What If (His Proposal Alternate) Unedited

Jai Leaves For Two Weeks

After my shift last night Jai told me that he wasn't going to be at the bar for two weeks, but Max will be. He'll be the Manager until his return.

I just hope that Max can do a good job and not make me do everything so he could sit in the Jai's office playing on his phone.

I pull my car into the parking lot of Lusive and I see Ethan at the door talking to another security guy. He says something to the guy before heading in my direction. I park my car under a light close to the bar. I reach over to the passenger seat and pull my bag towards me.

Before I have time to open the car door, it's opened by Ethan who has a smile on his face. "Good evening, Chloe. How are you?"

A smile spreads across my face as I step out of the car. "Good, how about you, Ethan?"

"Great, now that you're here." He closes the door for me. "Are you ready for your first shift without, Jai?"

"Yeah, I'm ready for the first shift without, Jai. Do you know where he went?"

"No," we cross the parking lot. "Jai, never tells anyone what he's doing. Something tells me that whatever business trip he's on will be the last time he spends away from Los Angeles."

"Why would you think that?" I ask him.

Ethan remains quiet, before scratching the back of his neck. "Just forget I said that."

That's impossible for me to do. I'll have to find out what he meant in due time.

Looking at him I ask. "Who's on tonight? I really want to make a good impression on the people that I haven't met before. I have to show them that I didn't get the job because I'm a female, but I got it because I deserve to be here like everyone else."

Ethan touches my arm. "There's a few people that you haven't worked with before and they might not like you because you're the first woman to get a job here." He looks at the door. "At the door with me tonight is Brady. He can be an ass, but I think he'll be nice to you. Inside you have Max, who you've been working with closely with. Keith and Lance. Both of them are bartenders and they think they're reasons why woman buy drinks from them. Just be careful of those two. I've heard they slip drugs into their drinks. Just keep an eye out for that and if you see a woman in danger just give me a call. Then there's Alex and Eugene they will be the security inside. Eugene is married and he will treat you like his younger sister, as you are close to the age of his sister."

"Thanks, for the small run down on everyone, Ethan. I appreciate it."

"Anything for the new bartender."

As soon as we reach the door for Lusive I see a queue of people waiting to get in. "Are you going to let them in?"

Ethan shakes his head. "They aren't allowed in until seven. That's Max's rules. He's a lot stricter when Jai's away, but I'm sure you will be fine. If not I will call the boss and tell him what Max is up to."

Someone yells. "Why's she allowed in?"

The guy looks into the crowd. "She works here."

"No, she doesn't." A guy yells. "I would remember a beautiful thing like her working here if she did."

Looking at him I say. "I recently got the job. So, of course you wouldn't have seen me." I turn away from him and look at the tall blonde, blue eyed, tanned god in front of me.

He looks me up and down and licks his windblown lips. "I'm Brady. I've been here for a couple of years and I haven't seen Jai hire a woman since I've been part of Lusive. He surely knows what he's doing." He holds his hand out to me.

I place my smaller ones his calloused hands and say. "Chloe," he pumps my hand a few times and I pull it out of his grasp, "It was nice to meet you, Brady."

"You too, darling." He leans forwards and his lips brush my ear as he says. "I'll see you after you're shift. Maybe, I can walk you to your car and get a goodnight, kiss?"

That's not going to happen, buddy.

Moving away from him. "I'll stick to Ethan and Alex to walking me to the car. At least I know I will be in safe hands when it comes to them."

Ethan opens the door for me. "Do you want me to walk you to the bar?"

I shake my head. "I've got it from here, Ethan. I'll see you after my shift." I step inside the bar and follow the dark corridor until I reach the bar. There's groups of people sitting at some of the table."

Max walks over to me. "It's about time you got here. I need to do some things in the office. You'll be looking after the bar for me." He waves two guys over. "Chloe, I want you to meet the guys you will be working with." We stop at the bar. "The sandy blonde is Keith and standing next to him is Lance."

I wave at them. "Hi," looking at Max I say. "I'm going to get started on some work." I walk behind the bar and place my bag under the counter. My phone goes off and I pull it out of my bag. I look at the phone and see a number come across the screen with the message. I open it and look at it.

Unknown number: Hey, it's Jai. I was wondering if you'd like to grab a bite to eat when I get back.

How did he get my number?

Me: How did you get my number?

Jai: I took it from work.

Me: That's not cool.

Jai: I'm sorry firecracker.

I put my phone on silent before putting it in my bag and zipping it up. I walk over to a customer who's been trying to gain Keith and Lance's attention for the last couple of minutes. "Good, evening, sir. What can I get you?"

He smiles at me and there's some missing teeth. "Can I get a jack and coke, please, darling? Why don't you pour some for yourself?"

"I'm on the job, Sir."

He waves his hand. "It doesn't stop the rest of the men doing that here. I've seen a lot of them get drunk because they don't want to turn a drink down."

I lower my voice. "I'm not one of them." Looking at Keith and Lance I say. "Why don't I give them a drink from you?"

He nods. "Okay, you should spit in it before giving it to them. Maybe, it will make them get off their phones and do some work around here."

I pour the guy his drink before grabbing a cloth and cleaning some tables and clearing them before the crowd from outside come in.