Thicker Than Water [18+]

Chapter 1: Professional

I've always been more partial to a sweet wine instead of the fiery whiskies that many of my patrons ask for. I do know how to balance the notes of a whiskey in a cocktail to suit even the most refined palette, but I could never personally find enjoyment in the warmth it can spread starting from the throat.

And yet, I enjoyed the casino floor that was like a swirling rocks glass of sophisticated old fashioned. Stone-cold poker faces, sour poker losers, sweet chip earnings, and flaming winning streaks. Even if this was my alias, I still enjoyed the energy of Cosmic Casino.

Cosmic Casino was as close to home as I could get. The lavish casino had whimsical, space decoration to fit the celestial theme. Crystal stars blanketed the high ceilings, chandeliers were modeled after planets, and accents of black, gold, and silver painted the walls. It was less of a NASA theme and more of a cosmic heaven theme which I appreciated. It was classy. In response, I had to be classy too. Hence, why I liked to think of myself as a sweet white wine in a cellar of oaky bourbon. That was my role.

One of the ways I fulfilled that role was how I presented myself in public. Even if I was appreciating my workplace, I remained busy with bartending tasks.

"These glasses are polished. Care not to smudge them before serving." I advised the new hire bluntly. Her posture stiffened and she nodded quickly. She was hired two months ago, but I still considered her new. I usually didn't consider a new bartender a master until their six-month mark of vigorous training. This one was taking a while with learning how to handle the glasses up to the Cosmic Casino standards.

"Yes, Miss Skye. Um. . . what's the recipe for the Midnight Sun Martini again?" She sheepishly asked, her ears becoming red from the embarrassment of not remembering one of our signature cocktails.

I calmly walked over to her, eyeing the tools and alcohol she was prepared to use. She had the right ingredients, which was better than her effort to make one yesterday. Yesterday, she couldn't even remember which vodka to use and had a myriad of different brands out on the counter.

I pointed to each spirit she correctly pulled out. "Ounce and a half of the Finlandia, half an ounce of triple sec, three ounces of cranberry juice. Remember to garnish with the maraschino cherry."

The newbie gave a grateful smile and began to mix. "Yes, Miss Skye. Thank you."

"So serious over here. I know we tend to be formal here, but this looks like a boot camp rather than a luxury casino bar." A suave voice commented. I looked over and watched Mr. Sterling take a seat on a black velvet stool. His sage eyes twinkled under the starry lights decorating our bar display. I felt like his eyes shined due to his teasing nature as well.

"Mr. Sterling! How are you today~?" The new hire inquired with honey words. This was a common response to Mr. Sterling's presence from men and women alike. He was a handsome man that demonstrated an approachable sophistication. Not to mention that he was one of the casino managers that made a six-figure salary. Mr. Sterling was a desirable bachelor and sponsor. Everyone knew of Mr. Sterling, even with the size of Las Vegas.

So, it didn't surprise me that our new hire was flirting with the polished boss.

"I am doing well, Miss Bethany Adams. I have a short break which is rare for me, so I figured that I would spend my break relaxing as much as I could. How is your training going? I hope you are somewhat enjoying Miss Skye's style of training." He politely smiled, making light conversation. If he knew how flirtatious Miss Adams was being, he didn't let it show. He was good at keeping appearances.

"It's. . . challenging. But, I have gotten better over time. I think it's because Miss Skye is so strict. I can't imagine making the progress I have if I was working anywhere else! Can I get you a drink?" She graciously answered, hoping to make a good impression by not complaining about how hard the work is. By the sound of her tone though, even honeyed, it was genuine. While her progress was slow, she was taking feedback well and adjusting to her best abilities. It was impressive, especially since she came from an alley bar that was going out of business.