Aphrodite

"Okay. You got this. You can do hard things"

      As I walk through the front door all of my senses are heightened, pounding music, flashing lights, a smell of booze and sweat. I walk up to the bar wadding through the sea of dancing bodies. I order a lemon drop shot, let's be honest I need a bit of liquid courage before I do this. As I make it to the counter I feel a tap on my shoulder. When I turn around I'm surprised to see a tall man wearing all black and I see the small wire of his ear piece sitting right at the top of his ear. I am about to speak but when I'm cut off, "he's expecting you. What are you doing at the bar"? "He does not like to be kept waiting...trust me". The man blurts out.
"I know, I am on my way there now". "But how did you know who I am"?
   Without another word he just nods and heads back to this post at the front door. As if I wasn't dreading this enough already, that interaction didn't help any. The last place I ever expected to be was at Aphrodite about to asking for help from hades, At least that's what people call him. I turn back to the bar and order my drink. The bartender is friendly, thin, blonde, hot wearing basically no clothes except a white lace matching bra and pantie set but she has on more clothes than most of the people in here. she hands me my shot I pass her my card as her fingers grab it I see her looking slightly past me and quickly pulls back. I tilt my brow in surprise but she quickly spits "your drink is taken care of, have a good night"! With a quick wave she's addressing another customer.

I try to shake the weird feeling from her and the nerves, with one swift motion I tap the glass on the counter, bring the glass to my lips and throw  my head back. I leave some cash on the counter and turn to go down the hallway, it's pitch black, but at the very end a small light above a single door. Wading through the smoke filled air, I find myself become more nervous. I keep repeating the same thing I tell myself every morning, "You got this". "You can do hard things". Suddenly the air becomes thick, the loud club music fades away and I can feel just how tight the lingerie I'm wearing under my black ripped jeans and black crop top,  With one final step I'm standing at the door, the door that will decide my future. With a shaky motion I lift my hand and give a quick knock. As I bring my hand down to my side I'm met with a gush of air as the the door is flying open and standing in front of me staring into my eyes, with dark brown eyes and a tight jaw, someone who doesn't look happy to see me.

"Can I help you"?
He barks out. Looking me up and down before looking into my eyes. I'm to lost in the features of his face, and before I realize I'm staring
"i asked you a question"?
I'm snapped back to reality when I hear his irritated tone, I stutter out
"hi, I-uh, I'm sorry. I'm Anna"
"you didn't answer my question, and I do not like to repeat myself".
I don't remember his question and I'm to afraid to ask so I simply say
"Josh sent me.." he said you- uhm, you might be able to help me out"
"I know who you are" is all he says before he opens the fire wider and ushers me to come in.

He doesn't move from the door way. As I walk through my arm brushes his chest, I can smell his cologne, its a nice scent, not to over powering and i suck in a breath. I make my way into the room I look over my shoulder and see him closing the door and walking towards his desk, he waves at me to sit in the chair , while he rounds the desk to sit in his chair. Afraid to make eye contact I give a small nod and sit down. Unsure of what to say I ask him what josh told him about me. "So you said that you knew who I was, what did Josh tell you about me?" His eyes haven't left me since he opened the door, he opens his mouth like he's going to speak but instead of answering he lifts his glass to his mouth and takes a drink, then says

"just that he knew someone who needs help"
"I do"
"And if I help you" he pauses, swirling the ice in his glass "how will you help me"? He asks with a slight smirk .
Taking a deep breath to help sooth my shaking voice I say quietly "I'll work here"
I don't have the nerve to look up, I hear him clear his throat and set the now empty glass on the desk. "You'll work here huh?" "Doing what"?
"I have plenty of bartending experience, I have worked at a few different bars" I meet his eye line to see his smirk has grown a little wider and I hear a slight chuckle leave his lips. It is true, I've worked at four different bars, I can make just about any drink people want, I'm good with customers and can handle drunk assholes. But I have never worked at a place like this. I'm totally out of my comfort zone but I need the help and josh told me this is the guy to see. Hades. I don't know much about him except he owns a few different clubs In the city, no one knows his real name and now that he's very attractive.. I would never do something like this but I'm desperate.

"You can bartend?" Is all he says
"Yes I can, quite well I've been told"
"Cocky are we"? He says looking me up and down
"No uh- I just meant I know what I'm doing and if you help me I'll do a good job here".
" I can think of a better job for you to do here than just bartend"
"Wh what would that be"?
"I want you to dance" "you are far too pretty to be stuck behind the bar darling".
" oh"I gasp, my throat dry and voice hoarse I'm surprised I'm still able to talk
"And if you want my help, you'll do whatever I ask" he says slyly while the brown liquor he's drinking splashes into the glass as he fills it.
" I don't think you want me to do that.. I have no idea how to- I am mean what to, I would not be good at that."
"Let's get a couple things straight here. You work for me, I'll tell you what you are and aren't good at, second don't ever tell me what I want and third"... he pauses for a moment and with a quick lick of his lips he tips towards me closing his hands together on the desk "I KNOW you can do it".
I don't know how to react, I couldn't do it could I? No way. I've never even stepped foot in a place like this. I part my lips to talk but nothing comes out. As if he can sense my inability to speak he walks around the desk standing directly in front of me, our bodies close enough to make my heart race, he grabs me by the jaw tipping my face up I see something flash in his eyes and he says

"Open"