"Shit, can this day get any worse? " I mumble to myself, looking down at the spilled pitcher of water. I get to work cleaning and serving the last lingering hotel guest before I end my shift. Working in a hotel restaurant has ups and downs like most jobs. The biggest downside is that snobby people like this barely tip. Being a single mother making three dollars above minimum wage, most of the tips I manage to get are sufficient to fill my tank biweekly. I sigh looking at the time, it is almost 11 p.m, Cataleya should be in bed sleeping right now. Cash has yet to text me and I am starting to get worried, he is one of the least responsible people I know. If his sister was not at his house I would never leave our daughter with him alone.
"Hey, Angel, I need a favor. Jesse called out, something about being sick. Can you cover for him? I will pay you double". My boss, Asia Ramirez, is a reasonable woman and does what she can to look out for us despite the general manager being an asshole.
"I don't know, Cash has Leya and I have to pick her up in 30 minutes. He has never watched her overnight because he has never wanted to and he made it clear that has not changed".
"Just see what you can do and let me know, all right?" Asia leaves as I nod, taking off my apron and disappearing to the back. I check my phone to see that I have five missed calls from Cash. I immediately call him back and it rings six times before Cash finally picks up. Leya is cheering in the background and I hear loud music along with the sound of an engine.
"Where the hell are you taking her at 11 o clock at night, Cash?"
"Watch your fucking mouth, Angelica. I text you two hours ago that you needed to come and pick her up. I told you yesterday I got a show tonight. I'm dropping her off. I got shit to do." "I am at work, Cash, and shit to do? She's your fucking daughter Cash. You cannot just drop her off to a damn bar, where's your sister?"
"I don't know ask her and fuck out of here, Angel what you want me to do bring her to the club? You may work but I work and get actual money. You got pennies that barely fill your tank. Leya say hi to mommy, tell her we will see you soon".
"See you soon, mama" my anger fades as soon as I hear my daughter's voice, he knows I refuse to yell around Leya.
"I love you baby".
"Love you mama".
"Take care of my daughter Cash and do not smoke with her in the car". He scoffs and hangs up without another word and I sigh, rubbing my face. At least the general manager, Mr. Loyd, is not here tonight. He hates it when Cataleya is here with me, but practically being a single mother I have little choice. I straighten myself and make the next call to my aunt.
"This better be important, mija. I have company" I hear women and men laugh in the background, making me groan.
"Never mind, Cash is dropping off Leya and my boss asked me to work a double. I'm working in the bar tonight, I cannot have her here". My daughter is three years old the last place she needs me to be is in a bar, even if it is inside a luxury hotel.
"Oh, sweetheart, give me an hour to kick these people out and cleanup and I will be on my way to get my sobrina". My aunt starts shouting at her guest to get her house cleared out from one of her late night parties but I quickly stop her.
"Really Tia you do not have to do that, I am sure my boss will let her stay in the back office. Thank you though for the offer"
"Are you sure or are you just trying not to be a bother, because you and Leya never are".
"I am sure, thank you Tia. Have fun at your party".
"One of these days you will join me sobrina". We say our goodbyes and I sigh running a hand down my face. Time to go tell Asia there is no way I can stay late. The money would be nice but Cataleya comes first, she should have been in bed hours ago, not being dragged around the city late at night by her father. I go to the Asia's office in the back where she is on the phone. Her face is stern as she holds up a finger for me to wait and I feel my nerves grow as I watch her frown deepen. Nice and fair but Asia is scary as hell pissed off, she takes shit from no one and her tongue lashes worse than a whip. She practically slams the phone down on the desk before looking up at me, an expectant brow raised.
"R-right, u-um...uh.. y-you see...um..."
"Angel, sweetheart, I love you, but I do not have all damn night. What's wrong?" I swallow my nerves, playing with my fingertips as I do everything to avoid her angry gaze. Directed at me or not I do not want to be in the line of that missile.
"Cash is dropping of Cataleya, I am so sorry, I won't be able to cover for Jesse". Asia's face is blank as she studies my nervous form, not helping my anxiety in the slightest. I cannot afford to get fired now, not when I am this close to getting my own place.
"How about a proposition? I will babysit little Leya if you cover for Jesse and close tonight".
"Close? That is like 1 a.m, there is no way I can wake Leya and take her home that late".
"Stay here for the night, I'll still pay you double and the room is free of charge" I glare at the tempting offer from my boss. It would not be the first time we have struck this sort of deal but Leya was younger then. She is three now, she needs structure and a schedule. However, it is late already, the money would be amazing, and Leya does love staying when Asia babysit's. Those two are like old best friends.
"What is the catch?"
"Fallon called out and Shay can't get here for another 45 minutes".
"Seriously?" Fallon and Jesse only called out so they could go on their stupid date tonight. Everybody knows that they are fucking but when they pull this shit it is so annoying.
"I will throw in free breakfast and you know Leya loves our waffles" Asia smiles because we both know I will not refuse a chance to make Leya happy.
"Fine, but I am not cleaning the whole place, only the bar".
"Deal, now get back out there and let me know when Leya arrives. " I leave her office, shaking off any exhaustion. At least the paycheck will be worth the exhaustion. I tend to the patrons waiting at the bar, apologizing for their wait, brushing off the rude comments. I am in the middle of a mini rush, making six drinks when the murmurs of people fill the room. All of the attention is directed to whoever walked in but there is no way I can look up and be nosy right now.
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I'm sure it is just some celebrity anyway. I finish serving the crowd in front of me, taking a momentary break as I wipe down the bar. My moment is interrupted by Asia quickly exiting her office, ignoring me, and making a beeline to two women at a back table. Even from here I can tell she is kissing their ass and that is unlike Asia, even for the more high-profiled guests. I continue my task, occasionally refilling drinks as I make myself busy when the deep penetration of eyes hits my back. I stiffen feeling uneasy as I turn and find the owner of the person staring a whole into my head.
Wow.
She is gorgeous and unlike any other patron I have seen before. She commands the room, everyone is at her attention, hoping to be noticed by the woman. Men and women are drooling over her and her friend but she pays them no attention, as if they do not exist. Perhaps she thinks they are not worth her time, she is probably like the rest of these snobs. I think that, but I have yet to look away. Her eyes are like a snare, her poise similar to a lioness on the prowl, and she is looking right at me. She makes me feel nervous, uneasy but not in a way that is unpleasant. She's intimidating, even from across the room I feel her presence.
"It seems like someone has caught the attention of Jade Knight" Shay comes from behind me, making me jump.
"Holy shit, Shay when did you get here? Don't scare me like that" I take a deep breath while the only person I talk to at this job other than Asia laughs at my distress. Although I am grateful for the distraction, it felt like that woman was stripping me bare with her eyes alone.
"Of course it's impossible to notice anything around you when two fine ass women of their caliber enter the room". I shake my head from the daze I was in, chalking it up to working an 11 hour shift.
"I guess, who are they anyway and why is Asia bending over backwards for them?" I ask watching my boss who is quite literally bowing at the two women.
"Are you kidding me? You seriously do not know who that is?" I shake my head as I make a man his drink, offering a polite smile at his drunken flirtation. I turn away before he can get touchy, rolling my eyes at his comments about my ass. Shay stares at me in disbelief, looking between me and the women's table.
"No, should I?"
"Um, yes, she's only Jade Knight, the owner of the hotel and billionaire CEO of Knight Incorporated. People say she can bring men and women to their knees, her family are a bunch of hard asses but business geniuses. She owns hotels, airlines, stores, malls, property, casinos, you name it, she or at least her family probably own it". I snap my wide eyes to Shay who has a smirk on her face as Asia calls me over to their table. Shit.
"Ooh and it looks like she wants you, lucky ass" Shay playful hits me with a towel before nudging my shoulder. She is like the little devil on your shoulder, always encouraging you to do something you will regret later. I take a deep breath and offer a professional smile to my two bosses, hoping they won't notice me trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"Angel can take care of any drink you need. She is our best bartender" Asia's random appraisal does not go unnoticed but I assume she just wants to make a good impression. Since I would like to keep my job I figure it is best to follow her lead.
"Yes, I will do my best to fulfill any requests you two have". I look into the eyes that left me captivated seconds ago, seeing them darken. Up close she is even more breathtaking, she seems more of a supermodel than a hotel owner. And more ten times more intimidating. If I was nervous across the room I'm terrified now, she still has yet to look away. I clear my throat and look down before glancing at her friend to avoid the fierce heat in her eyes.
"I will take a martini please and thank you beautiful" the "please and thank you" followed by the compliment catches me off guard but I nod, trying to remain professional. My face heats despite myself and I try not to look as rattled as I feel. Asia is right next to me and this Jade Knight woman is still analyzing my soul. If anything, her eyes keep getting darker and she is impossible to read, her face gives nothing away.
"Do you have a specific preference, vodka classic, dirty?"
"Well if you can do it dirty, then I'll take it" the gorgeous tattooed woman says, looking me up and down. The innuendo in her words does not go unnoticed. I feel my face heat up, my sex life has been completely nonexistent since I got pregnant. There is no time for love or lust when working full time and raising a 3-year-old practically alone. I have my aunt and Cash's sister to help but they have their own lives and Leya is my responsibility. I clear my throat since they are all looking at me and waiting for a response. What am I supposed to say to that? I don't think I've even breathed since coming to their table.
"Yes, we can take care of that for you". I look back to Jade Knight, her eyes slowly assess my entire frame before a small smile, resembling a smirk appears and she leans back. Poised and put together despite it being almost midnight, she looks incredible. I think I am starting to understand the appeal and why everyone is breaking their necks to see her.
"Whiskey, neat" her voice, holy shit, I think my insides just trembled. Sultry, confident, seductive, the simple request, more of a command, ring through my mind on repeat wanting to hear her voice again.
"Any particular-"
"You're the best bartender in my hotel, correct? Choose my drink, bring the bottle, a glass and another glass filled with water". The command this time is firm but not harsh, snapping my eyes up to her blank face my back completely straightens. Talk about mood swings, but she's my boss and I don't want to lose my job.
"Yes, ma'am" I nod and retreat to the bar, taking a deep breath. I relax my shoulders as I look over the bottles on the shelf.
"Girl, what did she say to you?"
"She told me to pick her drink all she said was a whiskey, neat. Then to bring the bottle with a glass and a glass of water. Her friend wants a dirty martini". I look up at all the bottles of whiskey we have and sigh. "She's the owner of this place, how the hell am I supposed to know what type..." I trail off as a thought occurs to me. Why am I looking on the shelf?
"Did you just have an epiphany and did I miss it?" Shay as she makes a cocktail for the group of older women who came just to stare and gossip about Jade. Do these people have nothing better to do than follow this demanding woman around in the middle of the night?
"Yes and yes, I'll be back". I go down to the wine cellar under the bar going to the whiskey's we have in stock. I look around for about two minutes not finding anything that I think will be impressive to Ms. Knight when I see a bottle of Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve 1955 in the private reserve. I don't think twice running back to Asia's office and grabbing the key to open the guarded bottles. I wipe the bottle free of dust, lock everything, and run upstairs, first putting Asia's keys back then going to the bar. Shay has the glasses ready on a try and all the ingredients so I can make the martini.
"Thanks Shay" I go to work making her drink while Shay deals with the last few stragglers taking pictures of Jade and her friend.
"No problem, and feel free to send that friend of hers my way". I laugh, shaking my head as I add the martini to the tray.
"You know I don't have that sort of confidence". I make sure the bottle is glistening and the alcohol looks like liquid gold before adding it to my tray. I take a deep breath, willing the nerves to go away before I go back in Jade's suffocating presence. It doesn't work and I try to stay as steady as possible, and not the quivering mess I feel like on the inside. Luckily, Jade pays me no attention as she carries on her conversation with Asia, allowing me to breath and place their drinks on the table. When the tray is cleared I take a step back, gaining Jade's attention once again.
"That will be all Asia" she dismisses her like a low-level employee, making my brows rise. I go to follow my actual boss to the bar when her command rings out loud and clear.
"Not you" I don't move another inch as I look to the most gorgeous woman I've ever laid eyes on, even in the dim lighting, She's stunning, classy, dignified, and confident, the complete opposite of me. Yet she's sitting here, drinking me in entirely making me feel things I haven't thought to feel in years. A slow smirk works slowly appears as she eyes the bottle then me, her head tilted in veiled interest and I feel myself shudder. What's with this woman and her making me feel like a wolf in heat?