Rock Revenge: Alex's Story (Access All Areas 4)

“You should get Violet to put in a good word for you,” Carlie kept saying.

I’d snort and turn away. As if I were a beggar, needing crumbs from them.

Then today, out of the blue, some guy had called me. Said he was a promoter for the Summer Rock Festival. Nothing was confirmed as yet but some bigwigs from a music company were coming to watch our next show and, if they were happy to sign us, we’d be on the bill. My step felt lighter and I couldn’t keep the grin off my face, but there was one thing that nagged me. If this all fell into a pile of shit, I’d be humiliated. Much better to keep the news to myself and wait until everything was signed and official. I wouldn’t even tell the other guys that the label guy was turning up. They’d get nervous and might screw things up.

Dee ordered another drink. She laughed at something the drummer said. Pete looked right at home behind the bar. I hadn’t just offered him the job to get him on side. We sure as hell needed experienced bar people. It seemed like you got people, got them trained up just right and they moved on.

She drank beer. I’d have never picked that. She’d had such a sweet tooth once.

“You look in a good mood,” Carlie said as she sat my drink down.

I glanced over at Dee. She didn’t seem to have noticed me. I didn’t want to catch her eye or anything like that. She seemed so much lighter when she was with other people.

“How’s Pete working out?” I asked Carlie. “He seems to be fitting right in.”

She nodded. If there was one thing that was certain, if someone passed muster with Carlie, they had to be okay. She didn’t tolerate slackers.

“I’m thinking of moving him upstairs.”

“That’d be right. As soon as we get someone decent in, you take them upstairs. I’d like a break occasionally, you know. Maybe a few days off to spend with my boyfriend.” She huffed.

The lights reflected on Dee’s hair, making it appear to glow, giving her an ethereal look. She turned but, if she spotted me, she didn’t acknowledge it. No, wait, she had. She bit at the nail on her little finger. That gesture. She always did that when she was agitated. She’d seen me but she had chosen to ignore me. I’d not acknowledge her either.

“Are you asking for time off?” I asked Carlie.

“Not particularly. I’d just like the option.”

“Well, I can get someone from upstairs to fill in if you need. You just have to ask.”

Carlie scowled. “There’s no one up there with bar management experience. Babs has been here the longest but she’s happy just working the bar without the added responsibility. Pete has bar management experience, and he’s great with the customers.”

“Well, there you go. If you want to take time off, Pete can come back downstairs. I can get Sally to run things upstairs.”

“Sally isn’t your pig slave, you know. And it’d be better if Pete stayed downstairs, that’s all I’m saying.”

I caught Dee looking at me. From the look on her face, she was conflicted. She might’ve accepted the deal I’d made with Pete but that didn’t mean she’d accepted me. Pete could be very persuasive when he needed to be.

When I’d called him, he’d been reluctant to meet with me.

“I don’t think we have anything to say to each other,” he’d said.

“You want to play in my club? You want to get ahead? Then make sure you come in to se

e me this afternoon.”

I’d had no doubts that he’d turn up.

When I put the offer to him, he’d been only too happy to jump at it. He’d done a complete 180 in his attitude.

“Dee’s not going to like it,” he’d said.

“Well, part of the deal is talking her into it.”

And now here she was, acting like I didn’t exist.

“You like her, don’t you?” said Drew, sitting down beside me.

I glowered at him. It wasn’t a situation I wanted to explain.