ADAM

It's not that I don't trust Sam's decisions, but I certainly would have liked to interview Claire before offering her the job. Her call surprised me as it happened right when I was reviewing the candidate resumes I received from the temp agency. Our phone conversation was very pleasant and her personality left me intrigued. She isn't rude but had an appealing edge that I believe is necessary to deal with the demands of a busy kitchen like ours. Her qualifications were more than enough to seal the deal, and I invited her to come in early so that we can get properly acquainted.

The knock on the front door of the club distracts me from the staff planning and through the glass, I see young red headed girl standing outside. She's probably looking for the youth center that shares our address, but that is located in the south part of the road.

"Hi! How can I help you?" I say after opening the door.

"I'm looking for Adam Sommer."

"I'm Adam. Oh, is your mom looking for a parking spot? We have a big parking lot behind the building."

"That is handy to know. I'm Claire Hayes, your new chef."

Looking at her up close, I realize she's older than I perceived her to be at first. She gives me an odd look and my brain catches up with what I'm supposed to do.

"My apologies. Please come in," I move away from the door and curse myself for being so unprofessional.

Claire walks inside and smiles as she looks around. During day time, the club has a modern and refined look, that's still welcoming. Soon it will be time to decorate for Halloween and the club will be turned into a place fit for all supernatural beings to party.

"I have heard good things about this place, but it is more beautiful than I imagined."

"Thanks. We love this club and have tried our best."

"It really shows. Since my mother isn't looking for a parking spot, does it mean that I can park in the back?"

Claire tries to hide a smile and I feel the heat creeping up my neck. "I'm really sorry for my assumptions. Yes, all employees can park on the back lot."

"I'm teasing you. My looks throw people off and I get remarks like that often. No worries. You asked me for some documents and I have them here for you," she hands me an envelope.

"Thank you. Shall we look through them?"

Claire and I review the documents and it surprises me to find copies of newspaper articles about cooking competitions she has won. I believe that not only she will be a great fit with the kitchen staff, but that we have won the lottery by hiring her.

"Welcome to Moonlight House, Claire. I would like next to show you around and tell you a bit more about us. We are five equal partners in business of which Sam and I are two of them. Our opening times are from noon to one in the morning, but the kitchen starts serving meals at eleven in the morning and closes at nine in the evening. Sam is usually here a lot earlier to do some back-office work. During restaurant hours, we accept reservations and walk-ins, and people seem content to wait for a table with a drink at the bar if we are full. The galleries upstairs sit around 80 diners, but we have also used the lounges in the past to accommodate private parties. The bathrooms are to the right of the entrance, and here we have the podium where our house band plays three sets of popular party rock songs every evening. The kitchen is behind the bar, but that's Sam's territory so I better leave that to him."

"Are you out of breath?" Claire asks me when my last words are accompanied by a little whistle coming from my lungs.

"Just a bit of asthma. I should be okay after taking my medicine."

"You should have that checked soon. I love what you have done with the walls. The lamps look like stars."

"All thanks to my sister Erin, she's also one of our business partners and the one with an eye for pretty details. Soon we will start decorating for Halloween. Together with New Year's Eve, it is a big event for the club and the one that brings the most revenue. I can't believe October is almost here. This year has gone by really fast and it seems we have tons to do and very little time to do it."

"Have you always been like this?" Claire frowns and I don't know if she's upset at me or concerned.

"Like what?"

"On the run. Do you ever do anything to relax?"

"Relaxation is a luxury around here. We all play a part, but the responsibility to manage the club falls on my shoulders."

"You'll be dead if you don't slow down. It will be a shame with how young you are. Let me make you some tea. There isn't anything better to help you take a moment for yourself."

"I don't drink tea. Only coffee..."

Claire gives me a warning look that reminds me so much of Mom. "Now you do. Come, sit at the bar and let me indulge you for a change. You seem to always be on the go for everyone else."

My feet feel heavy as I reluctantly walk towards the bar. Claire moves behind it and opens cabinets and drawers searching for whatever she needs. She lifts her gaze and makes an impatient hand gesture, so I obey and sit on a stool. She moves diligently as she prepares two tea cups and her confidence sparks something in me. To finish the drinks, she adds a squirt of honey from a bottle and a slice of lemon.

"Chamomile tea. Great for relaxing and it tastes really nice."

I take a sip and it is indeed tasty. "This is actually good. Thank you. Have you always been like this?" I look up from my cup and she smiles at me.

"Pushy? Direct? Annoying?"

I laugh loudly and enjoy not only the drink, the morning pause, but also the conversation of great company.

"Are you drinking tea?" Erin asks as she stands next to me. "Wait! You are taking a break."

"Claire made me. She's our new chef. Claire, my sister Erin."

"A pleasure to meet you. You have achieved something that none of us have so far, to make him stop for a moment. Welcome to Moonlight House. I heard good things about you from Sam and about the scamming dick."

Before I can ask about the scam, Rory walks in with Imogen. "Good morning, Moonlight people."

Erin and I look at each other. We've noticed how the dynamic between these two has changed.

"Claire, let me introduce you to Rory and Imogen. Rory is one of the business partners, leads the bartending staff and is also our brother. Imogen usually works the restaurant shift of the bar."

"Just because I'm the only one with a house and a pickup truck doesn't mean I'm the only one who has to carry this stuff. I'm thankful that Sam saw me struggling and grabbed some boxes, but there are more left."

"And this is Noah, the final business partner, band leader and the one who makes sure stuff around here doesn't break into pieces. Claire will be Sam's new chef."

"Welcome. Happy to have you here," he places the boxes on the floor and shakes hands with her. "Have we picked a theme for this year's event?" He asks Erin. "I brought everything I had in my house storage and I believe there are more boxes in the basement."

"It's all in here," Erin taps her temple. I wish she would write things down instead of keeping us guessing about her plans. "All in due time."

"Not our business," Sam says to Claire while shaking his head. "Let's get to work. Right this way."

Sam and Claire head to the kitchen while Erin and I walk to Noah's truck to get more boxes filled with decorations.

"What do you think of Claire?" Erin asks.

"Strong, confident woman. I think she will fit well and will give Sam the help he needs."

"She made you drink tea..."

"She gave me mom's stare," I say and Erin laughs hard.

"I like her already. Anyone who takes care of you is good in my books."

"She did take care of me. Even if it was for a short moment."

"Maybe you should let others take care of you too. Why don't I take charge of the staff schedule? I'm sure you have a hundred other things to do and I like to keep myself engaged."

Before I can protest and say that I can make it faster than her, we find Rory almost kissing Imogen.

"What's going on in here?" I ask as they pretend to do something else, but it's too late since we saw them.

"I... We... Adam... It's complicated," Rory says.

"Are you guys together?"

"Erin..." I warn her.

"Rory and I have had feelings for each other for some time," Imogen says. "We only admitted it to each other recently. Duncan and I were done months ago. My regret is not being able to say it to his face."

"Adam, you know I've liked her since the day she started working with us. I'm not trying to take advantage of her current situation."

I know Rory very well, and loving a woman so deeply without being able to do anything about it is a big sacrifice. He's brave for admitting something like this to Erin and me. Especially me because he knows I'm a judgmental asshole. Only I would prefer the situation with Duncan to be solved first so that I don't have to be constantly on the edge, fearing he will appear at the club and hurt someone.

"Just keep your hands to yourselves around here," I try to lighten the mood. "It's rude to people going through dry spells like Erin and me."

"Talk for yourself," Erin laughs.

"I will kill Matt! This is not what we agreed to."

"Chill the fuck off. He was a proper gentleman and I was the one who kissed him."

Rory and Imogen stifle a laugh and I take a deep breath. I'm going to need more than one cup of tea.