Chapter 2 Race

In order to clean up the coffee that had spilled and collect the broken china cups that were now all over the floor, Charisa bent down. She was still learning how to balance trays and carry them. She lost her equilibrium after something-certainly a man's hand, not something else-brushed her thigh over her skirt because of it. She felt embarrassed now as people saw her struggle to avoid cutting herself with the glass fragments and coffee spills.

Charisa stood, being cautious not to tip her tray and spill any of the shards, after the last piece was collected and the last of the coffee had been soaked up. A hand touched the top of her knee as she passed a table. She turned to see a wink from an older man with thick, short grey hair. Trying not to blush, she turned quickly and pushed back into the kitchen galley via the swinging doors.

"Are you alright?" As she put down her tray of shattered cups, Leah, one of the other females on staff, questioned.

"A visitor is becoming clingy," Charisa remarked. She sighed as she started to transfer the shards to the broken-wares collection container. "It just took me by surprise, nothing else."

"Miss Edwards, you ought to handle your tray with more caution." As he passed her, Mr. Graven stopped. "You're fortunate no one was burned."

I apologize. "Next time, I'll be more cautious," Charisa remarked.

She knew Mr. Graven's expression was one of disdain even if she didn't glance up to see it. She completed placing the shards and took her tray to be cleaned after he left. Leah picked up another tray of coffee that had been set up and took it out. Charisa felt comforted. After experiencing something so embarrassing, she did not want to have to return to the dining room at this time.

The remainder of the midday lunch proceeded without incident, and Charisa was relieved that visitors did not give her any more attention than they did to any other staff member when she had to return.

The guests moved slowly from the dining hall to the balcony. The mild rain was still falling outside, but it would soon stop. While the team set up the indoor spaces for the evening festivities, the guests would take part in a variety of outdoor events.

Charisa started clearing the tables after moving to her section of the dining room. She wanted to make sure that there was no significant debris on the floor, but someone else would vacuum it from behind. Like everything else, she was still getting used to cleaning, and as she continued to work, her mind reciting fragments of half-remembered lyrics to keep her going, the rest of the staff had finished and been cleared away.

A hand passed along Charisa's buttocks and across the small of her back. She leaped to her feet and collided with the body of a person behind her. Not that Charisa had heard anyone approach her. She turned to see the same man from breakfast who had the grabbing hands.

"You resemble a small rabbit." He talked in a pleasant voice. He had demanding, even eyes. Charisa tried to put distance between them by holding onto the table, but he closed it again. "Yes, I enjoy hunting rabbits."

"I have to get my work done." There was nothing further Charisa could say. The man cupped her breasts by moving his hands to her waist and then slowly up her sides.

Then everything happened at once. The kitchen galley's sliding door opened. Two additional employees followed Mr. Graven as he left. An older woman entered via the open door from the balcony, followed by two young males. With the sweep of her arm, Charisa's palm struck the man's face, causing him to smack her loudly. It echoed across the dining room before the woman let out a high-pitched scream.

Charisa attempted, but was unable, to take charge of her circumstances. To Charisa's amazement and dismay, Mr. Graven arrived on the scene right away and asked the man, who turned out to be Henry Worthington, if he was alright. The woman cried out that her husband had been struck by a trollop. Mr. Worthington started out by explaining how she had gotten on him. Charisa attempted to speak up and share her perspective, but Mr. Graven or Mrs. Worthington silenced her by accusing her of lying. More people entered the dining room from the balcony as a result of the commotion.

At last, Mr. Graven grabbed Charisa's arm, squeezed it firmly, and walked her away. She attempted to object to his promises to Mr. Worthington that he would handle the matter. He dragged her out into the hallway and threw her around violently, knocking the wind out of her and slammed her back into the wall. Not wanting to miss the conclusion of the drama, visitors streamed into the hall from the dining room farther down.

Mr. Graven maintained a level and severe tone throughout his statement, "I have been very patient with you, but I will not have you accosting our guests."

Charisa declared, "I didn't do anything wrong."

One of the resort's most esteemed visitors was slapped by you. You'll approach him and express your regret.

I won't. What a pig the man is! Charisa's voice was louder than she intended.

Recognizing the gathering, Mr. Graven withdrew his hand and paused. He leaned closer to Charisa and spoke more softly. "Do you realize that you've been fired? You'll gather your things and head to your cabin. I anticipate seeing you go within an hour.

Charisa was at a loss for words. Tears started to fall from her eyes, searing her cheeks in embarrassment and shame, and she turned and raced down the corridor.