Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Good. Good. Have you worked in a bar before, sweet cheeks?” he asks.
I can’t lie about that. Two minutes behind that bar and he’ll know I don’t know the first thing about bar tending.
“No, but I’m a very fast learner,” I say quickly.
“Can you put on a pretty smile and carry a tray?”
I give him my best smile. “That I absolutely can do.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “Yup, you’ll do. You keep that smile up. The regulars here like their waitresses smiling and happy as a pig in shit… and they’re big on cleavage. The more the better… It’ll show on your tips. You get me?”
I get him alright. I nod, forcing my smile to be wider, showing even more teeth.
“That’s better. If you work here, you’ll be working late most nights. Definitely weekend nights. You ok with that?”
I nod again. It’s not like I have any sort of social life, anyway.
“And there’ll be none of this bleeding-heart feminism bullshit. Our regulars like a joke and sometimes, those jokes could be seen as offensive. Your job is to laugh at them and not get your panties in a twist. Clear?”
It’s clear. If I work here, I’ll have to accept all of the pervy comments thrown my way and any groping without complaint and with a big smile plastered on my face. But at least here, I’ll be able to leave when my shift is over.
I nod again. “Sure. It’s all said in fun, right?”
“That’s the spirit. No snowflakes in this establishment.” Larry grins. “One more question. Can you start right now? One of my waitresses called in sick today and I think you can see we’re kind of short-staffed tonight.”
My eyes widen, trying to take his words in. Wow, I got a job! I actually freaking did it. The smile on my face is genuine this time as I nod vigorously.
Larry laughs. “You’ll be working around twenty hours a week, maybe more. The pay is rubbish, but smile like that honey, and you’ll make a king’s ransom in tips.”
Crappy hours, bad pay, horrible customers, and a lecherous boss. It sounds like hell on earth, but it’s a job. A life saver! I can do this for a few months. I’m certain it won’t be half as bad as living with Dan.
“Wait here,” Larry says, pushing his heavy body upright.
He leaves the office and I take a moment to compose myself a little bit. I can’t let myself seem too thrilled about this. Larry will think something strange is up if I do.
“Greg. Greg. Get out here,” I hear him yelling.
He comes back into the office a few minutes later with the bartender I spoke to when I first came in.
“Greg. Amelia. Amelia. Greg. Amelia’s starting as a waitress tonight. Get her a uniform and show her where everything is. Ten minutes,” Larry says.
I get to my feet as Greg rushes me out of the office.
“Don’t I need to fill out any paperwork or sign anything?” I ask.
Larry shakes his head, then he and Greg laugh. It seems like lying about my age had really been totally unnecessary. Larry and employment laws seem to be living in different worlds. I shrug. I remind myself this is not a bad thing. Just suck it up, Amelia. You need the money. Badly.
I follow Greg down the grubby hallway into what I assume is the staff room. It’s reasonably clean and there are lockers, which must be a good sign.
“Grab locker two,” Greg says.
There are only five lockers. I go to locker two, open it, shove my bag in, turn the lock, take the key out, and turn back to Greg. He’s looking me up and down critically. Not again. My disgust must have shown on my face because Greg laughs.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he says. “I’m working out what size uniform would fit you.”
“You could just ask me,” I point out.
He grins. “I could, but it wouldn’t help much. The uniforms are pretty old. Most of the labels are washed clean.”
“Ahhh.”
Greg nods and disappears, leaving me standing there. I’m still in shock so I appreciate the little alone time to gather my thoughts, but he comes back quickly, holding up a black short skirt, a frilly little apron, and a black top that looks smaller than what I’m used to wearing.
He looks at my sneakers and winces. “They’ll have to do tonight, but for your next shift, you’ll need black stilettos. At least three-inch heels, but the higher the better,” he says. He holds the clothes out to me. “I’ll wait in the hallway while you put these on. Don’t be long.”
I change quickly, wanting to make sure I don’t give Larry any reason to come looking for me while I’m undressed. The skirt is a decent enough fit, but the vest… wow, it feels as if my boobs are falling out of it. I stuff my clothes into the locker with my bag and push the key into the pocket of my skirt. Then I open the door to go out.