“Working?”
“Yeah, as a bartender in a tavern in the city.”
The veins in my head begin to throb. I told her to quit that job. She defied me and didn’t even have the good sense to tell me. Part of me is relieved that it’s all there is to it, but this won’t go unpunished.
“Do you want us to go in and get her?”
“No, just keep an eye on the place. Give me the address. I’m on my way.”
6
JESSIE
There’s a huge crowd at the bar tonight, and the tips are flowing.
I barely have a moment to think, but when I have, I can’t help but worry about my situation with Jack. He seemed so angry with me this morning, and I know I have to try to make things right. I’ve decided that tonight will be my last night at the tavern.
As much as I would love to have the extra money, I agreed to quit and needed to keep my word. He and Macy are already too important for me to risk losing them.
“These two over here are up to something,” the other female bartender on staff tonight says.
I look over and see two guys, maybe a bit older than me, stealing glances at me and whispering to each other. One of them sees me watching them, nudges the other, and they both approach the bar.
“What can I get you?” I ask the blonde one who leans across the bar.
“Your name for starters. Then hers,” he says, pointing to my coworker.
“I meant to drink. What can I get you to drink?”
“Two beers. Now, that name?”
“Jessie.” Without paying him too much attention, I fill two glasses from the tap of house brew, my fingers working on the tap handle. I’ve been working here long enough that I can do it with my eyes closed.
I slide the glasses toward them and grab a white cloth to wipe the polished mahogany.
The man takes a sip of the beer before his heavy-lidded gaze lands on me again. “So, where are we going when you get off tonight, Jessie?”
I do my best to be polite and shrug. “I’m going home.”
I turn to walk to the other end of the bar, but he grabs my hand and yanks me back.
“Wait. That’s not very nice, is it? We were just getting to know each other and you turned your back on me.”
“Look, I’m just here to serve drinks. I’m not looking for a hookup.” I stare daggers at him as I try to pull my hand out of his grip.
“Hookup? Did I say anything about hooking up? You have a dirty mind, Jessie. I like it.” He looks at his friend who laughs to egg him on.
“You need to let go of me,” I demand but he pulls me even closer, his hold like a vise.
“I don’t need to do anything. You just suggested a hookup and now I want you to follow through with it. You don’t know who I am, but I could buy and sell you a thousand times over.”
“With his daddy’s money,” my coworker chimes in.
The man’s face turns a light shade of purple and he barks, “Shut up, bitch. You don’t even have a daddy.”
“Let me go or I’ll have you tossed out,” I grit out.
He chuckles again and says, “You can try but I’ll have you fired.”