Doukas by Demetra Georgiou
Chapter 13
“I know you’ve told me to stay out of this, Ria, but there are some things I’ve discovered about your taverna.”
Doukas gives another meaning to traveling in style. When he offered to give me a lift, I assumed we’d take his silver Mercedes and thought nothing of it. I even relented when he mentioned that he’d send someone to watch over me. I wonder how I could ever get back from that level of luxury.
Certainly, I didn’t expect to be driven around by a bulky driver in a sleek car whose logo I don’t even recognize.
“What did you discover?”
“That your place might have the highest rate of workplace accidents in the country.”
“Don’t be insensitive, Doukas.”
“I’m not, Ria. At least not more than usual. Let me see if I get it right. You pay five servers full-time because they had an accident or something along those lines while they were either at or coming into work.”
“Yes, it was a freaking coincidence, but I’ve known my staff for many years. My dad hired most of them.”
“Pick any one of those, baby.”
“What does that mean?”
“Humor me, please.”
I huff my annoyance. Where’s he going with this?
“Okay, let’s start with Giorgis. He had a bike accident ten minutes before he was due to come for work. I even have the medical report.”
“Yes, I think I remember. A broken arm and leg, and a fractured tailbone. Three weeks ago?”
Has he memorized the whole lot?
“Yes, that’s right, Doukas.”
Doukas gives me a triumphant smile as if that was the answer he expected, and reaching over to his briefcase, he removes a pink folder and hands it to me. “If that’s the case, then how exactly was he able to ski last weekend?”
I open the folder and see a smiling Giorgis—sans the mummy cast I saw him wearing last—enjoying a drink in what I assume to be a ski chalet.
“How could he afford that? The insurance money along with the part of his wages I’m covering can’t be enough,” I muse. Giorgis was always groaning about his financial situation.
“He’s on Fanaris’s payroll. Actually, apart from your kitchen hand, who is genuinely hurt, everyone else is either faking it or has deliberately caused damage. Unfortunately, those have connections with other waiters, and that might pose a problem in the near future with your staff.”
“I’ve known them for so long. I trusted them.”
“I know, baby, but it’s better to know what you’re dealing with.”
“You’re right. Can I keep the file to take a look?” I ask as he hands me over the thick file.
For some reason, my hands shake a little as I examine each paper and photo. Doukas was telling the truth, but I never doubted him for a moment. But still, something seems off.
Doukas's knuckles trace my cheek, and I smile at him, my heart doing her usual lurch like every time he touches me. He’s the only one that can take away my turmoil.
“Don’t be afraid, baby. Fanaris slipped when he made an attempt on you, and I doubt he’ll be so stupid again. In any case, you have to be extra careful. I have some of my men at your place. They’re the best at what they do, so they won’t bother you or your customers.”
“Thank you,” I say in a small voice, and I believe him. “But there’s still something I don’t understand. It might be stupid, but please bear with me. From what I understand, Fanaris makes all this fuss about the tavern because he wants a reputable and crime-free establishment to launder his money.”
“Yes, it’s possible,” Doukas agrees, cocking his head to the side, giving me his undivided attention.
“Why? This has been going on for quite some time. Why is he hell-bent on my place in particular?”
Silence falls into the car, and the sounds from the traffic filter through. He doesn’t take his eyes off me, and I can practically hear the cogs turning in his mind. Perhaps I talk nonsense. After all, what do I know about laundering money? But there’s this nagging feeling at the pit of my stomach that tells me I might be onto something.
“I don’t know, Ria, and I don’t like that. Fanaris is a small fish, and even the position he holds is because his godmother is the Royals’ aunt. Perhaps he’s too spoiled, but even in his stupid little mind, he feels entitled or has an agenda. I’ll look into it, but please, promise me that you won’t go anywhere on your own. I won’t bear it if he puts his hands on you again.”
“Trust me, if I don’t see Fanaris again, it’ll be too soon,” I say with a smile, trying to defuse the heavy atmosphere around us.
Doukas nods but doesn’t answer, so I shift as close as my seatbelt allows and put my head on his shoulder. He immediately closes me into his arms and lets out a shaky breath. It must be hard for him to be unable to predict the actions of a lunatic. I can feel it in my heart that whatever he does is purely out of genuine concern for me.
And that’s the most comforting thought I’ve ever had.
“I’m sorry, Ria, it’s not worth risking my life for a job,” Pavlos, one of my servers, says.
“I understand, Pavlos, really I do. Will you at least finish your week? That’ll give me some time to find someone else.”
“I’m afraid not. I only came here to give you my notice, effective immediately.”
If I knew that today would be this way, I wouldn’t have gotten out of bed. Not while Doukas was naked in it. Perhaps the conversation we had in the car jinxed it, but I haven’t been in the taverna for an hour, and almost all of my servers quit one after the other. I guess I could use their labor contract as a way to make them stay, but what’s the point? They’re serving customers, and I can’t have them looking all sullen and gloomy.
Half an hour ago, I was elated when I entered the taverna and found my contractor installing the windowpanes. And a day earlier than expected. Little did I know.
Long after Pavlos has left, I’m sitting in my office despairing. Now what? The weather is ideal for a stroll, the sun is shining, and the customers should be arriving any minute now. And let’s suppose they do. Who’s going to serve them? I’m left with one server, Electra, and two kitchen hands. I try not to jump to conclusions, but something tells me that Fanaris has something to do with my current predicament.
A knock on the door draws me out of my plans to murder Fanaris. I look up and see one of the few people that could make me smile in a moment like this.
“Is it a bad time?”
“Harmonia, this is an amazing surprise. What are you doing here?”
“I’m on a school trip to the Acropolis, and they let us roam. Thought I’d come and say hi.”
I hug her and smile brightly. “Oh, you did well. Want some coffee? I was about to make a fresh pot,” I say, taking her hand to lead her to the kitchen.
“I’d love to.”
A noise to my left attracts my attention as five customers enter the taverna.
“Shit, I forgot to turn the Closed sign.”
“Are you closed?” Harmonia asks in disbelief.
I let out a rueful smile. “Apparently so. The majority of my servers quit. I’m running with a skeleton staff.”
“Coincidence? I think not,” Harmonia huffs and smiles at my customers. “Don’t worry. I’ll call Doukas and—”
“No, you won’t. This is my problem.”
“But all I want to do is help, and he—”
“Thank you, Harmonia, but I’ll do it on my own, like I’m used to. Unless you know a bunch of waiters and kitchen staff, then you cannot help me.”
Harmonia frowns, and I immediately want to take my words back. I shouldn’t lash out at her. My eyes burn with unshed tears.
“Ria, we have meat deliveries at the back,” Electra says from behind us.
“I’ll only be a minute, Harmonia,” I promise her.
Accepting deliveries and putting things away is the most tedious task, and I hate it with a passion.
“Ria, is it possible that you became even more beautiful since I saw you last?” Petros says with a smile, and I barely contain my disgust.
“I guess it is.”
Petros chuckles and gives me the clipboard to sign.
“Say, how about I take you out on Saturday. A friend of mine sings in a small club nearby. I’ll pick you up at ten. It’s a death metal situation, so dress accordingly. A short dress would be nice.”
Fuck off!
“No, thank you. In case you haven’t noticed, I have a place to run,” I snap at him and hand over the clipboard to Electra.
I simply have more important things than putting up with a leering supplier with the worst taste in music. He and I went on a disastrous date a few months ago. He’s harmless and at the time seemed rather cute, but the date was so bad that it immediately earned him a place on my list of bad decisions. He doesn’t take anything seriously and is rather fond of overstepping his boundaries.
Exiting the kitchen, I go in search of Harmonia, but all I find is Solon, my last server standing.
“Ria, where are the others?”
Moment of truth.
“No one else is coming, Solon. Let’s get through this crowd,” I say, pointing at the now three occupied tables, “and then we’ll close early tonight. Trust me, I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll wait tables, too. Have you seen a girl? Pretty with long hair?”
Solon nods emphatically, and he reminds me of those little toy dogs that bob their heads. “Yes, she just rushed out a few moments ago.”
Fuck, I didn’t mean to snap at her.
I dart to the office in search of my phone.
“Now, here’s the guarantee my day will get better,” Doukas says, picking up on the first ring.
“Doukas,” I say his name as a sob takes me by surprise. “I did something awful.”
“Calm down, baby and tell me what happened.”
“Ever since I came here this morning, people are quitting on me. Harmonia was here, and I snapped at her.” I cry so hard right now that I’m not sure Doukas understands me. “She offered to call you, and now she’s gone. Please give me her phone number. I want to apologize.”
“Apologize for what?” Harmonia’s voice comes to my ears.
“You’re back!” I exclaim and hurry to her. “I’m sorry I was abrupt with you. Please forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Ria. You’re under pressure. The last thing you need is me meddling in things I know nothing about.”
Her words register, and I clutch my phone to my chest, trying to calm down from my crying outburst. A movement behind Harmonia distracts me, and I watch at least fifty people milling outside my taverna, heading right in.
“Oh, good, they’re here,” Harmonia says, giddy with excitement, but I feel close to having a panic attack.
“What have you done?” I ask horrified.
“You told me that I’d be helping you if I knew waiters and kitchen staff. Well, some of my friends and I will wait tables. Oh, and the four girls over there volunteered for the kitchen. Just one request, be gentle, as we’re only a bunch of rich kids. The rest are going to eat here.”
“You’re amazing, sweetie, but sadly I cannot accept your help. You’re all underage. I could get into serious trouble,” I say and bring my phone to my ear. Doukas is still on the line.
“First of all, I’m eighteen. And second—and most importantly— I’m a Tremes. My grandfather, father, and brothers are Lords. Trust me when I say that there are very few things I could not do.”
“So, you’re a lady?”
“No, it doesn’t sound good. Let’s go with the spoilt little criminal princess. I’ve already discussed it with my brothers, and they’re going to find me a title.”
I smile mischievously at her. “Or you can bring it up with the Royals when you have a word with them.”
Harmonia huffs in agreement. “Damn right, I can!”
“God, Ria,” Doukas groans on the other side of the phone.
When Harmonia said that she would wait on tables, I never expected that kind of efficiency. Okay, the girl tends to break things, but nothing dramatic, and somehow, she’s got the whole place clapping every time someone breaks something. She has everyone eating out of the palm of her hand.
At some point, she posted that she’s in my taverna, but I thought nothing of it. That girl made my place viral in only an hour while my publicist would need weeks for that kind of attention. The phone keeps ringing with new reservations.
After a short visit home to change and bring Harmonia some clothes, I enter my full taverna. The first person I see is Doukas. He smiles as he comes to me and kisses me in the middle of the room without a care in the world.
“What a nice surprise,” I admit.
“I’m glad. We came to celebrate our baby sister’s first day at work.” He chuckles and leads me to their table. His brothers watch Harmonia amused as she tries to balance a loaded tray and succeeds.
“Hello guys,” I wave at them as I stand behind Icarus and Victoras.
“Ria! Do you see this?” Alcaeus asks, pointing at an empty plate next to him.
I frown. “What an odd question! Of course, I do.”
“This is my little sister’s plate.”
I feel my brows knit together. The oldest Lord doesn’t make much sense today. “I’ll take it, Alcaeus.”
Victoras shakes his head. “It’s not that. She just came to our table with a plate in hand and announced she was taking a break. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t threaten her to eat, Ria.”
That brings a smile to my face. Mission accomplished. “I guess I'm overworking her. Sorry about that.”
Giorgos snorts. “Like you could make her do something she doesn’t want to.”
And he’s right. I haven’t known Harmonia for long, but that girl has a will of her own. I note that they’ve finished their meal.
“Did you order dessert?” I ask.
“We’re full,” Victoras admits, taking a sip of his club soda.
“What did you have in mind?” Alcaeus asks, and Doukas murmurs something behind me that I don’t quite get. “You know what? I’ll come with you to the kitchen to choose for myself. I could use the exercise,” he says, standing up.
“Come on, baby,” Doukas says, taking my hand.
Once in the kitchen, I watch with fascination as Alcaeus makes his selection, filling up a big tray just for him.
“What about you, Doukas? What do you want?”
He grins widely at me and brings his mouth closer to my ear. “I want you. I thought I was clear about that.”
“I meant for dessert.”
“I was talking about every course,” Doukas whispers close to my mouth.
“Passing through,” Alcaeus shouts as he takes the heavy-loaded tray out of the kitchen.
“Now, where were we?” Doukas asks with a chuckle.
“We were about to start with dessert,” I say, taking his hand to lead him to the office.