“—and the plum wine is just a float, like a whisper of sweetness, and if you shake this, you’re a monster. You stir itexactlyforty-seven times—”
Benji wasn’t counting. He was just stirring while juggling three different bottles and somehow also making it look easy.
“—and the ice matters. Always use the big cubes, never the crushed stuff, and—”
He finished with a flourish—a spin of the cocktail glass that somehow didn’t spill a drop—and set it down with a little bow.
“Midnight in Tokyo. Made with love, expertise, and a concerning amount of caffeine on my part. First one’s on the house because you tested me and I respect that energy.”
The guy took a sip.
His eyes went wide.
“Holy shit,” he breathed. “This isperfect. How did you—”
“I’m very good at my job, and also I don’t have an off switch!” Benji was already moving to the next order. “Tell your friends, find me on TikTok, and tip your bartender!”
The guy left a twenty on the bar.
Mark whispered. “We’re hiring him.”
“Yeah.”
“Like, immediately.”
“Yeah.”
“Before he gets away.”
“Mark, I know.”
“Good. Because if you don’t hire him, I’m going to, and then I’m going to fire you and replace you with him.”
“You can’t fire me. I own twenty-five percent—”
“I know a lawyer. I’ll find a way.”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s my lawyer—”
“And he finally admits his crush! My night is complete.”
“Fuck off,” I said, though Mark’s rumble drowned out my words.
I walked over to where Benji was making four drinks at once while explaining to someone the difference between Japanese whiskey and Scotch.
“Benji.”
He looked over, didn’t stop making drinks. “Yeah, boss?”
“You’re hired.”
He set down the shaker. “For real?”
“For real. Can you start next weekend?”
“I can start right now if you want. I’m already working, and this is great. You won’t regret this.”He was talking even faster than usual. “Okay, I’m going to make like seventeen more drinks and then we’re going to discuss my compensation package, which needs to include creative freedom over the cocktail menu because some of your drinks are boring. I’m going to make them un-boring. Everyone will love it.”
“We haven’t even discussed salary—”
