Chapter 1
It was a short train ride to downtown where her new job was waiting. Her hands shook as she walked the side walk to her building. When she came up to it she looked up at the high building.
"Dear god I don't know if I can do this" she mumbled.
Taking a deep breath, Katie took a step towards the door. The door opened and she was greeted with a large, tall, dark haired man.
"Ma'am." The security guard greeted her.
"Evening, how are you tonight?"
He smiled largely. "I'm great, how are you?"
"Nervous."
She laughed when she watched his eye brow raised. "How come?"
"I start waitressing at The Metropolitan Club."
"Ah you must be Katie. John called not too long ago letting me you were starting tonight."
"That would be me." She couldn't stop her voice from wavering.
"I'll show you up."
"Thank you," she whispered.
"When you get more comfortable with how things run, you will be given a key. John will go over it all."
"Thank you."
He showed her to the correct elevator to take up. "It's on the sixty fourth floor. Have a good first day."
"Thanks...wait, what's your name?" Katie asked quickly before the doors closed.
He smiled back. "Terry."
"Thank you Terry."
He gave a quick salute and another smile as the elevator door closed. Katie took a deep breath and pushed the button to bring her up high to the sixty fourth floor.
It was a long ride up. By the time the elevator door opened on her floor Katie was ready to get out of the sea of people surrounding her, making her claustrophobic in the tight space.
Walking out, she straightened her white shirt, closed her eyes and took another deep breath, calming her nerves. Taking a piece of paper out of her bag, she went in search of where she was suppose to be. Before she could even reach the kitchen someone stopped her.
"Miss. Visser."
Turning around she was met with green cool eyes. Her boss. "Evening Mr. Nicholas." She smiled and tried not spazzing out.
"Evening, I'm glad you could find your way. I hope security wasn't a problem."
"No sir."
"Please come to the office so we can talk."
"Yes sir," she said following close behind him.
John, aka Mr. Nicholas was the head honcho at the Metropolitan Club. Katie knew he was firm from their very first meeting. He went over a few last minute paperwork details with her and then showed her where the back office was to put her bag and to clock in. From there she was turned over to Amy, the veteran waitress who would be training her.
Amy was a ball of energy. She quickly treated Katie like she was her best friend. The short brunette was a force. Katie couldn't help but laugh slightly. It definitely was going to be a little easier following her around. Amy showed her everything. From where the silverware was to introducing her to each cook. The floor was full of conference rooms and small meeting room. They was a main dining room along with each room. Katie's head was spinning from all the information. But she felt like she could do it.
"Dating anyone?" Amy asked as they sat waiting for the next customers.
"No," Katie replied shaking her head.
"How come?"
"I just moved to the city. Didn't have anyone back home."
"Lots of guys to choose from here," Amy said with a laugh.
"I think I'll focus on work for now then see what fish are out there."
Katie was about to ask if Amy was seeing anyone when they had more customers come in. Katie followed close and made sure to pay attention to everything she did. She would have to bring a menu home with her tonight and start to learn it if she had any hope of doing this efficiently.
As the night progressed the clientele changed. The conference rooms started to empty and the dinning room began to fill. The patrons were dressed nice but casual. It almost made Katie even more nervous. But she followed Amy's lead and soon got into the hang of it. Even the chefs were impressed with how she was doing. At times she felt like she was being watched which she knew had to be John. All she could hope was that he felt she was doing a good job.
Later in the night, Amy decided to let her go off on her own with a few tables. Katie's first table was a group of four young ladies. They were easy to please, polite and understanding that it was her first night on the job. They made it so easy for her and she appreciated it. The next table was clearly a dinner meeting between two men. Katie guessed they were executives somewhere in one of those fancy tall rise buildings surrounding the Chicago skyline. Her last table of her shift was a single man. His back was to her as she walked up to his table. She could only see part of his profile as he looked out the window at the lit up skyline.
His hair was black and short and she couldn't help but take notice in how well his suit jacket squared at his broad shoulders.
Shaking her thoughts away, Katie approached the table.
"Good evening sir," she greeted him.
When he turned his gaze to meet hers, Katie about hit the floor. His piercing blue eyes startled and captivated her. She couldn't breath.
She was positive she looked absurd as her mouth hung open slightly and no words could come out.
"Evening," he responded, when she couldn't.
The struggle to breath and to find her words were real. Not only did his eyes do something to her that she couldn't explain, but the easy smooth voice that hit her ears was something she wanted to hear again.
"I'll have a brandy on the rocks. It may need to be two. But I'll let you know. That will be it for now."
She found her voice. But it was weak. "Right away," Katie said quietly before she quickly walked away.
She cursed are herself for being such an idiot. Amy met her at the bar.
"Your last table is hot."
All Katie could do was nod her head. His voice was still rattling around in her ears. His smooth, intoxicating voice. Katie groaned softly.
Amy smiled wide at the reaction Katie was having to the dark hair man sitting alone. She had felt it too with some of the patrons over the years. It came with the job. Putting her hand on Katie's on her shoulder, Amy gave her a smile. "Good luck love."
"Good luck? Have you seen him?" Katie voiced in exasperation. Amy just laughed.
"Yes. Good luck."
"God I hope I don't screw up."
"You won't. You're doing pretty good for a first timer."
"Thanks Amy." She smiled weakly. Katie took the brandy on the rocks in her unsteady hand and carried it to the table.
Trying everything to ignore his blue eyes, Katie set the drink down in front of him and smiled as she took his dinner order. By the time she left the table her knees were going weak. Never had she felt this. What the hell was her problem?
Jc stared at the young blonde as she walked away. His heart was beating out of his chest. There was something there, he just couldn't put his finger on it. She was beautiful, that was obvious, but something else about her was holding him.
Katie moved around the restaurant doing everything she could to ignore the mystery man that was in the corner. It seemed every time she looked over at him, his blue eyes were intently watching her. It made every nerve ending in her body tingle.
Towards the end of her shift, she found herself staring at him, wondering about him. Why was he alone? What did he do? Why was he so gorgeous?
"You're drooling?"
"What!" Katie exclaiming jumping up and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She stared wide eye at her new friend.
"Hell I don't blame you. I would be drooling too. Get any information out of him yet?"
"Like what?! I've been too busy trying to keep my jaw off the floor!"
Amy laughed. "His name for starters. He's got to have a hot name. Hot man, hot name. It goes hand in hand."
Katie shook her head. "I can't talk when I walk up to him. I've never had that before."
"You better go bring his second drink before he asks for it. A guy like that I'm thinking doesn't like to ask twice."
The way Amy said that made Katie's skin tingle when she looked at him. Her thoughts were immediately on the two of them rolling around in bed together. Him claiming her. Over and over again.
With a loud groan, Katie got his drink and walked it over to him.
"Thank you," he said.
"Can..." Katie cleared her throat. "Can I get you anything else tonight Mister..."
"Jc."
"Mister Jc?" Katie questioned.
The man, mister Jc or whoever the hell he was laughed softly. Oh god. Katie wanted to melt. His laugh was gorgeous too.
"You can call me Jc. Not mister anything. It's my name. Jc."
"Oh. That's cute," she blurted out. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Katie wanted to swallow them back up and then go die in the corner. Jc got a smirk on his face.
"I meant that I like it," she corrected, red faced.
"Thank you."
Katie was in a serious need of a drink. Or a baseball bat to her head. Either would work fine.
"I'll just take a glass of water and my check."
"Of course. I will be right back."
Katie turned and quickly walked away. Her hands shook. Damnit! She had made a complete fool of herself.
"You're as red as my lipstick girl. What the hell happened?" Amy asked.
"I opened my mouth and talked like you told me to. Actually all I did was make a complete fool of myself."
"I'm sure whatever you said he thought it was cute."
"His name is Jc by the way. And I told him it was cute," she said giving any a hard stare.
Amy snorted back a laugh. "Like I said. He probably thought it was cute."
"Yea right."
Grabbing his check that had printed out, Katie got a glass of ice water and with still shaking hands, she brought it to Jc's table.
But as she went to put the glass down in front of him, her hands shook so badly and the glass fumbled right out of her hand. The ice water, glass and all landed right in his lap. He jumped up and Katie covered her mouth in shock.
"Oh my god, I am so so sorry," Katie shrieked.
He brushed the water and ice off of his suit and looked up at the highly embarrassed but highly cute waitress.
"It's alright. It was an accident. I think. Right?" He asked with a smirk.
"God yes. I'm so sorry. I'll go get napkins."
Katie scurried away before he could open his mouth again.
Bringing napkins and a refill she left quickly again. Wanting nothing but to drink a whole bottle of tequila and cry in her pillow.
She forced herself to get through her shift. Doing everything she could to get over all the feelings she was having.
Paying his bill and making sure he left a good tip, Jc got up and left. He tried finding her before he left but to no avail she was back in the kitchen. He just couldn't shake her. Heading down the elevator he met Terry.
"Evening Mr. Chasez."
"Evening Terry. You watch the game on Sunday?"
"I sure did. They sure made some good passes."
"They did if they keep that up we might have a chance this year."
"Let's hope Mr. Chasez. Did you have a good meal?"
Jc smiled wide. "I did."
"Well good night."
"Good night Terry."
Jc headed towards the street where he saw his car waiting for him, but something in him told him to wait. Something told him not to get in his car yet.
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