40 #3
The evening progressed smoothly and the clientele were in good spirits, which rubbed off onto all the staff; the fancy dress costumes proving to be a huge hit with the customers and a great talking point.
Gia was in her element talking to all the customers, charming the women and men alike.
She was a born hostess and had an unbelievable knack for making everyone feel welcome and special.
Dani watched Gia work her magic as she brought over the main course to David’s table.
He made some smutty remark about Dani and Gia mock scolded him, then she winked at Dani and moved on to the next table where Pino was serving.
Peter watched on from the edge of the bar. David’s table of eight had already had a lot to drink and were becoming rowdy. Luckily no one seemed to mind. It was New Year’s Eve and everyone was determined to enjoy themselves.
As Dani poured their wine Peter noticed David snake his arm around her waist. Dani carried on without flinching.
He made some remark to his table which made them all laugh, Dani smiled politely and moved swiftly around the table topping up their glasses.
Pino came over to her where she was gathering up an ice bucket and stand, to check she was alright.
Peter looked at his watch anxiously. It was ten o’clock.
Everyone was on their main course, so the kitchen would be on a breather until the desserts were ready to be served.
His eyes restlessly flitted around the restaurant, ensuring all the customers were being attended to and that his staff were managing.
The front door opened and in waltzed Arsenio, Cosimo and to Gia’s delight, James.
Gia excused herself from a table, her face lighting up as she spotted them and went straight over to greet them.
Jerome, who was at the bottom part of the restaurant, beamed when he saw his brothers.
They all moved to the bar and Kuch lined up their shots.
Dani stepped down to the edge of the bar to collect her order.
“Is David behaving himself?” Peter asked discreetly.
“He’s just showing off,” Dani shrugged. It wasn’t the first time a customer had gotten over familiar with her. She could handle it. “He was just telling the table that I had the steadiest hand.”
“Nothing else?”
“He made some quip remark, asking me if I was as easy as Marilyn Monroe. It’s just talk. You know what he’s like.”
Peter looked over at David’s table and narrowed his eyes. “What are they drinking now?”
“They’re starting on the Champagne.”
Peter nodded and looked over to where Jerome was standing. Arsenio caught sight of Dani and whistled softly. Jerome stiffened.
“Dani you look fantastic!” his mischievous eyes twinkled in obvious appreciation. “What you do to that dress…” he raised his eyebrows lewdly.
“Thanks.” Dani blushed and shook her head. Collecting her Champagne, then quickly she headed back to her tables.
“Jeez, she’s so fucking sexy,” Arsenio hissed under his breath and Jerome stared at him.
“Pack it in, Seni.”
“I’m just saying…”
“Well don’t.” Jerome’s tone was clipped.
“She. Is. Del-i-c-i-ous. It’s like she’s made of butter.”
“Seni!” Jerome barked.
“What’s with you? Lighten up.”
Cosimo rested his hand on Arsenio’s arm and shook his head in a silent plea for him to stop.
Arsenio huffed and turned his attention to Nicole.
He was going to have to have a quiet word with Arsenio about Dani, thought Cosimo.
His obvious preoccupation with Dani had clouded his usual razor-sharp perception.
James furrowed his brow and shot a questioning look at Cosimo as he tried to work out why there was suddenly tension between the brothers.
Cosimo darted his eyes in the direction of Dani, then back at Jerome and James made a silent ‘oh’ as everything fell into place.
Jerome looked away and scanned the restaurant trying to avoid looking up to where Dani was.
“Where’s Liz?” asked Cosimo.
“She’s at home. She might pop down later.” His voice was monotone, devoid of emotion.
Cosimo’s eyes flitted to Arsenio’s and they both cringed.
They knew Gia would have been less than pleased that the family weren’t together.
Their attention was drawn to the private section where Dani had just opened a bottle of Champagne.
David’s table had cheered as she opened it without any noise and without spilling a drop.
“They seem to be in a good mood,” commented Cosimo.
Jerome frowned. “A bit too good. We’ve another two hours before midnight and if they carry on like this we’ll be carrying them out.
” Jerome turned to face the rear of the restaurant.
He sent a quick look over to Peter and Peter nodded understanding he needed to monitor the situation.
Jerome’s eyes then returned to the rear, his eyes darkening as he watched David openly appraising Dani’s cleavage as she bent over to pour the Champagne into all the glasses around the table.
Luckily the neighbouring tables were oblivious to the antics of David’s table, and so it seemed was the main restaurant. Dani cleared the main course plates and headed into the kitchen.
“Dani. How’s it going?” asked Carmen as she took the plates from Dani.
“Fine. It should be easier now they’re on the dessert.” She shrugged and paced back into the restaurant. Pino shot her an apologetic look and Dani winked at him, in a ‘don’t sweat it’ gesture.
Peter quickly looked around the restaurant and took a gratifying deep breath. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and his staff had excelled under the stressful circumstances.
Dani swiftly served the desserts avoiding any unnecessary loitering around the table.
As she placed the last tiramisu down one of the men at David’s table goaded David into a bet.
He wasn’t a client of the restaurant and from what Dani gleaned from the sporadic conversation she’d heard, he was David’s brother-in-law.
“I bet Marilyn here can’t open another bottle of Champagne without making it pop or spilling it!” his words were a little slurred as he spoke. Crap! Thought Dani.
“What do you bet?” David’s eyes lit up to the challenge.
“I’ll pay for this evening if she does,” the brother-in-law replied, rather pleased with his proposal.
“And if she doesn’t?” asked David.
“You pay.”
David looked up at Dani and winked at her.
“Deal. Get us another bottle. Marilyn.”
Dani clenched her teeth and forced a smile. Pino shook his head feeling mortified that he’d swapped tables with her. She went down to the bar and placed her order. Peter came over to her immediately.
“What’s he ordered now?”
Dani gave him a rundown of the bet and Peter sighed deeply as Kuch placed the bottle on the bar and sent Peter a worried look. Dani took the bottle and headed back to the table. Peter kept his eyes on her as Dani expertly peeled off the foil and eased the cage away from the neck of the bottle.
“Easy does it, Dani. Don’t let me down,” coaxed David as Dani slowly turned the bottle keeping her hand firmly over the cork.
“That’s it, my beauty. Luke’s gonna have to cough up big tonight.
” He sniggered, rubbing his hands together in glee.
Dani continued to twist the bottle. Her heart pounded as she adjusted her grip.
She’d opened countless bottles of Champagne in her time and she’d never spilled a drop, but the added pressure of the bet had made her nervous.
Peter watched on and Jerome straightened up, shifting on his feet.
No one in the restaurant was aware of what was happening at Dani’s table.
They were all blissfully oblivious and enjoying themselves, to the relief of the few whose attention was fixed on Dani.
Kuch shuffled up to the end of the bar and stood directly behind Peter his eyes fixed on David’s table.
Dani twisted the bottle a little more, then a few things happened at once.
From nowhere, it seemed, Luke had come around behind her, and as she twisted the bottle Luke reached down and grabbed the skirt of her dress and threw it in the air.
It bellowed out revealing Dani’s scarlet red Brazilian lace panties and stocking clad legs.
Luke whooped like a baboon at the sight of them alerting the whole restaurant to Dani’s exposed legs and behind.
Dani flinched as she uncorked the Champagne without a sound or spilling a drop.
David cheered and Luke groaned. Jerome growled a curse and surged forward starting towards where Dani was but Cosimo and Arsenio grabbed him back, restraining him.
“Easy, Jerome. Let Peter handle him. We don’t want a lawsuit.” Cosimo spoke through gritted teeth feeling Jerome’s biceps tense and his jaw strain as he tried to shake off his brothers.
Peter was up in an instant flanked by Kuch and Pino.
Dani placed the bottle into the ice bucket, then turned away from the table.
Her face flaming and her whole body shaking and politely excused herself.
She walked quickly to the rear of the restaurant and out of the back door towards the fire exit.
She could hear David and Luke whining their apologies to Peter, saying it was only a joke and that they had meant no harm.
Peter’s tone was stern as he spoke but Dani couldn’t hear what he was saying, she didn’t care, she just needed to get out of there.