"Can’t hurt anything," she said to herself and went inside.
The hostess took a look at her business suit and asked, "Are you expecting a date?"
"No," Allie said. "I’m here about the job."
"Let me find the manager."
Allie looked around the room. There was a bartender moving very slowly, making some sort of craft cocktail.
"You bartend?" he asked her as he put the finishing touches on the drink.
"Yes. I have bartended at a more upscale establishment catering to officers as well as at fancy military balls, so I have a good repertoire of cocktails."
An older man came out of the kitchen.
"You don’t strike me as a bartender," he said after looking her up and down.
"I'm here in the city completing an internship," she explained.
"Can you handle all of that?"
"I’m used to hard work," she said. "And I need more money to find a more suitable living situation."
"I gotcha. Weirdo New Yorker roommate, huh?"
"Something like that."
"I’m Bob, and that's Niles," he said, gesturing to the bartender. "He’s newly married as of tomorrow, and he and his boyfriend are going on a honeymoon, so I desperately need someone. The previous two replacements didn’t last long."
That isn't a good sign,Allie thought.
"They were offered acting jobs, so they didn’t have time to bartend. It’s similar hours."
"Right."
"When can you start?"
"Whenever you need me."
"Tomorrow?"
"Sure," she said.
"Good. We need you here at five."
She cringed.
"Is that going to be a problem?" the manager asked.
"Not at all."
"Let me see what you can do," Niles said, gesturing to the bar.
She took off her coat and washed her hands. Niles called out different drinks for her to make. She slung them out, relaxing as she sank into the familiar rhythm of working the bar.
Niles gave her an approving nod then showed her the complicated craft cocktails they made. She quickly memorized the recipes and made the Lotus Blossom cocktail, the Lively Lady, and several others.
The manager and the bartender tasted them.
