AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But then my phone dings, and when I check it, I suck in a breath.
It seems you are a liar. I wonder what else you are…
How could he know that?
There is no way. He can’t be that tech-savvy, can he?
I grip my phone, push my food away, and stand as I reach for my bag. I’m wearing a long sweater that covers my work outfit, which I pull on the hem of as I leave to head for my night shift. It’s supposed to be a slower night tonight, but that’s what Jeff always says. He’s a fucking liar, and we all know his games.
When I arrive, I head straight for my locker, pull off my jacket, and stash it inside. I slide my phone into the back of my little shorts and after reaching for my boots, I pull them on. I keep them in my locker so I don’t have to walk around in them outside of the bar, unless I’m too lazy and end up taking them home.
“Do youeverfucking listen?” I whip my head around to Sarah, who’s eyeing my outfit.
This feels like déjà-fucking-vu.
Does this bitch need to get a life or what?
“Fuck off, Sarah.”
“You’re a dumb bitch, you know that, right,” she mutters. This idiot thinks she’s in charge because she spreads her legs for Jeff, and thinks she has the upper hand. But no matter what, Jeff won’t fire me, and I am not an idiot. Let’s face it I make more for his damn bar than any of the other girls. Sarah and Louise probably make the same amount, but they both work more hours than I do. I work the bare minimum to earn what I need, and then I’m out.
“I’ll slam your pretty smug face into this locker if I have to. Last warning,” I state, shutting the metal door with a loud bang and turning around to face her. Her black hair is slicked back, and her arms are tucked across her chest, pushing up her god-awful boob job. I warned her not to go cheap but like I said, the girl is an idiot. She’s applied heavy eyeliner that turns up at the edges, giving her a cat eye look and making her already hard face look harder. Paired with bright red lipstick—she looks like a damn whore.
I hate her.
“You’re late…again. Not only that, but Louise is also out there servingyourcustomers.” Her lips pucker as she talks, and it looks like an asshole. Does she ever look in the mirror? Sarah reminds me of someone who has always gotten what they want, and the minute someone else gets more attention, they snap.
I’m that person she wants to snap at, and it seems she is now doing it constantly.
But she also knows it comes with a price.
I won’t just sit here and take her bullshit like some people she knows. I will snap right back and worse.
The next time she touches me without my consent—even a tap on the shoulder—I will slam her head into the locker as hard as I fucking can, and I have zero care factor about what damage I do to that face.
She needs to learn manners, and it seems I was put on her path to teach her some.
Sarah continues to stare at me. Her big white teeth peek through her stained lips when she smirks. God, she gets on my nerves. “Louise can handle them. Now… Fuck off.” I sneer at her as I grab a tray and make my way out.
When I step out into the bar, I see Louise in one of the private booths, but this time it’s not filled with people. There is only one person, and his eyes have already found mine. Louise follows his gaze checking over her shoulder. A small smile takes over her lips and she relaxes her posture in relief when seeing me. She turns back and says something to him before she steps down the stairs and straight to me.
My feet are frozen to the spot.
The last time I saw this man I ran away from him with only a sheet to cover me. And now he is sitting in my workplace, in a booth that costs a small fortune to book, waiting for me to serve him.
“I’m so glad you’re here. He won’t buy anything, and I know he’s waiting on you.” I manage to meet her eyes and nod. She does her usual, stepping into my personal space and wrapping her arms around me as she gives me a quick hug hello. As usual, I don’t reciprocate and as usual it doesn’t bother her. She’s used to that now. “Okay, I’m going to service my own customers now. Let’s chat when you finish.” She runs off as I stay rooted to my spot.
What do I do?
Do I run again?No.
He doesn’t have the upper hand here, I do. Or so I keep telling myself.
I put one foot in front of the other, striding straight past his booth. I feel his eyes burn my body as I pass. I force myself not to look in his direction as I reach the bar and grab some drinks. The bartender waves hello to me, but I can’t seem to do the same back. I’m trying to work out the best course of action and how to deal with the man waiting for me.
Being in and out of foster care all my life, I learned early on how to handle men. The system taught me to depend on no one but myself. I can read people’s body language and work out how to treat them based on their personalities, so harm never falls on me again.
In one of my houses growing up, they drank—a lot.
