Chapter 23 Vee
Vee
Anger and pain mix together, weaving its way through my body with the full intention of wrecking me.
My heart’s pounding against my ribs, begging to be ripped from my body.
Hank just fucking gutted me with a look and cruel words.
I knew Hank was mad at me. Mad at what I wanted, but I never thought he’d speak so harshly to me, or gaze upon me with such hatred.
Nothing about how he’s acting right now is like the man I’ve come to know and love.
The man who hides from everyone else that he cries at sappy movies, especially when he watches A Walk to Remember and Steel Magnolias.
If his Hellion brothers knew, they’d never let him live it down.
It’s taking everything in me not to scream.
Seeing the slut—I hate calling a woman that, but fuck if she isn’t one—leaning over the counter, her tits hanging out like a fucking smorgasboard for the men in front of her.
Her attention is solely on them and ignoring all the patrons angrily calling to get her attention.
I stomp behind the bar, anger fueling my decision that once I help everyone, I am fucking storming up those stairs and handing in my resignation if she continues to work here.
“What can I get you?” I ask the trio of businessmen, who no doubt came straight here after a day in the office.
“About damn time,” one mutters under his breath, while the other tells me he wants a round of shots.
“Sorry for the wait. I’d love to say she’s new, but it would be a lie. She’s just dumb as shit and lazy.” I try to keep my personal feelings low when I say them, but the man’s laughter and nod of agreement tells me I failed to do that.
One by one, I work my way down the counter. I don’t make small talk; just ask them what they’re drinking, fulfill the order and take the payment. Only when I reach Abraham do I smile.
“What can I get you?” I ask him, letting out a soft sigh.
“Just another beer, darling.” He tilts his head to the side as I reach into the cooler and pull out not one but two bottles and place them in front of me. “You okay? And I just wanted one.” He winks.
“I know, but I need to head upstairs and talk to the boss, and I didn’t want you to wait for me to get back if you wanted another.” I smile wider, but I don’t feel the happiness that should accompany it. “The second one is on the house.”
Abraham reaches out, placing his hand on top of mine. “You’re too good for this place and for whoever has put that frown on your face.”
“I guess.” With that, I turn and make my way down the bar, giving Jennalyn my best fuck you face.
She shifts her head just slightly, her attention shifting from the men to me. “Where are you going?”
I choose to use Hank’s words he had for me on her. “None of your business,” I snap as I keep moving, leaving her all alone to work this bar. “You’ve already left once and now you’re doing it again,” she bites back at me, as she turns to face me, her hands on her hips.
“I don’t see how that matters when all you’ve been doing is whoring yourself out to the highest bidder.
Get a fucking reality check.” With those words I go back to my mission.
There’s no way in hell I’m working with her a second longer.
She continues to shout at me, but I tune her out, raising my hand above my head, flipping her off before I disappear into the crowd.
My eyes roam the floor as I head for the stairs, checking to see if either Bash or Javier are on the floor, but I don’t see them. I know at least one of them is here, both would be the optimal choice.
When I get to the top of the stairs, I let my eyes make one final sweep of the club. From here I can see everything, even the bitch behind the bar, who still isn’t filling anyone’s orders. Shaking my head I turn back around, breathe deeply and lift my hand, knocking loudly on the door.
“Come in,” is shouted deeply from the other side. With the music blaring and the voice being muffled slightly by the door, I’m not sure who said it.
Taking hold of the handle, I turn the knob and open it. I keep my eyes down as I step into the office. Only then do I glance up, and see Bash behind his desk and Javier sitting on the corner of it.
“Vee, how can we help you?” Bash asks, as he continues with what he’s doing on his laptop.
I bite on my lower lip, suddenly hating that I’m basically being a tattletale. But then I remember the fact she hasn’t done shit and all that guilt slips away.
“Not sure if you can,” I whisper.
“How do you know that?” Javier questions as he gestures his hand toward the chair in front of the desk. “Sit down and tell us what’s on your mind.”
I sit down slowly, take a deep breath and then spill my guts, the words falling from my mouth quicker than I can say them. “I can’t keep working with the new girl. If she stays, then I’m quitting.”
Bash slams his hand down on his desk as he finally lifts his head and looks at me. “What the hell?”
“Slow down, Vee. Let’s not do anything rash. You’ve been workin’ for us for a long time. What’s going on with you and Jennalyn?”
“What’s not happening? She’s lazy and doesn’t do any work.
Disappears for periods of time doing God only knows what.
Ignores the customers and spends more time flirting than anything else.
I can’t work like this. I’ve tried to ignore it, but I can’t any longer.
” I blurt out everything I’ve been feeling in a cliff note version.
Bash leans back in his chair, his hands lying flat on his desk as he stares right at me, like he’s trying to decide if I’m overreacting to what’s been going on. Javier shifts on the desk, angling his body toward me so that he can see Bash without having to look over his shoulder.
“How long has this been going on?” Javier asks.
“I’ve only worked with her recently, but it’s been every shift that we’re on together. I really tried to just push through, hoping she’d get better, but I can’t. If she continues working here then I’m officially giving my two weeks’ notice tonight.”
“Do you think it’s something that could be worked out with us addressing shit with her?
” Bash asks, and I wish I could give him the answer he wants to hear.
With Ash out, he really needs to have two bartenders who can work regular shifts with some of the waitresses and club members filling in to take up the slack.
“I wish I could, Bash. But I can’t work with her.”
“Can you humor me and give it a shot?” Bash asks.
If he wasn’t a great boss and my best friend's man, it would be a definite no. But I let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. But I’m not guaranteeing anything.”
“Can’t ask for more than that.” Javier laughs as he stands. Bash and I stand with him, and we make our way to the door.
We step out the door, and Bash stops at the top of the stairs. His eyes focus on the bar, the one Jennalyn should be at working. Which is now unmanned.
“Where the fuck is she?” Bash growls.
“Bathroom, maybe,” Javier states, attempting to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Bash storms down the stairs, Javier and I rushing behind him. When we hit the bottom, Jade’s passing us and he gently takes her by the arm, stopping her. Jade looks over at Javier when he steps up beside Bash and she instantly blushes.
“Have you seen Jennalyn?” Bash questions her.
She drops her eyes and looks over her shoulder, hesitant to answer.
“Just tell us, sweetie,” Javier says, and I swear Jade's face gets redder.
“She ummm…” She looks back over her shoulder toward the front of the club and I get a nagging feeling in my gut exactly where she is. “She umm, went up front by the door.”
“Did she ask anyone to cover the bar?” Bash asks her, his jaw clenching.
She shakes her head. “She said something about screw the bar and if Vee can leave, so can she.”
“Thank you, Jade. I’ll let you get back to work.” Bash lets go of her arm, and she tosses one final glance at Javier before scurrying away. The girl has it bad for him, and all he sees in her is a little sister.
“Come on,” Bash says as we head toward the front door.
“I’m going to go handle the bar,” Javier says, then heads in that direction, leaving me alone with Bash.
When we step out the door, Hank is sitting behind the counter and Jennalyn is all but in his lap.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Bash growls.
“I was getting Hank something to drink,” she announces, then she sees me standing just behind him. “Vee has left me at the bar all night working alone. I needed to use the bathroom and figured I’d take care of Hank on my way.”
Hank just sits there, his face void of any expression, his arm around her waist, resting on her hip. Jennalyn leans further into him, and I want to puke. Hank doesn’t even look my way.
“Sorry, Bash. I didn’t know there wasn’t anyone at the bar. I sent Jade up there to get me a beer.”
“Jennalyn, we need to have a conversation in my office. Now,” Bash tells her, accentuating the last word.
“Why? Shouldn’t you be talking to her?” She points her bony ass finger at me. “She disappeared all night. Left me all alone at the bar, and it’s not the first time.”
That’s it, I’ve had fucking enough.
“You know what, Bash? I had my reservations about your plan, and now I’m positive it’s not going to work.
I’ll have my official notice for you tomorrow, but I’m leaving.
There’s an hour or so left on my shift, but I’m done.
” I step past him, glad my keys were already in my pocket and I don't need to go get them. I didn’t have a purse to get, and the only thing I have is my jacket, but I can come back tomorrow and get it then.
“Vee,” Bash says my name loudly. “I won’t accept that resignation. Just know I’m going to handle this.”
I give him a thumbs up, at the same time Jennalyn speaks up. “She doesn’t do shit, you should fire her.”
My body whips around, my hands fisted at my sides. Bash must see the fury building within me and holds up his hand.
“Jennalyn, Vee has worked with us for many years. She is a dedicated and hard worker. What you’re claiming doesn’t fit with her work ethic.
What I can say is we’re going upstairs and we’re going to look at the video recordings of the bar.
If I see anything I don’t like, you’re going to be fired on the spot. ”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face and when I leave the bar, there’s a little extra bounce in my step.