The Midnight Heir

MANAGER’S POWER

He picked up his ID card, not caring about what she had going on beside him.

"Okay, good luck with that" he started heading for the exit but…

"Good thing you said that because you're the one who's gonna need it" she smirked and he stopped with his hand on the knob, turning around to face her.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" He asked with a frown, sensing that what she said was a threat.

She got up, walked back to her seat, and sat down without any restraint that it almost broke the spring in the seat.

She continued stuffing her mouth with her food while glaring evilly at Anthony.

"What did you mean by t—" he asked again but then she interrupted him.

"Since you're looking to work for a restaurant of this level, you should also know that there are benefits or I should say, connections, that being the manager has presented me with. Businessmen, lawyers, doctors, politicians, Mobsters, and even families in the Hierarchy all pay a whopping amount of money just to reserve seats around my table, and do you know what that affords me?"

"What?" He frowned 

"Power! It affords me the power to do whatever I want and to whoever I want to do that with. So, if you get where I'm going with this I'll only ever say this once. Come back here, get your ass on that seat, sign your work agreement papers and get to work or I'll make sure I use every power I've been afforded to bury you and your so-called wife so far down into the earth that no matter where you go in Polaris, your face and your name will never be able to get you a job!" she grinned then took yet another piece of stake into her mouth, munching it while looking threateningly at him.

Anthony got enraged, his breathing shot up, and the blood in his veins became red hot as he squeezed the doorknob before letting go and walking toward her.

The glare he had was enough to cause anyone else to shriek but she didn't care and kept on eating.

As he walked up to her, he imagined all the things he could do before anyone could even step into the room to stop him.

He stared at the stake knife resting beside her plate and imagined himself stabbing her in the neck dozens of times.

The pen resting on the documents could be used to pluck out her eyes, stab through her ear until it comes out the other side, or even up her nose, he thought.

The napkin on her neck could be used to strangle her to death and so much more and with the final step he was right in front of her, vibrating with rage, but…

She scoffed "Who do you think you are, a tough guy? Laughable! Just shut up, sign the papers and when I want to have you I'll let you know. You're no different from all the others" she rolled her eyes and looked down on what she was eating, feeling completely reassured that there was nothing he could do to her.

He grabbed the pen, slowly raised it to her neck, and was just about to plunge it into her artery when the image of Annabelle swiped across his mind.

She made him reconsider and dropped his hand on the document, smacking his tongue in contempt afterward.

The manager chuckled at his lack of commitment to finish what he wanted. "Pathetic," she said

"Just you wait, in due time you'll learn that it isn't wise to turn your gaze away from me," he said then signed the document, threw the pen on the floor, and stormed out of the office.

Furious, he walked into the main part of the restaurant and immediately collided with one of the workers there who had an empty service tray in their hand. 

Thankfully, nothing was on it, or else that would have ended up becoming a messy situation, literally.

"Oh I'm such a klutz, sorry!" the waitress apologized after he stopped her from falling.

She hadn't even seen who hit her and just started to apologize reflexively, but soon enough, she found out.

"Wait, you're the guy I served yesterday, restroom guy!" she said before jolting into awareness, smiling nervously as they separated.

She was covertly trembling so she placed the trey underneath her armpit. Just like the customers from yesterday, she too thought he was a gang member.

The restaurant was less busy today than it was yesterday so she had the time to talk but from her look, it wasn't something she wanted to do with him if she had the option not to.

"So what are you doing here?" she asked grinning nervously, sweating on her forehead as she looked behind him and saw where he had just walked out.

"Using the restroom again I see" she creased her forehead "But how come I didn't see you walk in?"

"I doubt that you would have, seeing how I only came here to apply for the job" he replied after having fixed his clothes.

Instantly she heard that her expression lit up "You're applying for the vacant waiter position? So that means you aren't a part of the Mob? Phew! Thank God!" She instantly looked relieved, whipping the sweat from her forehead.

"A part of the Mob? What are you talking about?" He asked looking skeptical. 

"Well, because of how you were looking yesterday, all messed up, and the way the customers were all glaring at you I was scared, thinking that you were a member of the Mob. It's not news that they have a schedule for when they visit here so I can't tell you how scared I was when I had to take your order" she complained, pouting like a child.

"Hmm" his forehead scrunched "And what's your proof that I'm not a member of the Mob? I don't remember ever denying it to you" it sounded like he was teasing her but also wasn't.

Out of nowhere, she slapped his left upper arm playfully.

"Stop playing!" she said, laughing loudly afterward "There's no way a Mobster would want to work here, let alone as a waiter! You know what, you're a very funny guy. I can't believe I ever misjudged you" she pointed at him vigorously while grinning.

"Huh?" She leaned in, looking all over his features "You seem oddly quiet."

"Would you stop staring at me? I haven't said anything funny so what nonsense are you on about?!" Anthony frowned.

"You know what, I know someone who'll cheer you up." she said, retracting her body "He's also a waiter so he can show you how the work is done"

"You don't have to do that, I can get the hang of the place on my own—" before he could finish, she interrupted him and went ahead to call the person she was just referring to.

"Hey Michael, can you come out here for a second?!" She called out then went back to look at him "I'm sure he heard me, he'll be out in a second" she said then pressed her lips together.

Anthony rolled his eyes, not feeling any commitment to sticking around, and wanted to leave when walking through the door to the back room was a young man, wearing the same waiter uniform.

"What's the matter, Casey?" Michael asked as soon as he came.

"I wanted to introduce you to— Wait, I completely forgot to ask your name. Damn it! I also forgot to ask if you got the job and here I am just assuming shit again" she slapped her forehead.

Michael looked at Anthony, reaching for a handshake "Don't worry about Casey, she's an airhead sometimes. I'm Michael, what's your name?"

Anthony hesitated "It's Ant— I mean Favorite, Favorite Arthur" he replied and they shook hands.

"Huh? Favorite? What kind of out-of-the-box name is that? Who even names their kid that?" Casey looked doubtful.

"!!" Anthony shrugged.

Michael noticed that Anthony was annoyed about something so he asked "What's up with your mood?"

From their side Casey interjected "I know right? I also commented on that earlier but he just came back from having an interview with the manager so maybe that's why he looks glum. Didn't get the spot I'm guessing" she shook her head in sympathy.

"You just came from the manager's office?!" Instantly Michael looked shocked, staring at Anthony in disbelief and then he sighed, looking saddened "So that's what happened" his voice lost a lot of shine in it.

Anthony who sensed the change in Michael's aura went to stare at the top of his head, and his mood changed "So you too have your own experience with her"

"!!" Michael didn't say anything back, his demeanor alone spoke volumes.

Meanwhile, Casey was flicking her sight between the two, wondering what they were talking about and feeling left out of the conversation 

"What's up with this atmosphere?" she squeezed her face then looked to Michael "And you, I have a bone to pick with you. Why do you always have to act strange when the manager is brought up? You've been acting like this ever since she was transferred here a couple of months ago" she frowned, throwing her face away from him.

"I know she isn't the conventional standard of beauty when it comes to women but you don't have to be so obvious about how much you don't like her" she huffed "You know what, I'm leaving!"

Casey headed into the back with her trey, leaving Anthony and Michael by themselves.

"Instead of just being a victim have you ever tried reporting her?" Anthony asked but Michael didn't say anything back. He was too ashamed.

"Great talk! No wonder she has no remorse cause all of you do nothing about it" Anthony said, rolling his eyes as he left being even more annoyed.