Page 81 of The Blue Rose
I stand up, offering her my hand, she hesitantly grabs it. “Do you want to celebrate my birthday with me?” I ask, putting on my fake smile, the one that makes pretentious girls like her swoon.
“Why? So, you can seduce me and I get you in for free? Ha! Nice try. Thanks, but no thanks.” She rips her hand out of mine, “You need to leave before I call the manager.”
Amused, I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the wall. “Go ahead.”
She huffs out a breath and takes out her phone, tapping her foot while she waits for an answer. After the third ring a voice on the other end answers. His voice is muffled, but she tells him a customer is saying he knows the owner, is trying to get in for free and he needs to come here right away. She hangs up with a satisfied smile on her face.
“You’re going to regret testing me.”
I shrug. “We’ll see.”
A few minutes later, a familiar freckled face comes walking through the door, chest puffed out and face red. She runs into his arms and buries her face into his shoulder. He hasn’t even looked at me yet, but I know he’ll be sorry once he does.
“Baby, this guy,” she motions towards me, lip jutting out, and clutching his shirt. “threatened me and won’t leave.” She nuzzles into his arms, he kisses her head and shushes her, mumbling something I can’t hear. When he finally looks up, he sees me, the blood drains from his face, and the words about to leave his tongue evaporate.
Of course, this chick is dating one of the few people who actually know my identity.
He pushes her off of him. “Shit, Aster; I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at Sherry; she doesn’t know any better. She’s new. I got her the job, cause she loves to act, and I thought she would do great-”
I hold my hand up and step off the wall.Her name is Sherry, and her hobby is acting?I scoff, looping my thumbs into my belt loops. Of course it is; with her dyed red hair and stamped on freckles, she looks like she’s always trying to be something she isn’t. No wonder she wants to play a zombie. She wants to act like her true self: dead inside.She’s probably just using Sam to get in here free and experience what Graves truly is. Plus, as a worker you get three free tickets to give to your family or friends as an added perk to the job.
He nudges her forward. “He knows the owner; I forgot to brief you since you missed orientation. I show all the employees a picture of Aster, letting them know he's a family friend of the owner and gets in for free. He usually only comes on Halloween, or lets me know when he’s coming, and has keys, but I guess he forgot this time.” He raises his eyebrow, making the last comment a subtle dig.
“She skipped orientation, and she’s still working here?” I ask, annoyed one of my trusted employees is bending the rules for his plaything.
He looks away in shame. “Yeah, but I was going to brief her later. Then things happened, and I forgot. Totally on me; sorry.” He elbows her in the side. “Say sorry.”
She crosses her arms. “Why should I? It’syourfault I didn’t know about him, and you already apologized.”
He drags his hand down his face. “Sherry,please.”
“Please what? I’m not doing it; I don’t care if he knows the owner,” she says with an attitude.
“Sherry-,” he groans.
“Sherry was it?” I ask.
“You heard it several times; what are you, slow and stupid?”
“Sherry, shut the fuck up,” Sam begs.
I light another cigarette, the flame illuminating my face. “You’re fired.”
“You can’t fire me!” she bellows.
“Actually, I can; you want to know a little secret?”
She throws her hands in the air, “Do something, Sam! He can’t fire me.”
I give Sam a look and nod toward the door. He leaves without argument.I’ll deal with him later and fire his fling who has no respect working in my establishment.
I walk around Sherry, my hands clasped behind my back. “Remember when I told you, if you knew the secret identity of the owner, I’d have to kill you?”
Her spine straightens, and I can see her forehead starting to sweat through her makeup. “Yeah, but you don’t actually know, do you? It’s just a ploy; Sam is just covering for you.”
“You’ll never know.” she shrinks away, her body recognizing the danger before her mind does. “Now get your shit and leave. I was serious when I said you were fired.”
She doesn’t say anything, just stomps out the door, and slams it behind her.
