Jealousy lanced through me.I mean, he wasn’t wrong.Hell, I’d been the one to tell Harry that.So, why did it bother me so much to hear it?
“And I apologize.I didn’t catch your name.”He turned to face me, eyes quickly taking in my appearance.Jutting my chin up, I held myself straight, happy to find he only had a few inches of height on me.
Let him judge.I was used to the looks by now.People always made assumptions about my appearance; tight jeans and tees that accentuated my overly slender frame, thick blonde hair that trailed past my breasts, an exposed side shave which was currently decorated by a gold chain ear cuff.
“Tiff.Head bartender and manager.”I held out my hand.
“Our commander in chief,” Devon joked.
Whatever he thought, it didn’t show.“Ah, yes, Tiffany.I’ve heard about you.”His grip was firm, his skin surprisingly soft when I shook his hand.“Sam Cooper.”
My brain halted.He had “heard about me”?And what the hell was that tone?
At least I had a name now.
“‘Sam,” although I still had half a mind to call him “asshole,” got the room’s attention.
“Thank you all for coming in this morning.I understand that Harry ran things differently, but I wanted to make it clear that I will be making some considerable changes.First of all, I will be taking over all management duties starting immediately.This includes scheduling and inventory.If there are any days or times that you are unable to work, please let me know so that I can see how we might accommodate it.Additionally, I plan on being much more involved than Harry was, and I need you to understand that I am your boss and my word is final.”
What the hell was this guy’s problem?I was used to Harry being a bit of a stick in the mud, but his brother?That stick was shoved so far up his …
“Is there a problem?”Sam’s steely eyes were on me.
I jutted my chin in challenge.“No problem.”
“I apologize if I’m keeping you from something, Miss Young.”
Miss Young?I forced a smile.
Breathe.Do not punch your new boss.
“Not at all, Mr.Cooper.”
“Then I would appreciate your full attention.”
Do not, I repeat.Do notpunch your new boss.
I never thought I’d miss Harry.
“Now, I would like to speak with each of you individually, so I will need everyone to please stay until I have gotten to everyone.”There was no avoiding his pointed nod in my direction.
It had been years since I’d been in church, and I was not what anyone would call religious (to my poor mama’s long-lasting disappointment), but Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, if this asshole thought he could walk in here and take over my bar, he was in for a rude awakening.
This was going to be a long-ass day.
“Asshole” moved into his office and started talking to people one by one.It became apparent that this was a calculated move, the new guy establishing his ownership of the bar like he was swinging his dick around.
Aware that my growing disdain for him was not good workplace policy, I texted Audrey, who, as my best friend for many years, had long since been on the receiving end of my tirades and would not blame me for complaining to her at this time of the morning.
Me:I hate him so much already
Auds:That bad?!
Me:The.WORST.
It didn’t scratch the surface of my irritation, but it helped.
Auds:Are you working tonight?I need to offload some elderflower gin from my new account.
