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It would have been easy to put all the blame on Trey for his harsh demeanor had he not called her out for the obvious truth. While he hadn’t been welcoming and friendly, he also hadn’t been disrespectful. He was running a business, and of course he’d want the best staff to represent it. She’d allowed her insecurities to taint her perception of what he was saying.
“Dahlia?”
“Trey wants to hire me?”
“Yes! There are a few new hires, which is why the orientation will be longer than usual. But you are one of three barbacks.” Sloane cleared her throat. “All of you will start as barbacks, but I have no doubt you’ll be moved up quicker than the others.”
“Why’s that?”
Sloane laughed. “Because you’re amazing!”
Sloane Baxter was not only good for Dahlia’s ego. She was good for her soul.
“He really wants to hire me?”
“Yes!”
The money was fantastic, as were the benefits and paid time off after her trial period was over. This was exactly what she’d wanted, what she had waited for patiently for months. This was it. It made her next statement all the more painful to say.
“Actually, I was able to get another job about two weeks ago. When I didn’t hear anything, I assumed I didn’t get it.”
It was only partially true. She’d never expected to get a call offering the job. Leaving her interview, she’d known the obvious truth. She could never work for Trey. While not everyone would understand, Dahlia had been exposed during their meeting. It left her vulnerable, which was not an emotion she was comfortable feeling. It was better to stay where she was. Where I fit in.
There was a small stretch of silence.
“Didn’t Trey mention it takes a few weeks? Why wouldn’t he tell you that?” There was a spike in her tone. It was frustration, and as much as Dahlia would love nothing more than Sloane being mad at Trey, it wasn’t warranted. And she wouldn’t play into it. Trey had been forthright and had told her it would be a few weeks before they got back to her. She’d naturally assumed he was brushing her off. There was no way he was going to hire her. Turns out I was wrong.
“He did, Sloane. But, um… I couldn’t wait that long. So, I started somewhere else about ten days ago.”
“Where?”
Dahlia flattened her lips, hesitating. The bar had a reputation. And not a great one. The clientele leaned more toward upscale wannabe gangsters. In reality, they were nothing more than lowlife thugs who thought they were something. She’d noticed quite a few drug transactions in the back hall. On a few occasions, she’d watched some of the waitresses dip into rooms with the men, not reappearing for thirty minutes. It didn’t take a genius to know prostitution was a common occurrence. Dahlia had even been propositioned for a quick “date.” She’d declined.
“The Moon Bar downtown.”
“Really? Well…” Sloane paused. “Can I at least tell you about the benefits? Maybe working here will be a better option.”
Dahlia laughed. “You want me to work there so bad you’ve got a sales pitch ready?”
“Selfish reasons. I never see you anymore. None of us do.”
The guilt weighed heavily on Dahlia. It had been a while since she’d gotten together with the women.
“The Bowery pays more, plus the benefits. Time off too,” Sloane said.
But was it worth the risk? She was getting paid decently now. The conditions of the club weren’t desirable, but nothing she couldn’t handle. Drunk businessmen had nothing on intoxicated, rowdy bikers.
And maybe it was more. Dahlia didn’t have an ego, but her confidence had taken a massive hit during her interview with Trey. That was on her, something she’d have to work through, but was it smart to put herself in a position where she didn’t think she belonged? Wouldn’t that hinder any and all confidence in herself? Or am I just looking for excuses? Dahlia drove her hand through her hair and sunk into the lumpy cushions of her couch. Self-reflection was in order, but she didn’t have the mind space to go over her insecurities right now, and certainly not with anyone else.
“Is it because you’ll be starting as barback? They do that with almost all the applicants for bartender.”
“It’s not that, Sloane. Trey explained it in detail.”
It was reassuring to know she hadn’t been singled out. Trey’s delivery may have sucked, but it was understandable. By the Bowery standards, she wasn’t experienced enough.
“Did Trey do something? Was he mean to you?” Sloane blurted, then rambled on. “Don’t take it personally, Dahlia. It has nothing to do with you. He’s like that with everyone, I swear.”
“It’s not Trey.”
