Page 14 of Scorch

Silas walked into the room an hour before my shift was over and came directly to me.I had a tray of drinks in my hand.He took the tray from me.

“I need you to go to the Winchester Parlor.Garrett is here and is requesting you.”

Me?Oh, heck no.I wasn’t his new blow-job bitch.

“Why me?Why not Eliana?”

Silas gave me a pointed look.“We don’t ask Garrett questions.We do what he says.Did you learn nothing from him firing you?Now, go.”

I wanted to blurt out that I wasn’t going to whore myself out for this job, but there was that dangerous thing, and I didn’t want to get Josephine in trouble for telling me about the blow jobs.Reluctantly, I headed for the door.If Garrett thought I was going to go down on my knees in gratitude, I would just quit.The walk to the Winchester Parlor, I hyped myself up, telling myself that this was going to be okay.Maybe he just wanted to ask me about work, or maybe Eliana had lied about me and he was going to fire me again.

When I opened the heavy wooden door and went inside, my eyes met Leo’s.He grinned at me, then nodded his head back toward Garrett’s area with a knowing look.I made my way back to the right corner.

The sight of Garrett alone sent off warning bells, and I paused, staring at him.

He held a cigar between his teeth and took it out as his eyes met mine.“Fawn,” he said in that low, deep voice.

For a fleeting moment, I completely understood Eliana’s willingness to get on her knees, but I shoved that thought away.I needed to be slapped.

“Hello, Mr.Hughes.What can I get for you this evening?”I replied as formally and respectfully as I could muster.

A half grin played on his lips, and then he put the cigar back in his mouth while he studied me.I stood there, going over every scenario that could play out here and tried to prepare myself for how I would react to it.

Finally, he took the cigar from his lips.“I’d like a glass of my scotch.”

I nodded once.“Yes, sir,” I replied, then quickly escaped the lair.

Leo was watching me as I approached.

“He wants his scotch.I am hoping you know what that is,” I told him.

Leo slid it across the bar to me.It was already prepared.“I think I might just get my five hundred back, but even if I don’t, the look on Eliana’s face when he requested you will keep my heart warm and happy for years to come.”

I rolled my eyes and took the drink, placed it on a tray, then headed back to Garrett.

Eliana walked from one of the other nooks, and her eyes locked on me.The hateful gleam in them was more intense than usual.She took two strides until she was almost so close that she was touching me.“Don’t think for a second that this means anything,” she said under her breath.“He won’t choose you over me.”

I said nothing and continued on my way.She wanted a reaction from me, but I wasn’t going to give her one.Truth was, I might not be here long anyway.If the man wanted me to suck him off, then I was quitting.I was no one’s whore.

Stepping under the arch, I found Garrett reading a newspaper.I was unaware people still read newspapers.That one looked like one of the rich-men papers.The one with stocks and stuff in it.That fit Mr.Rich Rancher Man.

He lifted his gaze to mine as I walked over and set his scotch down on the side table beside him.“Can I get you anything else, Mr.Hughes?”I asked him.

He said nothing, but kept his eyes on me as he laid the paper down and picked up his glass.I waited patiently while he swirled the liquid around, making me uncomfortable with his steady gaze.Why wasn’t he talking?Telling me I could go?I wanted out of here.

“Silas says you have learned quickly and will be an asset,” he finally said.

“I’m glad he’s happy with my performance,” I replied.

Garrett set his glass down.“Yes, well, Silas is a man.A weak man.Good worker, intelligent, but weak.I can’t help but be concerned, knowing your past behavior, that his praise isn’t because of something more than your work here.”

What was he talking about?My past behavior?What past behavior?I stood there, staring at him, completely confused.Was this still about the night he had fired me?Was he not going to let that go?

“I’m sorry, sir.I am not sure what you mean.”

He raised his eyebrows, as if he was amused.I shifted my feet, feeling like I was missing something important here, but for the life of me, I had no idea what it was.

“Our servers here are expected to do their job well.This isn’t a biker club, and sleeping with those in charge won’t benefit you.”

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