Page 3 of Claiming Kenna

“Just to give you a heads up, boss is in a mood tonight,” he stated, giving me a look full of pity.

“Why?”

“Friday nights are our busiest nights and a few people have called in sick. He is serving drinks tonight with you,” Buster confirmed. I bit the inside of my cheek nervously. Our boss never worked behind the bar.

“Hopefully time goes fast tonight then,” I uttered, trying to find the silver lining. I loved my job. My tiredness and bad mood was just making it hard to find the positives in life at the moment but I still tried where I could.

It was just before opening so the bar was empty of party goers and staff were humming with energy setting up the DJ area and doing final once overs with cleaning. I took a deep breath in, when I saw my boss behind the bar looking like he wanted to throttle someone. I hurried over, throwing my backpack under the bar and smoothed my fly away hairs back tucking them into my ponytail. I tugged my puffer jacket off my shoulders and found some spare space to tuck it away for the night.

“Hi Henry,” I acknowledged my boss. He was a tall, slim man with ebony skin and short, buzz cut black hair. He nodded in my direction then carried on tipping ice cubes into the large stainless steel sink. Not taking it personally, I dismissed his hostility and grabbed out some lemons to start cutting them into wedges. Twenty minutes later, I had a good pile of lemons and Henry and I had settled ourselves into opposite ends of the bar now the club was open and patrons were starting to arrive.

Withmyperfectsmilestill plastered on my face an hour later, I was elbows deep in tequila sunrises. A hen party had come in earlier and Mexican was their theme for the night. They had all downed a lot of tequila already and it made me wonder if they held a secret to not getting hangovers or if tomorrow they will be in a world of trouble. I handed over the eftpos machine to the bridesmaid who had made their order and let my eyes roam over to Henry to see how he was getting on over his side. I had stolen a few glances during the last hour but I was so busy myself I was in no position to offer my help.

It looked like he was snapping at his customers and making a mess everywhere from the drinks he was pouring. I sighed and shook my head then turned back to the bridesmaid. “Thankyou,” I smiled and took the card machine back off her. She strolled off without a word or smile in my direction for that matter.BitchI silently screamed.

“Kenna, can you clean up this mess please,” Henry yelled from his side of the bar.

“I am busy down this end,” I voiced loudly back wondering why he can’t clean up his own mess.

“Two vodka and red bulls please,” a young guy ordered in front of me. I looked him over wondering how he got in here because even I could tell he was under age.

“Yeap, can I please see some ID first?”

“I showed my ID to get in here.” He muttered looking angry now.

“I know I just want to check it again please,” I insisted.

“I don’t have to show you my ID,” he seethed and narrowed his eyes at me.

I rolled my eyes and made two drinks for him because I couldn’t be bothered holding up the queue waiting for Buster or another security guard to come in and assist me. Then he turned to leave once I slid the drinks across the bar. “You need to pay for those,” I fumed.

“Nah they can be on the house for the treatment you just gave me,” he threw over his shoulder and walked off. I stood there bewildered. How did I go from loving this job to absolutely hating it so rapidly.

“Hey miss, are you going to serve us?” A group of young girls near chanted in unison.

“Kenna! I can’t make drinks with puddles of alcohol under my feet. It is a safety hazard!” Henry shouted. I inhaled and exhaled looking around at the chaos. I patted my pants pocket that had a few notes in it from tonight’s tips and reminded myself why I was doing this.

“What do you girls want to drink?” I offered.

“Gin and tonic please,” they all chimed in.

“Sure,” I replied and made gin and tonics in record time. I handed the card machine across the bar then went over to Henry.

I grabbed two large towels and got on my hands and knees to soak up the alcohol. Mopping up the sticky residue that will be left over will have to wait till later. I was near finished when Henry stepped back into me crushing a few of my fingers in the same motion.“Fuck!” I yelled out. Henry spun around, twisting his foot on my hand and scolded me for getting in his way.

“You have to be joking?” I managed between my shock and growing anger. I was feeling extremely overwhelmed and like a volcano ready to erupt.

“Get back to your side of the bar Kenna. You have lines of people waiting for drinks getting angry.”

I slowly stood and gave my hand a once over. My fingers were throbbing in pain but I gave them a small wriggle and knew they were not broken. Then I walked over to my side of the bar where I was met with animosity from the waiting customers, but ignoring them I grabbed my backpack and puffer jacket and walked out. Flipping the bird over my shoulder as I walked out from behind the bar. After shrugging my puffer jacket on I pulled my tips out of my pocket to count the money I had made. There was enough for a taxi to the other side of town. I waved out to a taxi that was rolling past me and slid into the cool leather seat when it had stopped. I took a deep breath in and forced back the tears that were threatening to escape. Guilt washed over me because Henry now had to deal with a busy bar on his own but the other part in me reminded me he deserved it. I had been hanging on by a thread for a long time and Henry had pretty much got the scissors and snipped the thread in half.

I gave the taxi directions to my destination and leaned my head back against the seat. I basked in the older car smell and talk show that the aged man was listening to on the radio. I mulled over the fact that I wouldn’t be working with Millie anymore. She will probably hate me for quitting. But I will leave that as tomorrow’s drama and send her a message then.

The taxi slowed down on a busy street I haven’t been to yet and pulled to a complete stop outside a darkened tucked away building. I took in the building and noted that the dimmed LED lights along the front of it, paired with the red velvet rope before the door created a private, enticing vibe. But you would also walk straight past it if you weren’t specifically looking for it. I handed my change over to the taxi driver who thanked me in appreciation and then I opened my door so I could make my way into New York’s Elite Club.

Thisseemedlikeagreat idea fifteen minutes ago. This idea felt like it would solve all of life’s problems. But now standing in front of the frosted glass door I was teetering on the edge of running back to Henry, getting on my knees and asking for my crappy, underpaid job back. The door flicked open in front of me while I was standing there lost in thought and a middle aged man, with a bald head and light grey suit on, walked out. He stopped and let his eyes linger on me appreciatively then he side stepped me and kept going. I had been admired before, even flirted with but this was a straight sexual look full of desire. My skin prickled with a mixture of wariness and empowerment.

I pulled at the door and stepped through the threshold. A staircase went straight down and there were circular wall mounted lights the entire way down to another door. I followed the path of lights down to the solid black door that was covered in a shiny vinyl that indicated gothic themes. I pressed on the door with my flat palms and it slid open. I was taken back by how heavy and solid it was. It was like a concrete pillar. Light flooded me which was a contrast to what I had just come through to get in here. The main area which is what I stepped into was well lit, with black walls and shiny gold trimmings and art work. There were deep red furnishings around the room and a small red desk by the front door. Expensive champagne and whiskey were spread throughout the intimate club and the club was packed full of men and women. All in various ensembles. I scanned the room and saw fully clothed men and women and also women walking around in G strings and high heels only. There were men that had briefs on strolling around in bare feet oozing confidence. Every single person I looked at was comfortable and heavily engaged in their own worlds.

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