Page 15 of Beautiful Deceit
"Anyway, I'm fine with whomever you decide on. I know the other two applications we've gotten don't have much barista experience."
He nods, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure Molly's the way to go, but do you mind staying and seeing the other two?"
"I don't have anything else going on, but no more drinks for me. I’m starting to get jittery. Give them to the regulars to get their opinion."
"No problem." He looks at the large grandfather clock by the first shelf of books, "The next one should be here in about ten minutes, so I'm gonna run downstairs and grab some supplies." He doesn't wait for a reply, before standing and walking away.
"Have you known him long?" I turn to face Beau again
"He's been here for about four years I think."
"You guys seem to have a great friendship," he sounds wistful.
"I don't have many friends, but I count him among the best." I answer honestly. "George, the older gentleman that was here when you came to the book club, has been here the longest, even before me. I don't know what I'll do when he finally retires." I shake my head slowly, "I'm lucky he loves this old place almost as much as I do."
He smiles fondly, his mouth framed by the shadows created by his hat. I find myself staring at his lips way too often because of it.
"What about your other employees? Are they your friends too?"
"For the most part. Anna, the woman from earlier, she's been here a little over a year. I know she’s not permanent because she works here for something to do. She’s young, and wants to find a husband, then she'll move on." Beau swallows audibly. I think he's thinking about how she has her sights set on him. I chuckle at his expense. "Jess," I point to her, "I hope she stays for awhile. She’s taking night classes right now. I know when she's finished she might need to do something new; she’s going for accounting. So, I plan on needing a bookkeeper who can freelance, by the time she's finished with school." I grin and wave at Jess. She tilts her head and waves back looking bemused.
"How about you? Have lots of friends? People you work with maybe?" Now that I've seen his full face a few times, I can peer past the shadows and make out a few of his features.
He looks kinda sad when he answers very vaguely, "A few." I'm learning the subtle nuances of his voice, and I hear the lie. I don't know if he has more friends than he's letting on or he has less. If I had to guess, I'd go with the latter. Why would this man, who women seem to love as much as I love white chocolate, seem so lonely? "I hope I'm making a new one now," he says quietly, my faces flushes in response, and I fidget in my seat.
"I'd like to be your friend," I say honestly. It feels strange to just stare at him after that statement, so I look over his shoulder.
Anna is leading a young guy over to Beau and me. She slinks up, like her hips have been freshly oiled and stops right in front of me. She’s blocking Beau from my view and I'm sure giving him a perfect view of her skinny butt---wait did I just think that about Anna? I'm not being very kind, but I’m frustrated by the interruption and her antics.
She introduces an emo-looking guy as Kevin and steps back, seeming to have forgotten she’s standing in front of Beau. She plops down into his lap as she falls backward.
"Oh goodness, I'm so sorry." she says, with both of her hands braced on his wide chest.
"It's fine," Beau says through clenched teeth. He grabs both of her wrists and pulls her hands from his chest. He moves to stand, so she has no choice but to scramble off his lap. Standing up, he adjusts his hat lower and says, "I need to get going anyway." He storms out the door before my shock wears off enough that I'm able to speak.
“Excuse us,” I mutter. “Anna can I see you in my office please?” My tone is clipped.
She follows me without argument.
“What was that?” I ask as I close the door behind her.
Anna shakes her head and shrugs, “I fell.”
I’m so shocked that I can’t even muster a quick response. A beat later I reply, “You do realize that our customers and a potential employee watched you ‘fall’ on him?” I make air quotes to signify how ridiculous I think she’s being. She doesn't look a bit sorry. In fact, she looks a bit smug. “Anna, that was completely inappropriate."
She has the nerve to roll her eyes, "Oh, lighten up Sam. By the feel of things, he enjoyed it." She smiles; I gape at her audacity.
“If the roles were reversed that would have been an easy case of sexual harassment.”
She looks completely bewildered.
“Anna, if you can’t treat our customers respectfully and act professionally, I don’t see you working here in the future.”
Her demeanor changes immediately, "Wait. Wait, Sam. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted like that." She looks crestfallen, "I'm so used to dealing with vultures that I was acting like one myself.” She looks up at me even though she is taller, “I don't know what came over me. Please don't fire me. You guys are my only real friends, and this is the only place I can be me." Her pleading softens me, but I'm still outraged by her conduct.
I cut my hand through the air to stop her, "Anna if I ever see anything close to the way you acted today again, friendship or not, you're gone.” She nods wide-eyed. “Just because you surround yourself with cruel people, doesn't mean you have license to be one." The comment is hurtful, but a harsh much needed truth.
With that, I walk out of the office. Anna follows me.
