Page 5 of Zenith
“Rivers, darling,” she purred in a thick French accent. “If you’ve come to tease me some more, then you can just turn around and walk back the way you came in.”
“No teasing tonight,” he replied, his smile wide. “I’ll take two pints of the house swill if you please.”
“Two?” she asked, glancing at me.
“Two.”
Her brown eyes sparkled, and she tossed her matching hair back over her shoulder as she pulled down on the tap and began filling the first pint glass with beer. She was the embodiment of a typical French girl, tall and willowy, her words spilling forth with absolutely no thought, her accent causing her to trip over her English. It was endearing in a way, and I felt a surge of jealousy at the ease in which she carried herself. Adele did not care one bit about what anyone thought of her, no matter who they were.
“This is Jane,” Rivers said as Adele placed the first beer on the bar.
“Hello.” I smiled as she glanced at me.
“Nice to meet you,” she said. “They call me Adele Varens. Are you and Rivers dating?”
I laughed and covered my mouth with my hand as I shook my head.
“Not in the slightest I’m afraid,” he said with amusement.
“Then she has brains, and for that, I already like her,” Adele quipped, pouring the second beer.
“You don’t happen to know if Gibbons is looking for more staff, do you?” he asked. “Jane is in a bind and is looking for some employment.”
“I would do just about anything given the opportunity,” I said, chiming in.
“I like how you said ‘just about anything’,” she replied, a twinkle in her eye. “Us women have to keep some standards. We always have staff coming in and out of this place, so there might be a little something. Don’t let that put you off, though. Bar work is very transitory, and one has to have a strong disposition to be able to put up with drunken louts on football nights. I would have to ask Mr. Gibbons as he’s the owner.”
“If you could,” I said. “I have the experience.”
She shrugged but agreed. “Leave it with me, and enjoy your beer. I’ll see if I can convince him to come and see you.” Then she disappeared, leaving me alone with Rivers.
“Don’t worry, Jane,” he said. “I know Gibbons, and he’s a hard man, but he has a knack for sizing up people. He will see what I see, and you’ll be out of the black and pouring beer in no time.”
“And what do you see?” I asked, hardly understanding why I tempted fate by asking him at all.
All he did was wink before sipping at his drink.
Adele returned not ten minutes later, followed by a man I assumed was the proprietor.
“This is Mr. Gibbons, the owner,” she said, confirming it. “If you want work, he’s the man you should talk to.”
He was a gargantuan man, quite robust and broad chested, his head devoid of hair, and his eyes seemed sharp as if they never missed a trick. He had a formidable look about him, but I didn’t allow it to intimidate me. Confidence was key.
“And who do we have here?” he rumbled, looking me over.
“My name is Jane Doe, sir,” I said, and he raised an eyebrow as all people did when they heard it. “I know the name might seem strange to you, but it’s mine and not some fancy ploy. I wish to find some employment, and I assure you, I am suitably qualified and ready and willing to work. I have much experience—”
Mr. Gibbons waved his hand at me with a grunt, and I glanced at Adele nervously, but she didn’t seem to be worried about his reaction. Was this a good sign, or had I already been dismissed before I could make my case?
“You’ve worked a bar before?” he asked, and I nodded. “You know how to pour a beer?” I nodded again. “Work a mop?” Another nod on my behalf. “Handle a drunk buffoon?” I nodded a fourth time. He spent a good two minutes looking me over with a keen eye, and then he seemed satisfied. “We’ll start you on Monday and Tuesdays. It’s quiet then, and we can see how you go. If you’re good, then you get more hours. Simple. I suppose you want cash in hand.”
“Yes, sir. I would prefer it.”
“You in trouble?”
“No, sir.”
“Then that’s all I need to know, but I will be watching to see if you do your bit. If you’re a slacker, then you’re out. Come back tomorrow at four,” he said. “Adele will help since the woman has taken a liking to you.” He nodded at her and strode off, disappearing back from whence he came.
