I’d entered the new catering gigs myself, but I still couldn’t believe what I was seeing. How could it be right? My schedule had never been this packed. It had taken me two years to build up the client base I had two weeks ago. How was it possible I’d just added five new recurring clients practically overnight?
My brain refused to compute.
If this was real, it could be a game changer.
I wasn’t about to count my chickens. Nor would I be quitting my waitressing job. Not yet, even if, technically, I would be making more than enough to survive without it.
Still…I could finally afford to hire an assistant. Offering the job to Scarlet wasn’t looking so ridiculous anymore.
I was already halfway in anyway. Two days after I’d made the offer, she’d shown up on my doorstep, Grandpa in tow.
Grandpa Tony looked like he’d stepped off a mid-century movie set. With a slim knit collared shirt tucked into high-waisted trousers that had to be custom-tailored, shiny loafers matching his brown leather belt, and a sleek silver pompadour, he was movie-star handsome.
When I opened thedoor, he gave me a flirty smile. “Well, hello, Marilyn.”
“It’s Bea,” I replied.
Scarlet rolled her eyes. “Oh, he knows your name.” She elbowed her grandfather. “Don’t flirt with Bea. She’s my boss.”
Chuckling, he held up both hands. “Can you blame a guy for being bowled over when a Marilyn Monroe lookalike answers the door?”
This wasn’t the first—or tenth—time I’d heard that comparison, though I didn’t really bear that much of a resemblance to her. It was the hair and boobs that did it. Granted, I liked to wear her iconic white dress from time to time just to cause a stir. But I had a much fuller figure than she ever did, and my features weren’t nearly as dainty.
Still, there were far worse things to be compared to.
I held out my hand. “I’m Bea Novak. You must be Grandpa Tony.”
He grabbed my hand with both of his, wincing when I referred to him as Grandpa. “Just Tony, please. Only my three nuggets get to call me Grandpa.”
I grinned, already liking the easy affection he had for his grandkids. “Sure. Tony it is.”
He gave my hand a squeeze before letting it go. “I’m told you offered Scarlet a job.”
“I did.” I leaned my shoulder against my doorjamb. “I run a catering business out of my house, and I need another set of hands once or twice a week. Scarlet told me she wants a job, and I thought we might be able to help each other out.”
His dark eyes narrowed. “She didn’t bully you into the offer?”
Scarlet stomped. “Grandpa! God, I’d never bully anyone.” She gestured toward me sharply. “Besides, does Bea seem like someone who could be bullied? I don’t think so.”
That made me laugh. “For the record, I’m absolutely not. I’m unbullyable.”
He palmed the top of her head. “Forgive me, bella. I had to be sure. Are you sure you want a job? You know you don’t need one.”
“I want one,” she said firmly. “Aren’t I old enough to decide for myself?”
He released a blustering breath. “It kills me, but I suppose you are.” Then he gave me his attention. “If this is a true offer, I don’t see why we can’t give it a try.”
“It’s a true offer.”
I still didn’t know why I’d made it. I needed help, but surely there was an adult out there who could fill the role. Why I was willingly signing myself up to spend time with a snarky teenager, I could not say. Only…the ball was rolling, and I had no intention of stopping it.
Scarlet would start working for me this weekend. In the meantime, I had to get through the rest of the week. First stop: Nox.
Everything was normal except the staring, and even that I was getting used to.
The past two weeks, Tore had been parked in the conference room when I’d arrived. He’d try to start a conversation, and I’d ignore him. The only thing I wanted to hear was an explanation, and he hadn’t given me that.
So, I did my job while he stared. If he wanted to watch me move around the room, that was on him. I happened to know it was a very fine view.
