Chapter 3
Susan’s pov
I followed him, went through another door, and walked down a small corridor that led to the changing room and the staff bathroom.
"This is it." He opened the changing room door and walked over to a silver locker. He opened it and took out a change of clothes. It was his uniform. "I think this will fit you." He held it out to me. She held it out to me. "If you need anything else, just let me know."
"Thanks." I took the clothes from his hands and watched him leave. Very polite...
In the corner of the changing room, there was a fitting room. I walked over to it and closed the curtain at the same time as I saw the mirror behind me. Jesus, my hair was a mess and I had deep dark circles under my eyes. I quickly got out of my clothes and changed. I needed to wash my face and fix my hair.
I put on my white shirt, and beige pants and tied my black apron around my waist. I looked in the mirror and turned around. I'd looked better than I'd imagined.
I put my clothes in the closet and left the changing room. There was a bathroom right in front, so I went there and wet my face to stay awake. My hair looked like a nest. Jesus, how could Charlie have hired me like this? I tried to straighten it with my damp hand and made a bun in my hair. It would look better.
I'd been up all night. It was just dust. But I kept going. Starting again was new to me.
Come on, she-wolf... We need to do this right.
I left and walked back down the small corridor until I bumped into Charlie outside the door. He was passing by when he saw me.
"It looks great!"
"Thanks." I gave a weak smile. "Where can I start?"
He showed me the menus on the counter. He said it would be good for me to memorize the dishes and prices when I was serving customers. And Eddy would always be there for me if I needed help.
I went to the counter and picked up the menu. I sniffed the air and smelled a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. Probably the cook Charlie had mentioned had already arrived. I took a look at the menu and ended up memorizing a few dishes, but there were a lot of them and they varied in price. From cakes to bread, puff pastries, pies, coffees of different types and sizes. I needed to carry a menu in my arms, at least for today.
Minutes passed and the coffee shop was already open when the bell rang on the door. A man entered the coffee shop. He was wearing a suit and had just hung up the phone angrily.
"Good morning, sir." I went up to him and took the notebook Eddy had given me to help me.
"Good morning." He didn't even look at me. His face was contracted and he seemed to care only about where he decided to sit. He looked about 50 and smelled of alcohol gel. Okay... Let's go...
He sat down and held the menu in his hands.
"Right?" I stopped short of the table. It was only then that he lifted his face and looked at me. His countenance changed subtly to less irritated. I continued to stare at him, waiting for my order, but my face was no longer so pleasant. "Can I take your order?"
"Yes." He tapped his fingers on the wooden table and ran his eyes over me. "I'll have two cheese rolls and an espresso."
"Okay, anything else?" I wrote it down.
"That's all."
"Right. I'll bring it over soon." I turned around and went to the counter. I handed the paper to Eddy and he quickly prepared a plate with two cheese rolls and poured a cup of espresso.
"This is Richard. Lawyer. Usually stressed." Eddy put everything on a tray and handed it to me. I nodded at him.
"I noticed the stress," I whispered and went back to the table. I left his order and he thanked me.
More people began to arrive and I continued to serve them. This went on for breakfast, lunch, and the evening. It didn't end until 7 p.m. after I'd washed all the leftover dishes. And of course, my lycanthropy helped me make it through the day. Otherwise, I'd be lying on the floor, completely dead.
I received Charlie's money at the end of the day, plus the tips I had earned for being "a very pretty and kind girl" according to a 60-year-old lady. It wasn't much, but it was more than enough to survive for a day and buy a change of clothes on sale. I met Jonh, a young man and an excellent cook. He was slender but good-looking. And at the end of the day, with the food that was left over, he made two lunch boxes. One for me and one for Eddy. Which made me even more relieved that I didn't have to spend any money on food. I got changed, collected my things, and headed out.
"Good night, Susan. You were great today." Everyone had already gone. There was just me and Charlie.
"Thanks. See you tomorrow." I waved and left the diner.
The city was busier at night. And I had to find somewhere to stay. But first, I stopped by a little shop and bought some underwear and a change of clothes. Which almost cost me half my money, even though it was on sale.
I walked around a few more blocks looking for a hotel until I finally found one that seemed affordable. A little further from the center, but decent enough. I crossed the street and entered the hotel hall. I walked up to the reception desk and saw a young black woman, she didn't even look older. Her black hair was shoulder-length and one side of her head was shaved. She was reading a magazine until she turned to me when she saw me approaching.
"Good evening."
"Good evening." He left the magazine on the table.
"Is there a room free?"
"There's room 201 on the second floor, 301, 305, 4...
"It could be 201." I interrupted her. "How much does it cost to stay for a week?"
"$140,00." Wow.
"Perfect." I was in profit. I certainly couldn't find anything cheaper here in this city.
"Right, can I see your ID?" I stared at the girl.
What? What for? What for? I don't have anything on me.
I pretended to look for my ID in my pants pocket and looked astonished when I didn't find it.
"I can't believe it! I forgot!" I looked at the girl, still amazed, and she sighed with a weak laugh. She stared at me from head to toe.
"No need to lie, I'll let it slide."
I deposited $40.00 in front of her in advance.