Chapter 7
“The big money is in the house tonight. If I were you, I’d go freshen up and get ready to cash in,” Stevie said as she made her way behind the bar.
“Girl, the last thing on my mind is smiling in a nigga’s face. I have too much on my plate for that.”
“See, that’s ya problem, Ms. Independent.
You’re so used to taking care of everything and everyone that you refuse to see how easy your life could be if you let a man take care of you.
If anything on your plate has to do with money, I’m sure there’s a man in this lounge that would eat that right up for you.
Real men are natural problem solvers, and even losers will pay to have you on their arm these days. ”
Dru couldn’t deny that. When Stevie realized Dru was considering her words, she added, “I’ll cover the bar while you go freshen up. But don’t take long. You know I only know how to pour shots and make a green tea shot.”
Dru laughed as she quickly made her way from behind the bar.
She couldn’t deny that they were filling up quickly.
Mike had already warned her that a VIP customer was having his birthday celebration there that night, but she didn’t know who it was.
Unlike the bottle girls who got information on who their customers would be, Dru was kept in the dark since she was behind the bar.
The only thing Mike told her was to have a heavy pour so the customers would tip more.
She made her way to the employee lounge and grabbed her small duffel bag, then got comfortable in front of the body-length mirror in the corner.
Dru made quick work of adding blush, a pair of wispy lashes, and lip stain.
She refreshed her Sol de Janeiro 62 body mist and perfume, then pulled her locs up into her signature messy bun.
With a shrug of her shoulder, she looked herself over once more before heading back outside.
In that small amount of time, Dru already had five drink orders waiting.
While Stevie poured the shots, Dru handled the mixed drinks.
Dru locked in and was in her zone as the orders continued to pile up.
Being a bartender may not have been what she wanted to do with her life, but she was damn good at it, and the tips on good nights couldn’t be beat.
If she could choose to do anything with her life, Dru would have gone to college and gotten a degree in Fine Arts.
She loved art, and she loved painting. Her mother would always tell her she’d never make money with her art, so when she graduated high school, it was a no-brainer for her to get a job that would allow her to quickly help pay the bills.
There were times she regretted not getting her degree, because even if she didn’t make it as a famous artist, she could have worked in an art gallery or as an art buyer, but she’d sacrificed her dream to make sure her family would be okay.
“Ayo, I need everybody in the muthafuckin’ building to lift your glasses in the air,” the deejay yelled into the microphone, gaining Dru’s attention. “It’s my man Lorenzo’s birthday. Everybody say, happy birthday, Zo!”
Almost everyone in the lounge screamed “Happy birthday, Zo!” including Dru.
Her eyes scanned the crowd, landing on Lorenzo in the VIP section.
She knew his face well, though she’d only spoken to him in passing a handful of times.
While Dru didn’t know who he worked for in The Syndicate, she knew he held a position of power, because all he ever did was relay messages and pick up money from Tina.
An idea hatched in her brain. Maybe Lorenzo could throw some work her way so she could try and make the money Galloway was demanding she pay.
Dru still couldn’t believe he expected her to come up with ninety thousand dollars in thirty days.
Well, twenty nine days. She’d called Vontae, and he assured her he had no idea Galloway would cross her, but unfortunately, he made it clear that there was nothing he could do.
He also urged her to get the money any way she could, because Galloway didn’t play about his money.
If he told her he would kill her or sell her and her sister, Galloway meant that.
The more Vontae shared with her about Galloway and his operation, the more she regretted going to him for help.
Not only was he known to have a human trafficking ring, but he had a reputation of crossing people and doing bad business.
As much as Dru wanted to blame Vontae for connecting her with a man who had the nickname of Monster in the underground world, she knew it was her fault for not trusting her gut when something told her there was something off about Galloway.
Her desire for Quenton to be punished was so strong she ignored her intuition, and now, she knew to never do that again.
“Hey,” Dru called in Stevie’s direction. “I’m caught up here. Can you take a round of shots up to the VIP section and give the birthday boy a note for me?”
“Sure! You’re going for the biggest fish in the sea tonight, huh?”
Dru laughed and ignored her question as she quickly scribbled a message on a napkin for Lorenzo.
Zo,
Come to the bar please. I need to ask you something.
Dru (Tina’s daughter)
“Okay, give that napkin to him, and tell him the shots are on me,” Dru said, lining a few shot glasses up and filling them with Hennessy.
“Gotchu.”
Dru watched as Stevie made her way from behind the bar.
Stevie was probably the closest thing she’d had to a friend since Dru graduated high school.
Her life had been so busy with work and taking care of her sister that it didn’t seem fair trying to be anyone’s friend, knowing she didn’t have time to talk and hang out.
Any relationships she had over the years were with coworkers, and once she left that job, she stopped talking to them too.
Not expecting Lorenzo to come down immediately, Dru busied herself with restocking and checking on the customers that were sitting at the bar.
She made small talk and flirted here and there to make sure her tips would be as high as possible for that night.
At the sound of Stevie calling her name, Dru looked to the left of the bar, smiling at the sight of Lorenzo.
He looked good as hell in all white that beautifully complemented his dark brown skin.
As attractive as he was, seeing him reminded Dru of the man she saw earlier at the grocery store.
Caden Spencer.
He was the finest man she’d ever seen in her life.
And on top of that, he was generous. She’d heard stories of a man coming into the store and buying everyone’s groceries, but up until that day, she hadn’t seen it for herself.
So many customers cried and expressed joy and relief over being able to put that money toward something else, and Dru understood all too well how that felt.
She hadn’t been able to get the act of kindness out of her mind, or her heart, and she also hadn’t been able to get the sight of Caden out of her memory.
Though she knew she was attractive, she couldn’t believe Caden had flirted with her. She expected a man like him to be with a model or a woman with money that aligned with his life, not a cashier and bartender.
Dru took the time to pour a man another shot before scurrying down to the end of the bar. The lounge was so loud she had to scream over the music, and for the conversation she wanted to have, that wouldn’t work.
“Take a walk with me,” she requested, and Lorenzo agreed.
She made her way from behind the bar, looking over her shoulder once more to make sure no one was looking for her to refill their drink, before leading Lorenzo toward the hall where the bathrooms were.
They made their way through other patrons like their bodies were a maze, with blue and red lighting bouncing off them.
“Wassup witchu?” Lorenzo asked once they were in the bright, empty hallway. “You good?”
“I don’t really know how to answer that,” she admitted. “I need to make some extra money. Can I make some deliveries for you?”
His brows wrinkled and mouth twisted to the side before he shook his head. “Nah, Dru. I know I’on really know you like that, but I know you a good girl. I ain’t letting you ride around with my shit on you.”
“Look.” Her hands lifted, and she chuckled in an attempt to calm herself. “I don’t really care about being a good girl, Zo. I need to make damn near a hundred K in thirty days. Less actually.”
His eyes widened, and he turned her slightly when three women walked down the hall.
“The fuck have you gotten yourself into? Or is this your mama?”
“Kind of both. I don’t really have a lot of time to talk now. I just need to know if you can put me on or not. I’m not asking you for the money. I don’t need a handout. I’m more than willing to work.”
“How? You work two jobs, right? How in the fuck can you do that plus make deliveries for me?”
“Dru!” Mike called. “You got orders flying in, girl.”
Groaning, Dru pushed herself off the wall. “Just think about it; let me know before you leave . . . please.”
After giving his arm a squeeze, she quickly made her way back to the bar. Dru didn’t know exactly how much her mother got paid making deliveries for Lorenzo, but at that point, any amount she could get would help.