Antonia sighed, wondering how her extended family had already heard about the cab debacle. Her Aunt Marsha was an old school wife. She believed the husband should make the money and the wife should take care of the house and children. She had never understood Antonia’s desire to be independent. “Because I didn’t want to disrupt anyone. I seemed to be the only one who was ready to leave, so I just arranged to leave.” She didn’t go into further explanation. Marsha wouldn’t understand anymore than her brothers, or Brett for that matter. The women in her family believed that there was a definite division of labor. And when they wanted to leave, they simply said so. Their husbands all obliged them whenever possible.
“Well, if you change your mind about this afternoon, give me a call.”
Antonia thanked her and hung up the phone. She laid in her bed for a few more minutes, wondering if she could get back to sleep again. But she knew it was useless. Her mind was already working out all the things she needed to do today, including going to the library and researching some information from a magazine.
So she pulled herself out of bed, showered and changed into a pair of jeans, adding a sweater because it looked colder outside. March in Washington was one of those times when it could be snowing one day, and sixty-five degrees the next.
Chapter 6
She found most of the information she needed in the Library of Congress. She was interested in buying some stock in a new company that was having its initial public offering in a week. After digging in several books and trade journals, she finally had a good idea of what this company produced, its financial history as well as its potential earnings.
The day went by quickly and, too soon, she had to head over to Cesar’s. She was the last one there so she had to hurry in order to get into her costume. Mike was in a good mood so far tonight, which was usually a good sign for the rest of the evening but not a guarantee.
Georgette and Monica stood at the bar, waiting for the first customers to walk in. Antonia walked up to them, pulling at her costume and wished, not for the first time, that they weren’t so low in the front.
“Honey, you’re going to rip that thing if you don’t stop. Accept the fact that its not going to stay any higher and enjoy it,” Georgette laughed.
Monica laughed as well. “No, Antonia will never accept it,” she said, hitting Antonia’s arm with her tail. “But then, she’s the only one who can handle the men, so I don’t know what she’s worried about.”
Antonia, trying to get into the mood, slapped Monica and Georgette with her stuffed tail. “I just wish they’d listen when I said no.”
“So why say it? You get gorgeous hunk after dazzling stud in here at your station. Why not accept what they have to offer? You can always walk away if you don’t like the meal,” Monica said, only half joking.
Ignoring the comments since she’d already heard them before, Antonia tried to change the subject. “What stations do we have tonight?” Antonia asked, leaning forward to check out the schedule taped to the back of the bar and ignoring their comments.
“You have the front again,” Monica replied.
The front of César’s was the best station to have in some cases, the worst in others. It filled up first and cleared out last and it was the farthest away from the bar. But the tips were usually better due to the higher turnover in customers. Usually Antonia didn’t mind. She liked the extra money and since she’d missed Saturday night, she still had a little ways to go before she made up the difference.
Just as she turned around, the first customers arrived and Antonia grabbed a bar tray and headed over, making sure her mask was in place.
The evening was in full swing by eight o’clock. All the tables were full and the bar was crowded with mostly men sitting and discussing their day or organizing tomorrow’s. Antonia was heading back to the bar for yet another round of drinks for a corner table, thinking that they’d had enough already and she might want to get Mike to order them a cab or a limousine for their ride home. Cesar’s always paid for a cab or limousine, depending on the customer, when anyone became too drunk to drive home. They didn’t want to insult their customers, but they didn’t want them to be hurt, or worse, trying to get home.
She grabbed their drinks from Mick, then headed towards the kitchen to pick up an appetizer order. She was just about to head back in when she spotted Mike and decided to give him a heads up on the problem table.
“Mike, could you make a table call to twenty seven. They might need some help getting home but I’m not sure yet,” she said, balancing the plate and the drinks on opposite hands.
Mike looked over at the table that was becoming a little loud and nodded his head. “Sure. Next time they order a round, let me know. I’ll check it out,” he said and headed in their direction as slowly as possible, making it seem that he was working the floor instead of heading directly towards them.
Antonia delivered their drinks, then strolled around her station, checking to see if anyone needed a refill. The night was going extremely well. She was just about to turn around and head for the bar again to take a small break when a new set of customers arrived at her only empty table.
So instead of a break, she picked up some napkins and headed for the gentlemen just sitting down.
Putting on her brightest smile, she placed a napkin in front of each man. “What would you like from the bar?” she asked.
And then she turned to the man on her right and froze. It was Brett. He was looking at the menu for an appetizer so he didn’t look up, but Antonia could barely hear what he ordered due to the blood ringing in her ears.
Thankfully, the others at his table kept his attention away from her so she was able to take his drink order and move away quickly, without him noticing who she was. The mask wouldn’t be much help to her in this situation, she suspected.
As soon as she had all their drink and food orders, she turned away and walked towards the kitchen, not stopping for anything.
Once in the kitchen, she leaned against a metal shelf, taking deep breaths in order to calm down. The fear was so strong, she could taste it. If Brett realized who she was, there would be no way to stop him from telling her brothers. She’d be finished here.
Georgette and Monica came in after her and rushed over to her. “Honey, what’s wrong?” Monica asked.
Antonia looked up at them, the fear in her eyes. “I’m sorry to ask this, but could either of you take over my station? There’s a man out there that cannot recognize me.”