Chapter 7
Jason
From across the room, I watch as Chris expertly guides our newest bartender through the steps of making a Negroni. It’s his first day back at work, and he’s wasted no time at all showing Gemma the ropes.
Friday nights at the restaurant are typically one of our busiest times of the week, but tonight, it’s been fairly quiet. And now that Chris is back at the bar, I’ve finally been able to catch up on most of the work I’ve pushed aside while he was away.
Now that things are finally under control in the restaurant, I seize this brief window of calm to check in on the staff. “How’s our girl doing?” I call out as I approach the bar.
Chris looks up from pouring the sweet vermouth into a cocktail glass and shoots me a grin. “She’s a natural,” he says, giving Gemma a wink. “Already on her eighth cocktail.”
Gemma smiles at me as she slices an orange into thin wedges. “I’ve really enjoyed making them. I’ve practiced so much at home, I’m afraid I might have turned my roommate into an alcoholic.”
Chris and I both chuckle. “I’m glad you’re getting the hang of things because as of next week, you’re all on your own kiddo,” Chris announces, nudging her on her shoulder.
“I think you’ll do just fine,” I reassure her. “You’ve impressed me with what I’ve seen so far, so keep up the great work.”
“Thanks boss,” she replies, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Chris wipes down the counter and sets a clean glass in front of Gemma. “So… ready to tackle your first Negroni?”
Her whole face lights up with excitement, then, carefully prepares the cocktail, step by step, exactly how Chris had shown her earlier. Each task is executed with focused precision, ensuring the drink is crafted perfectly and to Chris’ liking.
Once she’s satisfied with the final product, she gently slides the beverage towards me.
“Will you do me the honours of taste-testing my first ever Negroni?”
I give her a playful wink, then raise the glass in front of me. “Cheers guys!” I toast, taking a slow, generous sip of the cocktail, my gaze never leaving Gemma’s.
Licking my lips, I relish the crisp, citrusy bite of the drink, noticing Gemma’s eyes lingering on my mouth, her throat giving a subtle, involuntary twitch as she swallows.
My skin prickles under the heat of her gaze, and I have to steady myself quickly before she or Chris, realises just how much she disarms me.
Setting the glass on the counter, I shoot her a wide, satisfied smile. “Perfectly made! Well done, Gemma. You’re an absolute pro!”
She beams, her smile radiant and warm, just like the sun. There’s a captivating energy about her, as if beneath her girl-next-door charm lies a wild, untamed spirit just waiting to emerge, and, inexplicably, I find myself wanting to explore that side of her.
Yet, something seems to be holding me back.
And it’s not just because she’s my employee, there’s something far more complicated at play.
Since Mila and I have been spending more time together, I’ve been feeling this strong magnetic pull towards her—a force that grows harder to resist with each encounter, like that brief, intimate moment we had the other night.
I don’t know what I was thinking, kissing her hand like that.
It was as if something had taken over me in the heat of the moment, and I just let it happen.
Maybe it was the intensity of our conversation about love and stolen hearts that triggered the reaction.
But whatever it was, it can’t happen again—especially after seeing the genuine hurt in Mila’s eyes when I pulled away.
I won’t deny that things have been shifting between us ever since we started our little game.
I find myself looking forward to her company more and more, drawn to her in ways I can’t fully explain.
But no matter how much I enjoy her presence; it doesn’t change the fact that she’s my best mate’s ex-sister-in-law, and my son’s much younger babysitter.
With her sister and Kaden going through a separation, I’m concerned about how my relationship with Mila might affect their already fragile emotional states. I don’t want to risk all our friendships, especially when there’s no certainty that the relationship would even work out.
The simplest solution is to back off and maintain some distance—keep things strictly professional or friendly. That means setting some clear boundaries with her, starting with the kinds of questions I ask as we continue our game. No more deep talk, Jason.
It’s as if I conjured her out of thin air. I hear the unmistakable sound of her laugh behind me, and when I turn around, I immediately spot Mila sitting at a corner table with a woman I don’t recognise. How did I not notice that she was even there?
She’s off from babysitting tonight, as it’s Elena’s week to have Jake. She hasn’t seen me yet, and I’m not sure if approaching her is a good idea if I’m trying to keep some distance.
I quickly spin around to face Chris and Gemma, who have just finished whipping up another cocktail from the menu and are now cleaning up. “Looks like you’ve got everything under control here. I’m going to head back to the office. Give me a shout if you need anything.”
With a brief nod from Chris and a subtle wink to Gemma, I quietly slip away to my office, silently hoping Mila won’t stay for too long.
I’m powering down my laptop for the night when a faint knock sounds at the door. Gemma’s soft, muffled voice comes from the other side. I call for her to come in, and she slowly pushes the door open, pausing at the threshold with a trace of shyness and nervousness in her expression.
“Sorry to disturb you, but Chris said that bar is pretty quiet tonight, so I can head home early. I just wanted to come in and say goodnight, and that I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Perfect timing actually. I’m just finishing up myself,” I say, slipping my work laptop, keys, wallet, and phone into my backpack. “How about I walk you out to your car?”
She gives me a slow nod. “Oh, okay,” she replies, her voice soft as a whisper.
We walk out together through the restaurant instead of taking the back exit, giving me a chance to see if Mila is still around. A quick scan of the room reveals no sign of her, and I breathe out a quiet sigh of relief.
As we reach Gemma’s car, she unlocks the door and stands in front of me, nervously fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “Well, this is me,’ she says, gesturing to the grey jeep parked in front of the restaurant. “Thanks for walking me to my car, Jason.”
I give her a brief nod and open the car door for her. She gracefully climbs into the driver’s seat, tossing her bag into the passenger’s side before fastening her seatbelt.
Crouching slightly to meet her gaze, I decide to use this opportunity to ask the question that I’ve been meaning to ask. “Hey, so about my offer to show you around town—are you still interested?”
The surprise flickering across her face suggests she either thought I’d forgotten about the offer or assumed I hadn’t really meant it. “Oh… I didn’t think you were serious about that,” she confesses, confirming my suspicion.
“Why wouldn’t I be serious? You’re new to the city, and I’ve got some spare time.”
Her mouth opens and closes a few times, as if she’s not quite sure how to respond. After what feels like the longest pause ever, she finally answers. “I’m definitely interested. But are you sure?”
“Absolutely, I’d love nothing more than to show you the best of what Sydney has to offer,” I say with a broad smile. “I’ll be busy for the rest of this week, but are you free next Sunday morning? I can arrange for my sitter to work a few extra hours so we can enjoy some early sightseeing.”
“That sounds great, and yes I’ll be free next Sunday,” she says enthusiastically.
“Alright then, Ms Wright, it’s a date. I’ll see you tomorrow here at four. Have a good night and drive safely.” I close her door, then lightly tap the roof of her car, stepping back to give her space to reverse out of the parking spot.
Dating one of my employees isn’t something I’d usually entertain, but my schedule leaves little room to meet anyone new. It’s been over two years since I’ve been with a woman, and maybe, just maybe, this is what I need to finally loosen Mila’s grip on me.
Smiling, I turn to head towards my car, only to come face to face with the woman herself. Dammit I thought she left already!
“Hey,” she says softly, her expression shadowed by weariness.
“Mila. I didn’t know you were here,” I lie. “Were you here for long?”
She doesn’t answer immediately, her eyes fixed on mine, yet there’s a faraway look in them. After a moment, she shakes off the daze and forces a smile, even though it looks a little strained.
“Umm… Yeah. Sofia and I were at the bar for a couple of hours. I just came from the restroom and was about to leave when I saw you talking to someone out here.” She glances over my shoulder towards the spot Gemma’s car was just parked, then looks back at me.
“I didn’t even know you were here tonight. I never saw you.”
I rub the back of my neck and let out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, I spent most of the evening in the office, just catching up on some paperwork,” I explain, omitting the one bit of detail about briefly being at the bar and seeing her.
She seems to accept my answer for what it is, offering a smile that’s a little more genuine this time. “Well, that’s me over there.” She gestures towards something behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to find her Corolla parked in the space next to where Gemma’s car was.
“Do you need me to walk you over?”
She quickly shakes her head and adjusts her bag on her shoulder. “No, I’m fine, thank you,” she murmurs. “Have a good night, Jason. I’ll see you next week.”
Before I can respond, she brushes past me in a hurry, hops into her car, and waves goodbye through the window with a quick flick of her hand before driving off. The last thing I hear is the gravel crunching beneath her tires as she disappears into the distance.
As I get into my car, an overwhelming sense of unease takes hold. There was something completely off about that conversation with Mila. It’s almost as if she couldn’t get away from me quickly enough with the way she just rushed off.
Shaking the thoughts away before they spiral into something bigger, I start the ignition and shift the car into gear. I want to end the night on a more positive note, not stress over something that’s probably nothing.
On the drive home, I start brainstorming ideas for my date with Gemma next Sunday, mentally listing places I know she’d love.
But my thoughts keep circling back to Mila—the expression on her face after she saw me talking to Gemma.
The anxiety returns, heavier this time, and I can’t seem to shake it out.
I was so excited about my date with Gemma, but now. .. I’m not so sure anymore.