Page 1 of Thirsty for the Bartender

MALLORIE

Every day is the same. I sleep my day away and wake up with only a few hours to spare before my shift at The Lair. Bartending pays the bills, but it’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I want to do something fulfilling, not just pouring drinks.

It is, however, where I’m stuck for the time being. Living in New Bria is expensive, but it’s my best option and I don’t regret my choice coming here when I was eighteen. New Bria is the one of the most monster-welcoming cities in the world, and that makes it somewhere my family won’t search for me; not that they would after casting me out.

My family hates all monsters, and eventually started to hate me when they realized I didn’t share their values. In public school, we were shown that monsters aren’t all bad, and monster children were allowed to enroll with us. It showed me they’re really just like us. I carried that with me, and still do, forgetting all the things my parents and relatives tried to drive into me.

Since coming here, I’ve only had a few bad interactions with monsters, but I don’t hold those moments against every monster; there are bad humans too. Honestly, I’ve grown to prefer the company of monsters over the years. They are much less judgmental than humans.

The exception is my best friend, Cerise, one of the most open-minded humans I know, who also works as a bartender. Though, she’s only part-time now, for some extra cash, since her fashion label has started to take off in the last year. She’s been my rock since moving here, we clicked instantly.

She’s supposed to be scheduled with me tonight, which reminds me that I’m going to be late if I don’t head out now. Shit. I quickly grab my purse, rummaging through it until I find my keys. Once I take them out, I toss my phone in.

I rush out the door, locking it and giving it a quick check before leaving my apartment building. The last thing I need is for my place to be broken into. Crime has been high lately in my neighborhood.

Not all of New Bria is as sketchy as where I live, but that’s part of why I chose this neighborhood. Higher crime means cheap rent, and that’s exactly what I was looking for at eighteen. Hell, it’s still what I need.

As I rush through the streets, my heeled boots clicking with each step, I keep my purse tight to my side and my eyes peeled. I’m always careful and aware of my surroundings; it makes me less of a target for pickpockets or muggings.

I say my polite hellos as I pass some people and monsters I usually see, not stopping for conversation. Sometimes I stop and chat, but today I’m running late, so there’s no time for that.

Turning down an alley, I quicken my pace now that the employee entrance to The Lair is visible. As if sensing me, the door opens a crack and I see familiar cherry-red hair pop out.

As Cerise spots me, she calls out, “Girl, you better hustle, you’re almost late.”

“I’m going as fast as my boots will let me,” I shout back with a laugh.

She opens the door wider once I’m only a few steps away, and I slip in quickly. Immediately I turn to the mirror we keep by the door, running my hands through my curls quickly to refresh them.

My makeup is good enough, dark with a bold lip that is sure to bring in the tips. I tend to wear a dark-red lip, making it as similar to blood as I can. Vampires are our biggest customer base, after all.

Cerise stands beside me, checking herself out. She tends to wear a more natural look than I do, going for the good-girl aesthetic. It works for her, and what I do works for me. We’re a perfect, opposite match.

“Ladies, you were supposed to be out on the floor two minutes ago,” Julius, our boss, scolds as he approaches.

We let out a chorus of sweet apologies as we walk away from the mirror and toward the bar. As we exit the back room, the serene silence is replaced by rowdy drunkenness. The fact that the bar is already bustling means it should be a good night for tips.

I quickly reposition my shirt, pulling it slightly lower and adjusting my bra so that my boobs are on display. Might as well make use of the one asset I got from my family—thank you, Mother dearest.

“You are late,” Gunther grumbles, tossing a towel at me.

It hits me in the face and falls to the floor, my hands currently behind my back, tying my waist apron tightly. I shoot him a glare which he ignores, walking past me to leave. The asshole can’t even wait thirty seconds for me to finish tying my apron before he leaves, as per usual.

Cerise is already taking orders and pouring drinks, flashing smiles and giggling to customers as she does so. I grab a fresh towel, kicking the one Gunther threw at me under the bar and out of the way. I’ll pick it up later.

I put on my customer-service smile and start taking orders, mixing drinks one after another. Tonight, the bar has more humans in it than usual; humans get half-off drinks all night, for one night only. I totally forgot about the discount Julius advertised.

The human customer base doesn’t outnumber the vampires, but it definitely outweighs any other monsters here right now. Julius’s goal was to increase diversity of his customers, and he’s succeeding. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised it’s this successful.

We also have an event tonight, the launch of Bloodka, a hybrid of vodka and blood, specifically designed for vampires. Every bar in New Bria is advertising this new drink or hosting some sort of event. It’s revolutionary for vampires; an easier and tastier way to get drunk, while also fulfilling their bloodsucking needs.

Julius is a good boss, and very open-minded and progressive. He’s a huge advocate for interspecies relationships, and I think that is secretly his actual goal for the night. Julius, a vampire, has been with his wife, a human, for around eight years now. Even though monsters are widely accepted nowadays, especially here in New Bria, interspecies couples are still looked upon strangely.

“Hey, blondie,” a low voice demands, drawing my attention over. “Do you guys have that new Bloodka stuff?”

A man stands across from me, a woman tight to his side, both eyeing me up. They are definitely vampires, as no one else, except maybe demons, would ask for Bloodka. Looks like the event is bringing in more of this crowd, too.

I flash a smile at him as I finish mixing a drink. “Let me get this drink out and I’ll be right with you two.”

The couple sighs but stays put, waiting for me. I quickly hand off the drink on the other side of the bar before turning and opening minifridge after minifridge. There’s bound to be some of the Bloodka in one of these. Julius would’ve made sure we’re well stocked for its launch night.

As I open the last minifridge, I let out a small sigh of relief when I find it packed with Bloodka. Looks like we have every blood type available, too. There are lots of bottles of each, since the liquor is expected to be a hit. I turn and go back toward the couple, both with their eyes still glued to me.

“We do have Bloodka, and every blood type. What can I get for you folks?” I lean on the bar, waiting for them to answer.

The man answers quickly for the both of them, “I’ll have an A-negative Bloodka, and she’ll have an O-negative.”

“Alright, but you know that both of those are going to be a bit more expensive, since they’re rarer blood types?” I ask, but it’s really just to make sure he doesn’t complain when he gets the bill.

He nods and I quickly get to pouring, the smell of blood floating up into my nose. At this point, I’m desensitized to the scent. I’ve mixed enough blood-based cocktails since starting here that it doesn’t faze me anymore.

This new drink smells better than just mixing the contents of a blood bag with regular vodka or other liquor, so I’ll give whoever the creator is props for that. Plus, it saves me the hassle of having to actual mix things; I just pour and go.

“Would you like to start a tab?” I ask the man, sliding the drinks across the bar to them.

The man passes me his card, simply saying, “Raymond.”

I smile and take the card, scribbling down the name and putting the card away in our safe. Julius insists we take the cards of those starting a tab since it ensures that people don’t skip out on their bills. We’ve only had a few people try since he implemented the rule.

As the night goes on, the bar becomes packed to the brim; it honestly might be the most people I’ve ever seen in here. Cerise and I have barely had a moment to chat, besides the occasional “excuse me” as we bump into one another.

The first full sentences Cerise says to me since we started our shifts are, “Hey, I’m going to take my break now, okay? Everyone has been served on my side. I’ll be quick. I just need like ten minutes to eat something.”

“Sounds good, no rush.” I nod, mentally preparing myself to handle everyone on my own for a bit.

I know that if I need a hand, I can call Julius out and he’ll help. I try to avoid that though, since I know he’s busy managing, well, everything. He’s never gotten mad at us for asking for help, but still.

It’s not that we don’t have enough staff, there are enough bartenders employed that we should never be short-staffed. The issue is he has a few problem employees, at least in my opinion, who call in almost every weekend. That’s why Cerise and I get booked most Fridays and Saturdays; we show up and are efficient. He’s too kind to fire any of the slackers though.

A few people come up to the bar, and I take each of their orders quickly. One of the customers is a large troll who orders five drinks at once. Generally, we limit customers to two drinks at a time, but for some monsters, we make exceptions due to their size.

“Excuse me, can I order a drink?” A silky-smooth male voice floats through the air.

Frustrated with the sudden rush, my tone is much snippier than I want it to be as I blindly call back, “Little busy at the moment, I’ll be right with you.”

Balancing the five drinks, I quickly cross the bar and start sliding them to the troll. He’s the last of the group I need to serve, and once he has all of the glasses in his hands, I take a deep breath and let it out. Now, on to the next person in the never-ending stream of customers.

I turn to where the silky voice came from, preparing to wipe the glare and frown I’m currently sporting. As my eyes find the man and I start to ask what he wants, my breath leaves me. He’s stunning, and I mean drop-dead gorgeous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man this attractive in person before.

He wears a dark-gray suit, a white dress shirt underneath, topped off with a red tie. He’s very pale, with dark-brown hair and jade-green eyes that pop. His jawline is strong and lips are full, even with the smirk he has on.

“What can I get for you?” I clear my throat, dragging my eyes from his lips, putting on my classic customer-service smile.

The man doesn’t even try to hide his enjoyment from my reaction, leaning on the bar silently. I raise a brow and plant my hands on the bar opposite him, tapping my fingers impatiently and letting my smile begin to fade away. This earns a chuckle from him, flowing out just as smoothly as his voice.

“A glass of Bloodka, please,” he politely requests, his eyes not leaving mine.

Not breaking his intense gaze, I ask, “What type? We’re getting low on some.”

“I’ll have whatever your blood type is,” he quickly responds, looking me up and down.

I shake my head and sigh. “You can’t afford that level of service, baby. Choose a blood type, or I’ll move onto the next customer.”

The man’s smile grows at my response, staring at me without saying a word, fueling my impatience. Can’t this guy see I have other customers to serve? He’s wasting my time, and I’m the only bartender out here right now.

“AB-negative, please,” he answers, right as I start to turn away.

I freeze for a split second. “That will be more expensive since it’s a very rare blood type.”

He nods to confirm, so I turn and start to rummage for the bottle of Bloodka. Can he can smell my blood type? Some vampires, specifically the older ones, have keen senses of smell. He doesn’t look that old, though it’s nearly impossible to tell a vampire’s actual age from their outward appearance. Surely, it’s a coincidence he asked for my blood type.

I pour the Bloodka and straighten my posture, trying to shake off the feelings this man gives me—and there are many different feelings. One part of me wants to climb across this bar, rip that suit off, and see what’s hidden underneath. The other part of me wants to tell him to get his smug, smirking ass out of the bar.

With the drink in my hand, I feel a hand on my arm, preventing me from turning. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cerise hopping up onto her tiptoes to bring her mouth closer to my ear.

“Holy shit…that guy is delicious,” she whispers, quickly moving to the other side of me.

Before she walks away, I quickly whisper back, “Tell me about it. Kind of a jerk, though.”

“Unfortunate. They almost always are.” She sighs as she heads back to the other end of the bar.

She immediately starts taking drink orders, glancing over at me once and smirking. Cerise desperately wants me to date someone—specifically, a customer. She always had a fantasy about meeting a hot customer and running away with him, but now that she has a boyfriend she loves, it’s out of the question for her.

Since she can’t experience it herself, she wants me to live it. Unfortunately for her, she knows I have no time for dating or serious relationships. Running away with someone is too serious, too expensive, and too time-consuming.

Well, it’s not that I have no time, it’s that I have no desire. Relationships are a lot of work, and the chance of finding a truly good man in this world is low. All of the men I’ve given the time of day end up being assholes. Finding Mr. Right will have to wait for when I have the energy to go searching again.

I pick up the drink and turn to give it to the stunning vampire, this time keeping my composure. His gorgeousness will not distract me from doing my job properly. I slide the drink across the bar to him.

As I’m pulling my hand away, his fingertips graze mine on the glass. His cool touch sends a rush of heat up my arm. Without hesitation, I retract my hand, trying to hide the reaction he’s causing.

“Would you like to start a tab?” I ask, taking in his suit once more. It looks high-end. Expensive. Why is someone like this in The Lair?

He reaches into his jacket, his sleeve sliding to reveal a shining gold watch. Shit, maybe he’s rich. I really could’ve tried to charge him for what my blood type is. What a missed opportunity.

As he extends the card toward me, he tells me his name. “Emris.”

I give him a smile and nod, taking the card from him and putting it with all the others. Emris…I don’t recognize the name. That being said, I don’t overly keep up with who the rich businessmen in New Bria, or the country, are.

“What’s your name?” Emris’s silky voice calls out to me once more.

Standing in place, I twist to look over my shoulder at him. “That’ll cost you.”

“How much?” He smirks, leaning his chin onto the palm of his hand.

I take the order of another customer before I answer with, “Hundred bucks.”

“Add it to my tab,” Emris quips back.

My eyes narrow at him before turning to make another drink. As I mix it up, I debate actually letting this go on. He’s hot as hell, so it’s not like I lose anything by flirting with him for a good tip.

“Mallorie,” I tell him after handing the drink to the other customer. “I’m seriously charging you for that.”

He just smiles at me again, sipping on his drink as he stares. “What else can I pay you to do?”

This is an opportunity to ensure a good tip, but I’m a bartender, not a prostitute. I won’t be paid for sex, but maybe a few cheeky questions or flirty remarks. Hell, I might even flash a tit if he paid enough.

“Depends what you want.” I smile at him, walking a few steps away to take some more orders.

I mix up a few drinks and glance over at Cerise. She must feel my gaze on her and looks at me, glancing at our hottie-of-the-night along the way. She mouths wow and I mouth back rich . She rolls her eyes, fluttering her eyelashes before turning back toward her customers.

Emris is tapping his finger on his cheek when I glance his way, his lips curling up slightly. Gods, why do the hot ones always have to be jerks? Life isn’t fair. Is it too much to ask for just one of the hot ones to be nice? And, as a bonus, rich and wants to spoil me? Not that being rich is one of my criteria for a man.

I actually don’t want to date a rich man, at least, not one who flaunts his money to anyone and everyone. Most of the wealthy men I’ve encountered think less of people with my status, and they’re simply too arrogant. If a man’s only personality trait is that he’s rich, it isn’t enough to keep me interested. I’ll admit that Emris hasn’t done much to flaunt his wealth—maybe I’m being a bit judgmental.

“A date,” he says simply as I’m passing by. “And another drink, please.”

I roll my eyes and scoff. “You can only buy one of those things. I’ll get your drink in a moment.”

His words linger in my mind as I mix up drinks. A date? He definitely just wants to fuck and thinks that a date will get him some. Someone as rich as he is, at least as rich as I think he is, wouldn’t date a bartender from downtown New Bria. He’s going to be just like any other rich guy.

As I pour his drink, he pipes up again, asking a stupid question. “So have you tried the Bloodka?”

My brows furrow as I shoot him a confused look over my shoulder. “Of course not, I’m not a vampire.”

He shrugs off my blatant dismissal. “Some humans have tried it here tonight. Would you drink it if it was fake blood?”

I shake my head as I turn and slide him his drink. “No, and that kind of defeats the point of it, doesn’t it?”

“How so?” Emris takes a sip from his new glass, his eyes not leaving me.

A chill runs down my spine. Is he imagining drinking from me when he drinks that? I usually kick vampires or demons away from the bar if they act like that. A rich man can get away with it, though, only because of the tip I’m expecting.

“Well, it’s literally called Bloodka, it’s supposed to have blood in it. It’s designed for vampires and some demons,” I explain, becoming exasperated. “If the creator were to make a blood-free version, they wouldn’t be appealing to their target market, now would they? Besides, most humans don’t like the taste of blood.”

He grins, showing his perfect pearly whites and fangs. I can’t help but look at his fangs. You can tell a lot about a vampire by the state of their fangs.

Vampires with large, sharp fangs are generally good, law-abiding people. Vampires with short, broken, chipped, or dull fangs are usually a sign of trouble. All those are signs of drinking from unwilling participants, which is illegal.

Emris having perfect teeth and fangs is a good sign, for me at least. It means he probably won’t try and force anything from me, which I was slightly worried about from his earlier question about my blood type.

“Don’t you think that for the brand to expand, they need to hit more markets?” he counters, starting to wear me down.

I hang my head for a moment before parking myself directly across from him, gripping the edge of the bar. “Shouldn’t they just focus on building loyalty in their target market first? Like, they should release new drinks that appeal to their desired market, keep them buying. Plus, wouldn’t their future markets be other monsters first? Since it’s kinda related.”

“Did you go to school for marketing?” He laughs, taking another sip of his drink.

Shaking my head, I answer, “No, I’ve just been a bartender for four years. You pick up some knowledge over the years. If you could call it that…it’s really just my opinion.”

“Maybe you should consider it. I think you could do well in a marketing position.”

I push off of the bar, muttering, “If only it was that easy.”

A man like him wouldn’t understand that schooling is expensive and time-consuming. I can’t afford to go to school and pay my rent, and I wouldn’t have the time for school while working full time. It’s out of the question for me.

Maybe I’m taking this too seriously. I can have a conversation with a customer and keep my emotions out of it. Something about him is hitting a nerve in me, though. A few, actually. He’s making my blood begin to boil, but every time he opens his mouth, I get butterflies between my thighs. His voice is melodic.

My stomach growls, making me realize I haven’t had my break yet. Maybe that’s why he’s getting to me, because I’m hungry. That’s what it is, I’m sure. It’s not him, it’s me. Wow, that might be the first time I’ve ever thought that.

I make my way over to Cerise, leaning close to tell her, “I’m going to take my break, I’m getting hangry and the hottie is annoying me.”

“Sounds good, take your time, it’s starting to slow down a bit.” Cerise shoots me a smile before turning and continuing to converse with a customer.

As I walk away from the bar, I keep my eyes focused straight ahead, ignoring the gaze of the suited man as I pass. My break is my time. I’m not using it up talking to some man I won’t ever see again after tonight. That, and I don’t want to feed the ego he clearly has.

I make my way through the back, grabbing a bag of peanuts on my way out. Julius doesn’t offer a lot of foods here, since his main customer base doesn’t eat human food. He lets all of his human employees have free food on break, at least.

The cool, fresh air hits my face as I enter the alley. I take a deep breath, holding it for a moment before letting it out. The quiet is a nice change from the constant noise and ruckus inside the bar, a moment to mentally recharge.

I pull open the bag of peanuts, reaching in to grab a handful. My mouth waters as I pop the snack into my mouth, the salt melting across my tongue. I didn’t realize how hungry I was. I sit on the plastic chair we keep right by the door, working my way through the peanuts.

The door flies open, startling me and causing me to spill peanuts all over myself and the ground. I sigh, staring into my now-empty bag. There goes my snack for the night. Turning my head and frowning, I look to see who’s disturbing my moment of peace.

Julius looks down at me frantically, his usual calm demeanor replaced with urgency. “There you are. Why would you take your break right now?”

“What? It’s not that busy in there. Did a rush come in?” I question, pushing up out of the chair.

“No, but you walked away from our most important customer,” Julius scolds, staring at me like I should know who he’s talking about.

I raise my brows and throw my hands out, shrugging my shoulders. Who is he talking about? The guy in the suit? His name didn’t ring any bells with me. If we were expecting a very important guest tonight, why wouldn’t Julius let us know?

He sighs and rubs his forehead aggressively. “Emris, the man in the nice suit, is the CEO of Bloodka. Haven’t you seen any of his press conferences?”

My eyes widen and I blink slowly at Julius, shaking my head. “No.”

“Mallorie.” Julius pinches the bridge of his nose. “If that man wants to talk to you all night long, you talk to him all night long. He is bringing in the sales by just being here, and if he likes our place, maybe we can get a good deal on Bloodka.”

Crossing my arms, I groan. “Julius, I have been talking to him, but I am not something that can be bought by any of our customers, I don’t care who they are.”

“I’m not suggesting that, I’m just saying be nice, be chatty, and keep him here as long as you can,” Julius reassures me, holding the door open and gesturing me inside with quick hand movements. “Now, please. I’ll give you a bonus for tonight.”

“Say less.” I hurriedly enter the bar again, smiling about the upcoming bonus.

Quickly checking myself in the mirror, I fix my hair and wipe away some fallout from my makeup. Not only will I be getting a good tip from this guy, who is now confirmed uber-rich, my boss is giving me a bonus just to talk to him. This night is taking a turn for the better. It’s about time something good happened to me.

As I approach the bar, I notice a few girls surrounding Emris. Normally, I’d be happy about this, since it would allow me time to converse with other customers and earn more tips. Not tonight though; he’s mine to entertain.

I adjust my top as I get closer, making sure I look good enough to draw the attention back to me. Julius wants this guy to stay here all night—I can keep him here. Time to turn up the flirting and push past the things that irk me.

“Can I get you another drink?” I interrupt the girls around him, and at the sound of my voice, he swivels in his seat.

The girls hover for a moment before they realize he’s no longer paying any attention to them. They all scoff and shoot daggers at me before wandering off into the sea of creatures that is the rest of the bar.

Sorry, ladies, but not really that sorry.

“You’re back quick.” He ignores the question, but I pour him another drink anyways.

As I slide the drink over to him, I look over at him through my eyelashes. “This one’s on the house.”

He smiles and takes the drink, and this time I make sure to let my hand graze his. The same cool spark ignites at our contact, and I can’t help the small amount of heat that rushes into my cheeks.

“Are you trying to get me drunk, Mallorie?” The sound of my name coming from his lips makes those butterflies in my stomach appear once again.

Emris’s voice is not only angelic, but exudes sexiness. He’s a bit cocky, but hot. Flirting with him will be easy, when I’m not stifling my anger at some remarks I’m sure he’ll let out. This is just business, that’s all I need to tell myself.

I lean on the bar toward him and lower my voice. “That is my job, isn’t it?”

“Am I just a job to you?” He leans forward on the bar, matching my energy and bringing his face only a foot away from mine.

The one thing I did get from my family was my inability to lie, or at least to lie well. I can’t just outright tell him that I’m only talking and flirting with him because my boss told me to, but I’m drawing a blank on something else to say. What does it really matter though? I’m positive all he wants is to hook up, and that isn’t happening.

“Well, I’ve never seen her get this up close and personal with any other customers before,” Cerise chimes in as she rushes by, making the heat rise in my cheeks even more.

I glance over my shoulder at her, and she gives me a wink. Oh, this girl knows exactly what she’s doing. I bet Julius told her to cover me so that I could focus on Emris. She knows I think he’s hot anyways, so now she’s trying to make this situation more than work for me. It won’t be, though. I won’t break that easy.

Emris chuckles, drawing my eyes back to him. “I’m honored that a beauty like you would entertain a conversation with me.”

“I’m sure you don’t struggle to have conversations with beautiful women.” I tilt my head at him, resting my chin on the back of my hands.

He takes another sip from his drink slowly, and I watch as his jaw moves rhythmically. Gods, if only he were slightly less hot, this wouldn’t be getting to me. I don’t date jerks, anymore at least, and I certainly don’t date rich men. They’re all compensating for something by brandishing their money.

“What’re you doing after work?” he pries, a slight purr in his tone.

I narrow my eyes slightly and push off of the bar, increasing the distance between us. “Do you ask every girl that the first time you meet them?”

He smirks, letting out another low laugh. “Occasionally, but I’ve never been called on it before.”

“Well,” I tease, while also declining his advance, “you’ll have to visit me a few times before I tell you anything like that.”

Emris’s eyes sparkle at this, and grinning, he says, “Sounds like you want to see me more.”

My cheeks flame a bit, but I try to shake it off by rolling my eyes and popping a hand on my hip. I mean, if he drops the forward-bordering-on-pushy attitude, I wouldn’t mind serving and flirting with him every once in a while. I’ll admit, I’m starting to enjoy this back-and-forth with him, and that’s unusual for me.

“Last call,” Cerise shouts out, standing on a stool behind the bar.

The bar starts to get crowded again, meaning I’ll have to divide my time between Emris and the rest of the customers. I push off the bar fully, turning my gaze back to Emris’s piercing eyes. He remains leaning forward, his lips slightly pouted out.

“Can I get you one last drink before we close?” I offer, mimicking his pout.

Emris straightens his posture, shaking his head. “No thank you, but can I get your number?”

I tap my cheek like he did earlier in the night, pretending to be thinking of my answer. After making him wait for a few seconds, I start to turn away, only pausing for a moment to glance over my shoulder at him.

“Ask me next time you see me.” I leave the real answer a mystery, but also try to ensure he comes back again. Julius will be very happy if Emris is a repeat customer.

With that, I turn and walk away from him, helping Cerise with the influx of orders to end the night before we close everyone’s tabs. I doubt that I’ll be seeing him again, but it is what it is. I’m sure that Cerise won’t let me forget about him for quite a while though.

Even though he’s confident bordering on cocky, and maybe a bit of a jerk, there’s something about him that I’m drawn to. He’s alluring and somehow mysterious, even though he’s apparently very well-known.

If I see him again, maybe I’ll entertain conversation a bit more. That’s if he even comes back again. I don’t expect it, not from a man like that. He was here for two things: his product launch, and to try and get lucky. He only got one of those, so I’m sure he won’t be returning.

A wave of disappointment floods me. It’s just business, why am I feeling like this? There’s no way I’m feeling something more, right?

Besides, he wouldn’t return just for me, would he?