On Santa's lap - S01 E24

3 months ago

On Santa's lap - S01 E24

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 24

Exams are finally over!!

"What are you doing tonight?"

I leaned against the counter looking out just in case Mike came out, even thought it was only three in the afternoon and we had barely any customers, we still had to be "professional."

I shifted my mobile to my other shoulder as I started stacking the shot glasses to make a triangle pyramid.

"Working,"

There was a long pause before he spoke.

"You're joking." I could hear shuffling on the other side and shifted my feet, trying to search for the lemon and salt.

"I'm not joking, aren't you working?" I asked.

"No, Eve, it's new years eve, see what I did there?" Nik chuckled and I rolled my eyes.

"Exactly, I get paid like three times today, how exciting," I smiled. Triple the pay, time to go on a shoe spending spree. Or maybe even a nice dress or two. I yawned looking up to see Ash walking with the salt and lemon, thank god.

Usually we always built a tequila pyramid like this, and people would pull a glass, paying Jenga with this pyramid, and whoever knocked it over, paid for the whole lot.

There were different levels, from $15 to $100 Jenga pyramids set up.

"Eve," I heard his voice groan. Ash set up the salt and lemons and we walked to stack the next pyramid. I started doing the base as Ash sprinkled salt and lemons around it, I felt like we were having a seance with her star shape salt wheels, what she called them.

"What?"

"Quit,"

"What?"

"Come on, it's new years, don't you want to celebrate it?"

I shrugged before realised he couldn't see it, and Ash raised an eyebrow mouthing "Speaker," which I shook my head too. Like hell was I putting it on speaker, me talking on a phone was already big enough.

When he asked if I was free through text, I assumed to text so I said yes, but then he called me.

"Well it's too late, I told Mike I'd work, I'd been working for the past three years, and besides sixty bucks an hour, no way am I letting that go,"

"I'll give you a hundred an hour if you come over to mine tonight,"

I paused before slowly placing the last glass, "Pay me like a prostitute huh?" I joked and Ash dropped the lemon.

"Prostitute, what, let me hear!" I walked her hand as she tried to grab the phone.

I could nearly see a blushing Nik as I heard him cough awkwardly, "No, my parents house, they have a New Years Eve party every year, come,"

"I'll pass," I'd rather get paid sixty than go meet his parents. When was the last time I was taken to meet someone family. Way too long.

"I came over to meet yours,"

"I never forced you," in fact I was more than happy if he didn't come.

"Oh come on, I"ll talk to Mike, thats less people he needs to pay and he can keep the profits,"

"Nik, next year," I said as I cleaned up the mess we made, "I'll see you tomorrow,"

It was only new years.

"How about you work till eight, and then leave?"

"Nik."

"Fine, I'll come and speak to Mike,"

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"No don-,"

"What happened?" Ash asked as I looked, no glared, at the phone. I placed the phone into my pocket irritated, "The bastard hung up on me,"

Ash giggled and I shook my head, "Come on, we still have decorations to do,"

Like every new year, there was always one drunk that was well..drunk before it was even six being a nuisance.

"Sir, we are going to ask you to leave," I could hear Ashs voice from across the bar and I looked up.

"I want some fûcking beer."

"We aren't open till seven," her stern voice said trying to make the guy leave, but he looked way too comfortable sitting there. Where the hell were the bouncers when you needed them?

Nevertheless I went back to sorting out the alcohol for tonight, stacking lots of beers, wine, bubbles, all in a row behind me. It would be really busy, the drinks would be flying out, and there wasn't enough time to go to the store room and get more. So we usually tried stocking everything near us.

Extra glasses under the counters, cocktails pre-made, or most of them completed with just the fresh bases to add.

Heaps of cork openers. Even plastic cups, while we never used them, as this was a bar and it was unprofessional, you never know what will happen.

The bare minimum decorations were up, just in case someone gets "injured" and tries to sue us, the decorations were mostly on and behind the bar away from people.

"Eve,"

I looked down, from the last balloon I was tying, at Mike and got down from the chair, "Yeah?"

"What's this about your boyfriend breaking his leg and he needs you to go over to the hospital to see him right away?"

Thankfully I was off the chair, or I was pretty sure I would have fallen on it. That bastard!

"He's lying, he's fine,"

"Are you sure, I think you should go check,"

"He's lying."

"How did he get my number?" Mike asked confused and I shrugged taking the share back into the staff room, that's what I would like to know.

By the time we finished everything we were somewhat worn out but the doors were opening in ten minutes so there really wasn't any time to rest.

Ash collapsed onto the chair beside me stretching her legs out, "Ready for the rush?"

I nodded, the rush consisted till no breaks from seven, to three in the morning since everyone was going to be partying hard. Mike walked around handing us all weird hats, and I looked at it, "Do we have to wear these?"

"Yes, of course, it's new years eve!" he popped his gold sparkly hat on smiling and I wrinkled my nose, "Would the glitter be a health violation if it fell off and into their drinks?" his frown was wiped off.

"Well, you have a point," the hats were collected and he went sulking back into the store room as Ash and I shared victory smiles, thank god.

"Nice one come on, it's starting." she said as the bouncers headed over to the door, the rush was just about to start.

Loud music, people dancing with friends and a lot of chatter, just how it should be on new years eve. The top on countdown was the music track for the night and the tv was muted and waiting for the new years countdown. I checked the watch as I filled up a glass with tequila, there was still three hours before it was even close to the countdown and my feet already killed.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

"Alright, here are three more bottles of Vodka," Mike replaced the old ones and I nodded placing one in the ice for it to get chilled, "We also need more candy cherries." I told him as he went around restocking all the supplies.

This was at least the fourth restocking that was being done since the doors were opening, "I would like a drink fit for a king."

I looked up recognising the voice and frowned, "What are you doing here?"

"Well, that was a warm welcome." Nik said as he frowned at me. I ran my eyes over him, he was dressed incredibly formal compared to everyone here, in a suit, "But why are you here? I thought you had a family thing."

"Yes, and I'm going to take you, come on, let's go."

"Nah uh, I have work," I said filling him up a glass of wine and passing it to him, "That's what Kings drink, but you're far from one. "

"How kind, I actually don't want any I'm driving, wheres your manager?"

"He went home." I lied as I moved to serve the next customer, "Hi, what can I get you?"

"Eve, I'm talking to you,"

"I'm busy," I said sending him a look as the customer looked between us, "Ah...I'll have a whiskey sour."

Are you serious? Why the hell would you order a whiskey sour when the queue behind you was so big, but I got to work anyway telling Ashley to make the egg white float for the drink.

"Why does he get to go home and you guys work all night?"

"Because." I leaned down grabbing the lemons to make the sour aspect of the drink, "It's my job." Finishing the drink I passed it to the customer collecting the money and onto the next, the easy part was most people liked to get jugs, more for less and just had to make one big drink rather than ten individuals.

I would hate to be them tomorrow with the hangover. I looked up to see Nik had disappeared and breathed a sigh of relief, thank god.

"Six vodka shots please."

It wasn't long before I was disturbed again by Mike tapping on my shoulder and I turned my head looking at him, "Do you have the cherries, I had to give three drinks without cherries!"

"Uh, about that." he said looking flustered, "You're fired."

I spilled the juice I was pouring looking at him, "Excuse me."

"Ashley, take over." he said grabbing my hand and pulling me after him into the staff room, "Mike what the hell?"

"Just for the night, I demand you go home." he said shifting on his feet and I looked at him, what was he talk-"Oh...Did Nik come here?"

"Nik? Who? Who is Nik? I don't know any Nik."

"Mike." I said irritated, I was getting pissed, I get that he wants to spend new years eve but he has no right to waltz in here and take my fucking job away from me. "Just go, you've been here all day you'll get paid for that."

"But Mi-,"

"No buts, out." he said slamming the door as he walked off and I groaned, Oh. I was going to kill him. I grabbed my jacket and bag, he was going to get a earbashing. I went through the side door since it would be too much of a hassle trying to get out from the main one and looked around, where the hell was this guy?

I was going to hit him with this bag, which was heavy. I looked around at the alley, no one, I walked around to the escalators looking up, no one was there either. Great, now he ditched me. I spun around taking out my phone calling him. Where the hell was this man?

No answer.

You have to be kidding me.

With a grumble I waited a few more minutes crossing my arms across my chest and then gave up, whatever, I was going home. I turned around walking down the street pressing for the green man looking over my shoulder, where the hell was he?

"Eve! Wait."

I was just about to cross the road when I heard him and sighed turning around, "Seriously? First you scare my manager and then you dis-," an arm wrapped around my waist as I felt his warm lips on mine and I was momentarily frozen.

"Just chill, here," He shoved something in my face and I leaned back, "Flowers?"

He got me flowers? No one gets me flowers? I don't think one should waste money on flowers, when they'll just die and wilt.

Oh shut up and just enjoy it.

I took the small and not too extravagant bouquet and raised an eyebrows, "Sorry they're a bit squashed, I accidentally sat on them."

Well there goes sniffing it.

"You didn't have to." I said awkwardly shifting on my feet, what was I meant to say? I don't even think I owned a vase to put them in.

"I wanted to. Come on, the cars this way."

"Wait, I can't come looking like this."

He was all dressed formally and I was in my work uniform with greasy hair. He pursed his lips and nodded, "Alright, we can stop by your place and you can doll up for me."

I scoffed, "Not going to happen, I ain't putting on a dress."

"Now that you mentioned it, you have to wear a dress, its a formal event."

"Not happening."

"We'll see," he said opening the car door with a look on his face I didn't appreciate, not one bit.