Something to Prove

Chapter 1-3

Elizabeth stood and stretched her back. She’d been hunched over the crippled desk for hours attempting to make the office usable. Mitch had come in and explained what he called accounting. She was on her fourth cup of coffee and she knew better than to keep drinking it, but without it she might fall asleep. Sleeping here would never be an option.

Although Mitch grunted at her when he left the office, she hadn’t heard much noise coming from the bar. She wanted to see what his opening routine was, so she ventured out. She found Mitch sitting on a barstool with a beer in front of him watching a small TV.

“What are you doing?”

“Waiting for customers.”

“Isn’t there work that needs to be done while you’re waiting?” This was a new business to her, so she pushed down the urge to fire him on the spot. He was the only one who knew what had been going on with the place for years.

He shrugged in response.

“The bar is filthy. It needs to be cleaned.”

“Honey, the guys who come in here ain’t staying for the décor.”

She inhaled through her nose and bit down hard. This would take more than patience. “I understand that you’re used to doing things, or not doing them, your way for a long time. Things need to change. That’s my purpose for being here. I’m telling you, as your boss, that you cannot drink while on the job, and I expect you to clean the bar.”

He picked up his glass, gulped the beer, and slammed the empty glass down on the bar. Turning the volume up on the TV, he grabbed a rag from the bar and pretended to wipe the surface.

“Hey, Mitch,” a man called as he entered the bar.

Elizabeth turned to look at him. He stood in a smudged T-shirt and ragged jeans. He had a red bandana wrapped around his head.

“Hey, Rick.” Mitch dropped the rag on the bar and shot a quick look at her.

Rick looked her up and down. “You lost?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Can I buy you a drink then?”

“No, thank you. I don’t drink while I’m working.”

“Rick, this is the new boss, Elizabeth.”

Rick laughed loudly and slipped onto a stool. Mitch had moved around to the other side of the bar and began pouring a beer. It was three in the afternoon. If these guys started drinking this early, how drunk would they be by nightfall?

She knew Mitch had to go. He wasn’t on board with the changes she would need to make. Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford to fire him just yet, but it was coming soon.

The idea of returning to that office was something she couldn’t stomach. “I’m going out. I’ll probably be back later.”

“We’ll be waiting.” Mitch tossed her a smile.

She stormed out, trying not to let him get to her. She’d been in worse situations with pig-headed men. This one, however, wasn’t something she was used to. Keith tended to hire the best he could find. She always had some trusted people to rely on, even when she had to fire the ones who didn’t work out.

If she got rid of Mitch, there was no one else. Her first order of business would be to find someone who could take over the daily operations of the bar. Back in her hotel room, she opened her computer and began placing ads. Mitch would be gone by the end of the week.