A Ghost Encounter: My Time with Simon "Ghost" Riley

Part Eighty: The End of Makarov - Part One

Before he can reach his work phone in his pocket, I plunge for him, knocking him unconscious. Quickly, I hide his body in a closet within the room. I go back to the drawer and find a name tag: Brittany.

"I got a new tag."

"Poor bloke didn't stand a chance," Ghost chuckles raspy over the comms.

"Shut it," I huff. "I'm going to make my way to the kitchen."

"Copy that, Sergeant. Good work," Captain Price says over the comms.

"Does this mean you're not mad at me anymore, Captain?" I tease him.

"Don't push your luck, Breanna," Price says sternly but I can hear the playfulness in his tone that he's trying to subdue.

It feels like a little bit of weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

And with that, I enter the kitchen of the hotel and approach what looks to be the head chef.

"Good evening, Chef. I will be the waitress serving our guests on the roof," I tell him.

The chef stops what he's doing and looks me up and down, assessing. "I have not seen you before. You are new?" He raises his brow skeptically, his French accent strong.

"Yes. My name is Brittany." I nod my head softly.

"The boss is having a new hire serve our special guests?" he scoffs, crossing his arms.

Fuck, I didn't think this through.

"I come highly recommended. I may be new at this hotel, but I've worked in several, and trust me more elite, hotels than this one." I say arrogantly, crossing my arms as well, and hoping my demeanor is convincing enough.

The chef quietly scoffs through his smirk. "Do not disappoint or this will be the last hotel you work in."

I'll take a not-so-subtle threat over being rejected any day.

"I never do." I wink, grab a couple of menus, and then make my way out of the kitchen.

Once I exit the room I'm able to breathe.

I check my watch which reads 6:58 PM.

"Going up to the roof now," I say to the rest of the team over the comms.

"Pe careful, Schatz," König responds sweetly.

I go to respond but Ghost's voice cuts through the frequency. "She'll be fine."

"Ve don't know zat. I chust vant her to pe zafe." König surprisingly stands up to Ghost.

"Thank you, König. Ghost is right. I'll be alright," I interject before Ghost gets aggressive.

I swear I can hear Ghost roll his eyes.

"First Johnny, now the bloody Austrian," Ghost huffs, scoffing.

The comms go painfully silent at the mention of Johnny's name.

"I'll be careful." I finally break the silence. "I'll report once I take their orders."

"Copy that," Laswell responds.

I continue up the staircase to the roof. Once I reach the top, I can see the dining table directly next to Makarov's helicopter on the pad. At the dining table, I see our guests of honor: Makarov and Victor.

Per usual, the feeling of anxiety rises in me, but when I see their heads turn to face me, the anxiety drifts away and is replaced with fiery determination.

It's time to put all doubt and fear behind me. I can and will succeed.

"Good evening, gentlemen." I smile at the pair. "My name is Brittany and I will be your server tonight." I gently hand them their menus. "May I start you both off with something to drink? Perhaps some Merlot? Maybe I can entice you with Pinot Noir?" I wink at Makarov.

With my comm line still open, I can hear Price say through a chuckle, "Maybe she should have been a waitress instead."

Glad to hear he's now in good spirits...

Jackass.

"Ve'll take bottle of your finest Merlot. How does zat sound, my friend?" Victor's heavy Russian accent rips through the air as he smiles at Makarov.

"Make zat tvo bottles." Makarov lifts two fingers and the pair burst into obnoxious laughter.

It's gonna be a long night...