Page 37 of His Flash Mate
I finished posting the pictures and went out to help behind the bar.
When the large group dressed in business suits entered thirty minutes later, Uncle Jay welcomed them and led them back to the room while I manned the bar solo.
It was busy for a Monday night, and my heels were starting to kill my feet as I hustled.I didn’t hate it, though.People were grateful for the drinks and for the effort I put into them, unlike stupid Steele Corp.
Don’t think about it, Soph.You’re only in your second week.It’s a great place to work, and not everything worth doing is easy.Pull up your big girl panties.You did a great job on that report, and your co-workers will see it tomorrow.Respect is earned.
I scanned the people at the bar, checking whether anyone needed anything while shifting my weight to my left foot.The heel on my right was biting into the back painfully, and I needed a little break.
Near the end of the bar, Konni caught my eye.He was looking at my feet.I snapped my fingers at my waist, drawing his attention, and pointed to my eyes.
His sudden grin was so devastating that I forgot to mouth, “eyes up here” like I’d intended.Instead, I just stared and maybe drooled a little.
His grin started to fade, snapping me back to reality, and I crossed the space.
“What can I get you?”
“Whatever you’re willing to give me.”
I started mixing a mint julep for him as Uncle Jay returned to the bar.
“A-plus setup, Sophie-girl,” he said as he passed by me.
I smiled my thanks as I finished mixing the drink and handed it over to Konni.
Konni waited for Uncle Jay to move away before he asked, “Did you come straight from the office today?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“My boss was a meanie and made me actually work today.”Although I said it playfully, Konni’s expression said he didn’t buy it.
“I think my boss doesn’t like me, but I’m not sure why,” I admitted.“She wasn’t happy the second I got there, which was early, by the way.She assigned me a task I’d never done before, which honestly didn’t bother me.I like a challenge.It was her attitude when she gave it, like she was mad.Then she sent me to deliver something across the city during lunch.Again, nothing crazy, it just felt like…”
“Like what?”
“Like she was testing me.Why assign a new hire a task they haven’t been trained on yet?Or tell them to get across town in thirty minutes when the trip usually takes forty during the lunch rush?
“But I don’t think it was a test to see if I’d excel.It felt more like attempts to get me to fail.
“I’ve heard a lot of stuff about the people who held my current position before me—how they were only there to hook up with the big boss.I think it made the work environment a little hostile.None of my coworkers believe I’m there to actually work.Joke’s on them, though.I’m not just there to work but to kick ass while doing it, which is probably why they finally dumped a bunch of work on me that forced me to stay late to get it done.”
“What kind of work?”
“Reporting past marketing efforts.”
“Doesn’t sound like something that would warrant overtime.Why didn't you tell her to stuff it?”
“Probably the same reason you wouldn’t tell your boss that.I need the job.Or, more accurately, I need the money.There isn’t a person alive who doesn't have expenses of some kind.And, honestly, the work was actually interesting.Much less mind-numbing than hours of taking notes while watching someone else work.”
His lips tilted at the corners.
“You do seem like the kind of person who likes to keep busy.”
“Oh, I am.Sitting still doesn’t suit me.”
“How late are you working here tonight?”
