I needed a lifeboat, because life was drowning me faster than I could swim.
On the days that I dragged myself to work, I was ten minutes late. Thankfully, no one said a word about it. The other bartender just gave me a quick nod in greeting as we crossed paths on my way to clock in.
As if on autopilot, I tied the apron around my waist and got to work. Like all the other nights I had worked since taking this job, I easily filled the drink orders here and there while participating in fake small talk.
Normal.
Boring.
Repeat.
Letting my thoughts consume me, I soon lost track of time. Which was far better than what I’d done in the past. I knew from experience that if given a single opportunity, the memories would drag me under and I wouldn’t survive the raging storm.
And given my current state, I knew couldn’t allow my mind to drift to what my heart wanted. No matter how badly it ached to do so.
“Okay, that’s enough sulking,” a familiar voice called causing my shoulders to immediately stiffen.
I gulped, slowly lifting my eyes to find none other than Mistress Destri sitting in front of me at the bar. I know I shouldn’t have been surprised by the fact that she’d shown up here, but I was. In the last year, since our ‘relationship’ began, she’d not sought me out even once. Not to say there weren’t plenty of times she could have.
“Good evening.” My voice was rough from an entire week’s lack of use.
“Hmmm. Is it really a good one?” She didn’t even give me time to answer before continuing. “I’ve been made aware that you’ve been a bit––how should I say this––off, lately. Not yourself? Now, don’t try to tell me that’s true.”
“Uh…by who?” I’m sure my eyes were as wide as saucers while I took her in her long red hair, which she’d allowed to drape the length of her back.
Normally, when I saw Mistress Destri she was dressed in her well-known Domme attire. However, tonight, she wore a dark blue blouse and length skirt. If I had to guess, she’d come straight from work. Though despite her seemingly normal choice of clothing, she was still someone that commanded attention.
And not just mine.
“A friend of yours.”
I could only imagine the confused expression that graced my face. “What friend?”
“Eli. He’s quite concerned.”
“I don’t have a clue who you’re talking about.” And I really didn’t. I had no friends. Which was just the way I preferred it.
“Regardless, he knows you. Very well, I might add.” She eyed me as if I were crazy. Then again, maybe I was.
I gave out a half-hearted shrug. “I don’t really have any friends.”
“Well, no matter the case, someone is worried about you. And from what I’ve heard, that makes me concerned, too.”
“I’m fine,” I assured her before turning to walk away in hopes that the conversation would end then and there. Making my way to the opposite end of the bar, I did everything in my power to busy myself, blatantly ignoring her the entire time.
She isn’t supposed to show up here.Just her presence caused my thoughts to thicken and my heart to race.This place is my turf. Not hers. Why is she really here? Had I done something to make our agreement end? Perhaps it would be better if it did?
“Hey, I need a break,” I muttered, stopping the other bartender as he passed by. He gave me a short nod just before I ducked into the back where the small break room was located.
Maybe I could hide out in here and she’d grow bored and leave,I wondered. Of course, I knew that wasn’t likely the case, but at least it’d give me a moment to get my thoughts and emotions under control.
Stepping into the employee’s bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face and drank a few mouthfuls from my cupped hands. It took about ten minutes for me to get settled enough that I was willing to step back out into the bar. Even then, I’d much rather have died than face the possibility that Mistress Destri hadn’t left.
When I turned the corner that led to the bar, I wasn’t surprised to find she was still there. However, I’ll admit I was a bit taken aback when I noticed the cameraman sitting beside her.
Fuck me! Maybe I can just skip out…say I’m sick?
“Ezekiel Seeley,” Mistress Destri called in her usually demanding way, drawing not just my attention, but the attention of everyone else at the bar. Hearing my name spoken so firmly made me feel like a child who’d just been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.
