Lost Toys 5 — Staff Meeting
Blurb: Matthew brings together his first conquests, the staff at Flynn’s, and realizes his laws haven’t been properly laid down.
CAST
- Matthew Reid — A wizard.
- Meghan Reid — His sister.
- Deborah Flynn — A restaurant owner.
- Eden MacMaster — A waitress.
- Clement MacMaster — Her father.
- Donna MacMaster — Her mother.
- Sylvie Paoli — A waitress.
- Gwendolyn Ashcroft — A waitress.
- Melody Gardiner — A waitress.
- Courtney King — A waitress.
- Zinaida Astrikova — A waitress.
- Kelly Lukic — A hostess.
- Dawn Rhodes — A dishwasher.
- Phoebe Waterson — A dishwasher.
- Franklin Little — A chef.
- Erica Arnoldson — A chef.
- Robin duChesne — A chef.
- Everett Flynn — Deborah’s ex—husband.
- Nadzja Ivanoff — Everett’s fiancee.
- Tiffany Luck — A slave.
- Raena Flores — A slave.
Eden MacMaster — Sunday, July 19th, 2015
“We’ve got about a fifteen on tables right now,” Kelly was working the door and she was having a hard go at it. Sunday mornings were stampedes at Flynn’s. All walking traffic too, as there was shit parking downtown. That meant a slow trickle of twos. Smaller parties were held up as bad as the medium sized ones. She had her clipboard at the door and a second pen tying her red hair back into a ponytail. She was so tiny in front of the twenty or so people milling about at the door. At least these two guests were smiling.
“Hey, Kell, they’ll wait just a little longer to get into my section, K?” I ran my hand along the back of her shoulders as I walked by. She stopped shaking. My dad lit up even brighter as we met eyes.
“Are you sure? I mean it’s—”
“Sure as anything, darlin’,” Flirted my dad with mom right at his side.
“You got the corner by the window there, Eden?” Asked my mom. They really had a favorite table but never could come when they might get it.
“No, working the tables towards the back,” I gestured. She nodded but had that “always the way” look on her face.
“Shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes,” Which was the upper limit Kelly was allowed to tell someone. She was nervous about that. I took my hand from her back and she looked up to me with her frazzled smile. I headed for the kitchen.
“Table sixteen up!” Franklin was shouting for Courtney. She only had four tables. I had eight. Zina, Sylvie and I were each carrying an extra while she was on probation. Dawn and Phoebe were madcap in the dishroom. If only we could’ve spared one to bus tables. Today was nuts.
“Hey! Eden!” Courtney slid into the line from the back of the restaurant, “Did you see who asked for one of your tables?”
“Yeah... Your food’s up on sixteen,” I directed myself around her. I had need of the pop fountain.
“Then why aren’t you more excited! He’s finally back!” She vibrated as she slipped the three plates into an imperfect balance across her wrist and fingers.
“Matthew?” I dropped the glass I was holding but manage to catch it before it shattered off the floor.
“Nice catch,” Sylvie slipped behind me, but she was hardly there to me. I just set the glass on the table and exited the line. I cut straight for the doors. He wasn’t there, “Goddamn Courtney.”
“Ms Flynn took Matthew back to the office,” Kelly was grinning. Her bracelet caught my eye. I smiled fingering my own.
“OK, thanks kiddo.” I tugged her ponytail and made her giggle up a smile. I dashed back to the office, swirling around a “Thank you!” from table 18. I flashed the best smile but couldn’t stop. My hands shook in front of Deborah’s door. I’m surprised my heart wasn’t mistaken for knocking. I didn’t knock.
To be honest, I expected Mrs Flynn to be tying her hair back as her lips already surrounded Matthew’s cock. Or that she’d be bent over her desk holding on for dear life. I’d gone too long waiting for him. I was needful and I projected myself onto him.
They weren’t alone. He was on his best behavior. She was a bit older than me, a thin brunette with dark brown eyes and light wavy hair. She was wearing a pale blue summer dress and gorgeous heels. Her only jewelry was on her wrist. Was this the bitch he chased down in Ottawa? She welcomed me with an awkward grin. I had her in tits and ass and body though she had the legs. No, my legs were amazing! I rallied my self-worth. I raised my shoulders and closed the door behind me.
“Eden!” He was standing over Mrs Flynn’s shoulder and raced over to give me a twirling hug with my feet off the ground. He struggled a little. We needed to get him a fitness trainer.
“Matthew,” I crossed my wrists behind his head and he leaned into a quick kiss.
“Matty, she’s still on the clock,” Deborah warned.
“I know Deborah,” He said without inching his smile from me, “I’m just excited to see her.”
“When’d you get back?” I begged, hoping to hear, just this morning, this minute, this second.
“Yesterday,” I was crushed to be pushed off so long and giddy to be in his arms, “Just in time to see my sister.”
“It’s Meghan,” She reached out to me with her braceleted arm. Oh God. Matthew’s busted rules were staring me right in the face.
“Eden,” I smiled for Matthew. The resemblance would’ve been clearer with a little work on Matthew’s part.
“You look so good,” Matthew said wandering his eyes down my uniform shirt and tight shorts. I felt a million times better to see him eying my legs. What was with me? I was nervous as a seventh grader talking to her first crush.
“Matty?” Deborah prompted him and he looked apologetically into my eyes.
“Hey, can you get the girls,” He stopped for a second, looked at Meghan, “Just the ones that are mine and no new ones, to meet up here after close?”
“Yeah, we can do that,” Deborah answered his awkward smiling query.
“OK, then get that ass to work,” He grinned, spun me about and slapped my ass. I made a fake “Oh my!” gesture and hurried for the door.
“Alright, you were telling us about the costs of—” I closed the door on Meghan’s question. I was on cloud nine as I drifted across the line. I got to work. I filled twenty two’s drinks and order, while hardly touching the cracked tiles. My short interlude had piled up my load but I fed, watered, welcomed, and dismissed four of my tables in short order. I grabbed a busbin at the cleaning station and hurried back to the dishroom.
“Thanks,” Grunted Phoebe.
“Tell Dawn we’re having a secret clubhouse meeting after close,” I told her.
“What?” Phoebe flat-eyed me.
“God you’re an idiot,” Dawn rolled her eyes at the redhead. I grabbed the finished silverware tray and brought it back to the front.
“Matthew’s back!” I tagged Zina next.
“Oh? I thought he had finally quit,” She murmured. I looked down at the gold and amethyst bangle around her left wrist. There was no doubt.
“Nope, he wants you for a meeting after close.” She looked startled to hear that but nodded her head.
“I guess I can come back,” “I hope my babysitter will come on short notice.”
“If not,” I thought awkwardly, “I’m sure Matthew can work something out for you.”
“OK,” She agreed slowly. Sounded more like she was trying to ask how and why all at once.
“That’s the spirit!” I squeezed her elbow and turned.
“MacMaster party of two!” Kelly was leaning out the front doors and calling into the slightly smaller crowd.
“Thank you, darlin’,” Dad was grinning at Kelly. Jesus Christ! Kelly. I figured, I don’t know what I figured. But his sister in the office was mud in that eye. Poor thing.
“I got these two miscreants,” I assured her touching her hand to take the menus from her. She looked up and smiled.
“Oh, Eden, you’re worse than your mother at scaring away the little fishies,” Dad tutted.
“She’s way too little Clement, throw her back.” Laughed mom. Kelly stood up straighter with her shoulders back at that. Courtney’s influence was all over that.
“Come right this way valued customers,” I said over their happy squabble. Dad hooked his arm into mine and I led them back to the booth I had just cleared. When they were seated I took out my pad and pen and asked, “So what’ll it be today?”
“Cute,” Dad laughed, “Did she learn that from you?”
“Tea, chamomile with a slice of lemon and a glass of water with lime for your father. Then I’ll be having the sunrise omelet with egg whites and he’ll be having, just the one, golden waffle with a fruit salad and hash browns.”
“And I’ll sneak a half order of bacon to dad against your better judgment,” I promised as Dad laughed. Mom tutted but didn’t object.
“Even if she had your brains, Kate, she’d remember all that by now,” Dad earned himself a rather pointed glare.
“Excellent, and I’ll be right back with your tea and water,” I promised, I hadn’t even taken the menus from under my arm.
“Sylvie,” I found her at the cleaning station, “We’re all meeting up here at close.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” Sylvie rolled her eyes, “Pass.”
“Matthew says you don’t.”
“Oh, does he?” She had a hand on her hip and a challenging half cocked smile.
“Indeed he does,” I answered without really dealing with her attitude that was on Matthew. She may have said something back but I didn’t hear.
“Twenty Six, Eden!” Franklin shouted. He and the cooks were kicking ass today.
“Thanks Frankie,” I said as I put mom’s teapot on a tray. Loading up with twenty six. I passed out the meals to our worst regulars while doing the mental sums to discover how much disrespect a three dollar tip on $57 dollar bill was. You know, provided he was paying in cash and not just clicking no on debit terminal. I didn’t miss a beat smiling though. Being a bitch to table 26 ruined the meal for the lovely tables 25 and 27.
“Eden,” Mom said over Dad’s “Thank you, baby!” “I want you to come shopping with me tonight. I have this—”
“Sorry, Mom,” I shrugged, “I’m spoken for this evening.”
“Wow, that’s the quickest I ever seen a waitress lose a tip!” Laughed my dad.
“Server, Clement,” Mom corrected with the tired conviction of 28 years of blissful unsuccessful marital advice, “Eden, you know we drove into town because you were going to be free.”
“And I was, but something came up,” I tried to appear contrite even though I wasn’t much, “And I know how much you wanted grandkids.”
Dad was laughing just as much as Mom wasn’t. She looked me dead in the eye.
“You ought to do a damned sight better at making babies than you do studying for your LSats,” She knew where to turn the knife, “And keep at it until you’ve succeeded this time.”
I got out of there with my cheeks on fire. I had to get my ass to work. I had to tell the girls. I found Courtney at the registers.
“Tonight? Jesus, I better talk to Deborah,” And I had to lever myself in and cash out her waiting customer.
“Have a great day!” I smiled good-bye and sidled up to Kelly. “Just four tables waiting? How are you holding up?”
“I can take it worse than this,” She grinned.
“Speaking of,” I lowered my voice and felt a little icky, “Matthew’s gathering us all up after work.”
“But—” She looked like a deer in headlights, “Mom only let me take this job because we were all closed up by 11.”
“I’ll,” And I realized this fell on me, “I’ll talk things through with your mom if you need me too.”
“Oh my God! Thank you! Thank you!” She twisted around me like a way too affectionate octopus. I squeezed her by the red hair and worried. Matthew wasn’t that kind of monster. But all I could think about was the taste of Sylvie’s sex and the feel of Kelly tight against me.
Courtney King — Sunday, July 19th, 2015
I peeked in on Matthew’s meeting with Ms Flynn. He and his brunette were crowded at her desk reading over some document. Ms Flynn was on her phone.
“Knock knock!” I announced myself and closed the door behind me.
“Just a minute, Everett,” She pressed the phone to her breast. That hardly covered the speaker, “What’s on fire now?”
“Um, just what should be, I think,” I chuckled alone. Matthew was behind me and squeezed my guts as he hugged me.
“I missed you!” He sooked. I gave a put upon look to the brunette who didn’t share my mirth.
“I missed you too, obviously,” I sighed, “I need to go to your place, Ms Flynn.”
“For what?”
“For... You know, for tonight.”
“Courtney, it’s hardly 2 in the afternoon. You’re on the clock until 4.” She looked the most unhappy I had ever seen her, “You can get whatever you need then. Right now you’re needed on the floor.”
“Um...”
“You heard her, Angel,” He spun me around, “Get cracking.”
“OK,” I sighed, “Someone needs to get in touch with Melody. She’s off today.”
“How’d she manage Sundays off?” Matthew laughed.
“I-uh,” I was pushed out the door and it was closed behind me. I shook out grumpy thoughts and headed back to my tables. Tips awaited! The rest of my shift burned by. Kelly was off door duty by 2:30 and it gave us all some breathing room. I found the whole process to be that much easier after touching base with Matthew. Zina left at three and I was off at four. I handed off my tables to the late shift. I stuffed my uniform into my bag and scurried back to the office.
“Oh, hey, you’re still here,” I saw Matthew’s brunette flipping through a folder. Her bracelet had fallen up her wrist to nearly her elbow.
“Yeah, just checking over what Matthew’s got himself into,” She said, “Deborah’s got a great head on her shoulders. This catering thing will probably work.”
“Yeah, she’s whatever,” I hopped up on the desk and nudged aside her files with my butt. She looked up impatiently.
“There’s some ground rules you probably should know,” I made a quick check to be certain the door was closed. I showed her the charm bracelet I wore. I had added a bunch of totems since Gwen had put it on me. I flicked my finger over a silver panda and an emerald heart, “We’re supposed to get along. Like sisters.”
She had been frowning that I had been interrupting her but now she was grinning. She stared me down. I didn’t give an inch.
“And sisters, we love each other,” I lifted my leg across her body and settled my sneaker on the far armrest of the office chair she was in. She could’ve been looking straight up my skirt to the blue lace panties I had worn. She didn’t look away from my eyes.
“You’re an idiot, aren’t you? Someone who doesn’t realize just how lucky she is to be hot, because otherwise she’d have nothing. Let me guess, you were a huge slut even before Matthew was imposed on you? I’ve seen the type, the only way you’re comfortable with other people is when you’re getting them to do what you want. Can’t stop for a second, can’t think of anyone else. God, you’re going to watch your step, cause Matthew’s dumb but not so dumb that he won’t see through you and pitch you aside. No one needs that manipulation and darkness in their life. Especially someone who can find kind and hot girls like Eden without any effort.”
“What! Why would you say that!” I scrambled off the desk and back a few paces.
“Oh, looks like someone doesn’t have sisters. Never felt the love before,” She then dropped her eyes to the folder. I felt like all the words I wanted to stab this bitch with were just behind my throat. Every thought was just an empty rasp, like a lighter out of fuel. I stomped my foot.
“Also, go home and put on some better underwear,” She turned a page, “Matthew has standards and you have to go way beyond them.”
“All right, Meghan,” Deborah slipped in through the door, “Your brother’s—I thought you’d be gone by now, Courtney.”
“She’s not Everett’s brother?” I asked trying to parse why the brunette was here.
“No, this is Meghan Reid,” Deborah sighed, “Courtney’s not been too obnoxious, has she?”
“No more than the others,” Meghan spoke over my words of wounding, “She did try to get me to eat her out though.”
“Yeah, maybe not fuck with Matthew’s sisters?” Deborah laughed at me. I scowled, “What do you want Courtney?”
“Your keys,” I growled.
“Right,” She nodded and picked her purse off the filing cabinet, “And call Melody. She’s the only one we’re missing for tonight.”
I caught her keys. I gave one last look at Meghan. Well played, bitch. She smiled back.
“Touch my truck and you’re a dead woman,” Deborah bade me farewell.
Kelly Lukic — Sunday, July 19th 2015
“Have fun at the shower, sweetheart,” Dad kissed me under the ear before I could dash out of the car. I don’t know how Eden did it. I mean, a bridal shower at midnight? I didn’t give dad a second thought and rushed across the walkway under the awning. The door was locked. I was shaking when I knocked.
“Oh my God! You too!” Zina appeared at the door. She was dressed way better than me. I panicked. I mean, Zina had on this light green dress on and it was all crinkled and wavy over her long legs. Her tits were way out in my face and her hair was all curled up in ringlets. I was wearing a black tank top and red shorts. I had on sneakers and she was in spike heels. I wanted to run. She grabbed my hand and led me in.
It was practically Monday. The doors should’ve been locked and the lights out. Zina marched towards the back. I had to keep up or she was going to take my arm and leave me behind. There was laughter and joking and I was clearly later than the rest of them.
The back of the restaurant was where we could rearrange the tables and cater to larger parties. That’s not what had happened tonight, most of the tables had been pushed back towards the walls opening a big section where chairs had been gathered around. Four people were waiting for us. Eden was sitting with her legs crossed and had a drink in her hand. She had dressed up like Zina but Eden preferred purple. Melody and a brunette I didn’t know were dressed casually, the brunette had on a boring white t-shirt over a red bra and ripped up jeans. Melody was wearing a pleated skirt and a tank top. Finally there was Phoebe who was still in the bleach-rotted black t-shirt and cotton pants she wore washing dishes. She even still had her hair knotted up in the bun she stuffed into a Montreal Canadians ball cap she had taken out of the lost and found. She was the only one not wearing makeup.
“Oh my fucking Christ, who is this?” The brunette squeezed her nose.
“Kelly, this is Meghan, Matthew’s sister,” Eden stepped in, “Meghan this is Kelly, she’s a hostess here.”
“Hi Meghan,” I waved. She rolled her eyes.
“Come over here,” I walked over and she took my hands. I waited, trying to smile but then she reached over to the costume jewelry bracelet Sylvie had given me, “Who gave her this?”
At that point there was another knock on the door. Zina was apparently our greeter tonight. Melody looked me over. The girls all acted very differently. Meghan was on a warpath. Phoebe couldn’t give a shit about anything. Eden was almost giddy, her drink seemed to help. Melody was pensive, running her tongue stud underneath her teeth. Zina, clearly shaken, walked in with Dawn, who had adapted to be small and unseen. They had third and fourth girls with them.
Dawn had cleaned up from the girl I had seen in washing dishes. She had on a leather skirt and front laced top. It was so slutty. I wanted it. I could never wear it though. The two girls were the shortest in the room. There was a blonde, wearing a tiny skirt and a low cut top, and a brunette, in a fair blue dress. The blonde had on fishnets.
“Fuck! There’s more of them!” Meghan swore, “Which one of you is Melody?”
“Um, I am,” Melody raised her arm from the seat next to Meghan’s.
“Wait, I thought you were Sylvie,” Meghan lolled her head back and swore, “Fuck!”
“OK, who else do we know is going to be here?” Eden leaned forward, “We can do the introductions or whatever—”
Another knock at the door and Zina left again. Dawn and the new girls pulled up chairs. I finally moved and did so as well. I took the seat on the left end, right next to Melody. The girls sat next to Dawn who picked her seat next to Phoebe.
“Hello bitches!” Sylvie came in with a cooler in one hand and open bottle in the other. The smell of red wine tickled my nose.
“Hello!” I joked back but no one else was playing. Sylvie laughed and dragged a seat up next to me. She slid her cooler into the middle and Meghan propped her feet up on it.
“We’re still waiting on Matthew?” Sylvie asked after a big drink.
“At least,” Meghan sighed looking around. “OK, for fuck’s sake. Who else is coming?”
“Courtney, Matthew, Gwen and Deborah?” Eden looked around.
“But maybe the others too,” Dawn said quietly.
“What others?” I was on the edge of my seat more literally than figuratively. Look at all these girls. Every one of them wore a bracelet on their wrist that tied them to Matthew. Everyone was so pretty. This was so fucking weird.
“Um, Carmen and Sara and the girls from the mall.” Dawn murmured. Eden repeated her for the room.
“Carmen’s the name of the woman Matthew volunteered to babysit for me,” Zina recalled.
“OK, then,” Meghan sighed, “And Janine’s with Misty.”
Zina looked really put upon to answer yet another knock at the door. Melody, looked around, “Should we serve drinks?”
“Put on a pot of coffee,” Meghan suggested. Melody immediately went to work. Zina returned with Gwen in tow. Gwen was wearing a gold cocktail dress and carried a blue backpack. Her hair was tied back with a pink flower. Meghan nodded an approval.
“Gwen!” Sylvie handed me the bottle she didn’t need a glass for and stalked across the room to hug the newcomer. I looked over to Meghan. She sighed at me. She pulled out her phone.
“That idiot. Christ, who has Matthew’s new number?” She growled.
“Just me and Janine I think,” Gwen finally extricated herself from Sylvie.
“And the redhead from the jewelry store,” Eden remembered, “We have to beat some sense into that boy.”
“Good luck,” The new blonde teen by Dawn scoffed.
“Hi, I’m Tiffany,” waved the brunette next to her.
“Yeah, Raena,” Said the blonde.
“Right,” Meghan took charge again, “I guess we should—”
“For fuck’s sake,” Zina marched off to the door again.
“Matthew says they’re five minutes out,” Gwen looked up from her phone.
“Um, guys,” Zina came in with two more people this time. The man, I wasn’t expecting any men tonight, and yet another blonde. The man looked a bit older than my dad. He was lean and crookedly dressed in a dress shirt and pants. He had a gold braid around his right wrist and a silver watch on his left.
The woman wore a matching braid on her left wrist. She was skinny with bright brown eyes behind dark rimmed glasses. She had on a short sleeved purple dress and black hose. She walked like she was more at home in her five inch heels than I was in my Adidases.
“Everett!” Gwen was on her feet and she pushed aside Zina.
“Yes,” His eyes were blank and his face was slack.
“Deborah said to bring him by so we could fix him,” The girl in the glasses replied with a weird Russian accent. Who was I to judge? I couldn’t tell you what a good Russian accent sounded like.
“And who are you?” Eden snarled.
“I am his betrothed. His fiancee.” She flashed the rock on her ring finger.
“And how’d he meet you? Send away?” Eden laughed.
“I am very tired of this joke,” She scowled.
“Oh God!” Gwen grabbed Everett by the arm, “I am going to put him over here.”
Gwen separated Everett from his fiancée. He let himself be directed to a booth behind the circle of chairs. Gwen set his hands on the table and he stared straight ahead. The blonde hovered for a moment until Sylvie dragged a chair next to hers.
“I’m Sylvie, sit down.”
“I am Nadzja,” She settled down like a princess, “Do not mispronounce it, I am used to being called Nattie.”
“OK, alright, fine,” Meghan took a deep breath, “Hi, my name is—”
“Hello ladies!” I wasn’t the only one who lit up and smiled to see Matthew coming in from the kitchens. Deborah, in the same dark slacks and black shirt she had worn all day, was over his left shoulder and two more very busty women were behind her. Some people were standing up but because Melody and Sylvie stayed seated, so did I. Eden dragged Matthew into a hug and he kissed her on the cheek before ratcheting him to the side and under his left arm. “Is everyone here?”
I smiled when Matthew saw me. He immediately went pale. He pulled something from his pocket. I hardly recognized it as a lighter until I heard the flint.
I was on the line. Matthew was shaking my shoulders and I freaked out a little. I hadn’t walked here. I kept looking away from him and panicking. I couldn’t hear any of the girls in the other room. Had I been drugged? I licked the top of my mouth. I had a mouthful of spit. It didn’t feel like those mushrooms I did or after that one time I got drunk. He touched my chin and lifted me up until I had to look him in the eyes.
“Hi,” He said with a big grin.
“Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” He asked me. It wasn’t a mean question. It wasn’t a “What are you doing here! Release the hounds!” kind of thing. He was concerned.
“Um, Eden invited me.”
“Eden?” He said lifting up my arm and thumbing around my wrist.
“No, she didn’t give me this,” I shook my head, partly to get out of his gaze, “But she did tell me I had to come tonight.”
“Fuck! Fuck!” He grabbed me around the shoulders and hugged me as he swore. “Goddammit!”
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t apologize when you haven’t fucked up,” He stroked my hair, “You weren’t the only one I wasn’t expecting. Goddammit.”
“OK,” I didn’t know what to say if I wasn’t sorry. He pushed me back at arm’s length again.
“There are rules, rules that have to be followed.” He explained to me.
“OK, I can do that. Just tell me what I have to do,” I liked rules. I guess I’m a nerd sometimes. I hate it when people just do whatever they think they can get away with.
“Yeah, but it wasn’t you who fucked up,” He explained without cluing me in, “Now, come on, I left everyone frozen in the other room.”