Chapter 9: My knight in shining lipstick
Chapter 9
Monday rolled in we were all at the restaurant. I'm still on probation so I sit and do nothing.
"Lisa!"
"Yeah?"
"Madame Claudette wants you in her office now."
Making my way to her office, I say a silent prayer that I didn't do anything wrong or that she is lifting my probation. I got to the door and take a deep breath and knock.
"Come in."
I open the door and step in.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes. Have a seat."
I do as told.
"Miss Hart do you have any idea why I have called you here."
"No I don't." I state the obvious.
"Well, do you remember Mr Mathis. The one you insulted on your second day here."
"Not my proudest moment but I remember." I sigh
"He wants and apology from you."
"Wha–"
"In French, and I want to believe you are learning because you said you would."
"I–I well,"
"It's tonight, so you have time to practice what you have to say. I want an honest apology or you're out. If you do well I might consider taking off probation early." She says sternly.
"I'll do my best?"
"You better. You may leave."
I stand up dragging the chair back and exiting the office.
I seriously can't believe that old man wants an apology...hmmph
Well, I guess Eliza has some teaching to do.
"Hey what did she want?" I hear the voice of the girl I was looking for.
"Oh she says I have to apologize to the guy I insulted in French and only then would she consider lifting my probation."
"Wow that has to be tough considering you haven't learnt anything ever since." She points out.
"I know. I know." I sigh. "Guess you'll have to teach me?"
"No can do. I have a dish to prepare and I can't divide my attention."
"You can just use five minutes of your time to teach me."
"No. With you I need a whole day."
"Please Eliza, you have to help me!" I beg
"I'm sorry. But I need a lot of time to do that and I don't have that today. Find someone else, maybe one of the waiters. Sorry." She pats my shoulder and walks to the kitchen.
Well guess I'd have to fine someone else. But who?
Then it clicked.
I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner.
So with a smile on my face, I skip it to the locker room.
"Hi Leo." I greet sweetly.
"Lisa! Hey! How's it going?"
"Good good."
"Okay what do you want?"
How did he?
"What? What do you mean? Can't I just say hi to my friend anymore?"
"What do you want Lisa?" He pushes.
"Ok you caught me." I put my hand up in mock surrender. "I need to teach me how to apologize sincerely in French."
He laughs. "Who do you need to apologisye to?"
"The guy I insulted the first time I got here."
"What!? No way!!"
"Yes way. Claudette is making me to do this. Says if I do, then she'll consider lifting my probation." I finish with a shrug.
"I see."
"Yeah so would you help me?"
"Well, I don't have anything doing now so I'll help you. How bad could you be."
(Cue in spongeBob narrator voice)
5 hours later
"Gahh!!!" Leo pulls at his hair in frustration.
"God you are worse that the worst. We've been on one sentence for so long, I'm losing my mind."
"Come on Leo I'm not that bad." I whine
"Bad? Ha!" He scoffs. "You are down right terrible. You hear me T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E. I should have never helped in the first place. I'm done. Learn on your own."
"Don't be like that." He doesn't listen rather stands up and leaves.
I stare in disbelief. I'm not even surprised that I can't get it. English and spanish are enough for me but I really need this.
With no hope left, I bow my head and close my eyes,
"Lord please send me someone who has the endurance to teach me how to apologize in French. I need this, I promise to put in my all–"
"What are you doing?"
I stopped my prayer, cracking open one eye to look up to see a beautiful dark hair girl staring back at me like I've gone crazy.
I slowly put my hands down and scratch the back of my head.
"I'm definitely not crazy." Was the first thing I blurted out leading me to cringe.
"Right." She says still looking at me suspiciously.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that but I'm not crazy... really. I've just been having a bad day and–"
"Girl it fine." She waves it off. "Beside your not the only one who does that. I'm Rachael by the way." She cracks a smile which leads to smile back.
"Lisa, nice to meet you."
"So tell me, what has got you praying back here."
"Oh that. I need to apologize to an important personality in French and I know next to nothing in the language. I just spent five hours with a friend trying to help and just a minute ago, he barged out of here about to pull his hair out, saying I'm terrible." I explain.
"Wow!"
"Yeah wow."
She looks at me intently than says, "how about I teach you then."
"Did you not just hear my story?" I question.
"Of course I did but you can't be that bad."
"That what he said!" I say exasperated.
"Chill. He was probably not a good teacher. I promise to help, so let's start." She persists.
I sigh in defeat. "I'm holding you to your words."
"Yay! Let's start."
.
.
.
"Je musse humbleemet pour mon compertemon"
"No Lisa, it's Je m'excuse humblement pour mon comportement" (I humbly apologize for my behavior)
"Je humildemente pour mon comportamiento"
"Ugh!! I'm pretty sure you can't mix spanish with it." Rachael groans.
"Would they know?"
"They would."
"Forget it Rachael, you did your best."
"It's been three hours Lisa, what is going in your brain?"
"I don't know. It just doesn't want to pick it up. Sorry."
"It's fine. There's no need to apologize to me. Not everyone is good at grabbing a new language especially at your age."
"That made me feel slightly better." I smile.
"Now come on, I did promise to help and won't feel good if I don't come through."
"Okay. I'll try harder. My internship depends on this."
"That's the spirit!" She cheers on.
"Okay, here goes nothing." I breath in and out, closing my eyes "Je m'excuse humblement pour mon comportement. Je n'ai jamais eu l'intention d'être impoli avec vous et pour cela j'ai honte de moi-même. Je veux que tu saches que j'ai appris de mon erreur et j'espère que tu me pardonneras." (I humbly apologize for my behavior. It was never my intention to be rude to you and for that I am ashamed of myself. I want you to know that I have learnt for my mistake and hope you forgive me)
I crack my eyes open to see Rachael gaping like a fish
"Oh my GOD!!!! YOU ACTUALLY JUST SAID IT ALL WITHOUT FALTERING!!! I'M SO HAPPY!!"
"I can't believe it either. Thanks so much Rachael for your help, you're a good teacher. I might just keep you for future purposes." I joke
She rolls her eyes nudging me, "I feel the love."
"But now, the challenge is being able to remember this by evening when he comes."
"Don't stress girl. You'd do fine, I'll even wait to see it happens."
"Thanks regardless." I give her a hug. "Now let get out of here. I've be here for so long sitting, my legs are now numb. And plus, I haven't checked up on Eliza and the guys."
"Who are those?"
"The rest of the interns who came from American." She nods "Come, I'll introduce you."
"Hey guys."
"Lisa, where have you been all day?" Evan ask before taking a bite at his sandwich.
"Oh I was at the locker room trying to prep myself up for tonight."
"Wait what's happening tonight." It Jayden who asks
"She has to apologize for insulting that man." Eliza explain.
"Damn." Evan whistles and I hum in agreement.
"Anyways, Eliza, Evan and Jayden, this is Rachael," I point to her, "my night in shining lipstick." I say referring to her bright red lipstick which she pulls off very well.
"That's a good one." She say laughing with the other.
Rachael sobers up, "Nice to meet you all."
"She did a good job teaching me."
"What!?" My attention is drawn to bewildered looking Leo.
"How did she manage to get through to you when I spent five hours with you and I almost pulled all my hair out." He says shocked.
"You see," Rachael starts "I am a really good teacher and you're not."
"But she's unteachable!" He tries to reason.
"That was what you think. But with the right teacher, she is teachable. And that teacher is me." She say with pride.
"Wow. I don't know what to say."
"Then don't." She shuts him down. I bumped her shoulder and laugh.
"Don't talk to the poor guy like that, he really did try." I say.
"Yeah yeah. Bye Leo."
"Bye Rachael." He grumbles walking away.
"Wait you two know each other." Evan asked.
"Um yeah, I come here a lot." She says vaguely.
"Oh. So where's French blondie? I haven't seen her all day."
"Yeah, Claudette assigned her to prepare the 'special dish'–" she makes air quotes on special dish. "–tonight. Apparently she's been practicing."
"I swear Claudette eats out of the palms of that girl. I won't be surprised if she was the one that suggested to Claudette that you apologize."
"It doesn't matter anyway." I wave it off.
We continued talking and filled Rachael in on who Audrey is and all she has done while I was here.
"Oooh if I get my hands on that girl, I'll strangle some sense into her."
Her statement makes me laugh.
"Calm your horses. I can take care of her."
"But two is better than one." She reasons.
"You don't even work here."
"Doesn't matter. I'll come visit you."
The others left to get work done. The restaurant isn't as busy in the day as it is at night. Rachael kept me company. Usually, I'll be so bored but not today.
"Miss Hart." I look up to see Claudette's eyes on me.
"Madame."
"The time has come." I nod.
"Rachael. I thought you left." Claudette looks over to Rachael.
"Hey Mom and no. I found good company."
Wait, Mom!
I turn back to face Rachael with wide eyes.
"Mmm. We'll talk about that later. Miss Hart let's go."
"Ok." I look at Rachael one more time and she mouths the words 'we'll talk later.' to which I nod.
On the way to Claudette's office, I can't stop fidgeting. The thought of me messing it up again and sent out of here is killing me. I really don't want to leave.
"Miss Hart."
My dreams would come to an end.
"Miss Hart!" I am startled out of my thoughts.
"Mmmh?"
"Would you please leave your head and step into my office."
"Sorry."
"Mr Mathis. She is here as you've requested."
"Ahh finally, on peut enfin finir ça." (we can get this over with)
"Oui. Miss Hart," she gestures for me to proceed.
"Um, well–go-od evening Mr Mathis. You look so good this evening. New hat? It must be the hat. You don't look a day over twenty-"
"MISS HART!! Get to the point" she says as she grits her teeth.
"Um yeah sorry...what I'm trying to say is that I'm extremely sorry for what happened, what I said to you-"
"Miss Hart." She pinches the bridge of her nose. "This was not the deal."
"Qu'a-t-elle dit?" (What did she say?)
"Monsieur Mathis, veuillez vous calmer. Je vais prendre soin de ce." (Mr Mathis please calm down. I will take care of this) She says giving me a pointed look.
"Here goes nothing." I mumble closing my eyes. "Monsieur mathis, je m'excuse humblement pour mon comportement. Je n'ai jamais eu l'intention d'être impoli avec vous et pour cela j'ai honte de moi-même. Je veux que tu saches que j'ai appris de mon erreur et j'espère que tu me pardonneras." (Mr mathis, I humbly apologize for my behavior. It was never my intention to be rude to you and for that I am ashamed of myself. I want you to know that I have learnt from my mistake and hope you forgive me)
My eyes snap open when I hear laughter. Not what I was expecting to hear. "It's quite alright dear." He laughs again.
I am dumbfounded. "You can speak and understand." I state bewildered.
"Oh yes I can."
"You can understand English and you made me go through all the trouble. You know my internship was on the line."
"Oh don't worry, Claudette would never kick you out." He says looking at Claudette, who looks as shock as I am.
"I'm sorry though, for what I said. I had no idea what I was saying." I apologize more.
"I figured that much. You know, you remind me of my daughter. You have similar personalities."
I grin. "She must be the best."
"Oh she is. Maybe you might get to meet her someday."
"I'd love too."
"I'm sorry if I caused you panic."
"Water under the bridge."
He laughs more. "Here's my card. Feel free to call me anytime." I collect the card from his hand in surprise. "Claudette, I must take my leave. My wife won't be happy if I'm late again." He smiles and it doesn't take a genius to know that he's in love with his wife.
Aww.
"It was nice to meet you miss Hart."
"Lisa. It was nice to meet you too."
"And it's definitely the hat." He says tipping it. "I'll be seeing you."
And he left. I stare at the card in my hands that I look up to Claudette.
"So..."
"You are off probation and can start tomorrow. But remember I've got my eye on you."
I jump up and hug her, "thanks Claudie."
"Ahem."
I release her and mutter a quick apology. "And don't call me Claudie. Also do me a favour and stay away from my daughter."
"Why?" I ask.
"I don't particularly like you and you'll be a bad influence on her."
"Right." I say with an eye roll.
"Leave my office."
"Bye Claudie." And I shut the door, laughing quietly to myself.
"How did it go?"
"Ahhhhhhh!!" I shriek.
"Oh my God sorry."
"Rachael! You startled me." I say placing a hand in my chest.
"Sorry. So how was it?" She asks again
I tell her everything that happened in there and she can't stop laughing.
"So Claudette is your Mom huh?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you tell me."
"Because it wasn't important."
"She did say I should stay away from you."
She snorts, "that does nothing. Except you don't want to hang with me."
"No I do."
"Then it's settled. The worst she could do is yell at me."
"I guess."
"Hey Rachael."
"Nathan!!" She jumps to her feet and embrace him.
"Someone's happy to see me."
"Of course. It's been long. Meet my new friend Lisa, you probably already know her. She's amazing."
"I know. Hey Lisa."
What did he mean he knows? He knows me or knows that I'm amazing?
Not to toot my own horn but...I am amazing hehe.
"Hi."
"Lisa we're leaving." Eliza shouts from the door.
"Well I guess that's my cue. It was nice meeting you Rachael. I hope I'll see you again. And it would interest you to know that I'm off probation."
"Oh my God really!? I'm glad and here's my number. Don't be a stranger."
"Sure see you." I bid her goodbye.
"I'll guess I'll see you in the kitchen tomorrow." Nathan smiles.
"Yeah. Good night."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone