Chapter Two
This was probably not the smartest move.
Keely should’ve accepted defeat. But… When an opportunity presented itself, she was going to take it.
She’d been watching Jared for the last thirty minutes, waiting for the chance to get him alone.
If anyone could help with her current dilemma, he was her guy.
Jared had wrapped up his conversation with a member of staff and started toward the back.
Keely tossed the rag on the bar and rushed around, careful not to run and bring too much attention to herself.
She casually slipped behind bar one and through the supply room.
Jared had marched up the back staircase.
It was usually reserved just for Trey, Rogue, and their security.
In fact, all staff had been warned it was off limits.
She was definitely crossing the line following him, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
By the time she reached the landing, Jared was already down the hall and turning at the corner. He was probably heading to the balcony. She picked up her pace and when she rounded the bend, she called out.
“Jared?”
He glanced over his shoulder, and his steps slowed before coming to an immediate stop. “What are you doing up here?”
She quickened her pace, stopping a foot away from him, outside the balcony curtains. She had lost her breath, so she smiled and grabbed her chest. Jared had little patience and asked again.
“What are you doing, Keely?”
I’m going to try and use nepotism for my benefit. She would keep those thoughts to herself.
“Can you talk to Trey for me?”
Jared furrowed his brows. “About what?”
She spread out her arms. “I’ve been here almost eighteen months, Jay. Everyone else is getting promoted to bartender, and I’m still stuck at barback.” She pointed at her chest. “And I’m the only employee who hasn’t gotten anything from the incentive program. It’s not fair.”
He widened his eyes, staring at her as if she’d grown another limb.
The longer the silence stretched in the hall, the more awkward the interaction.
She’d always had a close relationship with him, but there was an unspoken rule when it came to working hours.
Jared reported directly to Trey and Rogue, which meant they were in opposite realms at the Bowery.
A simple greeting was normal. Chasing him down to ask for a big favor was not.
“What?” she mumbled.
Jared laughed without any allusion of humor. He dragged his hand down his face, muttering. “Jesus, Keely.”
“What? It’s true. Gavin, who started five months after me, just got promoted to bartender. And Samantha just got moved to bar one as a barback. I have more time than her too.”
Jared folded his arms, looking up at the ceiling. She couldn’t be sure, but his lips moved as if he were counting. The silence stretched a few seconds longer until she was pinned by his stare.
“Have you thought of why people with less seniority are getting promoted ahead of you?”
She sighed, releasing a frustrated groan.
She should’ve known this was coming. Jared was going to subject her to a brotherly speech from a man who wasn’t even blood related.
It wasn’t much of a stretch though. Killian and Jared had been partners for a few years, lived together, and Jared was considered a member of her family.
The only thing missing was a marriage certificate.
“No, but I’ll reflect on that later. In the meantime” —she lifted her hands, pressing her palms together in prayer— “Can you please talk to Trey for me?”
Jared shook his head, grasping the back of his neck. One might think he was contemplating his decision, but Keely had known him too long. She knew his answer before he said it.
“If you want to speak with Trey, talk to Sloane and set up a meeting.”
She clasped her hands, lifted her shoulders to her ears, and gave the sweetest smile she could conjure up. “I really feel it would be better coming from you.”
He narrowed his gaze. Jared was solidifying his answer with just a look. But she wasn’t quite ready to accept defeat.
“We’re practically family, Jay. Isn’t that what we do for one another?” She pointed at him. “If you needed help, I’d do it.”
She couldn’t quite imagine a situation where he’d come calling on her. Like her brother, Jared had his entire life in order. The polar opposite of her.
“I don’t need help. But I can tell you who does. Bar two where you’re currently working on prep.” His tone was firm. “Well, where you’re supposed to be. Go.” He pointed down the hall.
Keely’s shoulders slumped, and she released an exasperated sigh. Not one to accept defeat, she tried to come up with another line of reasoning why Jared should help her. Nothing was coming to mind, and before she could say another word, Jared pointed again.
“Go, Keely!” It was rather aggressive and not usually the tone he took with her. Obviously, his patience was wavering.
There wasn’t anything more to say. But…
“Fine, I’ll go. But just between you and I, this is bullshit. Unfair, unprofessional, and undeserved bullshit. I mean, seriously.” She passed Jared and grabbed the curtain, prepared to make her dramatic exit. “What the hell does a girl have to do around here to get a goddamn promotion?”
“Keely!” Jared snapped and reached for her arm, but she yanked it away before he made contact.
She ripped back the curtain and stormed onto the balcony. She only made it a few feet when she abruptly halted.
Oh shit!
Keely darted her gaze over the balcony and met the stare of every man there. This was bad. Like, really bad. Trey, Rogue, and Nash were seated at a table with Caine standing a few feet away.
If she could dig deep into her imagination and come up with the worst possible situation to find herself in, it wouldn’t even be this bad.
From the expression on their faces, there was little doubt that they had heard her outburst. Trey narrowed his gaze, and Rogue looked as though he was ready to toss her across the room.
One of the first rules she’d been told when she started at the Bowery was never get on Rogue’s radar. And here I am.
Jared sidled up next to her, grabbing her arm and nudging her past the bar. “Apologies for the interruption. She was just heading back to work.”
He may not have been on board with talking to Trey on her behalf, but Jared was proving himself loyal and saving her ass. She picked up the pace and made it to the landing. So close to a getaway.
“Get your ass over here!” Rogue’s voice boomed through the entire balcony. Possibly through the whole club. Keely saw the staff below all look up, including her brother. Killian’s face paled, and she read his lips. “What the hell did you do?”
“Fuck,” Jared muttered and lightly tugged on her arm.
There was no escaping Rogue. She was led across the room to their table.
She shifted her gaze to Nash. He didn’t seem as annoyed as Trey and Rogue, though she was reading his concern.
Keely didn’t even bother looking over at Caine.
This would be horrible on its own, but having him witness the inevitable berating and humiliation?
I’ll never recover from this.
“Is there a fucking problem?” Rogue snapped, and she shuddered, drawing her gaze to him. He raised his brows. “Fucking speak.”
Keely shifted on her feet, forcing a smile. “I don’t have a problem.”
“Really? ’Cause it sounded like you have a big fucking problem. Big enough to be screaming about it.” He rested back in his chair, glaring. “Let’s fucking hear it.”
“Rogue, she…” Jared was once again trying to save her, but Rogue wasn’t going to allow any interference.
“Shut the fuck up. I’m talking to her.”
Shit.
Her silence was only making it worse, prolonging the inevitable and angering Rogue at the same time.
Keely was notoriously known for her sassy attitude and quick wit.
But under these circumstances, she was struggling to come up with a believable lie that would get her out of this mess. She settled on the truth.
“I was unhappy about getting passed over for a promotion.”
There. She said it. It was honest. And valid. Lots of people would’ve had similar responses to losing a promotion? Disappointment was a natural emotion. Of course, most people wouldn’t be as vocal. Or loud. Or unprofessional. Oh damn, I’m screwed.
He eyed her, slowly nodding. It was always hard to get a read on Rogue. He only had one expression. Angry as fuck. His silence only heightened her anxiety and she clasped her hands, squeezing them tightly.
“How long you been working here?”
Keely swallowed the knot in her throat. “Eighteen months as a barback.”
Rogue hummed. “Never been moved up to bartender? That doesn’t sound right.”
It wasn’t. Most barbacks, if they’d lasted a year, were promoted into the rotation as bartenders. Keely had been continuously waiting for eighteen months and passed over. It wasn’t right. Or fair. Finally, someone was recognizing the injustice.
This was a strange but welcomed turn of events. Rogue acknowledging she’d been wronged in this situation? And he was taking her side? She hadn’t seen this coming. She’d expected a reprimand, not support from the most unlikely source. Her tension eased, and she relaxed her shoulders.
Thank you, Rogue.
He turned to Trey and gestured toward Keely. “That doesn’t sound fucking fair , Trey.”
Trey narrowed his gaze, subtly angling his head. “Rogue.”
It sounded like a warning.
“How the fuck is it fair that after eighteen months of fucking around and not doing her job, racking up the most write-ups without getting fired, she hasn’t been promoted?
” His glare hardened, aimed directly at Keely.
“That’s a fucking record here. And how many altercations you get into with customers? ”
Shit!