The Billionaire and the Bartender (The Billionaires 2)

I’d made the decision that there would be an area in the bar where in order to truly be able to relax, the bar staff would take orders directly from the seating area, waitress style. Some of the memberships had drinks packages included and for others we always kept a card on file so there was no need for payment, all they had to do was to sign a tab. It took them away from having to queue at the bar when they might be exhausted from other endeavors. It was a trial and I would see how it went.

I sat down on one of the new brown leather couches and looked at my watch because I would be timing how long it took to both collect my order and to bring me my drink. Within a minute, Cherry, one of my main bartenders was taking my order of a scotch.

I began opening envelopes and looking at some of the responses. Five minutes at this time of the evening was an adequate time to be returning with my drinks order. On quick perusal of the questionnaires it appeared that the large screened movie theater had been a success. A couple of members had been delayed on arrival because of a glitch in the new computer system and so I made a note to get that looked into first thing in the morning. We did not need computer errors on opening night. I glanced at my watch. Six minutes had passed. That wasn’t good enough. I gathered up the questionnaires and looked up, ready to go kick someone’s ass. Instead my eyes met those of a long-haired brunette hurrying towards me with my scotch on a silver tray. Her breasts jiggled from under her white bartender shirt and something about her struck me as familiar. As her hazel colored eyes hit mine, I noted those plump lips identical to those I’d been fantasizing about having around my cock earlier. Her face shape was the same, with the same heart-shape and angled cheekbones. But it couldn’t be her, could it? Lorenza had pale blue eyes and pink hair. Or did she? Had the whole thing been a disguise?

“I’m sorry your drink is late, Mr Hall. It’s all my fault. I’m new and got a little caught up on orders. I’ve asked if I can work some extra shifts for free to get myself together ready for opening day.” Her words might have been an apology but the breathy tone from earlier had been replaced with a confident voice.

“No need to apologize, Lorenza. I’m sure you’ll have everything under control ready for opening.” I told her. If I was wrong, and it was just coincidence and she was a lookalike, then a look of confusion would cross her face at any minute while I stood corrected. Instead her hazel eyes lit like there was a bonfire behind them and she looked around her.

“I think there’s some mistake, Mr. Hall. My name is Lori, Lori Jenkins. I’m your new bartender. Now do you need anything else as I need to get back to the bar?”

“No, nothing else, thank you, Lori.” I emphasized her name. “Welcome to Abandon. Have you been given a tour yet of the new club?”

“No, not yet.” She said. I noted a tension to her shoulders that hadn’t been there before.

“Well, it will be my pleasure to show you around tomorrow evening. Not just you of course, but all the new bartending staff. I will be

here at eight. Could you please inform Cherry?”

“I will tell the others, Mr. Hall, and we will all be ready to meet you at eight.”

“Thank you.” I told her. “And thank you for my scotch.”

She walked away, and I sat back taking a drink of my scotch and looking back through the responses to the questionnaires. I wondered if tomorrow Lori would be as pleased with the new movie theater as the patrons were, especially when I would make sure that it was her first movie that was being shown at the time.

Chapter 3

Aidan

I went home and watched the movie again, studying Lori’s features. It was definitely her. Either that or she had a twin sister which I guessed was entirely possible. Something in my gut said it was her though. I wondered why she worked two jobs, there must be some days she got very little sleep. I fell asleep excited about seeing her again the next evening. What was going on with me?

The next morning as I drank my coffee in my living room I had thought better of my plan to show Lori her own movie. I was being a total asshole. What sort of employer would do that? I had to stick to being professional. She was my employee under both businesses and I must respect her as such. I’d still do the tour tonight, but I would make sure I was businesslike and professional. After changing into my suit, I walked down to the first floor of my house which was where my office was based, said morning to my secretary, Andrea, and went into my office to look at the week ahead. I was going to be extremely busy finalizing the launch of the club.

The first thing I did was open an email from H.

So, you got a date yet?

Fuck. These jerks weren’t going to leave me alone for the next three months were they? I was going to have to start searching for a girlfriend.

I shook my head at myself. You couldn’t look for a date to win a bet, could you? That was hardly the epitome of romance. I sighed. I’d keep my eyes open for a genuinely nice woman who somehow made my dick sing for the next month and then if that failed I’d try a dating agency. The lengths I would go to in order to win a bet. But we were all competitive bastards and none of us would want to lose.

That evening at eight pm sharp I walked up to the bar at Abandon. The Head Bartender that evening, Damien, came over to me. “I’ve had one go off sick, Aidan. I can’t spare all my new staff. If you show Lori around, she said she’ll show the rest of the new staff when we get chance to spare them.”

“That’s fine.” I nodded. My Head Bartender knew his job and if he needed the staff, he needed the staff. “Come on then Lori, let’s show you the club.”

She took off her apron and walked around the front of the bar to the side of me. I noted how tall she was. I was six feet and so she must have been around five-ten. Again I noted her confidence in her stride and demeanor. “Ready when you are, Boss.”

As I walked around, I spoke about my hopes for the club, how I’d bought it from Henry Carter and that the club already had a loyal following and I was hoping to capitalize on that but just make things a little more modern.

“Yes, I find erotica in general is becoming much more mainstream now, though of course there will always be people who think enjoying sex is the equivalent of worshiping Satan, despite the fact they all came from that very act.”

“True, and that’s why I have a fantastic security team because now and again we get wackos who are either wanting to out the club as evil, or want to get their rocks off in a way that goes against all the club’s principles. This is a safe environment for both staff and members. On that note I want to apologize for how I spoke to you yesterday. I was just taken aback that you looked so much like an actress I’d seen earlier that day. My apologies.”

I’d decided that if Lori wished to tell me it was her or a twin that was entirely up to her. It wasn’t my place to ask. In the club she was Lori the bartender and if it was her, at GoDown she was Lorenza the actress. It was her business, not mine.

“Yeah, can I talk frankly?” She asked.

“Of course.”