Chapter 2 Blue Eyes

"I hope I'm not in too much trouble" Megan anxiously asked her friend and colleague, Anna as soon as she walked into the restaurant.

"Mr Thomas is pretty mad too be honest. Where have you been?" Anna asked with concern on her face.

She came around the counter where she was standing to hold Megan's hands. She could see the distress on her friend's face.

"My mother...."

Anna quickly nodded in understanding. She and Megan were quite close and she knew all about her mother's ill health and how she frequently had to go to the hospital.

"I've used that excuse so many times," Megan said. "I hope he even believes me this time"

"Do you want me to come with you to plead with him?" Anna offered.

"No... it's alright." Megan took a deep breath. "I'm sure I can figure out a way to reason with him"

"Alright then good luck"

Megan quickly walked over to the manager's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," He said. He didn't sound like he was in a good mood.

Megan walked into the office.

Mr Thomas was sitting at his with his legs up on his desk. He wasn't even paying attention to whoever had come in the door. He was so engrossed in the football match he was watching on the TV mounted on the wall across from him.

"You've got to be kidding me! What the hell? What are you even doing?!" He exclaimed, shaking his hands at the screen. He was mad at his team for not playing well.

Megan stood for a few seconds waiting for him to acknowledge her.

He finally did. " Megan? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out there working? You get paid by the hour you know." He said, with a frown on his face.

Megan had been ready to start defending herself but he hadn't even realised that she had left earlier.

"I'll get right back to it sir. Sorry for interrupting your game" Megan quickly said, releasing a sigh of relief.

"Or was there something you wanted to tell me?" Mr Thomas asked.

"No, I was just..." Megan didn't get to complete her statement. His attention had already returned to the game.

"What is wrong with this guy?!" He shouted at the screen again.

Megan quickly let herself out before he paid too much attention to why she came into his office.

She was so relieved. He hadn't even noticed she was gone so she had been worried for nothing. Now she could focus on worrying about what she was going to do about her mother's situation.

Megan took an apron, put it on and picked up some orders that were ready to be served. She took them over to a table where she could see two men sitting as she approached.

"Here are your orders gentlemen" she said, setting their food on the table. "Can I get anything else for you?"

"Well unless you're on the menu... I don't want anything else" one of the men said, grinning from ear to ear

His friend laughed mockingly

Megan had faced this before. Men hit on her anytime she went to serve them. She had complained to the manager before but she quickly soon realised that she was on her own and had to defend herself each time.

Megan chose to ignore them. "Well if there isn't anything else..." she turned to leave.

"Just give your number mama" the man said again. He nudged a paper napkin on the table towards her, indicating for her to write it down. He had this confident look on his face.

Megan studied him. With his nice features and overly slicked-back hair that looked like he was trying too much and the cocky look on his face, she was sure he was used to getting the women he wanted.

Well not this time, Megan thought.

"Have a nice meal gentlemen," Megan said with a tight-lipped smile.

She would've given him a piece of her mind but she had learned long ago to just ignore and move on in situations like this. She didn't want to lash out because they might leave and Mr Thomas wouldn't like that very much.

She walked away with the men still laughing to themselves in jest.

She walked towards Anna who was giving the men a dirty look from where she was standing.

"Those assholes..." Anna said with a scowl on her face. "I wish you hadn't let them off so easy"

"It's fine Anna. I have other things to worry about anyway" Megan said with a sigh.

"About that, I know this can't solve all your money problems but it's something."

"What's that?" Megan asked with interest.

"So I got this gig. It's a charity event. You know rich people stuff" Anna told her. "It's good money. I can put in a good word for you so you can work it too."

"When is it?" Megan asked with a hopeful look on her face. Any way to make some money, no matter how small would be really helpful right now.

Anna laughed. "Aren't you even going to ask what the event is about? Or how much the pay is exactly?"

"I don't care. Just tell me when and where and I'll be there" Megan said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Okay, I'll send you the details. But for the dress code, you'd have to wear a black dress. Preferably knee length."

"Got it," Megan replied. She was so relieved. Maybe the pay would be high enough to pay for at least half of the surgery bill. The elite of Chicago loved to spend their money.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. Megan got so busy with taking and bringing orders that her feet were hurting at the end of the day.

By the end of her shift, all she wanted was to go home. She checked her phone and saw that Anna had already sent her the details of the event. It was going to be tomorrow. That was a little too soon but whatever.

The venue was at La Mirage Hotel. Megan stared at her phone screen in awe. Everyone knew La Mirage. Home to the rich and influential. She had never even stepped foot in there.

At least that was a good thing because it meant the pay would be good.

Megan checked out of work and after thanking Anna for the details, she headed home.

When she got home, she spotted yet another warning letter sitting at the door. She had managed to hide the news about the impending repossession of their home from her family but she knew she'd have to come clean soon.

She picked up the letter and went inside.

She then called her sister who was still at the hospital with their mom. Lacey reassured her that everything was alright with their mother and she planned to stay the night in the hospital with her.

Megan then finished up the call and went into her room. She was so exhausted that as soon as she laid down on her bed, she slept off.

Megan woke up to her alarm ringing the next morning. She still felt tired but she had to go on about her day. She packed up her black dress and shoes for the event in a bag.

She quickly took a shower and dressed up for work. She had no idea what the day would bring but she hoped whatever it was would be good.

She decided to just skip breakfast and head on to work, carrying the stuff she had packed for the event later.

It took a while before she was able to get a cab and with the hot Chicago sun that was shining so brightly, she had already broken down in a sweat before she got one.

She got to work in good time regardless.

She and Anna discussed what the charity event would be like later while they worked.

They managed to get Mr Thomas to let them go earlier so they could leave on time.

After work, they both headed over to La Mirage. It was a five-star hotel located right in the middle of town. You couldn't miss it even if you tried.

The building itself was very tall and large. With its prominent neon sign right in front. There were so many flashy cars in front of the building with the valet boys trying to get them parked.

Megan could smell the wealth and privilege in the air. People dressed in very fleshy and expensive clothing were walking into the hotel.

Anna pulled Megan in the direction of the side door reserved for staff. Apparently, they weren't worthy enough to walk in through the front door.

They got in and we were directed to the changing room. They quickly got changed. They were already late. The waiters were supposed to be ready before the guests started to come in.

"Wow you look really sexy in that," Anna said, looking at Megan with appreciation as they walked out of the changing room and towards the ballroom of the hotel.

"That's not exactly what I was going for... I'm just following the dress code" Megan said sounding alarm. She wanted to look professional, not sexy but then again it was hard to hide her curvy beneath the clingy black dress.

"Well, that's how you look. And with those heels. All eyes are going to be on you" Anna said, winking at her.

Megan groaned. She didn't like male attention. She didn't know how to handle it. She was uncomfortable and flustered. She decided that she was just going to mind her business and do her job. She needed this money

Megan and Anna walked over to a table where trays of champagne were lying. There was a staff standing there handing them out and giving directions to the waiters.

They collected trays too and walked into the ballroom.

When Megan walked in, she couldn't help looking around in awe. The decor was so opulent. With the high ceilings and the expensive-looking chandeliers, Megan felt so out of place.

And the fact that she was amongst the richest in Chicago wasn't helping. They were seated at their various tables facing the stage.

She tried to act and walk confidently and went forward to serve whoever wanted some champagne.

Megan was serving the glasses on her tray to an older couple on a table when she felt an intense feeling of being watched.

She looked back without thinking and glanced around until she spotted a handsome-looking man sitting at another table.

Their eyes met and his striking blue eyes were staring right at her.