“Stop, Sof!” Alex obviously had a good hold on Sofia because she didn’t budge from his side.

Oscar managed to walk Melissa out, but not before she made quite a scene, flinging her arms and shouting obscenities at his attempts to take her by the arm. Grace walked back into the kitchen still reeling from the sting of Melissa’s words. Her entire life she’d been judged by her looks and accent. This was not the first time she’d been referred to as a wetback. Having it spat at her in front of Alex and Sofia and the rest of the staff was humiliating.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Alex hurried into the kitchen behind her.

She nodded unable to even look at him. One of the other kitchen helpers touched her arm. “No te aguites por esa pendeja.”

Grace put her earrings back on but didn’t respond. She was surprised she didn’t feel the emotion that lately had overwhelmed her. Instead, she felt the same anger that had consumed her for so many years when she was younger. Anger of having been forced to come to a country where she always thought people like Melissa would never take her seriously. People who assumed an accent meant she was stupid or less then them somehow.

She watched as another tray of the Mexican shrimp fried rice was prepped to go out into the dining room.

“Grace, you can be sure I’m telling Sal I don’t wanna see that bitch in here ever again,” Sofia said, standing behind Alex.

Grace turned to both Alex and Sofia who were staring at her looking very concerned. She’d put it out there so they knew. Hell, anyone within hearing distance knew now and Sal said he didn’t care if anyone found out. She didn’t either. Joey would be proud. “I’ll be sure to tell him, too.”

~*~

Sal got the call just as he drove up to the restaurant. He had a few voicemails but hadn’t bothered to listen to them, assuming they were from Melissa since he had so many missed calls from her number. “What?” He brought the car to a grinding stop.

“She made a f**king scene and she insulted Gracie.” Alex was his usual furious self.

He felt his own rage begin to go off. “How’s Grace? Is she still here?”

“Yeah, she’s still here. She actually handled it pretty well. I had to hold her back though. Dude, I hope you’re done with that chick. If she ever comes back in here and Sofia is here it’s gonna get ugly. She was ready to go at her today.”

Alex filled him in on the rest of the morning as Sal sat in his car, resting his forehead against his hand. His other line had been beeping the whole time. As soon as he hung up with Alex he answered the other line.

“You can’t be serious with that girl, Sal. Are you? What does she work for free or for food? I mean—”

“I’m gonna pay you for those f**king tickets and then you’re going to disappear, you hear me? I’ll give the money to Jason. I don’t want you anywhere near the restaurant or my place.”

She laughed. “I just wanted to talk to you. Her ghetto ass is the one that came at me. But what do you expect from someone who probably just came over the border. It’s laughable. What can you possible see—”

“She has the one thing you’ve never had, Melissa. My respect.”

He hung up on her and got out of his car. Rushing into the restaurant, he scanned it, looking for Grace. He didn’t care who knew now. All he wanted was to make sure she wasn’t upset. He hurried into the kitchen, his heart fluttering when she came into view. She was smiling, talking to one of the other cooks. As much as it irritated to him to see how chummy the cooks had gotten with her so quickly, he was glad she didn’t look upset. He walked to her with only one thing in mind. She looked up when she heard one of the other cooks greet him.

“I’m so sorry about what happened,” he said as soon as he reached her. Unable to hold back he pulled her to him.

Surprisingly she didn’t protest. “It’s not your fault.” She caressed his face and smiled. “I’m fine.”

“You sure?”

She nodded, smiling even bigger, making it impossible for him not to kiss her right there in front of everybody. Someone whistled while a few others sniggered and made jabs. He pulled his lips away from her, giving them all a warning look and they all pretended to go back to being engrossed in their work.

“The rice is a hit,” she said.

“I heard. I knew it would be.” He pulled her by the hand through the kitchen door and into the back room. Alex and Sofia were in there, looking at something on the computer. Alex turned when he heard them walk in and smiled when he saw Grace’s hand firmly in Sal’s. “I just finished the schedule for next week. You said you’ll be at Angel’s on Mondays and Tuesdays right?”

“Yeah. Most of the mornings anyway. Can you guys give us a minute?”

Both Alex and Sofia looked at him knowingly but made their way toward the door without saying a word.

“You okay, Grace?” Alex asked, as he walked by her.

“Never been better.”

Sal squeezed her hand. He didn’t even wait until they were completely out the door before sitting on the edge of the desk and pulled her to him. He spread his legs placing her in between them, cupping her face. “Listen to me. I promise you. That’ll never happen again.”

“You said you never had feelings for her right?”

“Never.”

She leaned in and kissed him. “I was a little surprised when I heard her say you told her you were seeing someone, but I was happy to hear it.”