Turning Table

Part 26

***It's easier to bleed than sweat***

🌹Liyana 🌹

I rush to my locker and put on my t-shirt, shove my things inside the locket and run out,
" fuck! "
I say as I looked at Rosseta standing by the bar,
This woman is hot and today she was looking like someone who just stepped out of the cover of the magazine, over the knee body-hugging red dress, black coat over her shoulders and black stiletto, damn I wish to be like her when I grow up,

To me Rossetta is a true definition of a strong, independent woman, she is perceived as a rude or cold-hearted bitch, because she calls people out when they start misbehaving or disrespecting her. She exercises the power of not letting them get away with it. Yet she entails supporting and protecting female staff in this male-infested environment.

"Liyana You are late again! "
Me: uuum..."
" save it, and get to work "

She does not even look at me, she the female alfa in this place and she knows it, I look at her walk away, her light skin that glows, her afro hair tied in a burn,  you may mistake her to be Lisa Ray the way she is so beautiful,
" mmmm you definitely are crushing on her "
I look up and I was meet with Candy, she one of the dancers here
Me: can you blame me, fuck she is hot"
She bust out and laughed walking away,

The club is always busy it's Thursday and this place is packed, I'm beyond tired and getting very cranky now,  I blame my mother for making me a meal ticket, these days I only have two hours of sleep almost every day, working two demanding jobs it is literally grating my nipples.

So it's been two weeks working at the bar, My first shift was rather memorable crazy, I knew I was working in a gentleman bar, but nothing prepared me to see the other side of the bar " The Strip Club", the opening night it was packed, running around like a headless chicken, smiling to demanding customers, I was somehow also distracted by half-naked women dancing and swaying their ass if I'm not mistaken at some point I even froze just looking at how they moved, I broke glasses mixed drinks and my boss almost slapped me for not paying attention to my job. If it was not for Sammy I will be long fired in this place, His head of security but the guy is multi-skilled
' sit this one out '
Me: I can't I need this job'
Him: how about you watch and learn...first "
The rest of the night I was cleaning the counter and removing dirty glasses and taking them to the kitchen.

Sammy quickly became a friend of mine, taught me tricks and how to handle a rude, drunk, or overly happy customer. Throughout the shift, I made many mistakes that for sure, but it was exciting to be in a new place and to learn so much about the world behind the bar. It triggered my intellectual curiosity, and later I began learning how to claim my space and use my skills to teach customers the different tastes and textures that exist in what they are drinking.

As always my night is moving fast, yet work is smoothly no mistakes and my bubbly personality is making customers generous when it came to tipping me,
But my excitement came to a crashing halt when I went to grab a few bottles from the stock room above the bar. Before I passed the ice machine toward the rickety staircase upward, a customer grabbed my arm and cornered me into the wall

“You are so beautiful. Let me take you home tonight.” he ran his hands on my thigh, I pushed past him and said
“get off me!!"
I'm angry pissed but mostly terrified,  I rushed into the stock room and caught my breath,

It's close to the end of my shift just one more hour and out, I breathe out loud put on a smile
" you got this Liya," I said to myself,
I took the bottles and made my way to my station, im still much shaken by what happened to me, worst part by how this one particular customer is looking at me, A part of my job is to pay attention to those that I’m serving but every day I receive a different type of attention from customers than the one I give it's starting to creep me out.

"You’re a hottie, I don't blame him for lasting over you,” a male bartender friend said to me as I told him the customer is making me uncomfortable,
Me: I'm here to serve drinks and not to be manikin that man can lust over"
Him: babe you suck at this Job only reason Ms. Rossy is keeping you behind this bar it's because of how you attract this man, if I were you I will allow that  pretty face to pay my bills...and stop complaining"
I looked at him, not sure what to make out of his statement,  is he right? Was it my looks that determine my eligibility in this place? God knows it felt like I was being told that my skill level wasn’t as important as my level of attractiveness.
Realizing now I have been called beautiful or gorgeous more times than I’ve heard “thank you.”

" the driver is on his way"
Sammy said walking in the bar, making me come back from my haunting thoughts
Me: thank God, I'm so tired"
He laughed and immediately frowned when he noticed the same customer who grabbed me inappropriately coming up to me and asked me “What time do you get off? I hate waiting"

Bartending, like in this situation, can be scary sometimes, especially when you have hostile customers or feel threatened. You can’t leave your bar, you’re stuck there if someone is fleeting, rude to you or if someone disrespects you. There is a mentality and an expectation that if you are a female bartender, you have to be strong and have thick skin because people treat you without respect more often than with respect. But, at the same time, in order to make money, you also have to be sweet and flirtatious, attractive and smart, attentive, and be a good conversationalist,
Me: the night is still young, can I get you another drink ?"
The customer bites his lip looking at me,
Him: how about we leave this place and allow me to buy you a drink?"
I frown but quickly smile, I don't like how he is looking at me, it's like my body is being used as a vessel to hold his attention,

Me: Beer or Gine?"
I said smiling but his eyes are looking at my boobs I swallowed and stepped back, Quickly, and out of nowhere Sammy punched him in the face
"Fuck off," Sammy said,  he then  clicked his fingers together and security escorted the man with the bleeding nose out
Me: Sammy that was..."
“I saw what he did a few hours back,  Look, unfortunately, that type of stuff is going to happen. But if someone touches you, scream or better yet shout my name are we clear, !"
I just nodded,
Him: cash up and get out of here "
Me: my shifts end at 3:00 am"
Him: I will finish up, just go "

I smiled and thanked him,  I cashed up got my tips, through it all I was holding my breath that Rosetta does not give me a warning for coming late, but she just thanked and me and said
" good night Liya"
Me: good night Mama"

I went in the back to get my stuff it's 2:58 am, I'm dead tired and my feet are killing me,
Sammy: I need you to talk to Rossy about the floor manager job"
Me: but Ginger..."
Him: she does not own this place talk to Rose, tomorrow..."
I nodded and thanked him, I made my way to the stuff taxi, and the minute my but hit the seat I dozed off.

I sleep throughout the trip and the other girls woke me up when the taxi was parked outside my house,  I jump out yawning it's  3:45 am...I want to scream because at 7:30 I should be at the hospital, for my day job.
I drag my body to my bedroom and threw myself on my bed,
The things we do for family.