The Beautiful People by E. J. Fechenda Read Free Book Online Page B

talking
about the Sixers and other teams. Not a fan of sports I tuned them out to stare
at Dominic.
                “Natalie? 
Hello, Natalie?” Marco was trying to get my attention.
    I quickly pulled my
focus back to the table. “I’m sorry, did you ask me something?”
                “Yeah. I
was wondering if you would like to continue this party elsewhere.” He looked at
me expectantly. I couldn’t believe this fifty-something man was asking me if I
wanted to go out with him, and I think he wanted to include his friends.
                “I,
uh…well, I can’t. I already have plans. Sorry.” It was true, I’m glad I did
have plans, because I would have had to lie to my boss – not a good habit to
get into – and I feared I might get stuck accompanying him.
    Marco seemed very
disappointed, almost angry that he was being denied. His eyes turned an even
darker black. A sneer started to form on his doughy face. “Well, maybe next
time?”
                “Um, sure?”
    Thank God Grant showed
up then. I went to leave, but Marco grabbed me by the wrist and anchored me to
my seat.  Grant saw and pursed his lips, but didn’t say anything.
                “Marco,
Stump and his boys didn’t pay their tab again,” Grant said.
                “That
arrogant, cheap son of a bitch! I warned him if he pulled this shit again it
was going to be the last time!” Marco slammed his other hand down on the table
and his face turned bright red. He released my wrist, but I was too afraid to
move. He studied Grant, his eyeballs seemed to twitch in their sockets and he
was suddenly eerily calm when he said, “You know what to do.” Grant tipped his
head in acknowledgement.
    When Grant turned to
leave the table I jumped up to follow him. “Excuse me gentleman, I need to
close out.”
    Marco smiled and
reminded me not to have plans the next time.
                “What was
that all about?” Grant asked as we walked across the dance floor towards Dominic’s
bar.
                “Mr. Grabano
asked me to ‘continue the party’ later. I think it was his creepy way of asking
me out.” I whispered.
    Grant stopped
mid-stride. “What did you tell him?” I squirmed under his interrogative gaze.
                “I told him
I already had plans - because I do.”
                “What
plans?” he asked suspiciously as if he knew I going to tell him something he
didn’t want to hear and he was bracing himself for it.
                “Dominic
and I are hanging out again after work.” Grant rubbed his hands over his face
and shook his head, but he didn’t snap at me.
                “You’re not
going to the after hours place again are you?”
                “You mean
The Speak? How did you know about that?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
                “Word gets
around fast. I have a lot of eyes.”
                “Ugh! You
are so annoying!” I growled and stalked off to the bar. Dominic was just
finishing up, so I went to the employee lounge to get my things. As I was
taking my jacket off of the hanger I overheard Brittany in the bathroom area
talking to someone.
                “…and he
was holding her hand. Can you believe it? He never held my hand. You know
what’s funny? I think she really likes him. He’s such a player and she has no
idea.”
                “Yeah and
she’s Grant’s sister, now that takes some serious balls. Grant will kill him if
he burns her,” the other person commented.
    I froze when I realized
who they were talking about. So Dominic was a player. That explained his
interest in me. It was too good to be true. My heart sunk into my stomach.
Grant was right and he tried to warn me. I could feel the lump forming in my
throat and I tried to swallow it down, but it wouldn’t budge. My eyes started
to tear up with bitter