His friends burst into a fit of laughter. One of them blond with shark-like teeth, sharp jawlines, thin lips spread on his face. "Bold, I like that." He touches my wrist. "How much for you to.." I didn't let him finish what he had to say, I quickly cut him short.
"I'm not for sale." I straighten up, wiping my hands on my apron. "Want another round?" I asked.
They look at each other. The blond one smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Sure. And tell your boss we want the VIP booth."
I don't reply. The VIP booths are where girls go to entertain men, then come back with smeared makeup and dead eyes and some walk like a pipe is being plunged between their legs. That's definitely not my business. Not tonight, I can't be like one of them. I can't be molested.
But I felt it, a stare that presses between my shoulder blades like a hand. I turn and our gazes met, I flinched and turned my back at him. Gavin Thorne is watching from the hallway, his arms crossed over his suit. He's the owner of The Velvet Noose. He doesn't serve drinks. He doesn't chat with customers. He just waits in the shadows, like a spider in the middle of it's web. And right now, I'm about to be the buzzing fly he wants to silence.
10:43 PM
The stockroom smells like old beer and regret. I'm counting limes when the door opens.
"Alesha ." Gavin's voice is smooth, but firm. I don't turn.
"I've got six tables waiting." I said as I continued counting the limes.
"Vincent Asher's here." I freeze. Asher, the blond banker from earlier. He really did meet Gavin to prepare the VIP booth. The same guy whose last date was left bruised and silent.
"He wants the sapphire booth," Gavin says. "And he asked for you."
I squeeze the lime too hard. Juice runs down my hand. "I don't do private booths."
"Tonight you do." He said in a firm voice, I shook in fear as my legs trembled. 0I turn to face him. Gavin leans against the doorframe, his shirt perfect, his smile fake. His loosened tie says he's relaxed. His diamond cufflinks say he's powerful.
"I'm a bartender," I say. "Not one of your girls."
He smiles slightly. "You're whatever I say you are."
The words hang in the air, heavy and Dangerous.
I threw the lime in the trash. "No." For a second, he's silent. Then he steps forward. Close enough that I can smell his cologne, rich and woodsy.
"You've been testing me," he says quietly. "With your attitude. Your refusals." He touches my chin.
I knock his hand away and move backwards. "Touch me again, and you'll regret it."
He laughs. Then his phone buzzes. He looks at it, The smile I'm gush face suddenly disappeared, his face turned grim.
"Asher's waiting." He said in a cold tone, enough to send shivers down my spine.
"Then you go entertain him." My words feel like lighting a match.
Gavin puts his phone away. "Suit yourself."
He walks out. I took a deep breath, I did it. Yes I did it. Maybe if other girls were as outspoken and assertive as myself they wouldn't be satisfying men at the VIP booth.
11:17 PM
The stockroom is hot. The AC hasn't worked in weeks. I'm sweating as I lift a crate of vodka onto a shelf. The door clicks shut behind me. I don't turn. "Jesse, if this is about tips" I was saying but was cut short immediately.
"Not Jesse." The deep voice said in a low tone. I didn't need to turn to decipher the voice, It's Gavin. I spin around as two of his security guys, Mitch and a new one block the exit. Gavin rolls up his sleeves. I'm done for. Maybe being assertive isn't just it but having some fighting skills to backup unfortunately, I lack in that skill.
My heart pounds. "We've had this conversation."
"That's the problem." He pulls a small box from his pocket. "You think you have a choice." He opens it. Inside is a syringe, with a substance already drawn in it.
Cold dread runs through me. "What is that?"
"Insurance." He nods. "Hold her." He commanded, I rush for the door. Mitch grabs me and slams me into the shelf. Bottles rattle. I elbow him hard. He groans but doesn't let go.
"Gavin" I shouted as I was being held down by Mitch and the new guy. The needle stabs into my neck. Then I felt it, burning my blood, flesh and bones. Fire. It spreads through my body like lightning, burning everything. Mitch and the other guy released their grip on me. My legs give out. Gavin catches me, his face blurry.
"Erosyne," he says softly, brushing my hair back. "You've got two hours. It kicks in fast." I gasp. My body feels too tight. My thoughts scatter.
"W-what is.." I asked as I staggered, everywhere became blurry.
"Either have sex," he whispers, "or your brain melts down trying to fight it." He pats my cheek. "Good luck."
He leaves. I fall against the shelf, shaking. My breathing is rough. And deep inside me, I felt an unexplainable kind of heat. This time not from the broken AC. This is different. Wrong.
I crawl to the emergency exit. The night air hits me like ice. I run out of the bar. Barefoot, my shoes slipped from my legs. Scared. Totally screwed. What will become of me? Would my brain melt all at once. It wasn't that bad just sleeping with Asher. That's definitely batter than having a melted brain.