Returning to Life

Chapter Eight

"Thank you James. I really appreciate you giving Mr.Theo a part time position. I know you didmt have to. And I really had no right to ask you to."

He gave her a serious look. "Leelah. I owed you big time. We doubled our normal crowd. And it was because of you stepping up to help me tonight. And can I just say damn!

With talent like that, why are you bartending?! You could be famous. If you become famous, I can hang your picture and autograph over the stage."

She laughed. "Fame isn't for me. I like being behind the bar. I'm glad it turned out okay though."

He just shook his head. "Are you headed out?"

She nodded. "I am exhausted."

I offered to let your new friend and his dog stay in the spare room at my and Jay's place till he can get on his feet. On the grounds they both bathe. If it works out, maybe we can make a deal. Jay and I have been looking for someone to rent the spare room to. Who knows, if he turns out to be a decent guy, it can be beneficial to all of us."

She gave him a quick side hug. "You are a good person."

He laughed. "Don't let anyone know. Of you're going, take the back door. Jonny was in the crowd tonight and had his eyes on you again. We might have to do something about him. I dont like how obsessed he is acting toqards you. Has he bothered you outside work?"

She shrugged. "I can handle Jonny."

"Don't take it too lightly though. Men like him can be petty and dangerous. Be smart and cautious around him."

"Yes sir boss." She saluted him before grabbing her few things and heading out the back.

***

"You are a woman of many talents."

She jerked in surprise, her hand automatically closing around the pepper spray she had taken to carrying around in her pocket.

But it wasn't Jonny Kyriakos.

"Mr. Raiden Feng. We meet again." She gave him a small smile.

He gestured towards the sidewalk. "People mover?"

She nodded and fell in step beside him. She supposed she should be more weary of him after Kyriakos. But he didn't give her bad vibes. Or maybe she just didn't care enough to be concerned.

"So, are you a performer?"

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players."

He nodded seriously. "William Shakespeare. Talented and well read. What a pleasant surprise."

She almost smiled. "I aim to impress."

"So any luck on what helps with our problems in life? We established heavy sighing did nothing for them last time."

She looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I'm told drowning them in a bottle can sometimes work. I do work in a pub after all."

He gave her a look from the corner of his eyes. "You work in a bar and haven't already tried that?"

"It's a pub, not a bar, and not yet. I've been too lazy to try drowning my problems."

He nodded thoughtfully.

***

Leelah looked around, still a bit surprised at herself. Jenny and Josh had tried a million times to get her to go out with them. And she had always turned them down. She rarely went out with her family. And they were the closest to her.

She didn't have friends. Sure, she had coworkers. But she didn't go out drinking with them either. She couldn't remember the last time she went out drinking. She thought about it for a moment. Her cousin's bachelorette party? Seven years ago. No wonder she barely remembered. It had been years ago. She had been young and carefree. And she had gotten completely drunk.

It seemed like at least three lifetimes ago. She had become a completely different person in those seven years. Back then she had been cheerful, always smiling. She went out often with friends. She had been a freakin social butterfly. She had been hard set on moving forward from a bad childhood. She had been a survivor. She had been alive.

That person she had been would be disappointed in who she was now. She shpuld probably care more. But was it even worth it?

"Stop it."

She shot a surprised look to the man seated at the bar beside her.

"We are drowning our issues, not drowning in our issues."

This was her second time in this bar. Raiden Feng had somehow managed to lead her right back to the same boujee hotel and bar that she had escaped from Kyriakos at. She frowned at him

"What made you pick this place?"

He looked slightly offended at her suspicious tone.

"What is wrong with The Hotel Pheonix?"

"It's just a little boujee."

Amusement flashed in his eyes. "If by 'boujee', you mean luxury and class, I'll take it as a compliment."

"I'm pretty sure she means it as over the top and a bit guady."

A smooth voice answered as he filled both their drinks.

Leelah gave him a friendly smile. She pointed a finger at him. "This guy is the best thing about this bar. He is actually a very good bartender. Did you get your gift by the way."

Raiden raised an eyebrow. "Gift?" He gave the bartender an incredulous look. "She gave you a gift?"

The man gave him a sudden wide smile. Turning he grabbed the tall mug from where it had been plainly displayed for all to see and set it on the bar in front of them.

It was a shiny black, decorated with a colorful assortment of mixed drinks and in large golden font, read "#1 Bartender".

"I consider it a trophy or award. Since I rarely am acknowledged for my outstanding skills in my current position." He gave Leelah a genuine smile. "And it was my pleasure to help a pretty lady out. I hope that garbage you had trouble with that night has not been giving you anymore trouble. You can't be too careful with that type. He should have been arrested that night. Or recieved a beating."

"No trouble so far. He probably lost interest after that night." She reached out a hand. "My name is Leelah by the way. I work the bar at Jay and J's pub."

He gave her a grin and shook her hand with a firm and confident grip. "Benjamin. You can call me Ben. I've have heard good things. I might stop in sometime and see you in action."

She nodded.

Raiden frowned at them both. " Hotel Pheonix is not guady. It is a historical masterpiece. And stop smiling at her and pour us another drink before I fire you."

That surprised her. "Fire him? Do you manage the bar here?"

He nodded slowly as if contemplating it. "You could say that."

Ben gave her a sly look. "You could say he manages the whole hotel."

She gave Raiden a look of appreciation. "You manage the entire hotel? I mean, I figured you were a businessman of some sort. Hotel management is a surprise for some reason." She threw back the shot of whiskey in front of her.

Raiden watched her, still looking slightly amused. "Is it?" He picked up his own shot. "I wouldn't think it would be a surprise given I own it."