Entangled With The Mafia

Chapter 7: Caught

Amelia

My hands are sweating. I wasn't expecting to see him just sitting there. What can I do now, especially after his warning earlier?

I stay rooted to the spot, not sure of what to do. Well, I do know, but I can't will myself to move forward. He's sitting there with a tumbler in front of him, smoking a cigarette. If I don't move now, I'll be a minute later than I already am, which will be worse for my case.

I start walking, one foot in front of the other, and he looks back as if sensing my presence. I can tell by his expression that he's not at all content. He's eyeing me distastefully. Of course, he knows I'm late. He was probably expecting this, and I didn't let him down.

Now, he has the perfect reason to fire me. I'm torn between walking over to him and apologizing or just going straight to the bar and finding something to do. I go with the latter. I don't plan on making things worse for myself.

I feel his eyes on me while wiping counters and cleaning shot glasses. None of the girls talk to me, not even Sandra. It's like they're actively avoiding me. Is it because of what I did, coming in late and ignoring him? I didn't even look at him once. Was that a mistake? My chances of succeeding here are growing slim, and it hasn't even been two days.

When the first customers enter, he picks his glass up and leaves. I breathe easier when he rounds a corner and disappears. So do the other girls. It's like the mood lightened. They're even talking to each other. I guess everyone here is afraid of him. I catch Sandra's eye.

"He asked about you," she says as she nears me. My heart sinks at her statement. Asked? Oh, I'm in really deep s**t. "He did?"

"He asked about the new girl, and that's you. Asked if you were already in. You weren't, so I said no. I couldn't lie to him." She sets tumblers in a row. "Are you trying to get yourself fired?"

"The traffic, I didn't know it would be like this. I left earlier, and I ran all the way here." I'm running out of excuses. I'll start coming in two hours before opening time. If this happens again, I'm surely losing this job. I'm not even sure I haven't already lost it. Maybe he's already made his decision but will inform me later. Would he fire me in front of everyone?

She shakes her head.

The orders start pouring in, which occupies me for a reasonable amount of time. I expect Jason to show up at any moment, but he doesn't show. Something catches my eye, though. A group of men walks past the bar accompanied by one of the guards. They've formed a circle around a short man wearing a gray suit. They're heading in the same direction Damien had headed earlier. They must be here to meet him.

Sandra nudges me with her elbow. "You have orders, Yara."

I smile apologetically. "I really have to go. I can't hold it in any longer. Will you cover for me?"

She nods even though she looks slightly annoyed, and I go all the way around to follow them. The flashing colorful lights and the multitude of people make it hard to follow them, but I have no trouble finding a glass door leading to a dark corridor. It's wide open, so I walk through it without any difficulty. They must have gone through here; there's no other way.

Right at the end, I see the guard closing a door behind me, so that's where those men are. I hide in a semi-opened door, and the guard walks by without noticing me.

I have a feeling he's important. I try to move without making a sound. I near the door, but I look around before I do to make sure there's no one around. I press my ear to the door. All the sounds are muffled, I can't hear a word. If I could just hear anything, the name I need, things would be easier. But I need to get out of here before I get caught. What if someone unexpectedly opens the door and finds me? What will I explain then?

I turn and run straight into someone. Ethan Keller. He has his hands in his pockets, eyeing me suspiciously. "What are you doing here?"

I look into his dark eyes and think of an excuse. "The bathroom. I was looking for one, but I couldn't find one. I was hoping this was it."

He frowns. "Really? How'd you get past the door?" I know he's referring to the glass door. So that means it's usually locked.

"It was wide open." Technically, I'm not lying. He doesn't look at all convinced by my ramblings. I gulp. This is bad, very bad indeed. I've already pissed him off the first night, his cousin the second, and now this?

"This area is off limits." He says each word slowly. "The staff restrooms are on the other side of the building."

I shrug. I try to act nonchalant. "I didn't know. I didn't get a tour or anything."

He doesn't look amused. I excuse myself and head straight down the dark corridor. I can feel his eyes on me. I know how bad this looks. I've been very reckless. Jason warned me about letting the name come to me, and at this point, I'm sure I'll be fired before the night ends.

I return to the bar and take over my duties. I keep hoping Jason will show up at my time and help me fix this, but he's gone. He hasn't even sent a text. I guess he's just too busy. The last time I spoke to him was before I left for work. Last night he was lingering around the bar, watching over me, which was a pleasant reassurance. Tonight, everything is wrong.

A tall woman with caramel skin approaches the bar. She waves over at me, and I waste no time going to her. "Get me white wine." She runs her fingers through her hair as she waits for me to open a bottle. Her fingernails are long and painted red, matching her lipstick. She looks like a supermodel. Perhaps she is.

I pour it for her and hand her the glass, but she walks away without another word. She didn't even open a tab. I am considering running after her, but I've got to confirm with Sandra first. "That woman just walked away."

"That's the boss's fiancée, Elizabeth," Sandra explains. "You don't want to mess with her. She takes what she wants, so never mention it."

"Of course," I say. I can imagine both of them together. They're the perfect couple; there's no doubt about that.

It's three in the morning when those men walk back out. I wonder what they spent three hours discussing in there. I kind of expect Ethan or even Damien to come out and confront me about what happened there, but that never happens.

I take a real bathroom break this time and ask Sandra for directions. On my way, I spot a couple having s*x in the corridor. I contemplate going back, but I really have to go. I look away as I walk past them. Even when I got close to them, they didn't stop. Too drunk or high. That's the only reasonable explanation. Jason told me to mind my business, and mind it, I shall. This is normal here, he said. It makes me wonder where he is.

I take my time, and when I'm back outside, they're gone. When I get to the bar, Ethan is being served by one of the girls. He eyes me as I approach, but I don't meet his gaze. The way he's looking at me makes my palms sweat all over again. He drinks his scotch slowly, watching me the entire time. At this point, all I can do is concentrate really hard, so I don't break anything.

"Come here," he says to me.

I gulp and look from side to side. I approach him, "Yes, sir?"

"Where's your cousin?"

I wasn't expecting him to ask me that. "I haven't spoken to him in several hours."

He retrieves a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He says nothing else. In an hour, it will be closing time, and there's no longer a crowd. Some of the other barmaids are already cleaning up. A man in a brown suit approaches Ethan and says something to him, and stuns him. He drops his unfinished cigarette in the glass of scotch and rushes to Damien's office.

I clean up, and by the time I leave, the sun has started to rise. I'm so exhausted I nearly fall asleep in the taxi. I call Jason again, but there's no answer. His phone is off. Is this normal? I'm concerned. Something isn't right. I can feel it in my gut.

I have a bad feeling about this.