Page 11 of The Playboy and the Waitress

“Jenna, I want you to go on to work. I will get this handled, and I’ll be here when you get off work.”

“Why…would someone do something like this?”

“I don’t know honey, but everything can be fixed. All this broken glass makes it look worse than it really is.”

“I should have never left her here. She has never left me on the side of the road, and this is how I repay her. I just left her on this parking lot for some sicko to bust her windows out and slash all her tires.”

“No, if you had come back last night… this just shows what they would have done to you. It's just a machine, it can be replaced, but you can’t.”

“But my dad bought me this car,” I whisper to no one in particular.

“Fuck… Jenna, do you trust me?”

I just stand there looking up at him. How do I answer that? Right now I don’t have a very high regard for anyone.

“Never mind, don’t answer that. I have a friend of mine on the way right now to get your car and if it can be fixed, he is the guy to do it. Give me your keys, I'm going to walk you to the back door of the restaurant, and you are going to go clean your face up and pretend that everything is ok. What time do you normally get off work?”

“Four or so, but I can’t go in… I need to call my insurance company, and damn, that means money for the deductible…but I have to fix her... She is one of the last things I have…”

He shakes me gently. “Jenna, I know you are used to doing everything yourself. But just this once, you are going to let go of the reins and let someone else handle it. I will be here at four.”

I'm so torn, I know I can’t find anyone to replace me this morning on such short notice, but this car…it's more than just a vehicle, it’s part of my past. The glass laying all over hits me hard. Not because of the car, but because it reminds me once again of how I lost my parents… the same questions I have asked over and over flood my mind again. Like did they suffer…or how long did they survive…did they know they were going to crash? It takes everything I have not to scream at the unfairness of it all.

“I have never hurt a soul. Why?”

Dage turns me away from the car and we start walking toward the restaurant. “Give me your phone.”

I jerk when he bangs on the backdoor. When he hands me the phone back I stick it in my back pocket. “Jenna, I put my number in your phone. I will text you in a couple of hours to check on you and to give you an update on your car. I have a meeting at one, but I will have my phone on me if you need me.”

Someone opens the door and I hear them talking to Dage. I seem to come out of a daze when I hear Mary’s voice behind me. She reaches out, pulling me away from him.

“Mr. Hart, what is the meaning of this? If you have hurt her…”

“I would never willingly hurt her, ma’am, but unfortunately we can’t say that about everyone else. Her car was vandalized last night. I have a hunch as to who did it, but I will need proof before I can get the authorities involved. Do you have outside surveillance cameras around the building?”

“Yes, but they only monitor our parking lot. Not the employee’s parking area. The cinema cameras may have caught something though.”

“Thank you, I will have them contacted. Jenna, do you want to stay or head back home?”

“I have to work,” I whisper really to no one as I try to force the tears back. I have never been a pretty crier and I avoid doing it at all costs because it always makes me feel bad afterward.Get a grip, Jenna,I tell myself.Crying never fixed a thing, you should know that by now.

“I will watch over her today, Mr. Hart. Jenna has friends here.”

“Jenna, if you see any of those guys you waited on last night come in the restaurant, you text me immediately and do not talk to them, do you hear me?”

“Ok.” He pulls me back into his arms and hugs me close. I feel him kiss my forehead right before he turns and walks away. The Playboy kissed me, and I didn’t even get to enjoy it.Don’t that just figure?

“Come on Jenna, I’ll help you get the stations ready for opening. Would you rather work in the kitchen today?”

“No, I need my tips.”

“Well, you have an hour to pull yourself together then, and don’t hesitate to ask for help today if you need it… I mean it Jenna; you have helped every girl here out at one time or another. All you have to do is ask.”

“Asking…that’s another thing I'm not very good at.”

CHAPTER6

Afew hours later I feel my phone vibrate in my apron. I finish delivering the food I have in my hand and then rush to the bathroom. Touching the screen, I see a small attachment.

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