Well they told her not to do it. They told her not come to America and try to make a new life, but she rarely listened to anyone. She was headstrong and liked to do things her way regardless of the consequences. That's what her Da told her, anyway. She just saw it as seeing what she wanted and going for it.
Well, this time perhaps she should have listened. She'd arrived over a year ago in New York, lived there for most of it but barely got by. She was told of an opportunity in Chicago and went for it. Now, she was working in shop selling women's clothes. She swore she'd never do that and here she was. Well at least is was a little better paying than working as a waitress, which she did as well 3 evenings a week across the street from the shop. Monday, Wednesday and Friday were the evenings/nights she worked because Tuesday and Thursday she didn't start until 11am so she could sleep in a little, and well she had most Saturday's off. Thankfully today was Friday. She had been invited to a party after work so she'd brought a change of clothes and they would let her shower in the back before she left. She often thought it was odd that there was a shower until she saw that the cook often slept here. It was installed for him, the whole bathroom renovated for that purpose, so someone could shower, change in it without feeling cramped. It was a hell of an idea, one that everyone that worked there took advantage of at some point.
It was one of the better restaurants in the neighborhood, but she knew that all sorts of shady came here most nights. She became very good at not listening to conversations and the music was just loud enough that when you got 5 feet from the table you couldn't hear them anyway. There were some tables that were enclosed with glass for privacy. You could see in, but you couldn't hear anything even from right outside. She wished all tables were like that and she knew she would likely not be able to stop working here without something serious happening.
Tonight was busy. There was a group coming in and they requested her. They were in the back room tonight and she was at their beck and call.
This was not going to be fun. Even though her employer had a strict hands off policy with his waitresses, that didn't stop the bold ones from trying and there would be a few tonight. The other woman waiting on them would let the guys do whatever so tonight she was going to look like a prude, well she was fine with that. She wasn't 'easy' and she never would be. She learned in New York how to defend herself and made sure to continue to take lessons upon arriving here having been given the name of a place she could train and grow.
"Don't be ridiculous," he was saying to Robin, ignoring the sharp flare of fire that heated into her eyes.
"Don't push your luck," she shot back at him, ice forming on the glass beneath his fingertips.
"Fine, fine.." as he held up his hands in a warding manner. "But trust me, I've been doing this for a long time. No one will see me, let alone recognize me even if they did."
Robin tapped her fingers against the etched glass that held a wine so dark it appeared black. "I know, but I hate to lose a good employee."
"Good? I couldn't manage to complete my mission with you."
"It was your best day, you didn't kill me.... I let you live." she shrugged slightly as she raised the glass to her lips and took a small sip. "I like this new wine." she mused thoughtfully.
The table was situated on a riser section, center which allowed them to look over all the other diners. It was also above the vent that led from the 'special' room below, which gave them unimpeded view into the room. View, being their ears and listening in on the conversations.
"You really think he's trying to do it?" he asked Robin, a slight tipping of his glass to the wall that held the vent.
"Of course I do. He wouldn't be planning this dinner if he didn't." again that icy edge to her voice. Though she was carefully controlled, he could see how angry she really was.
