The days had come and gone since Amaryllis had last seen the French woman named Roxanne. Three days since the woman had mentioned that she would be in touch. It almost made her wonder if Roxanne had decided against it, though she didn't take the woman for breaking her word. Sighing softly and finishing getting ready for work, the young redhead pinned part of her hair back out of her face, having curled her hair slightly to allow it to hand down and out of the way tonight. It looked nice at least since she needed to have some kind of professionalism while working at the place. The forest green work uniform with the black apron brought out the blue in her eyes as she wore dark-colored flats for her shift, knowing if tonight was as busy as it had been the previous night, she was going to be quite busy. 

An hour into her shift had the young woman wishing it was as busy as it had been the night before. Most of her tables were enjoying conversation with themselves, and she checked up on them when she spotted a low drink or an empty plate, making sure to either refill the beverage if they wanted or to remove the empty place out of their way. She was currently standing at the hostess stand, doing some busy work of cleaning things up and writing down a few things pertaining to what tips she'd earned that night, how much she owed in rent and what kind of money she might have left over. It was quite close... but if she worked a few extra shifts, or even did some sneaking around, she might be able to get some kind of leftover for necessary items. She was keeping an ear out, glancing around her tables to check on them before taking the piece of paper and sticking it into her apron, hearing the door open, she had turned her back to grab a menu as she spoke. 

"Welcome to The Grove, how many for tonight?"

Gavin was wearing a new grey suit and scanning the crowd as he walked into The Grove. He grinned reflexively at the redhead working as a hostess.

"Welcome to The Grove, how many for tonight?"

"Just one. But I'll most likely be drinking for two for a little while, so I'd appreciate some extra attentiveness. I expect to be joined in an hour or so for a business meeting- perhaps you could seat me somewhere as discreet and quiet as possible?

The young woman grabbed a single menu as she turned to smile politely at the grey-haired man. Listening to his request before nodding and motioning for him to follow her.

"I have just the spot for you, Sir" She took him back into a somewhat secluded spot that was almost in a separate room, setting down the menus at the single table that was in the room. She took a step aside so that he would be able to sit down as she took out a pad of paper from her apron. "Is there anything I can get you to start off with sir?" She watched the man quietly as she knew that the rest of her tables were just about done being handled, seeing as it was coming to the end of her shift, which would give her leeway to provide this man with the attentiveness he had asked for.

Gavin settled into his chair and glanced around; this would do nicely. He looked up at the waitress with a friendly expression, but with some seriousness as well- a man conducting business.

"Whiskey, neat. Irish, if you have it. Country Cork is good, "Midleton" anywhere on the bottle is even better. And, once that's taken care of- what's your name?"

Writing down the man's drink, Amaryllis offered the man a polite smile. She noted the seriousness that was in his expression, finding herself curious about it as she slid the pad back into her apron along with the pen. 

"I'll be back with that shortly, Sir"

She turned to go get his drink, checking on the rest of her tables while she waited on the bartender, getting some of them checked out and cleaning up the dishes that were left over. She worked quickly so as to not make the man in the room wait too long before stopping by the bar, grabbing the Whiskey neat and taking it back into the room. 

"One Country Cork neat for you, Sir." She set the drink down in front of him. "To answer your earlier question, Sir. My name is Amaryllis." She wasn't fully sure as to why someone would be interested in her name, which was on a tag on the left side of her chest.

"Was there anything else I could help you with?"

"Amaryllis. A beautiful name, if you don't mind me saying so."

And now I know how to pronounce it... he flashed a grin up at her, and she returned the smile. A beautiful girl, too. She'd be perfect... if she had any sense on her.

"Amaryllis, how would you like to make an extra hundred bucks tonight."

He reached up and started loosening his shirt collar and messing up his hair slightly enough to be noticed.

"Nothing untoward, I assure you. I'd just need you to bring me another drink every time you see my glass empty. Let's consider this my... fourth glass. Show your concern for my well being. Essentially, I'm trying to appear as drunk as possible for this particular meeting, and I'd like my 'business partner' as distracted as possible from what our discussion is. Anything you can do to help me will be well rewarded. Does this sound like something you can handle for me, or should I ask someone else?"

Hearing the compliment to her name had the young girl smiling politely.

"Thank you, Sir." She couldn't hide the look that slid across her eyes as she watched the man, standing a little straighter when he asked how she would like to make an extra hundred bucks today. Something she very well knew she could use. "I would very much like to make some extra money, Sir."

She patiently listened to what he was describing for this extra bit of work. Slipping the pad from her apron, she made a few marks on the paper, simply a small tally system to keep track of how many 'drinks' he had consumed. The work sounded easy enough, distracting someone did not sound like it would be too hard. A few touches on the shoulder here, a bit of sweet talking there, a little sway to the hips... if he was even the kind of man to be interested.

"I shall do my best to help you out, Sir." She was curious as to what kind of Business partner this man was getting ready to meet, but that would come possibly in overhearing small bits of the conversation, she just didn't dare to ask the question out loud. 

Gavin smiled and raised his drink to toast her.

"Thank you, Ama. If I say anything offensive about or to you, please know it's part of the show. Sometimes it's beneficial to let someone think they're taking advantage of you when, in reality, you hold all the cards. No? Perhaps you could tell me a little about yourse- ah, nevermind. Showtime."

Gavin slammed back his drink, burping into his hand and making a sour face.

"Another, Ama. Less make this one better, huh? Peter!"

Gavin stood quickly, bumping his thighs against the table and smiling as he extended his hand. A man of about 40 wearing a business suit walked toward Gavin; he had close cropped hair and glasses and he seemed surprised to see Gavin in this state. After shaking Peter's hand with both of his, Gavin sat down abruptly.

"Peter... Peter... 'fraid I had to get started without you. Been a rough few days. Have a drink with me. Won't take no for an answer. You've got some catching up to do here!"

Gavin guffawed loudly. 

"Peter, I don't do business drinking with a sober man."

Peter glanced up to Amaryllis.

"Uh... I suppose I'll have an Old Fashioned."

Gavin chimed in.

"Make it a strong one!"

The young waitress listened to the man patiently as he spoke, going over what all she would have to do in order to provide the help he had requested to make the extra money.  Hearing another man approach she smiled sweetly and politely to them as she noticed the silver haired man slam back his drink. She pulled out her pad to write down another drink for him, before glancing towards the other man who mentioned he would have an old fashioned. Smiling softly at the man again she spoke softly, her blue eyes glancing towards the man named Peter.

"I'll be right back with your drink, Handsome." 

She slipped off to head to the bar, which was just out of earshot of the room the two gentlemen were in. She smiled sweetly to the bartender as she leaned on the counter to the bartender, knowing that if she glanced over her shoulder she could watch the two men, the second gentleman being able to see out of the room. 

She spoke softly to the bartender, giving him the order she needed, asking him to make the old fashioned stronger, but not noticeably so. It took a few moments for both drinks to be ready, which she then loaded up on her tray and walked back to the room, added a small sway to her hips. As she  placed each drink in front of the two gentleman she took away the previously empty glass.

"Your drinks, Gentleman. Is there anything else I can get you boys?" She smiled sweetly at the man named Peter, waiting for a moment to see if they would need anything else.

Gavin and Peter were talking in hushed voices, seemingly about something serious. Peter kept throwing looks at Amaryllis, and Gavin looked like he was half asleep in his chair. He seemed to start awake and act shocked when Peter said something, and he leaned back so far he almost tipped over his chair.

"Look, Pete. I need to take a leak. I'm just... I dunno, I need the money, but my wife..."

Gavin shook his head.

"She'll be pissed, Pete. Just let me think about it, huh?"

Peter nodded as Gavin headed off toward the bathroom, just before Amaryllis returned

"Is there anything else I can get you boys?" 

Peter smiled up at her, after blatantly checking her out.

"You could get quite a bit, I'm sure. For now, I'll take another couple drinks. And make my friend's a little stronger? Seems like he's had a few and he's in a... agreeable mood."

The businessman seemed to be brimming with excitement and confidence. 

"Mix him a strong one, please. If this deal finally closes I'll talk you out on the town tonight, huh? To celebrate?"

She noticed the older gentleman checked her out, simply patiently waiting as she listened to this mans words. From what she'd gathered, both Gentlemen were trying to get the other one drunk enough to screw up in whatever they were talking about. She noticed the way the man was brimming with excitement and confidence as she smiled sweetly at him. She placed her hand lightly on the man's shoulder as she thought about what he asked before speaking softly.

"While I cannot bring multiple drinks to the table at once, Handsome. I can keep them flowing for you." She offered him a sweet smile as she let her hand slide back to her side before leaning down a bit to whisper into his ear. 

"If you finish this, then I might think about it, Sir." She winked at him with a flirtatious smile before heading back to the bar, having heard her name called and assuming she had another table get sat. Her shift was just about technically over, but compared to the others that worked, she wouldn't pass her tables off to anyone. She was going to ignore what he'd asked of her, having already given her word to the first gentleman and she wasn't going to go back on the word she had given. She'd continue the two of them on the drinks they'd just received, with this new man, Peter, having the stronger of the two drinks... of course, it probably wouldn't taste like it was a stronger drink. Thank god for Bartender friends.

Gavin returned from the bathroom with a wide grin on his face, bumping into another table accidentally and apologizing to it. As he sat down, he spread his hands out.

"Fine. Fine. Let's do it, Peter. I'll sign the fucking papers."

"Wait... now?"

"Yea yea yea. What's the goddamn wait, right?"

"I... well... of course, Mr. Byrne."

Peter had a sheaf of legal contracts and a pen out in the blink of an eye,  and Gavin spent the next 15 minutes reading and signing things. Once he had the papers signed- one copy each for Gavin and himself, Peter quickly made and exit from The Grove. 

Sighing, Gavin smoothed his hair down and fixed his clothing so he looked put together again. As Ama approached, Gavin raised his glass to toast her.

"Even easier than I thought, honestly. Now... got a minute to talk about yourself?

He removed a hundred dollar bill from his wallet and lay it on the table.

"If not, it's still yours, of course. But there's a potential for more work, if you're interested."

While the men finished their talking, she had to take care of a table that had been sat in her section, being quick and efficient with getting them their food ordered with the kitchen and their drinks refilled. While she was putting away the drink tray, she noticed the man who had been called Peter leaving the restaurant. She'd headed back into the room in order to remove any empty drink when she noticed the silver-haired man was laying a hundred dollar bill on the table. 

She didn't reach for the money right away, instead, she settled the drink tray on another table before taking a seat, her hands resting in her lap as she thought for a moment, finally bringing her gaze up. "I could always use another job to help pay the bills. What exactly did you want to know, Sir?" She still didn't touch the hundred dollar bill, that she would take once this conversation was finished.

Gavin waved at the seat across from him.

"Have a seat. Tell me about yourself. What's your story, Ama?"

She listened to his question as she shifted in her seat a bit, watching the man in front of her for a few moments as she gathered her thoughts. Her hands moved to rest of the table, her hands still clasped together, a few more moments of silemce before she started to speak, her voice soft and her gave studying her hands. 

"I dont believe there is much of a story to tell, Sir. My father was killed in Detroit, he simply left me with a letter and some cash. The letter gave a few names of people he assumed i could find work with, two of the people on that list were no longer around, and the third name led me here... i dont really know who they are, so i found a job here." 

"Condolences for your loss, Ama. Something all too common in my line of work. Are you happy as a server? Is there something else you'd prefer to be doing? Any other skills a future employer should be aware of?"

Hearing the man gove his condolences, Amaryllis smiled politely before shaking her head slightly.

"Thank you, but its hard to be upset over a man i barely knew..."

She took her time thinking over the rest of his questions, finding herself curious as to what he meant by his kind of work was. Her bluish green eyes watching the man with curiosity.

"I doubt anyone is truly happy in a server job, Sir. Minimum pay for a few good customers and a good portion of people who treat you lower than dirt. Something better is always nice... though for specifics I dont really have an answer for that." She paused for a moment as she noticed the bartender taking food out to whom she assumed was her table that had been waiting, grateful for the kind man to not interrupt the conversation.

"I hope you dont mind my asking, Sir. What kind of line of work are you in that its all too common for people to die? I dont really know what kind of skills a future should be aware of... that would depend on the kind of job i suppose?"

"What kind of work are you in where it's all too common for people to die?"

"Well... gambling. Among other things."

If you have to ask...

"Can I ask how well you like it here? I was considering opening a place of my own, and I'm looking for..."

Gavin shrugged, unapologetic.

"Well, I'm looking for beautiful women who can get men to talk and keep an ear out for anything interesting they hear. I can pretty much guarantee you a substantial raise, with a regular chance of some bonus pay for information or things like today."

"Well...gambling. Among other things." 

Why did it seem like this was something she couldn't really believe as if there was more to it than what was stated. Not quite wanting to dig too much into it though, she seemingly allowed it to slip by, though her mind was curious. Being asked how well she liked it here, and that the silver-haired man in sitting across from her was considering opening a place of their own.

She noticed his pause before hearing him continue. It sounded like something different, constantly flirting or listening and gathering whatever information passed through the tables. It seemed harmless but gave a bit of excitement. It was basically the same thing she'd been doing at this place anyway... just better paying and a chance at some bonus pay. 

"When were you thinking of opening a business like that, Sir." She was much more curious and wanted to ask more questions, but paced herself. Besides, it would do her no good to get excited about something like this and if it didn't work out, it would just let her down slightly. So she calmed herself, simply wanting to just find out what she could about this supposed job.

Gavin shrugged.

"As soon as I have the people lined up. I'm currently auditioning bartenders and other waitresses- but I suspect you'd fit in nicely there. Are there any other goals you're chasing in your life, Ama, outside of making some extra money?"