Reiner - Night Company

“Good evening, Natalia…” Charles greeted me casually.

“Charles…umm…welcome,” I greeted him back.

I glanced to my side and Kat was nowhere to be seen. How did she disappear that quickly? Is it some kind of magic?

“Can you make me a drink?” Charles asked as he took a seat on one of the bar stools.

Technically, I could make some drinks based on my past experience. I could make pretty decent cocktails based on my own standards, but I’m not supposed to be the bartender in this place.

“Should I get the drinks menu for you? Or perhaps, I can get the bartender to recommend you some options?” I suggested before smiling at him.

“Can you make me something?” he asked again.

Will I get fired if I do? But since he’s requesting. I don’t even know why he’s requesting but you’re supposed to fulfill customer’s requests, right?

“Well, technically I’m not supposed to be making drinks but if you insist…” I replied hesitantly.

“I insist,” Charles replied as his brown eyes stared deeply into mine.

Great. He’s not willing to back down at all. A cocktail coming right up!

“I’ll make you something…just don’t get your hopes up, ok? I’m not a pro or anything…” I said weakly to manage his expectations.

“Just make me something,” Charles said with a warm laugh.

I said that I could make cocktails, but the truth was all the cocktails that I could make were the result of me fooling around with my girlfriends. In other words, they were drinkable and pretty to look at but…

“Wow…” Charles exclaimed in a mix of shock and amazement after he had taken a sip of my bright pink cocktail.

The bartender glanced over at Charles as if to make sure that he wouldn’t die from my drink. After seeing the Charles was still alive after taking a sip, he turned away and continued with his work.

“Is it that bad?” I asked as I struggled to keep myself from laughing.

I wasn’t entirely successful with my efforts, so I ended up laughing a little at his reaction.

“It’s not…but it’s really sweet,” Charles replied with his honest review.

I knew it. Since this was one of the cocktails I came up with my girlfriends, it was pretty, drinkable but extremely sweet. It literally tasted like candy.

“My friends used to tell me that it tastes just like candy. Sorry, you don’t have to pay for it…” I quickly apologized.

I’ll just cover it with my pay. It’s not a big deal. I never expected anyone to like my cocktails or finish drinking it. Well, except for Zak because he likes everything that I do or make.

“Your cocktail is so dangerous. It’s so sweet but there’s a lot of alcohol in here, isn’t there?” Charles speculated as he looked at the pink liquid in his glass.

“Like I said, you don’t have to drink…” I began saying with a shy smile.

However, before I could finish my sentence, Charles threw his head back and dump the entire content of the glass into his mouth and swallowed it all down.

He drank it all. I stood there glued to the spot, completely stunned at what I had just witnessed. My mouth hung open in shock. From now on, I will refer to you as Zak 2 in honor for being the second person who could finish up my cocktail.

“I’ll pay for it. Don’t worry,” Charles said reassuringly before he smiled at me.

He placed the empty ecocktail glass on the counter and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond.

“Some food?” I offered as I placed the menu in front of him.

“You’re an awesome saleswoman,” he mumbled.

Despite my initial slight discomfort of having Charles so close, we ended up chatting quite a lot that night. He wasn’t so open about himself but that was fine considering that it was our first time properly talking, and then again, everyone has their own secrets to keep. I figured enough that he was a professional mercenary and because he didn’t have any family members anymore, he’s just working for fun after having made more than enough money for himself to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

Unlike the other women that Kat spoke of, I had absolutely no interest in his wealth. Wealth, money, greed, and everything that came with it was why my life turned out the way it did. My experience taught me first handed that having too much money wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

“I have job interview tomorrow so I might have to head back first,” I told him honestly.

It was nice talking to him and it made me realize how lonely I had been feeling these past few days.

Charles was a good listener and although he didn’t tell me everything, what he told me, I could believe were honest. I appreciated that a lot more than he would ever know.

“Really? Good luck!” he said excitedly.

“Thanks. I’ll probably need it,” I replied smoothly.

Charles also wasn’t a nosy person. He didn’t pry into anything that I told him. It was like he was willing to take whatever information I was willing to share. He never asked me for more details just like he didn’t ask me what job or which firm I was going to interview at.

…

I woke up a little late the next morning but with a clear mind. Last night, I slept well and without dreams.

Perhaps my talk with Charles had put my mind at ease and the exercise that came along with my waitress job probably helped as well. Today was finally the day for my job interview at King’s company.

I showered, dressed and made sure that I had everything I needed before driving to the business zone.

Queen texted me to wish me luck and that made me smile. I decided to send her a text back with good news after I finished my interview. I have to do well. I just have to do well!

I would like to say that the interview was grueling hard and stressful, but the reality was quite different.

--To be continued…