AllFreeNovel
Share Us
What was I thinking, coming here? Valerie’s never been nice to any of the other girls, and she’s not even as mean as Penelope.
“It’s not a customer,” I reply, feeling a bit dizzy. The anger seeps out of me. The void it leaves gets replaced by embarrassment and fear.
“Then the answer is no,” Valerie says. “I’m sure the staff can look after themselves. And you know that if you have an issue with any of them, you can just leave. Penny made it very clear that you’re not tied to this place.”
I clench my jaw. As my mind clears, I start to realize how dumb of an idea this was. If I push for Tanya’s position to be changed, I will attract even more attention to her. What if I make things worse? Hell, knowing myself, I will absolutely make things worse.
“It’s neither staff, nor customers.” I relax my face. Maybe there’s a way out.
“I’m listening.” Valerie inclines her head to one side and rests her face on her hands, red long nails glinting in the artificial light.
“My workload is too much. I need someone to help me.”Oh, please, let this work.
Valerie clicks her tongue and sighs. Then she riffles through some papers on her desk and clicks a few times with her mouse.
“Yes, I can see the bar area does get busy.” She tears her eyes from the screen to stare into the distance. “We’re not hiring bartending staff at the moment, but Tanya used to work with you, right?”
Yes!Yes, she did, so make her come back to me! I try to keep the hope away from my face. Valerie can’t know what I truly came here for. She needs to think this is her idea. Oh, god, maybe I have some social skills after all.
“She was working the bar before I started working here, yes. She trained me.” My voice has the slightest shake to it. I hope Valerie isn’t paying attention.
“Okay, she can help you. She has other responsibilities now, but those can be reduced. At what times are you busiest?”
Fuck yes.I did it! Without a plan, without a fight, I managed to make Tanya’s life here easier. I try not to smile. How far can I take this?
“The bar is busy at all times. I can use the help not only during opening hours but before we open and after we close. It’s a lot of work.” I try to appear nonchalant, but my words come too fast and too garbled.
Valerie shakes her head. “Don’t push it. We’re not hiring but don’t doubt for one second I won’t fire you for slacking off. You’ll get help from ten p.m. onward all days but Sunday, when you’re supposed to be doing your inventory. She’ll help you clean up and reset the bar area after closing too. I’ll reduce her number of clients, but any regulars she has will still be hers. Her customers are a priority, is that clear?”
Every word she says is like a stab in my chest. My pride and enthusiasm wane with every sentence until it is this small, insignificant thing.
“Crystal clear,” I say under my breath and don’t wait to be dismissed. It’s hard not to slam the door on my way out as disappointment makes me angry again.
So I didn’t achieve what I wanted. She’ll still have to pleasure other men. Their disgusting hands will still be all over her. Only time will tell if I get any help at the bar. She seems to be in a private room every night these days. If she keeps being so busy, I will have achieved nothing.
I go down to the bar and pour myself a shot of vodka. I’m reaching for the cranberry juice when one of the waitresses comes with a massive order. I put my drink to one side, together with my wounded pride.
As I mix tea with alcohol and alcohol with syrups and fruits, I calm down. By the end of the night, I’m exhausted. A little bit of satisfaction finds its way back into my mind.
I didn’t liberate Tanya’s time here completely, but at least I didn’t make the matter worse. At least I got her the opportunity to have a breather some nights.
And for myself, I earned a chance to crack her new stony exterior. I know the person who greeted me with a smile and nurtured my bartending gifts is still inside her somewhere. I will get to her.
When I see her walk through the bar area toward the exit, in her massive coat and high boots, I call her.
“Come try this,” I shout from the bar, holding a vodka shot.
Tanya only glares at me without stopping. She doesn’t respond and disappears into the night, the heavy front door of the club creaking behind her.
I was about to put a single drop of cranberry juice into the shot. I was sure she would have loved the way it swirled inside.
Tomorrow. I will try again tomorrow. And then the day after and the day after. This thing between us, I will treat it as a science experiment. In science, every failure is progress. I just have to keep trying.
Chapter 8
Present day
At first, I follow with my head down, afraid the lingering darkness in every corner will grab at me. This new world, it’s full of it.
