Chapter 3 #2
Dressed in more casual club-style clothes for tonight’s shift, I sat next to her.
“It’s not the career; it’s the monotony of trying to shove six months of experience into my head in a short time.
Do you know what my coworkers and my boss said first thing this morning?
If I were there to chase after the CEO, I should just quit. ”
“Ah…” Mom said knowingly. “So now you need to prove to them that you’re a serious worker.”
“Exactly. Do you know how exhausting proving someone wrong is?”
She laughed and hugged me. “Go have fun then. There’s nothing to prove at your uncle’s.”
“Oh, there still is, but it’s less stressful proof. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Actually, I’m pulling a double tomorrow. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
My mom never shied away from hard work. She was my inspiration and why I saw no problem with working two jobs. So I told her to remember to eat and headed out the door to finish my workday.
It was weird showing up after the club was already open.
But it presented a bit more opportunity to grab some nice drink shots with blurry people to post on the club’s socials.
I didn’t spend as much time on the posts as I usually did because I was actually needed at the bar right away for a change.
Midway through my shift, I found Konni at his usual stool, nursing a drink.
“Busy tonight,” he said.
“Just the way I like it,” I said. “Do you need another one?”
“Not yet. How’s the new job?”
“Good. I’m sensing some undercurrent office drama, but I’m not ‘in the know’ yet.”
“If it’s something you can share, let me know once you know. It never hurts to be informed.”
I nodded, understanding what he meant. Business could be cutthroat. The more a person knew about the inner workings of downtown businesses, the more the person could avoid getting stepped on.
“Same. If there’s anything you know about Steele Corporation or Wulf Enterprises, let me know.”
Someone waved for my attention as he nodded, and I left him to keep making drinks. When the crowd died down an hour later, he was already gone.
“Were you always this dramatic?” Miranda asked, smirking at me from across the table.
“Calling you out for ghosting me for the last three days isn’t being dramatic; it’s holding you accountable. You love clubs and said Lunar smelled decent. Where have you been?”
She held up this season’s “it” handbag. “Earning this handsome guy.”
“Since when is a handbag a guy?”
“I only sleep with men, so he’s a guy.”
I laughed mid-sip and nearly sprayed her “man.” The look of horror she shot me sent me over the edge. Everyone in the cafe turned to look at me as I laughed until I had to stop or suffocate. Miranda watched me, deadpan, as I wiped the tears from my face.
“Are you done?” she asked.
“For now. So how did you acquire your new man?”
Her humor cracked through her expression. “Selling information about you.”
“Seriously? The same guy? What did you tell him?”
“Since you were fine that he knew your stance against relationships is due to your parents’ divorce, I elaborated. It’s not the relationship—”
“Yes, it is.”
“—it’s the dependency that would put you in a position where you can be used and left with nothing.”
I was stunned. “He actually gave you enough money to buy that bag for making me sound like I need a therapist.”
“You probably do.”
I shrugged. “Which makes me even more curious about this guy?”
Miranda arched a brow. “Really? As in, you’re interested?”
“As in, why someone with enough money to buy that purse would be interested in me? No one would pay that kind of money for me, Miranda. Not unless they intend to use me in some way.”
“I would never sell your personal details to someone without knowing their intent,” Miranda said.
“You know his intent? How? Your shifter nose?”
“That has something to do with it.”
“You’re being evasive. Spill the tea. Who is this guy?”
She gave me a considering look. “Do you trust me?”
“You? Yes. Some guy who says he’s interested in me and pays you enough to buy yourself that purse? Hell, no.”
“He’s a rich shifter looking for his mate.”
Shifter?
I wasn’t some shifter-hating human.
Miranda was a shifter, and I loved her.
And because of her, I understood enough about shifters to know they’d make great partners…if a girl was interested in forever. Because that’s all shifters were chasing. Forever, with a bow on it.
I didn’t do bows.
“Well, he’s looking in the wrong place then,” I said. “I’m no one’s mate.”
Miranda shrugged. “He believes you are, and I believe my nose.”
My thoughts shifted to Wrenly, our absent good friend who recently said yes to a wolf shifter, the CEO of Wulf Enterprises, to be exact. I’d been there for most of their relationship and knew exactly what being with a shifter meant.
“No, thanks. If I wanted to be smothered, I’d use a pillow.”
Miranda laughed.
“Do you mind if I pass that along?”
“Knock yourself out. Him too, if you’re willing. A good concussion might help him move on.”
“I don’t think he’ll move on until he gives you his best shot.”
“Whatever. It’s his time to waste. I’ll never, ever marry a wealthy man, no matter how much I like the finer things in life.”
“Really? Why?”
“Because I refuse to follow in my father’s footsteps.” I glanced at the time and stood. “I have to go. Show up at Lunar Pulse tonight or else.”
She waved me away with a grin.
As I walked by the pastry display case, I made a mental note to stop by tomorrow morning to grab something for Whitney, to thank her for guiding me this week.
I’d already learned enough to take over three of her daily tasks.
Hopefully, the gesture would be seen as an olive branch and help convince her and Shana that I was there to stay, rather than there to play.
Playing was reserved for my night job. Smiling, I rode the elevators up and braced myself for the second half of my third day at Steele Corp.
At the end of my shift, my optimism that I could win over either of my coworkers with a pastry no longer existed.
Apparently, one of my predecessors attempted using sugary bribes to obtain information about the CEO’s daily routine.
I discovered that tidbit in the break room, overhearing gossip I was obviously meant to overhear.
“I’m starting to think Steele Corp isn’t as great a place to work as they let people believe,” Mom said when I walked in the door.
“It’s fine, actually. Good hours. Great employee benefits. It’s the drama around their CEO that will likely have everyone viewing me as an outsider for at least the next six months, no matter how hard I try.”
“Is that a bad thing? Being seen as an outsider? There will be less interoffice chatting to slow down your productivity, which means more performance accolades and less drama. I say enjoy being an outsider while you can.”
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s just…”
“You’re used to being liked by everyone?”
“Yeah. I always make friends with everyone, and it’s driving me crazy that they’re all treating me like I’m a problem when they don’t even know me.”
She gave me a side hug. “Never forget this feeling. There’s someone out there feeling the same thing, and one friendly gesture from you might change their world.”
After a quick temple kiss, she left me to get ready for work. Again.
“Don’t forget to eat dinner,” I called to her on my way toward the door.
“Oh? And what did you eat?” she asked.
“Be a good Mom and lead by example.”
I closed the door on her grumbling and grinned on the way to the car. My stomach started growling the second I clocked in at work. I wrinkled my nose at it and pulled out my phone.
Me: Burger. An unholy amount of pickles, regular ketchup, and mustard. If onions touch it, we’re not friends.
Miranda: I’m not a short-order cook.
Me: Shots on me if I’m fed.
Miranda: Do you realize how much I can drink? Be there in thirty.
Grinning, I walked into the main part of the bar. It wasn’t as busy as the night before, but it was still relatively early.
“There’s my girl,” Uncle Jay said, spotting me. “Ready for tonight’s special?”
“Not yet. Miranda will be here soon. I’ll have her model the drink tonight, along with a shot tower if you’re willing.”
“I am. Is she?”
“Yep. The girl has some serious capacity.”
He had a shot pyramid ready and waiting for her when she strolled in with my takeout. I took pictures of her happiness and a quick video of her laughing as she took two shots. Then another of her sipping the drink of the night. Then I sat at the bar with her and ate as she posted for me.
“Are the updates working?” she asked.
“I think so. It seems busier afterward.”
“They’re working,” Uncle Jay said, having heard us. “Sales are up enough to pay for your shot tower.” He winked at Miranda and went back to serving.
She stared after him for a moment, looking thoughtful.
“Interested?” I asked with a grin.
Her expression shifted, and she gave me a lopsided grin. “Why? You want to call me auntie?”
I snorted and put my trash into the takeout bag.
“He’s worried about something. He keeps watching the door every time someone comes in, which is a little weird since he has someone carding at the door.”
I glanced at the door and saw he’d added someone there.
“That is weird. I’ll ask him about it.”
“I don’t think you should,” she said. “His scent is concerned and protective. If he knows you know something is going on, he might not confide but push you away. At least, that’s my experience with the scent combination he has.
If it were a perfume, it would be named guarded, and I’m not sure if he’s the guarded one or if he’s guarding. ”
I stared at her for a long moment, then leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose.
“Have I told you how much I love that appendage?” I asked.
“Am I interrupting something?” a familiar voice asked.
I turned and met Konni’s heart-melting amber gaze.