THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

PART 2/5

An entire hour had passed and somehow, i was still alive. One hour done, and only about...two more to go.

Two more hours of ignoring the lingering glances Colton shot my way, or the annoyed expressions of impatient rich people who were currently waiting on their appetizers. Their appetizers I was supposed to be serving --yet the kitchen was taking their sweet time with the orders.

"Excuse me, could you point me towards the kitchen?" a voice rung me out of my thoughts.

As I turned, I realized it was the same man who walked in with Colton's family. Auburn hair and deep black eyes.

" I'm trying to double check on our tables filet mignon, sorry to bother," he charmed.

I shook my head, just taken off guard that a rich person here was treating me like an actual person, "Um, I'm not sure I can let you back there, however I assure you Chef Arturo is doing his best to assure a delicious, sound meal!"

"Ah, well, my family's actually hosting this event," he took a moment to think. "I doubt it'd be a problem if I went to the back real quick." He urged.

If it wasn't my scholarship on the line, I truly would have just let him back, but unfortunately, I couldn't do that due to health hazard reasons.

He was getting kind of annoying now, "I understand that, however I was specifically instructed to not let anyone back there. Safety reasons."

There was a long lull that made me unsure of whether this man was to be trusted.

When finally--

"Right," he agreed with a tight lipped smile.

I wanted to walk away right then, until-

"Oh! One more thing," he hummed, making me turn around.

What now?

"Why is my cousin looking at you like he wants to fuck you right now?"

That made me freeze. My breath was quickening and I knew he could tell. I felt like I was a parasite under a huge, burning hot microscope waiting to observed and picked apart for anything I did wrong. And this man in front of me was the one holding the microscope.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about, sir." I decided on.

"Really?"

"Yep."

A smirk danced on his lips as he took me in, sighing.

The puzzle pieces were clicking together now. This was Matthew. Colton's cousin. Colton had told me about how growing up, since he didn't have any siblings, Matthew posed as a sort of older brother to him. A figure to look up to.

"You don't know Colton?" he questioned.

I shook my head.

"Colton Whitman? The reason this banquet is even being held in the first place?" he took a step forward and I took a step back.

There was something incredibly off-putting about his energy.

Noticing my reluctance to be near him, the smirk on his lips grew larger. "A lack of knowledge prior to working the event...hm," he sucked his teeth, shaking his head. "That's very unprofessional for an NGSA worker. I see affirmative action means they're letting just anyone in nowadays, correct?"

A hit at my intelligence. I saw how he was going to play this.

"Oh! Colton. Right. Yeah, um, I think he goes to my school. I don't know him too well though," I put on a sickly sweet smile, codeswitching to my bubbly customer service voice. "However, the NSGA thanks you and your family for the sponsorship! If you need anything else, please let me know, and we are forever happy to help," I grinned.

I stayed professional, hoping that he would as well, but he did not follow.

"Do you think I'm dumb?"

"No sir. Is there an issue?" I quipped innocently.

He took another menacing step forward, hands crossed behind his back. "Do you mind explaining to me why Brooke calls the chef Arthur, while you, the random help, calls him Arturo? Only people in the Whitman family know to call him Arturo."

Fuck. He had me there.

"It's c-" I tried to respond, but he cut me off before i could.

"Lie again and I'll have you escorted out and scholarship rescinded," he seethed.

There was a silence. A pause. A silent battle of passive aggression, and behind his dangerous demeanor lied nothing but an anger he only wanted to take out on me.

"You're incredibly observant for someone on their 5th drink," I observed, setting my platter down. There was no use in pretending to stay professional when clearly he did not want to follow suit and do the same.

"Helps me think," he shrugged. "And as for you and my cousin," he snorted, "Well, anyone in a 50 mile radius could tell he's been undressing you in his head all night."

I felt a heat rising to my cheeks, deeply embarrassed.

". I've never seen my cousin look at a girl like that. Not even his eye candy," he nodded at Brooke with a pervy grin.

"She's 17," I crossed my arms.

Matthew, according to Colton, was like 26, fresh out of college. Total frat business major kind of guy. The type to mansplain stocks and crypto.

"Right. My apologies," he apologized sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Anyways, you know what you're doing with my cousin is wrong so just do us all a favor and put a stop to it before I really have to intervene, kay?" he was already walking away, readjusting his suit and readying to be a fake as bitch to the other rich people there.

Talk to the poor girl and be an asshole, but a whole different personality when addressing the other 'elites'. The other people like him.

Disgusting.

I recoiled. "What is that supposed to mean?"

He turned around, striding towards me slowly.

"Look, I know you're a smart girl, so I know what you're thinking. Hitch a ride with the anticipated chief executive of Whitman Inc., then boom you're set for life! It's a smart plan, however I just can't let you do that."

He was practically calling me a gold digger.

"Did you know that for the past 200 years, at every single banquet ceremony, the plus one chosen by the heir always ends up being the wife?"

"N-no."

"And that's tradition, sweetheart. It's not like I'm making up these rules on the spot," he chuckled.

There was a pause.

"It's a Whitman tradition I don't plan on seeing broken during my lifetime."

I couldn't think of anything to respond. I was so shocked that he would say anything so belittling that that I was at a loss for words.

"I'm not into Colton like that," I decided on.

"What did I tell you about lying?" he snapped. He took a second to regain his composure. "Look, his -- our lifestyle simply does not mix with yours. Please leave our family alone, and leave Colton out of whatever prostitution you're advertising to him. And if you fail to do so, trust me, you will regret it."

He stuck his hand out, a sick smile on his lips. "Do we have an agreement?"

Even though what he said was vague, I understood exactly what he meant to convey.

Stay away from Colton, and all is well--no secrets will be spilled. Refuse and...scholarship rescinded, Brooke knows, and Colton's reputation ruined.

Fuck.

I felt the tears prying at the back of my eyes. I hated this. I hated all of it. But I took his hand anyway, making a terminal deal with the devil.

A bell ringing suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts. One of the cooks .

"Oh yum. I think our filet mignon is finally ready," Matthew chirped, pointing towards the window counter. Pointing towards it as if telling me to 'go fetch'.

I looked back towards it and saw Anthony ringing the bell, a concerned look in his eyes as he took in Matthew and I.

It was like he was ringing the bell so I could have a reason to escape this hell of a conversation.

Quickly, I took that opening and sped walked to the counter and grabbed the food. When Anthony and I were more alone, he leaned in, over the counter.

"Hey, you alright?" he asked, seeing my tears. "Who was that guy?"

I sniffled, wiping up my tears "Doesn't matter. Just- whose order is this?"

"Whitman's. Table 1." he answered wearily.

FUUUCK. I could not go over there. Not like this.

"No offense, but you look like shit," Anthony smiled. I could tell he was just trying to lighten up the mood and I laughed lightly, but felt no difference.

There was a pause, when suddenly, Anthony began taking off his apron. "Hey, you know what? I'm basically on my break right now, let's go somewhere to talk, yeah?"

"Anthony, I can't. I'm on duty right now and Ms. Becraft will literally kill me," I countered.

Not only was Ms. Becraft watching, but Matthew was too. If I did anything wrong while on duty, he'd be the first to get my scholarship rescinded. I couldn't let that happen, so I couldn't let my guard down.

Anthony was already outside of the kitchen, and next to me, hand gently pulling my arm. "No one's gonna want their filet mignon covered in tears and snot, so... your best bet is with me."

I was already being whisked away down a hallway and into the mens bathroom.

I cursed when I realized where we were.

"Anthony! What the fuck!"

He was grinning from ear to ear. I couldn't help but smile too.

Then we both began laughing. Really, really hard for some reason. I think we might've been hallucinating or the delusion and deliriousness of working in this high-tension atmosphere was finally hitting us.

Suddenly, he held up two gourmet hamburgers tucked away in carry-out bags.

A part of me was ready to scorn him for stealing food, but another part wanted to dive right in.

I was starving, and didn't even realize.

I crossed my arms, amused, "You really expect me to eat in this shithole?"

He gasped, offended, "First off, this is my house. And secondly, bon Appetit, Madame."

"You're so disgusting, it's not even funny," I giggled, shoving him and grabbing a burger.

He grinned at me and I held back a laugh and, shook my head, scarfing down my burger.

I don't know why it took me so long to realize that Anthony wasn't all too bad of a person after all. After hanging out with him for a few weeks, I found that maybe not everyone in this town was a total asshole. Maybe I've been judging people without giving them a chance.

Anthony cleared his throat. "Oh shit I forgot to tell you! My band's hosting another gig i think next weekend, you coming up?"

I stood, beginning to clear my trash. "Umm.. Yeah. I think I'm coming. Who's gonna be there?"

I was asking who would be attending because the last time I went to one of his gigs, the two people I wanted to see least managed to show up.

"Eh. Just a few people. You know, some Georgetown kids. Snobs."

"That's it? Just Georgetown people?" I began washing my hands at the sink that was surprisingly the most fancy sink I had ever washed my hands in.

"Yeah, I think so. The band kinda wants it to stay small and the Georgetownies are like kids of politicians or some shit so we can't have a lot of people there," he explained.

"Preppy Georgetownies or artsy Georgetownies?" I asked, having to shout over the hand dryer as I was currently drying my hands.

"Preppy."

I looked at him and he looked at me and we both rolled our eyes and began to laugh.

I smiled. I felt giddy on the inside. "Thanks for the sandwich and um. Calming me down and everything," I sat down on the small bench next to him, our knees touching.

"Anytime."

It was quiet for a second except for the chatter of the guests outside these bathroom doors.

Why was it that he was always there? Always there whenever I needed somebody?

"I feel like a fucking asshole," I admitted.

He turned to me, confused.

"I just..I don't know, I feel like I've been using you as a shoulder to cry on for the past few weeks and I'm really sorry."

Since I was turning a new leaf, I figured I might as well start with an apology to one of the people who actually deserved one.

"You're one of the coolest fucking people I've met and super sweet and fun to hang around, and I just feel like I haven't showed you how much I appreciate you. And I really don't want you to forget, because you deserve everything amazing, Tony. Okay?" I smiled at him.

And then, I noticed the look in his eyes. For a second, there was vulnerability. Something I hadn't seen in them before-- usually Anthony was made out to just be a jokester or player, but this evening? He showed a side of himself I had never seen before.

His eyes flickered down to my lips when all of a sudden, his lips were on mine, eyes closed, and eyebrows furrowed as he kissed me passionately.

My eyes were open.

They shouldn't have been open. I was shocked, to say the least, and was not expecting this at all.

He was a great friend, but I didn't mean for him to take what I said like this.

The bathroom door swung open suddenly, and that made us break apart, to reveal Matthew.

He slowed when he entered and laid his eyes upon the scandalous scene before him. A smirk grew on his lips and I shot up quickly, fear filling my body.

"Matthew--"

"You really take your prostituting seriously, don't you?" he laughed, stepping right back out the door he came through.

I knew exactly who he was heading to with this newfound information on me and Anthony, and it made my stomach swarm and brain panic.

I looked back at Anthony and there was a shaky hope in his eyes. He looked at me, waiting for me to say something. For me to react.

But torn between Anthony and knowing the consequences of what would happen if Colton found out I had kissed him, I had to choose peace.

Which was unfortunately, running after Matthew to plead my case. To beg him not to tell Colton what he saw.

As I rushed out of the bathroom, I felt hot tears running down my face. "Matthew! Matthew!" I called out before we got to the main room.

He stopped and turned on his heel, an evil smile still on his face. "You know this kinda makes you a slut, right?"

I shook my head, unable to find words. "N-no I'm not I can explain--"

"I don't care. Just stay away from my cousin or he finds out, got it?" he clipped, turning back around and heading out towards the main dining hall.

Shit.