I had to tell Grandma about my new job because I knew she was going to find out sooner or later. When I told her, she had a faraway look on her face but she otherwise stayed silent and told me to be careful. I didn’t know what she meant by that but I assured her that I would be fine.
Chris however was less eager to allow me to take the job. He seemed to be very protective and didn’t want me working in a bar with drunk men. I told him that I had done the job before and could handle myself but he was still hesitant. It was amusing to see my younger brother acting very protective towards me but I also found it endearing.
Monday came around in what felt like a blur and Chris was still adamantly against it. I was supposed to start in the early afternoon and work the shift until late at night when someone else would take over from me. It seemed pretty easy and I liked it that way because it meant that I had the entire day to myself.
Ian had texted me that I was entitled to two meals a day as well as a break every six hours. It was better than what I had back in the city and I was very happy that he had given it to me. I couldn’t help but think about how stubborn I had been by refusing the job earlier.
The bar was very easy to find. I had expected a small dainty building with yellowing walls and cracked walls- something like the diner. To my shock, I met a large two-story building with glass windows and a beautiful one-way glass door. The inside was somehow even better with leather chairs at the bar, carved wooden booths and chairs around and a crystal chandelier in the middle of the room. It didn’t look like a bar, it looked like a prestigious club.
I didn’t remember seeing it before I left so I assumed it must have been built during my time away. I felt out of place in my outfit and I brushed my sweaty palms down my body. I looked like a cheap hooker in my shorts and button-up shirt that was almost a size too small for me. I had paired it with knee-high boots and the first thing I did was lookout for the other bartender.
I saw her instantly and let out a sigh of relief when I saw she was dressed exactly like I was only she wore fishnets under her shorts. She had short black hair that stopped directly over her shoulders and when she turned, I saw her sharp blue eyes. She had tattoos from her neck to the elbows of her left hand and I could see the hint of another one on her thighs. She also had four piercings in her ears and two in her nose.
“You must be Leindra,” she said as I made my way over to the bar and I nodded. “Ian told me to expect you here an hour later. I’m shocked that you’re this early. I can show you the ropes before the guys come. Rush hour isn’t until later in the evening so there’s nothing hectic right now.”
“Of course, I would love that.”
She introduced herself as Serena and I realized she was very kind despite her sharp looks. She had been working in the bar since it opened four years ago and as she showed me the ropes, I realized that it was exactly like the bars I had worked with. The only exception was that I was obligated to stop serving drinks if I noticed someone was getting out of hand.
It took almost thirty minutes for her to show me everything that I needed to see and it was right on time because Darius and his friends- including Ian- walked into the bar. I had not expected to see them all but I should have because I had never seen them separate from each other except from when Ian offered me the job.
“There is one more thing I forgot to add,” Serena leaned in to whisper to me. “Make sure to stay away from Darius. He owns the bar and he isn’t very open to new people. Do not go into his office unless he calls for you and do not speak to him unless he speaks to you first.”
I listened attentively to everything she said but one thing stuck out to me. I had no idea that Darius owned the bar because if I recall correctly- Ian told me he owned it. My eyes followed the man and Ian saw me and winked. Darius stared at me with intense eyes as if he was trying to peel back my layers and uncover what was hidden beneath my skin and the secrets beneath my eyes.
His gaze was so intense that I had to look away. He walked past the bar and I got a whiff of his cologne. Something was enticing about it and it had the hair on my hands standing on end. Ian however, stopped at the table and leaned his hands on the counter.
“I see you took the job,” he mused with a small smile. “I thought you were still deliberating on it. It would have been a shame for the job to go to someone else. You look so cute behind the counter.”
“You didn’t tell me that Darius owned the bar.”
He raised a brow. “Does it matter who owns it as long as you get a job?”
I realized he was right so I stayed silent and crossed my arms over my chest. “I would have liked to know.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” He threw the words so casually over his shoulder as if he wouldn’t be bothered to tell me next time. “The guys at our table need beers. Ask Serena to give you our usual order. I have a feeling you’ll be the one serving us from now on.”
Before I could say another word, he picked up a toothpick, slipped it into his mouth and walked away.
The job was relatively easy to do until the rush hour came. It had been a while since I had to bartend and stand on my feet for a long time so it took a while to get used to it. Serena and I were the only ones at the bar and it was difficult having to keep track of all the orders but I quickly got the hang of it.
So far, everyone seemed to be behaving and I had not gotten a reason to cut anyone off from their drinks. Most of them were disciplined and knew when to stop or how to pace themselves. A lot of them were flirty but none of them had gotten handsy so there was no reason for me to punch anyone in the nose- Serena said I was allowed to if they touched me repeatedly after saying no.
It was sometime around ten that the real problems started.
A man walked in and from the way he walked over to the bar and the self-righteous and arrogant look on his face, I knew he was going to be a problem. After four years of working in a bar, I knew how to identify customers that could prove to be a problem and the man ticked all the boxes.
“Beer, now,” he ordered as soon as he sat at the counter and I swallowed down a retort as I handed him his drink.
He didn’t even say thank you. He snatched the bottle out of my hand and put it to his lips. I tried to ignore him except for when he wanted more drinks. He was also very touchy and made sure to brush my hands whenever I was leaning over to hand someone else their drink. I did not want any problems so I ignored him.
Things got complicated around eleven when he asked for his sixth beer of the night. He was already drunk and staggering on his feet. I glanced at Serena to be sure that I should cut him off and she nodded. I would have asked her to do it but she was busy with about three customers.
“I’m sorry,” I began slowly trying to keep my voice kind. “According to our policy, I can’t give you any more once you are drunk. I can give you some water or something nonalcoholic.”
I saw the exact moment his features morphed into anger and he grabbed my arm in a bruising grip. I tried to pull out of his grip but he kept a tight hold on me and refused to let go. His grip was so hard that I feared he would break my hands.
“I asked for a drink, you bitch,” he spat. “Do not make me come over there and get it myself.”
I glanced over at Serena in a panic but she was swarmed with a lot of customers so she couldn’t see what was going on. Everyone else seemed content with ignoring what was happening and I knew I was alone in the problem.
“I’m sorry, sir but I can’t serve you any more beers.”
He made a sound deep in his throat and lifted his free hand to hit me. I braced myself for the hit but it never came. When I looked up, I saw a furious-looking Darius holding the hand of the drunk customer.
In one swift move, he pulled the man away from the bar and he fell on his ass. Darius took a protective stance in front of me.
“She’s mine,” he growled.