Chapter 3: The Shift

Karin Papadopoulos' POV

I took the bus again to come home and I was unlocking the door as I was exhausted by my outing. I think the sleep that I have was never enough as I was landing on the couch. I was looking at the clock before I was closing my eyes. Then my phone rang.

I groaned as I was reaching for it in my handbag. I looked at the ID and it was my boss. I rolled my eyes as I was answering it, trying to be sweet and kind with him when all I wanted to do was to puke right now.

"Hello?" I said as my boss grunted.

"I need you to come in for work now," he said as I was rolling my eyes. My shift will not be in another 3 hours, which plenty of time for me to take a nap.

"But my shift is not—"

"We need more staff and I think you have more availability than others. So, I wanted you to come in this instant," he said as if he was saying that he will not take a No for an answer. I sighed before I replied.

"Fine, but I will be there at noon. My bus will not come earlier than that," I said as I was looking at the clock. It was 10:30 AM. My boss grunted.

"Fine, but don't be late," he said before he ended the call. Rude! I shook my head before I was getting ready for my shift that was early. And here I thought I might doze off for some time again. I sighed. I guess I have to get ready then.

I went to take a shower before I changed into one of the sundresses and wedges as I went to braid my hair. I was looking professional before I was smiling at myself in the mirror. I went out of the house as I locked the door and I went to the bus station.

Once I was in front of the restaurant, it was only 20 minutes to get to my workplace by bus, I was walking toward the back door for employees. I was greeting some of my colleagues before I was putting my stuff inside the locker. I was smiling before I walked toward the door to the front of the restaurant.

My boss was talking to someone before he spotted me. He called me over and he goes over the reservation and the tables that have been set up for each customer. I nodded before I took my place at the front desk. I was making some notes and greeted the customers that were coming to the restaurant.

I smiled and showed them the tables as I was making my way through the heavy crowds. I don't even know why I took this job. I usually ask for the night shift because it was more intimate and less crowded than in the afternoon.

Later on, I took a break as I went inside the kitchen and asked for a plate of leftovers. The chef, a nice old lady, was giving me her specialty for the day as she winked at me. I thanked her as she was treating me like I was her family.

I was happy in this kitchen as I was eating the food wholeheartedly. I was smiling before I saw my boss was coming toward me.

"Karin, I thought you were off the break already?" He asked as he was narrowing his eyes at me. I rolled my eyes at him.

"It's been hours before my shift start. Can't I just have a decent meal for once?" I said to him as he grunted.

"Fine, but make it quick. Our important guest and his companions will be coming soon. At 7 PM sharp," he said before I was nodding at him. He went away. I scoffed before I stuff even more food inside my mouth as I was looking at his retreating figure.

Like I care who it was!

Then, I calmed down as I don't think that my mood swings will get any better. This what happened when you were a 22 years old virgin. It's not like I don't want to have sex but the thought of having something intimate like that should be done with someone that I wanted.

Someone like Pascal Vouivre.

I shook my head before I was eating again. I was clearing the plate quicker as I was trying to shove Pascal's image in my mind. It did not work. I was sighing before I was looking at the clock. 5 more minutes before I went to get a glass of water and drank it. Then I added another one and emptied in seconds.

I was waiting for an important company to arrive. I was looking at the clock and it was almost 10 minutes to 7 PM. I was sighing as I was cracking my neck. I felt someone was burning their stare at me and when I turned, it was my boss. He was narrowing his eyes at me before I turned to stand straight and ready for any guest.

Then, it came.

The smell of smoke and spice were hitting my nose right off the bat. I was inhaling the scent that I did not notice the two figures in front of me. I was opening my eyes slowly before I turned to look at the business suit and the revealing dress that the customers were wearing.

My eyes traveled up and up until I saw the palest eyes I ever saw. It felt so familiar before I was smiling at them. No, it cannot be…

"Hi, table for two?" I asked them politely before the man spoke to me and my body stiffed as I know that voice everywhere. It was in my dream, in my memory, my heart. I gulped.

"Yes, but it was under the name Vouivre, for the company party," Pascal said as he was looking at me. His face was unreadable before I was nodding at him as I smiled.

"Of course, this way please," I said as I was showing them the table that has been set up for them. So, the important guest was Pascal Vouivre, by the looks that my boss was giving me right now. I did my job immaculately as I was greeting the people that came to the table.

I was about to walk away before Pascal was asking for me.

"Miss, what would the best wine for the table? To go with the food that we have reserved?" He asked me as I was looking into his eyes. It was uncanny and stormy as I remembered. I don't think that he would remember me as he just called me Miss. I sighed inwardly.

"I would recommend Bordeaux but seeing it was elegant food that has spices in it, I would go with Chianti," I said as I was looking at the reserved menu. Not that I know anything but I hoped I got it right.

"Is that so?" He asked me before his date was holding his arm.

"Honey, stop. You're scarring the hostess," she said before his date was turning to look at me.

"I'm sorry, I don't think that my fiancé will be so rude tonight. Please forgive him," the woman that was a gorgeous blonde with a glistening engagement ring on her hand said as she was caressing Pascal.

I felt a lump in my throat before I was nodding at her. I excused myself as I wanted to put their orders to the chefs. I was holding my breath before I was releasing it when I was at the front desk again.

"What the hell was that? Why did you not serve them?" My boss came to me and asked me a question. I felt like I was trapped. I need to get out.

"Bathroom break," I whispered before as I was walking toward the kitchen. When I turned around briefly, I saw that Pascal was burning his eyes into me as I moved into the kitchen.