Raging Barons MC – Book Three – Silver

-:- EDEN -:-

I’m really excited that tonight the club opens and I will work for real and not just as cleaner, which is basically what I’ve been for the last couple of days.

I drag out bags and boxes from my junker and find something decent I can wear tonight as a bartender. I shake out a white blouse and thank goodness it’s not creased to shit, and after digging around a little I found a black pencil skirt that sits just above my knees I know I’ve a pair of black ankle boots that are not so heeled that my feet will hurt within the first couple of hours too.

These will have to do for the first night. I’ll dig around more and see what I can find for the nights after, because I can’t be seen in the same clothes night after night.

I fold them neatly and lay them on the passenger seat on top of the duvet, then put everything back in the vehicle. Once I’ve done this, I’m heading to the coffee house to get something to eat and a decent drink because I’m sick of heating water in this pan and drinking the cheapest coffee you can purchase.

Walking into the coffee house, I take in the smell of coffee and it brings a smile to my face. Stepping up to the counter, Shar gives me a big smile. “Mornin’ girl, how are you doing?”

“I’m good thanks, Shar. I start work properly tonight at the club.” I inform her, feeling pretty proud of myself.

“Oh, wow, I forgot, shit, I best make sure I close on time. Mia will be pissed if I miss the opening night.” She says and giggles to herself. “What can I get for you?”

“I’ll have an Americano and a bacon, egg and cheese panini please.” My mouth waters at the thought of breakfast, as it’s been two days since I’ve eaten anything worth having. Meal bars seem to be my thing at the moment, and only when I’m so hungry I can’t go any longer.”

The door flies open and a bunch of teenagers rush in, talking and laughing loudly. I look over at Shar and she nods her head to me to get behind the counter.

I step behind and place my purse under the counter on the bottom shelf, and thank God I didn’t wear a large jacket this morning. Leaning over to Shar as she’s making a round of drinks, I ask, “Where’s your other staff?”

“Let me down and I kicked the last girl out, as you know, so it’s just me until lunchtime when the next woman comes in. I’m gonna look at men in the future. They may need the job more.”

“I can stay until lunch and help if that suits you, Shar? I don’t mind if you don’t need me or want me to help.” I say and smile as the money would help, but I’m not pushing.

“Would you mind? It would be great if you could stay, but won’t you be tired out by the time you start work? What time do you have to be at work?”

I pick up two cups and take them over to the girls that sat down at the window and say, “I start at 3:00 and finish whenever, but I don’t mind helping you as I don’t have to be anywhere else today.”

“Okay, that’s great. If you could tidy the kitchen as your first job of the day, I’d be grateful.” Shar cringes as she sees me nod, and that makes me wonder what sort of mess she has in there.

I pick up my drink Shar had poured and offer to pay for it, but Shar shakes her head and nods to the kitchen. As I enter, I’m taken aback by the fridge door being open and salad ingredients all over the counter. I quickly get it all put away, and the fridge closed. Then tackle the dishes that are in the sink.

The morning passes fast with Shar shouting at me to help serve or picking up dirty dishes from tables and wiping them down. I’m feeling sick with hunger and after making sure the kitchen is back to rights, I lean on the sink drinking some cold water to fill my stomach to take off the hunger.

Shar walks through and squeals, “Eden, you’re as white as a ghost. Sit down, babe. Shit, you didn’t eat when you came in earlier. That’s over three hours ago. Let me get you something.” And before I can comment, she rushes to the front of the shop.

I sit in the chair at the end of the counter, near the door, and I open it to get a little fresh air inside. Taking deep breaths and drinking the water, I start to feel a little better.

Shar rushes into the kitchen and hands me a plate with two panini, sitting side by side and smelling divine. “Bacon, egg and cheese. Now get them eaten and no excuses.” Shar states, patting my shoulder as she rushes back to the shop.

I take a bite of the panini and groan as the taste hits my taste buds. I think nothing has ever tasted so good. I’m not sure I can afford two of these if it’s coming out of what I have left, but with whatever Shar pays me it should cover it, so I’m just going to enjoy every mouthful. It’s likely this is the last I’ll eat for a couple of days.

Lunchtime rolls around and a woman enters, smiling and shouting hello as she quickly gets to work filling the beans in the coffee dispensers.

Shar drops into the chair in the kitchen and looks at me with a grin. “Well Eden, you came in the nick of time this morning and I’m very grateful for you stepping up. How about you come up with me to my apartment and we’ll put our feet up for an hour?”

As I’ve nowhere to be I nod and agree that it would be nice to relax for a little while before heading over to the club.

We spend an hour talking and I do everything I can to dispel her suspicion that I’ve something going on. “Well, I think I best make a move, as I need to get cleaned up before work.” I stand and head towards the door, but before I can open it Shar asks, “You want to get cleaned up here babe, rather than run off to wherever then to work? You can shower and change here, as I’m gonna be downstairs, anyway.”

I look her right in the eye and I know she knows something isn’t right. I cannot help the tears that flood my eyes, but I hold them back. “Are you sure? It would be really nice to have a shower before I go to work.” I state, and Shar smiles. “Get your gear and make yourself beautiful for tonight, and I’ll see you downstairs before you go. Bedroom and shower through there.”

After collecting my clothes and shower gear, I make the most of the hot water and wash my hair, scrub every inch of my skin because I do not know when my next shower will be. Brushing out my hair, I tie it back into a low ponytail and hope it doesn’t wet my blouse too much, but without a dryer I’ve no chance of it drying quickly.

Once dressed I look at myself in the full-length mirror in Shar’s bedroom and nod. I look okay. You wouldn’t know I was homeless and living out of that heap of shit that’s my vehicle.

I look so much like my mother that a pain hits my chest. I still miss her so much, she was my shining light and I know she loved me deeply, but she left me in a horrid position when she didn’t make a will. I know she would be so angry that I’m in this position, and with Shirley living in my family home. Looking at myself one last time, I turn, pick up my things, and leave the apartment.

Entering the kitchen, I make sure I thank Shar and she hands me $50 for the morning’s work; I know that is far too much, but she won’t take no for an answer. Then she surprises me and asks me to come in the next morning for the same hours and breakfast is free. I nod and give her a smile and leave through the front door to the shop.

Parking at the club, I check I’m near the back entrance and I have a light or camera pointing my way. The thing I learned when a friend was accosted outside a bar, she’d parked in a corner under trees where she was in a total blind spot. She was lucky that a man came out of the bar when it happened or she could have been raped or murdered.

The back door’s locked, so I knock and wait, looking around to check no one is hanging about. I jump a little when the door opens and Silver waves for me to enter.

“You’re in plenty of time, Eden, nice to see.” Silver drawls and I smile, following him to the office.

“I don’t like being late anywhere. My mom used to say it’s the height of rudeness to be late.”

“Shame your mom wasn’t Carol, Twig, and Sue’s mom, as they need lessons on being punctual.” Silver grumbles, and I can’t help but give a small laugh.

“She would have had them by the back of the neck and dragged them out in their underwear if needed to make sure they were on time. They’d soon learn to be ready.” I tell him, laughing at the thought.

“I’d like to have seen that.” Silver smirks, then leans back in his seat behind his desk. “Okay, so you’re the bartender tonight, and hopefully for the foreseeable future. All the prices are on the register as I showed you. Anything you’re unsure of just give me a shout.” He gives me a look from my ankle boots up to my face and I have to admit I feel my face pinking a little. “You look good, bringing a touch of class to the place. I like it.” Nodding, I’m not sure for himself or to me.

“I’m not sure how long we work before we get a break and how long that break is. I don’t want to be in trouble before the first day is over.”

“I’ll give you a shout when you’re being relieved. I can’t tell you because tonight, with it being opening night, none of us knows how busy it will be. Usually half way through shift, you’ll get a thirty-minute break.”

“Okay, no problem.” I state and turn to leave the office to make sure everything is ready in the bar and club area.

“Eden?” Silver shouts, and I spin around to look at him. “Good luck. We may all need it.” He says, grinning.