Page 29 of Game Changer

“Alright, down you get. And remember no posting to social media right now okay.”

“I pinkie promised you. I’d never break that.” She bats her lashes at me and somehow, I don’t believe her.

I serve her and her gaggle of friends and watch them totter away. Tending the bar in a busy establishment isn’t a good idea if I want to stay under the radar.

I tend to the rest of the customers at the bar and clean up the counters. Looking around this beautiful place, I’m filled with so much pride for Zara and what she’s achieved with her life.

“Hey, Buckie thank you.” Zara slides herself behind the bar and hugs me. Folding my arms around her, I hold her tight.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. There’s been a bit of a crisis with the staff rotas. Well not a little crisis a big one. My lunch manager gave too many people the day off today and then texted me and quit this morning. I want to believe she didn’t sabotage me on purpose, but I’m not so sure.”

“Ugh, that’s not great. Make sure if she has anyone contact you for a reference you be honest.”

“Hmm I don’t know that anyone would be that stupid to give the boss they fucked over as a reference. Although sometimes people surprise you. I’ve managed to get some cover and now I need to find myself a new manager. I hate this. She was good at her job. I don’t know what happened and if I’m at all honest I’m worried that something bad has happened to her. I’m going to have to try and reach out to her. Even if it’s only to put my mind at ease.”

“I’ll stay with you until your cover gets here. But I’ll need to get back to the hotel to move all my stuff out and into my apartment. Wait till you see the place. It’s amazing.”

“I bet it is. The Park Circus area is very nice indeed. That building you’re in has been under renovation for a long time. It’ll be interesting to see what the developers have done with it. I’ll help you move in if you want.”

“That would be amazing. I don’t have a ton of stuff at the hotel, but I do need to organise the place.”

“Done. Now I think it’s high time you made me a cocktail, Mr. Best Bartender in Glasgow.”

I wink at her. “You’re on. Go and sit at the bar. I’ll even give you my best Tom Cruise moves.”

I’m about to suggest a drink for her when the song that’s playing ends. I smile as that unmistakable Prince guitar rift sounds through the speakers.

I tilt my head to her. “Purple Rain?”

“Oh my God yes. I love that cocktail.”

“Done.”

I pull all the ingredients and set them out on the bar. Then I get to work, tossing glasses and shakers. I remember the way the bar patrons would whoop with delight when we used to do this years ago. One of my colleagues and I perfected a routine and had it down to a tee. Totally in sync, we used to mesmerise people. I realise how much I miss that simple life.

“Alright here we go.” I pull the bottles up one by one throwing and catching everything to make the act more sensational. Thankfully I haven’t forgotten how to do all this. “One and a half shots of Absolut Citron. One shot of Blue Curaçao. Half a shot of grenadine. Ice and shake it up, with flair obviously.” I do some of my old moves, tossing the Boston shaker up in the air and catching it behind my back.

“Ooh you’re still as good as ever at that.”

I love that she’s impressed. I stick a blackberry on a skewer and set it against the edge of a martini glass and garnish it with a slice of lime. Pouring in the vivid purple liquid and topping it off with lemonade finishes the drink. It’s perfect.

“Purple rain, purple rain,” I sing to her as I slide the glass across the bar. I’m taken by surprise when a loud collective whoop and cheer comes from behind Zara. A crowd I haven’t noticed has formed there, watching what I’m doing.

“Ha ha you’ve got a fan club.”

I step back from the bar and take a bow. “I thank you. I’m here for a little while yet, anyone else want a cocktail? You name it, I’ll make it.”

The orders come flying in and Zara comes to help me behind the bar. We laugh for the best part of an hour mixing concoction after concoction. I’ve only needed google once the entire time because someone ordered a cocktail I’d never made before.

I’m a little disheartened when the relief bar staff turn up. I’ve been having so much fun I’ve hardly noticed the time flying by. We let them get on with serving their customers and order ourselves some food. We take a seat at one of the tables on the mezzanine of the bistro.

“Well, you went down a storm with the customers. I don’t think that bar has been as busy since I opened this place.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever been in so many selfies either. Cue the social media storm tomorrow.” I shake my head knowing that the fallout from this will end up like a game of Chinese whispers. “I wonder what story the gossip mongers will fabricate about me this week. You know it’s the only thing I hate about being in the public eye. It’s relentless.”

“I understand that. It can’t be easy trying to live a normal life when everyone wants a piece of you. But as much as you’re a big movie star and all, those people at the bar were actually more interested in what you were doing. It was fun to watch. I haven’t had that much of a laugh at work in such a long time. Oh,” she says grabbing my arm. “Wait till you hear what Blair has suggested for this place. She’s a damn genius.”

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