Gus fring x NewEmploy!Reader
Summery: After weeks of searching, you finally land an interview at Los Pollos Hermanos, Youāve heard plenty of rumors about how tough it is to get hired there, and now youāre about to face your first interview, unsure if youāll make the cut.
ā Tags: Basic violence (not detailed), emotional bond, Mutual pining?, Gustavo being more strict, Salamanca twins showing up (If I missed any tags let me know, please and thank you)
MASTERLIST | šŖ» DIVIDER CREDIT
Morning came like it always did, clean floors. Polished counters. The quiet rhythm of routine.
The fryers hummed. The soda machine hissed. Registers chimed softly, you kept your head down, no one mentioned yesterday. No one needed to.
A single, calm voice cut through the noise.
"Excuse me everyone, could you all please take a moment join me out here"
It wasnāt loud, every movement in the restaurant stilled "Please" he added gently. "come"
Staff members exchanged glances. Aprons were adjusted. Gloves removed. One by one, everyone stepped closer, you stayed near the back.
"I would" he began, his voice even and steady "like to apologize to each and every one of you who yesterday had to endure the behavior of those men. It was unacceptable. Despite the difficult circumstances, you all acquitted yourselves impeccably."
The room was silent enough to hear the faint crackle of oil in the fryers.
"That said, if any of you wish to seek counseling due to lingering trauma, speak with me privately, and it will be arranged."
His gaze moved across the group, not lingering on anyone, but somehow reaching everyone.
"Also, you will all be receiving twenty four hours of overtime, as I am sure in one way or another, each of you brought this incident home with you."
They nodded among themselves, until one of them hesitantly raised a hand.
"Uh, yes, Lyle?" He spoke with steady, calm precision before his gaze shifted to Lyle.
"Mr. Fring uh, who were those guys?" Gustavo hesitated for a moment, his calm mask never faltering, before his gaze swept slowly across the group once more.
"Well, as some of you know, many years ago, I opened my first Los Pollos Hermanos in MichoacƔn. Shortly thereafter, those same men showed up." He added "They wanted money."
"I'm ashamed to say that I paid them." he paused for moment, everyone's gaze was on him.
"You see, in that place at that time, if I wished to, to conduct my business, I had no choice."
"But yesterday... Yesterday they came here. Here." For a heartbeat, his tone betrayed a flash of anger, then he forced it back into his usual calm, measured voice.
"They intimidated my customers, they threatened my employees, and again" he added "They wanted money."
"Now, my friends, I-I must confess that I almost gave them what they wanted." His gaze never leaving
"But then I thought, "No. No. This is America. Here, the righteous have no reason to fear. Here, those men have no power."
"And when they saw that I had no fear of them, they ran like the cowards they are back across the border." he paused for moment, before speaking again
"They will not return. We will move on from this. My friends, I promise you that together we will prosper"
As soon as his words ended, the room erupted in applause, his gaze still not leaving his head kept nodding, appreciating.
"Now, letās continue with our day" he said, voice measured, eyes scanning the room.
Everyone nodded and returned to their tasks. Gustavo let out a soft sigh before his gaze settled on you, focused on cleaning the counter. Quietly, he moved around the prep station, his steps deliberate, silent.
Without you noticing, he came up beside you.
Startled, you looked up, finally meeting his steady, controlled gaze.
You hesitated for a moment before holding the cloth out to him. He took it with a slow nod, his expression unreadable. You didnāt speak you werenāt sure whether you were supposed to stay or step aside.
Then, you thought it might be better to do something anything else.
But before you could move, Gustavoās calm voice broke the silence.
"Would you mind accompanying me to my office for a brief discussion"
You nodded. He set the cloth down on the counter and walked ahead of you, leading the way to his office.
He opened the door and held it for you. You stepped inside, and he moved to his chair, sitting with professional precision.
"Please make yourself comfortable." he said, indicating for you to take a seat.
You hesitated for a moment before lowering yourself into the chair across from him. The office was quiet, almost unnervingly so, the faint hum of the air conditioning the only sound.
Gustavo leaned back slightly, hands folded neatly on the desk.
"I must apologize to you personally for what occurred with those men yesterday" he added
"No one should have to endure that, and I want you to know it will not happen again under my supervision." You shift slightly in your chair, feeling the weight of his gaze. Thereās no malice, but thereās authority
"You donāt need to apologize, Mr. Fring" you said, your voice steady, "I completely understand that the situation was out of your hands, none of us could have predicted this, but I'm glad it's at least over"
"Indeed." he nodded, pausing for a moment, his gaze steady and unreadable.
"I must ask⦠did that man say anything to you?"
The question hung in the air, calm but weighted. You felt the subtle intensity in his tone.
You didnāt answer right away, the question caught you off guard.
"No" you said, shaking your head once, then again for emphasis.
He leaned in slightly, voice calm but precise. "Anything⦠particular at all?"
You shook your head again, uncertainty flickering across your face. "I⦠I donāt think so" you admitted, your voice steady despite the knot of tension in your stomach.
His eyes stayed on you, unyielding, as though he were reading everything you hadnāt said. The silence stretched, deliberate and heavy, until finally his posture relaxed just enough, and a faint, controlled smile touched his lips.
"Well then, Iām pleased we were able to have this discussion, If you encounter any issues in the future" he added "please do not hesitate to bring them to me."
You nodded and rose from your seat. The whole encounter had felt⦠unusual, you thought to yourself, though not in a threatening way. Shrugging off the lingering tension, you stepped toward the door and exited, letting it close softly behind you, leaving him alone in the room.
Later that day, you couldnāt shake the question he had asked. The thought lingered in your mind, gnawing at you, though you didnāt dare ask for clarification you didnāt want to cross any boundaries. Instead, you kept yourself busy with customers, moving quickly from task to task to prevent your mind from circling back.
There was something strange about the way he had looked at you, too. Sometimes, he would gaze at you for long moments, then turn back to his work with his usual composed demeanor, interacting with customers as if nothing had happened. It unsettled you, though you couldnāt quite put your finger on why.
That day, he was only in the restaurant for a few hours in the morning before leaving somewhere. Usually, he would give you instructions for the night shift ensuring everything was locked and checked but this time, he didnāt say a word.
Only later did you learn that you werenāt assigned to the night shift. Someone else had been put in your place. Did he really see you as unprofessional, you wondered silently?
You didnāt plan on asking him. There was no reason to. You did your job. You went home. That was it.
For the past few months, things had only grown colder. Sometimes he wouldnāt even acknowledge you. And when he did, his tone was stricter, sharper so different from before that you werenāt even sure what you had done wrong.
He made you handle both the kitchen and the counter, tasks he normally split between employees. You didnāt complain you never did but the extra work felt heavier under his gaze.
Then there was that moment⦠a mistake, an accident. Youād spilled food and drinks across the floor and on yourself. Panic surged through you, your hands trembling, heart racing.
Then he appeared, calm but sharp as always. His eyes, dark and calculating, took in the spill, the ruined uniform, and your panicked expression.
You stammered, words tumbling out. "I-I didnāt mean to⦠it was an accident⦠Mr. Fring Iām so sorryā¦I'll re-reado it again!"
He didnāt immediately respond, but the disappointment in his eyes was impossible to miss. He didnāt say a word.
Finally, he motioned, quietly but firmly, "Go clean yourself up." keeping his tone quiet only you can hear it.
Without another word, he bent and grabbed a nearby bucket and mop, setting them down in front of you, you could barely meet his gaze.
Your hands shook as you walked toward the staff restroom, once inside, you locked the door and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a shaky breath. Your uniform was ruined, sticky and cold from the spill, and you could feel the heat of embarrassment spreading across your skin.
your mind raced. Mr. Fring wanted professionalism perfection. What would he think of you now? One mistake, one spill, and everything felt like it was collapsing.
You remembered how he had adjusted your shift just a few days ago, giving you more responsibility, more tasks.
This was it, you thought. This was the moment youād fail him completely. The moment heād finally see you as incapable, and this job the only one youād worked so hard at would be gone.
After a few minutes, you had changed and stepped out of the staff restroom, expecting to be greeted by Gustavo but he never did. As usual, he was still moving quietly through the kitchen, helping employees where needed, calm and precise. You froze in place, as if time itself had paused, your gaze locked on him. Every muscle in your body wanted to impress him, to avoid the slightest hint of disappointment.
"Hey, excuse me" a manās voice called out.
Your thoughts were still tangled around Gustavo, and you didnāt respond immediately, lost in your silent assessment of him.
"Excuse me?" the man repeated, his tone patient but firm, and suddenly you snapped out of your daze. Your gaze shifted, focusing on him and the small boy standing beside him.
Flushing slightly, you managed a quiet, apologetic smile. "Oh!⦠yes, Iām sorry"
"Hi, weād like to order, please" the man said, smiling down at his son, who was bouncing slightly on his heels.
You quickly moved to the counter, trying to focus, your eyes flicking toward Gustavo every few second, you wanted so badly to do everything right, to make this simple interaction perfect under his watchful gaze.
"What can I get for you today?" you asked, your voice steadier than you felt.
The man looked at the menu, then at his son. "Weāll take two sandwiches with fries, please. One with the usual toppings for him, and⦠make mine with extra pickles."
You nodded, repeating the order to make sure you got it right. "Two sandwiches. One with standard toppings, one with extra pickles."
"Just two cokes, please" the father replied.
As you prepared the order, you felt Gustavoās eyes on you time to time, calm but sharp. Every movement you made.
Finally, you handed the tray over.
"Here you go, enjoy your meal!"
"Thank you" the man said, smiling kindly as he took his meal. The little boy waved at you, then skipped ahead to their table.
After a few minutes, you tried your best to refocus, helping other customers, moving quickly and carefully.
you noticed the man waving at you again, the same man that was standing. You walked over to their table.
"Is there anything I can do?" you asked politely, keeping your tone professional.
He tilted his head slightly, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Well⦠you could tell me your name first" he said, leaning just a little closer. "I like to know whoās taking care of me and my lovely boy here. Youāve been⦠very thorough, and I appreciate that."
You blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected charm in his tone "Uh⦠sorry, sorry" you stammered, cheeks warming. "We arenāt allowed to give our names but Iām glad I could help."
"Saying your name wouldnāt hurt anyone, would it?" the father asked with a teasing tilt of his head. The little boy at the table was happily eating, oblivious to the conversation, completely unaware of the tension in the air.
"Iām sorry⦠I cannot say" you replied firmly, trying to keep your voice calm. "Itās part of my job."
The man hummed, a playful glint in his eyes. "I seeā¦"
There was a brief pause. Then he leaned slightly closer, voice softening. "When do you finish your shift?"
You hesitated, startled by the personal nature of the question. Why was he asking that? Your throat went dry, and you said nothing.
"I wouldnāt mind getting to know you⦠after your shift is over" he added casually, rolling his eyes at the word shift as if it annoyed him.
You opened your mouth, ready to correct him firmly. "There seems to be a misunderstanding, sir. This is my job, and what I do outside of-"
Before you could finish, a presence interrupted, calm but commanding. Gustavo was already beside you, his expression smooth, smile wide.
"Is there any issue?" he asked, voice low and measured, eyes scanning both you and the father.
"I was just here saying how much I appreciate this⦠lovely service Iām receiving" the father said smoothly, his grin returning. "Couldnāt be more thankful." he laughs
"My employee" he gazes at you before returning his gaze to father "appreciates your compliment, and it is reassuring to know our service meets your expectations" Gustavo spoke calmly.
"Is there anything else with which my employee may assist you?"
The father hummed thoughtfully, then turned his gaze toward Gustavo, holding it just a moment longer than necessary, as if testing him. A faint smirk played on his lips, a silent challenge in the way he stared.
He leaned back in his chair casually before chuckling softly. "Hmm no⦠everything is fine" waving his hand
He nodded once, just slightly, acknowledging the answer.
Gustavo's eyes flicked up to you for just a moment, and the intensity of his gaze made your chest tighten and your mind scramble. Mentally, you were sweating, every nerve on edge under his silent scrutiny.
You quickly turned and walked back to the counter, focusing on helping other customers. Meanwhile, Gustavoās gaze lingered on the departing father for several minutes.
Finally, a faint, controlled smile returned to his face, and he walked off, resuming his work as if nothing had occurred.
Later that day, you were still busy attending to customers, your movements automatic but your mind elsewhere. You scanned the kitchen and the dining area, searching for Gustavo, but he was nowhere to be found. You assumed he had probably left early again.
Still, your thoughts wouldnāt let go. Were you going to be fired? You had every reason to think he might after all, the earlier spill was a serious mistake. Yet you couldnāt shake the uncertainty of what he was waiting for.
Finally, your shift ended. You waved your colleagues goodbye, muttering polite thanks for the day, and headed to the staff restroom to change. The familiar routine of swapping your uniform offered a small sense of relief, but it couldnāt erase the lingering tension in your chest.
Stepping out of the building, you felt the cool air hit your face. A long walk lay ahead of you, and as you moved down the street, your mind replayed the events of the day.
you knew Gustavo was definitely disappointed at you.
And you needed to fix that somehow.
Morning came sooner than you would have liked, but waking up early had become routine by now. At the very least, you werenāt scheduled for another late shift. That was something to be grateful for.
When you arrived at the restaurant, a few of your coworkers were already busy preparing for the day. Tables were being wiped down, chairs straightened, and the floors freshly mopped.
You greeted them softly before slipping toward the staff restroom to change into your uniform.
Today would be different.
You couldnāt undo yesterdayās mistake, but you could make sure nothing like that happened again. Every movement, every task perfect.
Or at least as close to perfect as you could manage.
Once the doors opened, you threw yourself into the work.
You helped in the kitchen when things became busy, when the front counter filled with customers, you stepped out to take orders, your voice polite and professional as it needs to be.
You double checked every receipt, orders making sure everything is how it needs to be.
Smiled at every customer.
Hours passed like that, the steady rhythm of work almost calming in a way, making you forget things.
Normally, Gustavo would appear at some point during the day. Sometimes he simply walked through the restaurant, observing quietly. Other times he would step into the kitchen, offering calm guidance or assisting when things became busy.
But today he hasn't showed up, which it could be expected.
You were wiping down the counter when the door opened.
At first glance they looked almost identical tall, broad shouldered,dressed in dark suits that felt strangely formal for a place like this. Their expressions were unreadable, their movements slow and deliberate as they walked to one of the tables near the window.
And then they simply⦠stared.
At first you tried to ignore it. Customers glanced at the menu all the time before ordering, but minutes passed, neither of them touched the menu.
Neither of them spoke, and their eyes hadnāt left you.
You glanced around the restaurant briefly, wondering if one of the managers had noticed them, but everyone else seemed busy. The kitchen was loud, a line of customers waited at the register.
Taking a steady breath, you forced yourself to walk toward their table.
Professional. Polite. Just like always, stopping beside them, you gave a small smile.
"Excuse me⦠do you need anything?"
The two men didnāt answer, they didnāt even blink, their dark eyes remained fixed on you.
"Would you like to order?" you asked again gently. "Or⦠can I bring you something?"
One of them tilted his head ever so slightly, as if analazying you.
Your fingers tightened around the small notepad you were holding.
"Dónde estÔ el jefe" The words were quiet but firm,
you blinked, caught off guard. "I'm sorry?"
"El jefe" The other man spoke this time, his voice just as low.
A long pause followed. Both of them continued staring at you. Their expressions didnāt change, their eyes fixed on you in a way that made your chest tighten with unease.
You werenāt entirely sure what you were supposed to say.
"Are you looking for the managerā¦?" you asked carefully. "Orā¦"
Neither of them answered.
They simply kept staring.
"Please excuse me for one moment" you said politely.
You walked back toward the counter, but you could still feel their gaze on you the entire time. It made your nerves tighten, like they were staring straight through you.
Leaning slightly over the counter, you called your manager over. The two of you spoke quietly for a few minutes while she tried calling someone.
It didnāt take long, a few minutes later, the door opened.
And Gustavo stepped inside.
The moment he entered, his gaze immediately found the twins sitting at the table before calmly walking toward the counter, greeting the staff with his usual polite composure.
Your manager stepped forward.
"It seems one of our employees ran into some trouble while trying to serve these gentlemen" she said, gesturing toward you.
You stiffened slightly as she motioned for you to come closer, reluctantly, you stepped forward to stand beside her.
Even though his expression was calm, the weight of his attention made your shoulders stiffen slightly.
"What seems to be the issue?" he asked politely.
You swallowed, trying to explain.
"I⦠wasnāt really sure what they were asking for" you admitted quietly. "They were speaking Spanish, so I thought the manager might be able to help them."
You glanced briefly toward the twins before looking back at him.
"But then she decided to call you."
For a moment, Gustavo said nothing.
"I see" he said calmly, looking back at you. "You handled the situation appropriately."
The tension in your chest loosened slightly at the words.
"You may return to your duties." You nodded quickly.
It was later that day when you noticed them again.
From behind the counter, you caught sight of Gustavo standing near the back of the restaurant, speaking quietly with the two men. Their conversation was brief, their voices low enough that you couldnāt hear a single word from where you stood.
A moment later, the conversation ended.
The twins gave a small nod before turning in unison. Without another word, they began walking toward the exit.
For a few seconds, Gustavo remained where he was, his gaze lingering on the door.
Then, as if nothing unusual had happened at all, he straightened his jacket and calmly returned to his work.
His gaze briefly landed on you a short, measured look that carried more weight than words could express 'we need to talk' look.