Chapter 14
Colette’s heart raced as she stumbled in shock. The drinks on her tray wobbled precariously, almost toppling before she managed to steady her grip. Her mind was in a whirl, the reality of Matt and Iris sitting together hitting her like a physical blow.
“You sure do know a lot about stock market and exchange rates, Ms. Iris,” one of the elder gentlemen in a brown suit remarked, his tone both impressed and conversational.
“Oh, well, it’s where I earned my first dollar, so…” Iris replied with a modest shrug, her voice carrying a hint of pride.
“You must be very proud, Matheo,” the elder gentleman continued, turning his attention to Matt.
Colette felt a pang in her chest as she watched Matt nod approvingly at Iris. “Very. I hardly know anyone more knowledgeable about the market than Iris,”
he said, his words slicing through Colette’s already fragile composure.
“Hurry up and put a ring on her finger already, then, before someone else raises the exchange rates,” the elder gentleman joked, and the table erupted in laughter. Stacy had finished placing the food on the table, and now it was Colette’s turn to serve the drinks. Her hands trembled violently, as if she were standing in the freezing cold of Antarctica. Her senses were scrambled, emotions roiling beyond her control.
In the midst of her turmoil, Colette realized she was waiting for Matt to deny it. She watched as he and Iris shared a secretive smile, a silent communication that excluded her entirely. It wasn’t hard for Colette to imagine that she was the butt of their inside joke.
“Actually, I am already married,” Matheo said with a rueful smile, breaking the moment. The old man seemed unperturbed, quickly dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand. But for Colette, her true test of patience had only just begun.
As she started placing the first glass of drink on the table, her eyes met Matt’s. His shock was evident, his expression a mixture of disbelief and confusion. Slowly, his eyes narrowed in disapproval as he realized his wife was serving drinks to his business partners.
Colette’s hands shook even more, the glasses clinking softly against the tray. Her mind raced back to her teenage years, to the days when she was a nervous wreck, unsure of herself and her place in the world. The same feelings of inadequacy and fear now surged back, stronger than ever.
Colette’s heart thudded in her chest as she navigated the crowded restaurant floor. Her hands were trembling, but she focused on keeping her head down. The last thing she wanted was for Iris to recognize her. She knew that if Iris did, it could lead to an embarrassing scene, not just for her, but for Mathew as well. He would be mortified if his affluent business partners discovered his wife was working as a waitress. With practiced efficiency, she placed the drinks on the table and retreated quickly. Iris was too busy basking in the attention of the group to notice the mousy waitress slipping away.
As she hurried away, she thought she heard Matt whisper, “Itty…” Her heart skipped a beat. Had he really said her name, or was it just her imagination? She didn’t wait to find out. Fleeing as fast as her legs would carry her, she burst out into the dimly lit alley behind the restaurant. The alley was a place where the staff came to smoke or take a break during the day. Leaning against the paintless red brick wall, she tried to catch her breath. The wall, old and worn, seemed to absorb her anxiety. She was still trying to calm her racing heart when the back door of the restaurant swung open, and Matt walked out, striding purposefully towards her.
“Why are you doing this, Colette?” Matt demanded, his voice tinged with anger and something else–shame? His eyes raked over her black apron, and Colette felt a pang of hurt. Was he ashamed of her now, because she had taken a job as a waitress?
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
