling down in a flimsy halter dress. I’ll freeze.”
“Aw, I wanted to see you all Marilyn Monroed up,” whined Chloe.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll be loads of pictures! Where’s Adam? He said he’d take me down, I’m not driving, so I can have a drink.”
“I think he’s in the kitchen.”
“Okay, I’ll get him and we’d better get off. It’s going to be hectic tonight. I won’t be in until very late, or very early, depending how you see it. We’re all going to the club after work,” Dani grinned.
“You love it. You love the rush,” teased Chloe. “How are you feeling?” she added knowing tonight was hard for Dani. Over the last few years Dani had spent New Year’s Eve with Jez in the bar. She knew Dani would be feeling out of sorts.
“Okay. It’ll be mad, so I won’t have time to think much, besides, everyone’s in the same boat down there.
Most of us are single. I’m glad I don’t need to be in until five tomorrow!
” Dani shrugged. She was pleased to be working and the whole team was like a big family to her now.
Only Matteo, Peter and Jerome were married, the rest were mostly divorced or single. “Okay, I’m off, see you next year!”
“Yeah. See you next year!”
By the time Adam pulled up outside La Casa d’Italia it was dark.
Dani quickly hugged him and got out of the car.
She retrieved her costume from the back seat, then waved him off, blowing him a kiss.
She felt the usual thrill as she noticed Jerome’s Maserati parked up.
He was here early, she thought. She pushed open the back door and stepped into the restaurant.
The familiar music of Verdi floated out of the kitchen and Dani smiled.
Matteo would be in his element. The smells were incredible.
She quickly ran up to the kitchen door and peeked inside.
“Dani! You look beautiful,” Matteo cried as he saw her. He kissed the tips of his gathered fingers loudly. “Bellisima.”
Dani blushed. “Thanks, Capo. You want an espresso?”
“Si.”
Dani nodded and retreated to the bar. She put down her costume and rounded the bar and set to work on Matteo’s and her espressos.
“Can I get one of those?”
His smoothly familiar voice sent shivers up Dani’s spine.
She took a deep breath, then turned to look at the breath-taking face of Jerome.
He’d slicked back his hair and was dressed in a nineteen fifties styled, pinstriped, three piece, Mafia suit.
His badge pinned on his lapel had Al Capone written on it.
Damn, he was just so yummy. Dani grinned at him as his eyes widened at her appearance.
He inhaled deeply causing his nostrils to flare.
“Sure, Jerome. You look… er… great.”
“So do you. Though I thought you were dressing up as Marilyn Monroe.” He slipped onto a bar stool as Dani prepared his coffee.
“I am. My costume’s in the bag.” Dani motioned with her chin to the garment bag.
“Oh, I see.”
Dani placed the coffee on the bar trying hard not to look at him.
Over the last few weeks she’d started feeling less flustered around him, slowly getting more comfortable in his presence.
However, the last few days had proved to be more difficult.
She wasn’t sure if it was just the time of year or the fact that they’d been working so closely together, but something had definitely changed.
They had an unsaid connection that they both seemed to be skirting around, a strong chemistry that he seemed only to share with her.
It didn’t help that he was always present.
Dani knew one of the reasons she loved this job so much was because he was there.
“You look.” He paused a minute trying to find the right word. Then, realising whatever he said would either be inappropriate or inadequate, he settled with, “It suits you. Your hair back like that. You can see your eyes,” he mumbled, frowning briefly.
“Thanks.”
He caught her gaze and his eyes bore into hers for a moment, making Dani’s heart surge. She looked away and fussed with Matteo’s coffee. Why did he do that? He always stared at her so intensely. She shook her head and picked up the cup and saucer and headed to the kitchen.
“Here Capo.”
“Oh grazie Dani.“ He winked at her as she shuffled out of the kitchen.
Jerome stayed sat at the bar, deep in thought.
He held his chin, propping up his head with his elbow on the bar, looking broody and incredibly sexy.
Dani wished she didn’t feel what she felt for him.
She was trying hard not to imagine what his biceps looked like without the jacket and shirt straining around them when he turned to look at her.
She instantly flushed. Fuck. Why did he always catch her out?
She smiled tightly and came towards him, avoiding eye contact.
“I’d better get changed.” Dani lifted her costume from the bar. Jerome drained his coffee and set the empty cup on the bar, then smiled softly at her. “See you in a bit,” she added, then scurried off downstairs to the staff room.
Dani smoothed down the skirt of her white dress and checked her reflection in the mirror. Thankfully no one could see the scarlet red panties she was wearing. She chuckled to herself. She really did look strange. A loud wolf whistle made her start.
“Oh. My. God. Dani you look… well you look like Marilyn!” Rosa stood behind her and looked at her reflection in the mirror, her Cleopatra eyes sparkling.
She was already dressed in her white toga styled dress and was wearing her jet-black wig.
“The platinum blonde on you is weird. You look fantastic though! Did you wear them?”
Dani grinned, “Yes, I did. Chloe had to line the skirt so you can’t see them through the material!” Rosa laughed a loud, throaty laugh. “You look great Rosa. Are you wearing yours?” Dani turned to appraise her.
“Of course, it’s tradition!” Rosa lifted her skirt up just enough to give Dani a flash of her bright red panties.
Dani noted she was wearing flat Grecian sandals. “At least your footwear won’t kill you tonight.” Dani looked at her white heels and rolled her eyes.
“Kuch is gonna freak when he sees you! Your boobs look amazing in that dress,” Rosa giggled.
“Crap, they’re not too much are they?”
“Are you kidding? You look like a fifties sex bomb, which you’re supposed be.” Rosa squeezed her shoulders.
“Is he here?”
“Yeah. He looks so cool. He keeps gyrating his hips and saying ‘uh-huh’. He’s so funny.”
“Here let me help you with the headdress. I’ve some grips in my locker.”
Before long the whole team of La Casa was sitting in the function room being briefed on their positions and the customers they would be serving.
It was a set menu tonight with six choices at each course.
Capo had prepared the staff a traditional Italian New Year’s Eve dish of sausage, polenta and lentils and they all sat down together to eat before the madness of New Year’s Eve began.
The atmosphere was that of excitement. It took a good twenty minutes for everyone to calm down.
There were endless pictures taken. Dani couldn’t believe how good everyone looked, they’d gone all out.
Eventually the weird mix of characters sat down to eat.
Dani looked around the large table and giggled.
They really did all look funny. How often would you see Charlie Chaplin, Clint Eastwood, Pele, James Dean, Julius Caesar, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Cleopatra, Grace Kelly, Einstein, John Lennon, Ghandi, Mussolini, Messi and Michael Jackson sitting and eating altogether?
Nicole snapped away with her camera and most of the staff also took pictures on their phones.
Dani fleetingly thought that Gia would have a few hundred photos to choose from to put up on the restaurant’s website and Facebook page.
Peter, who was dressed as Frank Sinatra, also positioned his camera and took pictures as they ate, grinning to himself.
He loved New Year’s Eve at the restaurant, customers and staff were always on a high.
He checked the time. It was quarter to six.
In three hours, the restaurant would be packed out.