Tuesday started out just like any other day. I arrived a little before 8 (we open our doors during the week at 9 am) and one of the Mexicans was already there. Apparently, someone made reservations for a lunch party of 25 people and something they had pre-ordered for the occasion takes a few hours of preparation. This item, Slow Cooked Norwegian Salmon, really is slow cooked.

Within the next 30 minutes, the other kitchen staff and one of the bus boys arrived to set up the chairs and make sure the place was ready. The salad bar needed to be made, as was the coffee, rice and lace settings. Most everything else is done the night before, right after closing.

By 9 am, the entire morning staff had clocked in with two exceptions - Diane and THE BOSS. It wasn't that uncommon for THE BOSS to arrive late, although he generally arrived at the same time I did, so he could go over the books from the night before and set the two registers. As for Diane, it seemed she was becoming chronically late. The big problem with this was had it been anyone else, THE BOSS would have not stood for it. But lately, Diane seemed to be getting away with it.

About an hour later, Diane showed up and said not a word of apology. Although we only had 3 tables occupied and the other two waitresses were more than capable to handling things (plus, the more tables they work, the better their tips at the end of the day). But I could see that in Lori's face a growing resentment. This was strange because Lori, a 21-year-old who only started about 4 weeks prior, seemed to be the sweetest person in the world. She loved working at the diner and had a smile for everyone. The customers loved her not only because of her demeanor, but because she was quite pretty and petite. Personally, I just thing she is a doll.

The other waitress working that day was Michelle, who was the daughter of one of THE BOSS's best friend. Short, plump and rather unattractive, Michelle was nonetheless a nice, unassuming 26 year old. She had been engaged when she was 21 to a guy who ended up sleeping with her maid of honor about 2 weeks before the wedding. The depression that followed never really went away, and she gained a tremendous amount of weight. It took serious therapy just for her to be able to take a job again. But she swore off ever finding love again and really keeps mostly to herself.

Also working the floor was Danny, a 19-year-old college drop-out who hasn't found his place in the world just yet. His father died when he was 6 and his mom has raised him, as well as his four siblings as best she could. THE BOSS wasn't going to hire him at first, but his mom gave such a sob story, he felt he had no choice. But as luck would have it, the kid is a good worker.

About 2 hours later, THE BOSS showed up looking very worn. I couldn't tell if he hadn't slept, was feeling sick or was just very stressed. Immediately, he called Diane over to bring him a cup of coffee. When she did, he asked her to join him and motioned to Danny to cover her tables. After about 15 minutes of what appeared to be a very hushed conversation, THE BOSS announced that he was going home to rest. I just took it to mean he wasn't feeling very well.

At around 2:15, THE BOSS called and asked for Diane. At that moment, she was waiting a table. I do believe it was only the third table she deemed worthy all day. Regardless, he told me to have Diane call him immediately - that it was very important. A few minutes later, she waltzed into the kitchen, made some wise-ass crack about the "whale" at table 11 and when I gave her the message, she called him back. A couple of moments later, she grabbed her purse and ran out the door.

An hour and a half later, she returned looking quite disheveled and had a huge grin on her face. Lori asked her what was up and all she said was "now, I got him!" But she wouldn't elaborate. A few minutes later, THE BOSS arrived back at the diner and also looked "different." Looking back - now that I know what happened - I can say he looked very guilty. But at the time, I didn't know what to think. I was still under the impression that he was sick. But now that it was after 3, my shift was over. I went to clock out and I overheard Diane telling Lori that THE BOSS's wife "would not be very happy if she found out" and "I plan to use this to my advantage."

I went home not knowing what to make of this until I got a phone call from Eric, another counter-person who came in after I clocked out. Eric is a 34-year-old, married man, with 2 kids and a wife who is a rather popular attorney in town. He used to be a day-trader until the market crashed after 9/11 and was a house-husband until his youngest started back to school. In the summer however, he works a couple of nights each week, just to keep himself sane.

Eric had a question - what was wrong with THE BOSS? I asked him what he meant and he said that THE BOSS was sitting alone in one of the booths and was just sitting there. I mentioned to him that I thought he wasn't feeling so well and so he walked over to him and asked him what was up. Well, I guess because the guilt got to him, THE BOSS spilled the beans and said he asked Diane to bring him some Tylenol because he had a headache and his wife did not allow him to keep any medicines in the house. But THE BOSS admitted that he really asked her over so he could flirt with her, which was one of his favorite things to do. His wife was having her hair done and having lunch with her friends and so he knew she would be gone all afternoon.

Well, he wasn't sure how it happened, but before he could stop himself, they were locked in an embrace and she was kissing him. Keeping in mind that he is 64 years old, having a cute 24 year old girl kiss you is just about a dream come true - unless you are nauseated by her, like I am about Diane. Anyway, according to THE BOSS, they ended up having sex. But when it was over, instead of feeling great, he began to feel guilty and upset. Diane, on the other hand was quite calm and seemed very satisfied - not sexually, but it seemed she was much more smug that usual.

Well, as it turned out, THE BOSS asked Diane to forgive him and never mention it to anyone. But then, instead of comforting him, she turned on him and said "are you nuts? What's it worth to you? You think you can just rape me and expect to get away with it???" At this point, THE BOSS began to cry and plead with her to "not do this." But Diane walked away and said "see you at the store!"

When Eric told me this, I just about dropped the phone. How dare she? I mean, I have had many disagreements with THE BOSS, and I know he has always had a wandering eye. Plus, he was playing with fire here. But I know the man and rape is not in his agenda. Then I remembered what Diane said to Lori when we clocked out and I began to fume. I immediately ran back to the diner where I saw Eric still sitting with him. Diane was not there, thank goodness. We sat and talked about it and I absolutely believe that he was not the one who did the seducing. Diane knew exactly what she was doing and why.

But now it was time to learn the consequences of his actions...