♪♪ Risin up straight to the top

Had the guts, got the glory

Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop

Just a man and his will to survive ♪♪

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ[Eye of the Tiger] - [Survivor]

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Esmé stood in front of Silver Palace, taking in the comfort of the blue and silver colour of the restaurant as the sound of Kian's car drifted off. Her heart thumped against her chest in erratic beats while anxiety crept up her body for what the day would bring.

Her mind raced with many things she figured she had to do. From Petra's absence to the reason for Kian's restraint but the thought of starting a new job, as she stood there in front of the place she would soon officially call a workplace, took the very first spot.

She took in a deep breath and tried to calm herself before she moved to enter the restaurant. Ready to rip the bandage off.

Soothing soft ambient music reverberated clearly in the restaurant as she stepped in, which she linked with the present lack of customers available. Mild clanging and clacking sounds from the kitchen resounded in the room. Accompanying it was the ambrosial aroma of dishes being prepared.

"Oh, Esmé dear, you made it!" Persephone's powerful voice boomed through the restaurant, sending a chill and calm up Esmé's spine at the same time.

Persephone held her hand out the moment Esmé turned to her direction with a smile and pulled her into a soft motherly hug, then placed a kiss on each of her cheeks. She pulled back and her eyes were downcast in concern. "I hope you're okay, dear. I wasn't sure you were going to make it after Kian mentioned your accident."

Esmé smiled warmly, Persephone's concern eased her anxiety a tad bit. "Yes, I'm better, thank you. Ready to work."

"Ah! That's the perfect spirit right there. We don't want you slacking off on the job," Persephone joked and turned, directing her further into the restaurant, past the arranged tables and the counter to a back room that read STAFF ONLY. "I know you have a better speciality in cooking which is definitely what you would have wanted for a job but my chefs are as highly certified as they should be and they went through vigorous screening to enter that kitchen to cook for my guests and employing you just like that without the certification would be an insult to them. So since you've shown a particular forte in waiting tables, that is what you'd be doing."

"Thank you, Persephone. I'm more than happy to have this shot. Whether it's in the kitchen or out there with the guests, it's an opportunity I wouldn't take for granted."

Persephone smiled fully in pride. "Splendid! You show promises that draw me in. Officially you would work with Mon-El and the others who I would introduce to you in a minute, and unofficially we can have our own culinary lessons for my special dishes."

Esmé's eyes shone in excitement at the information. "It'd be my greatest honour."

"Brilliant! Let's meet your co-workers," she said as she opened an aluminium glazed door that led them into a large room filled with chattering and mutters from the workers who were there. Some casually getting ready for work and others just relaxing.

The bright light from outside reflected through the large opened windows by the sides, providing cross ventilation while giving Esmé the perfect and clear view of the entire room. It had the same aura as the outside with epic paintings hung on the walls giving it the homely touch. A couple of lockers were by the side with comfortable seats to relax in.

"It's so early in the morning and you all are already chatting away your income?" Persephone said and regarded them with a stern look. Her question led to an uncomfortable silence that had the occupants of the room glancing at anywhere but the woman who held the authority.

Persephone comfortably let the silence stay for a minute before she cleared her throat to disrupt it. "I want you all to meet the newest addition of our precious staff, Esmé Black. I believe I'm leaving her in the perfect hands. Guide her and treat her like family... because she is family." She added the last part and sent a direct narrowed eye that displayed the striking similarity between Kian and her to Mon-El, who stood at a corner of the room, dawning his work uniform with a notebook in his hands. His legs crossed over each other and a sneer fixed on his chiselled face.

Esmé's heart swelled at the introduction but it also sank knowing it would draw a lot of attention to her as she wasn't so sure how they all thought of her just yet. Not that she was totally interested in what they thought of her, but she knew a peaceful relationship with her coworkers would definitely guarantee a peaceful work environment.

After a series of introductions to the important people in the room, Persephone turned to Esmé. In the place of the worried and concerned motherly look expressed a stern boss ready to fire her if she slacked off for a minute. "Well then, change and mingle. Get to work, everyone! The dishes will not serve themselves." She turned and her eyes swept over everyone before she whirled out of the room.

Series of murmurs followed Persephone's exit and most people moved past Esmé to leave the room without sparing her a glance, a few passed with a nod but that was the most welcome she received.

Mon-El moved by her with a narrowed look that sent every form of warning he could without opening his mouth before he left.

The passive attitude of everyone hadn't surprised her that much. With the attitude Mon-El showed the previous time she was there, she expected nothing less from every other person who had gone through a lot more protocol than her to get their jobs. So much for the peaceful environment at work.

Esmé focused back into the room and did a double-take at the presence of the last person in the room.

Her raven black afro coils and rich caramel skin stood out among others when Persephone had introduced her. Scarlett.

Scarlett held up a new uniform for Esmé to change into, similar to what everyone had on. Her uni-lip stretched out straight, but despite the lack of a smile, she didn't sport a cruel and passive look on her face like the others.

Esmé collected the uniform with an appreciative smile, to which Scarlett replied with a curt nod.

"You'd better get to it. You heard the boss, meals will not serve themselves. Wouldn't want to get fired on your first day." She clicked her tongue at the end and turned to leave, not waiting for words of appreciation from Esmé.

No, she wouldn't want that. Esmé moved to change, impressing her boss was the major priority. Her co-workers liking her was just a bonus. She wasn't about to waste time pondering on the major reason for their attitudes and how to rectify that.

"Oh, and welcome to Silver Palace," Scarlett called out, startling Esmé.

Esmé spun around to face Scarlett, surprised that she had lingered back just to tell her welcome, but only glimpsed the back of Scarlett's uniform just before she closed the door behind her.

That seemed promising.

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The mild clattering of cutleries on plates was heard, giggles from one end of the restaurant and chuckling from another. The restaurant buzzed with life as Esmé walked towards her table with the tray of their order.

The day had gone from completely still to extra busy. The time she helped had done nothing to prepare her for the early morning and afternoon rush. It had been extra stressful for her as Mon-El gave her the busiest tables to wait on without break. Every part of her felt sore.

Esmé couldn't exactly put her finger on what Mon-El aimed to achieve, but she was determined not to crumble under pressure and she wasn't about to lose her job on her first day. So despite the way her legs wobbled and hands felt extra heavy, she plastered a smile onto her face, held her head up high and tightened her fist on the tray she was holding.

"Here's your order, ma'am. I hope you enjoy your meal," Esme said as she got to the table of one.

The lady's manicured hands ceased their doodling on her phone at the sound of Esmé's voice. She looked up, fluttering her full eyelashes at Esmé, and squeezed her face in disgust. "You take your leave, then we can talk about enjoying my meal."

Esme stood with her hands behind her, her fist tightening a bit and her smile threatened to drop. The lady had not been the first person to be nasty to her that day, and she wondered what was with customers being nasty to the people who wait on them.

She bowed her head in submission, her smile straining.  Esmé turned, only to come face to face with Mon-El. He was holding a table number again. She scowled at him, not bothering to use an ounce of strength to hold her smile in place.

"Already getting tired? Want to quit? I'm sure you know the way to the boss' office. If not, I believe you have a lot of table's order to take," he said as he held onto the table tag to add to a lot of others he had given her before. His eyes challenged her.

Her blood boiled as she stared at him. How she very much wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but they were standing in the middle of the restaurant and causing a scene was the last thing she needed.

Esmé smiled tightly. "Of course. I'll be on my merry way then," she said and snatched the tag from his hand, not caring that her fingernails might have graced his skin. A hiss came from behind her and a smile came up over her lips.

"Smiling because you hurt somebody?" Scarlett said beside Esmé, making her drop the smile that grazed her lips. "But I believe you're allowed to do that. He definitely deserves it for the stress he's been giving you." She offered Esmé a smile that lit up her oval-shaped face.

Esmé returned the smile, grateful for the little warmth the smile offered. "He deserves it, but it's not like anyone has done anything to stop him."

"And for that, I'm sorry. You understand that everyone here is trying to be in Persephone's good graces. So when a whole new competition arrives that seems to be way up the ladder with no effort, that would definitely make us feel threatened. But.." Scarlett drawled. "I am not in any way saying Mon-El's behaviour is right but there's nothing one can do now since we definitely have to serve the customers so how about I help you. You can take care of the table he just gave you and I'll handle the other ones. The rush hour is already easing up, which means you can get some rest after that table, deal?"

Esmé glanced at her warily as she wasn't sure if it was all a prank, but after feeling the weight of her entire body almost crushing her legs, she smiled in appreciation. Prank or not, she needed the help.

She handed Scarlett the table tags for the other ones saying thank you and then turned to go to her last table for the day. She took a deep breath as she got close to the table and plastered her customer smile onto her lips, but once she got to the table; it dropped instantly and her eyes widened as she looked at the person in her line of sight.

"Petra?"

Petra looked up to Esmé with a timid smile while biting her lips.

"I definitely hope that's not the way you greet your customers because that can cost you your job." A light chuckle from Petra's right grabbed Esmé's attention, and she turned to see Hermione with a smirk plastered on her face.

As she stood firmly in front of their table of three, she saw them all clearly. The presence of the first person had shocked her, but not like that of the third. Her platinum gold wavy hair flowed down her back as it had lost all form of professionalism it once had, with her sienna brown eyes glowing as she smiled at Esmé.

"Lucija?"

Lucija gave her a broad smile and winked at her. Esmé's eyes shone in disbelief and her heart swelled in gratitude at the smile plastered on their faces. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Well, when you think about it, people go to restaurants to eat, drink, dine with friends, support their friend on her first day of work, maybe," Petra said pulling Esme's attention to her with a smile that had increased though it was still a little strained. There was the underlying tension between them after they hadn't seen each other since the entire issue, but her heart swelled in appreciation.

"Thank you," Esmé said, tears willed in her eyes as she took in all of them. "I can't believe you're here, Lucija."

"Yeah, well, your friend over there..." Lucija nudged her head to Petra's direction, "might have convinced me to put aside my differences with her so I could come over to support you. Even had the guts to question my loyalty to you."

"I did no such thing!" Petra denied chuckling.

Esmé smiled at the sight before her. Their presence fueled her with a sense of strength she seemed to have been missing after the day's work.

"It wouldn't be bad to have our orders taken right now Esmé, the powerful aura of your appreciation is choking me." Hermione chirped in, making them all chuckle lightly, careful not to draw attention. "The earlier you do that anyway, the earlier you can get that break you look like you need."

At the mention of a break, her head turned to Scarlett to realise that she was already watching her. It then dawned on her that her friends might have actually requested for her, and that was why Mon-El might have given her the table. Despite knowing this, she didn't feel like searching for him to show him any appreciation.

Esme smiled and then switched to her professional mode. Her head up high and a smile plastered onto her face, but this time, she didn't force it.

"Good evening, ladies. Are you ready to place your order?" Esme asked them all professionally, making them chuckle and smile at her.

"I thought you'd never ask." Petra grinned just as they all placed their order.

Esmé took their order and got their meals served. She left them to change out of her work clothes and start eating before she settled down beside Lucija. "Thank you guys for coming."

"Of course. Did you think we'll want to miss seeing just how stressful your day at work has been?" Hermione chipped in, amusement glittering in her eyes. Her gaze locked behind Esmé. Esmé turned slightly to see where her gaze was directed at to see Mon-El.

She rolled her eyes at turned back to the table to see them all staring at her.

"What's his deal?" Lucija asked with her face scrunched up.

"I wish I know," Esmé replied with a sigh. "He's just been an absolute tosser all day."

"He must get over it because you're here to stay," Petra commented, fixing Esmé with a serious gaze.

This brought back the memory of their last encounter at the hospital to the forefront of Esmé's mind. The look on Petra's face before she left her room. With the urgent need to clear the air that she felt had suddenly gone down a notch as Hermione and Lucija had gone quiet noticing it too, she blurted out her apology.

"I'm really sorry, Petra. I honestly didn't mean to keep this from any of you and most especially you. The thing is I was just..."

"Confused, I know." Petra sighed and took hold of Esmé's hands from across the table. "I'm sorry too, Esmé. I should have been more understanding. This is something that is new to you in more ways than one and I just let Kian's words get to me. So, I'm sorry I wasn't able to give you the understanding you needed when you required it the most."

Esmé smiled as her eyes became glossy in appreciation. She had spent quite some time thinking of how her apology to Petra would go, but she never thought that Petra would be delivering one of her own. 

"Aww, this is so adorable. Do I get myself an apology too?" Hermione piped in with a raised eyebrow.

"Why did you have to ruin such a delightful moment there?!" Lucija scolded her and they all laughed.

Esmé sighed in relief as it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder. Petra squeezed her hand gently before releasing it. An evil glint appeared on her face that made Esmé narrow her eyes at Petra.

"What is it?"

"So I heard you wrote a bucket load of apology poems to Kian," Petra said with a teasing smile. Hermione and Lucija snapped their head to Esmé in shock while Esmé groaned, covering her face with her hands.        

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And they're back!

Hi guys!

Whew! Stressful first days at work. Those experiences can be both exciting and tiring. Ever experienced one? How was yours?

And who doesn't like Mon-El? I know, I don't Competition or not, I think he's going a bit overboard. Don't you think?

I hope you liked the chapter. I've been a bit under the weather so I've been trying to push through a lot of energy to get this to you guys so I hope you liked it.

You know how it goes. Tell me what you thought about it right here! 👉🏽💭

Till next time!💕