Page 50 of Shar: A Woman Alone

Before she can utter a word,I’m cutting her off again. “Can we also have an extra-large breakfast for myman, and two of the healthy breakfast specials for my daughter and I? Thankyou, Annmarie.”

Seeing that she is desperateto get a word in with Sharp, I wonder how she will try. Leaning over the tableand pretending to wipe it with a napkin, she bats her eyelashes at Sharp andasks if he’d like cream and sugar with his coffee.

“I tend not to have cream inmy black coffee, as my wife just told you. Annmarie, is it?” Hearing the toneof Sharp’s voice, she scurries away to the counter and places our order.

“Well, Uncle Sharp, itappears that I’ve been adopted and you’ve been, well, I’m not sure what you’vebeen? Is shanghaied the word?” Zara giggles and looks at me for an explanation,as does Sharp.

I finish laughing at theirquizzical looks just as the drinks arrive, but we have a different server.

“Hi, Madison. What happenedto Annmarie? I thought she was our server today?” I ask in a pleasant voice,and immediately see a guarded expression come over her face.

“She’s just taking her break,so I’ll finish the order for this table.” She gives me a forced smile, which isso false it could just be a damn mask.

“How can she be taking abreak this early in her shift? She can’t have been here more than a couple ofhours. What did she tell you about us? Don’t try to protect her, either. I ownthis diner and I want an answer.” Sharp looks at Madison, and I see the realizationhit her as she finally takes notice of his cut.

“I think you should take thisup with her. I’m paid as a server, not a manager. I’ve seen something comingsince she started with us. Perhaps you should talk to Sourdough, the cook. He’sour go-to for anything of this nature.” Madison turns to leave, and I stop herin her tracks.

“Madison, wait a minute. Youremember me? I came in with Crack a few days ago.” She looks at me and I seerecognition there. “I know you are a valuable resource for this diner, andeveryone knows you as such, so what’s going on?”

“Annmarie told us you hadbeen rude to her, and that she doesn’t get paid to be disrespected, so shewouldn’t be working until you guys left. Sourdough told her she could work inthe kitchen until then, but she burst into tears and went out the back door ofthe diner.”

Sharp gets up from the tableand heads off to the kitchen. Madison looks around the diner and I can see thatshe wants to get on with serving the other customers, most of who seem to beinterested in what’s going on.

“You carry on, Madison. We’llhave this sorted out in no time.” Watching as she dashes off to a waitingtable, I notice Zara looking around the diner.

“Shar, there are dishespiling up everywhere. I’m going to give her a hand and get the place back tohow it should be.” Walking beside her, we start clearing tables and I grab acloth and spray bottle from the servers' area, wiping down as we go.

Once all the tables arecleared, we return to our table and wait for Sharp to return. By the time I'vefinished my tea and Zara her milkshake, he is back. A few seconds later andAnnmarie brings out our meals.

Looking at the state of herface, she has been doing some serious crying. Her eyes are all puffy, hermakeup is a mess, and she’s sniffling as though she has the flu.

“Before you serve anyoneelse, go sort yourself out. You look a damn mess, woman.” Sharp looks none tooimpressed with her and I can’t wait to hear what went on in that kitchen.

“I assume she told everyonesome bullshit story to get out of serving us?” I look at Sharp with raisedeyebrows and Zara leans forward, elbows on the table, her food temporarilyforgotten.

“Yep. She told them you spoketo her like a piece of trash and called her a skank just because she was politeand smiled at me. She should be in a drama club the way she hams it up.” Sharpshakes his head and loads his fork with his breakfast.

Grabbing his wrist, I stophim from lifting it to his mouth. “Oh, come on. There has to be more to it thanthat?”

“I put them all straight asto how she behaved, then put her on notice that if she ever did something likethat again, she would be history as far as working here was concerned. Can Ihave my breakfast now?” Shoveling the enormous forkful into his mouth, he letsa little sigh of satisfaction slip out.

“Honestly, men! They are suchgoofballs when it comes to gossip and storytelling,” Zara gasps and startsattacking her breakfast, too. “I bet if it had guns and motorbikes, we wouldn’tbe able to shut him up!”

Her mumbling has me giggling,and before I can ask her how she is so knowledgeable about men, I remember shehas grown up around them. The rest of the meal is uneventful and we chatthroughout, though I notice Sharp monitoring Annmarie the whole time.

Before we leave, Sharp visitsthe kitchen again, and we hear raucous laughter erupt. He walks back to us andtakes my arm and Zara’s hand as he heads back out to the SUV. Once we’re safelybelted in and the engine is running, he turns and asks, “Where to next, wifeand daughter? Seeing as you’ve kidnapped me from the MC and my VP has neglectedto notice that fact, let’s have some fun while he works out where the hell Iam.”

“How has Trip missed thatyou’re not in the clubhouse? He’d never miss that in a million years. What haveyou done, Uncle Sharp?” Zara looks at him, and I see the humor in her eyes.

“I stuck a note on my officedoor stating,‘Do Not Disturb!’ I’m waiting to see how long it takes forsomeone to check on me. I thought my phone would have lit up before now, to behonest. They’re not what you’d call ‘on the ball’ are they? Even the gatedidn’t pick up that I was leaving the compound without an escort. I bet Tripwill tear him a new one when the shit hits the fan.” Sharp is openly laughingat his antics, and I have to say, I feel sorry for the prospect.

“Okay, Uncle Sharp. The salonnext, please. If everyone has turned up early for the meeting, I can get it outof the way.”

Parking at the rear of thesalon, Zara scans the lot and seems satisfied with the vehicles she sees. “I’mnot sure what Taylor, the newest stylist, drives or if she even has something,”she states.

Entering the rear door, weare greeted by laughter drifting from the room upstairs.

“Well, that’s always a goodsign. Except no one has noticed the back door open and close,” Sharp points outto Zara, who nods to the top of the stairs where August is standing, watchingus.

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