Our Secret Summer(36)

“We’re just supposed to stand here?” I try not to sound disappointed.

Annika’s light blue eyes slide to me. “Why are you complaining? We’re going to get a fat tip for this, so smile and look pretty.”

“It’s just a little boring.”

“You sure that’s the real problem?”

I act like I have no idea what she’s referring to, though I know she’s hinting about Cristiano. A few minutes ago, his entourage arrived up in VIP without him, all the same men and women I recognize from the last time he was here at Aura, including the woman who draped her arm over his shoulder and called him Cristiano, baby. As she cut through the VIP section, trying to get to their reserved table, our eyes met. Hers narrowed with recognition, and since then, she’s been the most demanding customer up here.

Now she raises her hand again. Another server hurries over, but she shakes her head and points to me. I’m her servant for the night, and she wants me to know it.

I throw Annika a look and then head over, forcing a smile before I reach her.

“This has too much gin,” she says with a pretty Spanish accent. She holds up her martini for me to take.

“I’m sorry. Let me have the bartender make you a fresh one.”

She smiles tightly, more of a sneer, really, and then she turns away, dismissing me.

I take the martini over to the bar and slide it across to Ethan. He’s up here with us tonight, which I’m sure is making Annika happy. I’ve already caught them flirting a few times.

“Sorry. She says there’s too much gin in this.”

Ethan laughs and takes the drink, sipping it for himself. He shakes his head. “It’s perfect.”

Then he dumps the contents down the drain and starts to make a new one. I stay close by so I can deliver it to the woman as soon as he’s finished. I don’t want her to have any ammunition against me.

“Here,” Ethan says, sliding the new martini across the bar. “If she complains again, you might suggest another cocktail.”

I smile and thank him. “Yeah, I will.”

On my way to deliver the drink, I walk around a rowdy group near the balcony’s edge and quickly scan the crowd below. I’ve been doing it all night, but this time, I finally see Cristiano downstairs talking to Ramón.

A zing of excitement has me biting down my smile. So he is here.

I rush over to take the drink to the brunette, hovering near her as she tries her first sip. “Better?”

She sniffs and shrugs as if not wanting to give me the win on this. “It’s fine.”

I want to tell her she’s not hurting my feelings; I didn’t make it.

Instead I smile. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can get for you or your friends.”

Before I leave, I glance down and notice the necklace she’s paired with her red dress—it’s a vintage silver De Vere heart locket. We stopped making them in the nineties and now they resell for ten times what they originally cost. I wonder if her opinion of me would change if she knew who I was, if she realized she’s wearing my family’s jewelry around her neck. I almost want to tell her and find out.

Instead, I turn and head back to Annika. She’s just returned from doing a sweep herself, and she leans into me and whispers, “She’s threatened.”

“By me?”

Annika laughs. “Oh yes. You should have seen the way she watched you walk away.”

“Why? I haven’t done anything to her.”

“Who knows? But this is hilarious and…” Her attention shifts toward the stairs, and her smile widens. “It’s about to get much more interesting.”

I look back just as Cristiano arrives in VIP. He clasps hands with the security guards flanking the top of the stairs, speaking with them for a moment before turning his attention to his friends.

The subdued group lights up when they see him, each person standing and vying to get their turn to greet him. I’m surprised there aren’t trumpets and banners waving for the king’s arrival. The pretty brunette hangs back and bides her time. When Cristiano finally says hello, she rises up onto her tiptoes and plants a red kiss on his cheek, then she coyly pretends to be surprised when her lipstick leaves a mark. She hangs on to his arm while she rubs it away, and my face is a mask of disgust before I realize I’m staring and look away.

Annika’s eyeing me, but I ignore her, twisting Winnie’s ring around and around on my finger, suddenly wishing I could go back downstairs.

The VIP balcony is crowded enough that it’s easy for me to stay under the radar. I serve food and drinks to my tables and try to be as attentive as possible. The brunette at Cristiano’s table doesn’t call me back again, so I happily let another server take over there. I’d rather deal with the other VIPs anyway.

As far as I know, Cristiano hasn’t seen me. That, or he’s purposely ignoring me. I don’t have to test the theory until one of his friends flags me down, holding up an empty champagne bottle. Gripped with immediate panic, I search desperately for another server to send his way, but everyone’s occupied, so I have no choice but to slip through the crowd.

I feel my heart thumping as I arrive at their low, circular table, wishing my presence wasn’t immediately noticed by everyone. The moment I address his friend, I feel Cristiano’s gaze and my face heats up in response. I want to look at him so desperately, but I don’t.