Chapter Three

     Work started normally. Busy, but normal, and I needed some normal to ground me after that mental breakdown I had with my godfather. After completing all the morning prep, I got breakfast ready for the restaurant before it opened to the public. My manager, Kelly, called me over to her back office as I finished the last table that needed to be done before opening. 

     “Hey, is all the morning prep done?” She asks without looking away from her computer and whatever she is working on. I don't mind it. A lot of people here get very annoyed when she doesn’t stop what she is doing to talk to them face-to-face. I know she doesn't mean anything rude by it. She is just very good at multitasking the many tasks she has to do in a day. That was something I could never do. 

      “Yes, all set. I even have the Hotel's Breakfast Muffins cooling, so they are ready for someone to bring over to the hotel soon.” I answered.

      “Awesome work as always. I don’t know what I would do without you. Well, I called you in here because I need you to bring half the breakfast muffins to the VIP floor and set them up in the lounge for me.” Kelly told me as she handed me a VIP access card. Still not looking my way. I was stunned. In my almost five years here, I had never been granted access to the VIP area. Only Kelly and one other person, whose name I didn’t know, had that privilege. It was a realm of mystery and exclusivity, and now, I was being invited in.

      “Arrree... you sure?” I stumbled on my words a little as I was in complete shock. It was nearly impossible to get a job at the restaurant or the hotel unless you knew someone from the owner's family, and accessing the VIP area was even more complex. Black SUVs would pull up to the back of the building. Beautiful men and women dressed in the best suits and dresses would be escorted from the black SUVS and brought to the secret elevator to the VIP area.

     In this small northern town, it was the cause of some of the significant and continuous gossip that circled the town. The rumors often spoke of hitmen and mafia sorts coming to talk shady business on that floor, and that’s why it was so private and well-guarded. I’m sure it’s not true, just something the bored townsfolk like to make up. Granted, Jess and I were no better. We would sit in some of the trees not far off as kids and teenagers with binoculars, trying to spot a celebrity coming to a quiet town to relax from the fast pace of city life. If we did, we didn’t know what they were in; we never got that good a look. Those were simpler times, filled with innocent curiosity about the unknown. 

      “Yes, of course. You are my best employee, and on top of that, you are Mr. Holloway’s goddaughter. I know you would never embarrass him and his family.” Kelly finally looked up and smiled. Her honest smile eased the tension building in my muscles. “It’s nothing to be scared of, just relax.” Kelly laughed. “Mafia men up there doing shady business, or whatever crazy rumor going around right now about the VIP area is not true.” Kelly gave me a knowing look before I could argue. “Don’t try to deny that those thoughts didn’t cross your mind. I know what the rumor mill has to say about the VIP area, now, go on.” 

      I didn’t argue. She had a point. I did have those thoughts. There was no point in denying it. So, I took the cart and went to work quickly. As soon as I was done, I went on my way. I put together a diner cart with half the muffins and other breakfast goods. I made my way to the VIP elevator that was around back. The VIP elevator was a sleek, silver door, standing out against the plain walls of the back hallway. Kelly didn’t tell me if there was a specific card or password I needed to access the VIP elevator, besides the card she handed me. I hope the cart I used was okay. I didn’t even think about it and just went for it. I needed to calm down. I was overthinking things again. Besides, it was too late to turn around now. The elevator was just down the hall, and I could already see two guards standing out front of the only door in and out of the VIP section.

      I recognize one of the door guards to the VIP elevator as Matt. He was the high school football captain back when I was in high school. He was a handsome, well-built man. He was around two years older than me, so I doubted that he would have remembered me from high school. I held out the Pass that Kelly gave me as I approached. The other guard, who I would guess was ten to fifteen years older than me, put up a hand for me to stop.  

     “You are not Kelly. What is your name?” The older man asked in a deep voice that rang with dominance. It set me on edge.

     “My name is Danniella Ashworth. Kelly asked me to bring the muffins to the VIP lounge.” I answered as coolly as I could manage. Man, I was so nervous. I hope my nervousness didn’t show by how much I was probably trembling. The fear was palpable, and I struggled to maintain my composure in the face of such intimidating authority. 

      “I don't know you. How do I know you're telling the truth?” The older man's voice was laced with cold anger, sending shivers down my spine. I tried to speak, but fear had stolen my words. He was intimidating, and I found myself instinctively stepping back, a desperate urge to flee rising within me. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating. The guard's eyes bore into me, and I struggled to maintain my composure. 

      “Oh, chill out, Garrett. You’re scaring her. She is Mr. Holloway's goddaughter. Don’t you know that? I am sure it's fine.” Matt's words were a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. His defense and reassurance were like a warm blanket on a cold night. “Go ahead, Danni,” he said, stepping aside to let me pass with the cart.

      “NO!! STOP!! Not until I get an okay from a higher-up. Kelly should know better.” Garrett bites out, and I am unable to move again. Then a deep, even more dominating male voice spoke behind me, sending shivers down my back, but it didn’t scare me like Garrett did.

      “Matt speaks the truth. Let her up. I give her permission to enter as she needs.”