Party Like a Beauregard
Mariana
It’s my twenty-fifth birthday. Originally I was supposed to go out but plans changed and I’m working at a party instead. Events like this don’t happen every weekend. The money is too good to pass up so even if I want to use my birthday as an excuse, I can’t turn it down.
My mom and I could always use the extra money and she’s working tonight too, so it’s not like there are a ton of people waiting to celebrate with me anyway. The one and only person that I was planning to go out with is working the party too.
To keep it interesting I thought about pretending that this was like a secret birthday party for me. Maybe only I know it’s really in my honor, I could manage to steal some snacks and drinks and do the whole thing up.
That’s clearly a dream though, this party tonight is one of those parties they put in movies. Everyone who’s anyone will be there, and if I play my cards right I’ll be raking in the tips.
If I’m honest I’m not even sure what this party is for, but it didn’t take long for all of the waiters at work to learn the family name, Beauregard. Their parties are like gold, every rich person within the tristate area would be there with deep pockets ready to tip.
Thankfully I don’t have to worry too much over what to wear. My cater waiter uniform isn’t the best but it’s not horrible, at least my pleated black skirt feels cute. So after I tamed my black spiral curls into place I grabbed my white cater waiterjacket and went outside to my car.
The drive to the Beauregard Estate takes a bit but I’ve done the math, parties in the hills are well worth the gas money it takes to get there. I wish I could have ridden in with my best friend, Kareem, but he was going straight from his other gig.
The worst part about my job is arriving. Even if the guests aren’t there yet, there are always people around watching you. I’ve never worked a Beauregard party at their home, only in public event spaces.
Honestly working in people’s houses is the worst and the most uncomfortable type of party. I swear, there is something about a white blazer that makes people not trust you. It’s like they think if they turn around for a second you’ll pocket the silverware.
I guess I was thinking about stealing snacks but if you saw the amount of food that gets thrown out after these events, it would blow your mind.
With all of this swirling around in my head my anxiety continued to rise until I reached the gate of the Beauregard Estate. Two private security company vans were parked next to the open gate but no one stopped me so I followed the drive all the way in.
Thankfully I spotted Kareem’s car in the staff parking lot so I parked as close to him as possible and then worked up the courage to walk inside.
The house is immense, I don’t like working house parties because the space is so small and intimate but I can’t imagine that being an issue here. At the front door, my boss signed me in and told me to find an empty station. I knew right where I was headed, it’s probably where I’d find Kareem too, the bar.
As soon as the bar comes into view I see Kareem smiling at me from behind it, “Happy Birthday, Cutie! I’m so glad you were able to snag a spot tonight, I would have hated not seeing you for your birthday,” he gives me a big hug, lifting me off my feet.
“Only because of you helping me out and telling me about this event. Maybe I’ll get big tips for my birthday,” I laugh.
“What are best friends for? Besides if you weren’t here that means I would be stuck with one of the other girls, and you know how that works out for me,” he smiles like he’s so innocent.
It’s true, every girl that works with us, besides me, wants Kareem. Maybe I’m blind to his suaveness since we’ve essentially grown up together. He’s a great guy but most people don’t know him like I do, I doubt he shows his true self when he’s working for tips. These girls wouldn’t care anyway, they already paw at him like cats at a scratching post. He pretends he doesn’t like it but I’m sure some small part of him enjoys the attention.
That doesn’t mean I’m not going to tease him, “You know, I feel so loved in this friendship.”
“The way I look at it Mari, it’s a win-win. I get to hang out with a beautiful girl all night and she won’t get jealous if I flirt with the party guests,” he winks.
Kareem has a way with the older single ladies so I know he’ll be on job tonight.
“Calling me beautiful doesn’t make me feel any less used,” I giggle as I shove his shoulder, “Did you figure out what we’re celebrating?”
“It’s an engagement but it could literally be any one of them…” he rolls his eyes as if to show me how many options there are.
“What do you mean?”
“There are nine Beauregard kids,” he explains.
That’s a huge family, “Holy crap. How do you know all of this?”
“Research,” he winks, “You’re lucky you have me.”
“Hey, at least I knew enough to request the last name,” I chuff.
“You’re welcome,” he winks, probably because he taught me that too, “Come on, let’s set up.”
As the party gets into full swing there are tons of people all over the castle-like foyer of the Beauregard estate. There is a red carpet runner going up the wide staircase and a grand piano is the source of music. It’s classy, too classy, places like this always make me feel out of my depth. At least I don’t really have to talk to anyone, serving drinks is something I can handle.
Kareem and I take trays of cocktails around every once in a while, but the bar is really busy too. I’m spending most of my time behind it filling glasses of fancy Scotch.
Malcolm
Another one of my mom’s events. I know she does it partially to keep up appearances for the family and the board, but I also think she likes the idea of attending balls and things. She wishes we still lived in some kind of aristocratic society with cotillions and courting rituals. I’m sure if she had it her way she would have hand-picked spouses for each one of us already.
She has been hounding me to settle down for a long time, I guess that’s the territory that comes with being the oldest. Tonight that’s not an issue though, Mom is distracted. Thank goodness for my brother Grayson, he’s taken some of the heat off of me because tonight we’re celebrating his engagement.
Tonight hasn’t been bad. It’s always nice to see my family and so far I’ve managed to avoid my parents parading me around to all of their friend’s daughters. I’m hanging out with my other brother, Tobin while we wait around for the guests of honor.
I’m not surprised that they weren’t here with bells on as soon as the party started but it seems like they should be here by now, “Tob, do you think Buck is actually going to blow off his own party?”
“Doubt it, he’s too much of a parent pleaser, Mom would blow a gasket,” he laughs but he’s right.
I wouldn’t put it past Grayson to side with his girl if she really didn’t want this, especially after some of the things I’ve seen him do for her. At the same time, he wouldn’t do that to Mom, maybe he’s just hiding in a corner somewhere, playing the same avoidance game as us.
As it stands Grayson has gotten the worst of the paparazzi around town, so even though this is our home I imagine he’s uncomfortable in the public eye. The paps got bored of me a few years ago when I cleaned up my act and stopped partying, but they haven’t left him alone for a second. His engagement was leaked online before he could even tell the family.
Still, I’m the oldest and I want to make sure that everything goes well tonight so I start to form a plan, “I’m going to grab a drink, I’ll circle around with shots in a bit, you look for Buck…” I tell Tobin before I make my way through the room dodging servers and hiding from anyone I might know.
This is just so not my scene, it’s not that I’m uncomfortable, I just don’t like it. I don’t like the way people kiss my ass and bend over backward for me even when I don’t want or need it.
Bravo, Malcolm, the company’s numbers are up. Oh, Malcolm, you’re such an eligible bachelor you should meet my niece. Malcolm, if you ever get tired of your old man there’s a job waiting for you.
All of this before I have even met them, it’s like people think that since they know what my name is, that means that they know me, but it’s so far from the truth. I just want to be treated like a regular person, not some prince of the hills.
Suddenly I’m transported and there is only one place I can set my eyes. There is a girl with wild curly black hair standing at the bar wiping the top down, when she looks up I notice her eyes. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who is this? What’s going on right now?
I feel like some force is pushing me towards her but what do I say?
She’s laughing with the other bartender, I can’t hear it but her smile is so pretty. I wish I was making her laugh.
Come on Malcolm, it’s easy, you just say, hello, order your drinks, it’s going to be fine, this is fine.
