by Logan Chance
“So you want to be the boss, huh?” His eyes bore into mine as I shifted on my feet. “I would start by being on time for work in the future. Maybe leave your house earlier, so you aren’t speeding.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, giving him a nod before turning away.
An older woman with a bright orange and green moo moo dress called me over, and I was happy to escape him.
I conversed with her as Theo walked around glancing at different things. He never let go of the clipboard in his hands, taking notes every so often with a pen he perched behind his ear.
Sexiness oozed from him. It was hard to believe this cocky as hell man was the same one from the beach.
By the next day, it was obvious he didn’t know the first thing about running a bar. On Wednesday, he wanted me to alphabetize the liquor bottles, which, of course, made me laugh in his face. I thought he was joking. He wasn’t. I told him no functioning bar could run that way. Bottles were displayed according to well, call, and brand names. He listened stone faced as I explained how the phrase ‘top shelf’ actually meant the bottles on the top shelf were better quality, as well as more expensive. It applied in all bars, not because they’re organized alphabetically.
When he wasn’t walking around with his clipboard, endlessly taking notes, he spent most of his time on the phone, or joking with other employees. They appeared to love him. I felt like I was the only one concerned our new owner knew little to nothing about the industry. I wanted the management position, and one way or another I would show him I was the best person for the job. My resolve strengthened to never tell him who I was. He didn’t make it easy though. Watching how he would nibble on the end of a pen, or run it across his lips, when he thought about a new ridiculous idea for the bar, made me want to strangle his neck while I kissed him.
By Thursday, I was sure he lost his mind when he wanted all of us to stop what we were doing to acknowledge each time a guest entered or left the establishment with a ‘hello’ or a ‘goodbye.’ Sure, it was a fun idea in theory, but it was impractical.
Friday came and Theo still had no clue, but I gave him one thing—he wasn’t giving up. He had a big heart, which was evidenced by how he let some of the older locals tell him story after story about the ‘good ol’ days.’ He would lean on the bar, his dark eyes lighting with laughter, as he listened. He worked hard, I could begrudgingly admit, even though the work he did was all wrong.
“What do you think?” Fiona asked as she leaned against the bar.
“Of?”
“Mr. Sullivan. Too bad he’s our boss and not a customer. I’d flirt my ass off with him. So damn handsome.” She closed her eyes for a moment and made an “Mm” sound.
“I don’t think he’ll last. So maybe you’ll get lucky.” Vomit. I wanted to vomit as I played with the top of a Vodka bottle in the well by my side.
“Apparently he has a ton of great ideas.” Her dark hair flew around her face as a breeze swept in. “Not that we’ve seen any yet.” She smiled.
“Yeah, I don’t think this guy would know a good idea if it slapped him in his bearded face. He’s just another pompous asshole, playing bar owner, and I’m sure he’ll run this place into the ground.” My cheeks heated, my heart pumping, maybe I was being unfair, but so was he. Two more times I approached him about the management position and both times he shot me down.
“If he runs it into the ground then I guess it’s time to start looking for another job.” She winked as she walked away. The problem was I didn’t want a new job; I liked the Goat.
My eyes traveled to the spacious patio with its more than half empty wooden seats. People would rather spend their days at the Clevelander or The Mango Tropical Cafe than to come here. A gentle ocean breeze stirred the loose strands of hair escaping my ponytail as I stood behind the bar watching the waves crash in the distance.
“And she wants to be manager.” I jumped at the sound of Theo’s weighty voice behind me. He motioned to an empty lounger with his head. “Would you like to take a nap, Boss?” he quipped.
My eyes widened and I bit back a retort. “As you can see, we have no customers to take care of.”
“Time to lean,” he pulled a bar towel from his shoulder, “Time to clean. Boss.” He motioned to the bar he knew damn well I kept impeccably clean as I gazed at his reflection in the mirror.
“I’ve already cleaned the bar. You know I always keep it in order. You want me to do it again?” I challenged.
“Yes. Yes, I would.”
“Why don’t you say please.” I seethed, wanting to remind him of our night together, but he still didn’t catch my implied meaning.
The Lord Of My O’s could fuck off.
5. Theo
Say please, my ass.
Listening to them talk about me—the way they thought I would run this bar into the ground—pissed me the fuck off. Pompous asshole? Who me? They didn’t know what the fuck they were talking about.
I wasn’t born yesterday and I worked hard for everything I had. There was no silver spoon in my mouth when I was born, and I never failed at anything I ever set out to do before in my whole goddamn life—and that was a fact.
I tugged at my tie as the heat coursing through my agitated veins compounded.
The previous owner told me business was good, and even showed me his books. Glancing around at the empty bar area, I questioned if he fudged the numbers, somehow. If we continued to do business like this, The Bearded Goat would be out of business before I could run it.
All in all, the staff was efficient, nothing I couldn’t work with. There were even a few who I would consider for management. They worked hard and I appreciated it.
But, this Penny Marks, now standing around twiddling her thumbs, doing nothing, tested my patience. I stood behind her as she polished a liquor bottle, and my anger heightened.
“Would you please clean?” I asked, stooping to her childish level.
She held up the bottle she was wiping, glancing at me through the large mirror behind the bar. “I am cleaning, Mr. Sullivan,” she said in an overly exaggerated sarcastic voice. Irritation rose inside of me. She couldn’t even take a second to turn around to face me.
“Cut the crap, Penny.” I cracked my knuckles in annoyance as my eyes tightened. “You’re polishing a bottle.”
She spun around with wide eyes to face me. Her breathing picked up and her cheeks reddened with either embarrassment or anger—at this point I didn’t care which.
“Excuse me, sir. The bottles get dirty when we pour drinks. If we don’t polish the bottles then we’ll get fruit flies. Do you want flies?”
“Of course I don’t want flies.” I leaned back against the bar. “Did you have a nice chat with Fiona?”
Her mouth hung open and the sassy expression was replaced with guilt. “Um, I can explain,” she said.
“Save it, Penny. Let me explain something to you. Do your job, show up on time, and work hard and maybe in a year we can discuss the management thing again.”
“A year? You’re kidding right?”
I cracked a smile. “Sure, of course I am. I would never say a year. Maybe two.”
“Oh ha ha very funny, Mr. Sullivan.”
“You can call me Theo, as for the management position, try not to talk bad about me anymore.”
“Theo, I didn’t mean to be…”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. I never fail at anything I set my mind to. You best be remembering that.”
“Oh I remember things quite vividly.” Her eyes flashed to mine, and a hazy spark of recognition flickered and extinguished. I shook my head. I never saw her before; I was sure of it.
She was pretty the way her bangs fell right above her eyebrows. And this type of thought would have me out of business in a heartbeat. So, I would not be tempted.
I would keep her at arm’s length and not let myself be attracted to her. She was an employee and not a very good one.
“Ok, get back to work,” I s
aid.
She shot me a look, and I grinned, leaning in close to her ear. “Please.” Big mistake, my cock pulsed. She brushed a hand across her cheek as she swiped away a strand of hair, and I wanted nothing more than to feel the softness of her skin. Her body trembled slightly and I stepped away.
“Yes sir,” she breathed.
“Also, next time you decide to open your mouth,” That pretty little mouth, “and trash talk me,” You’d blush at how filthy I talk, “or call me an asshole…” You’ll get an ass spanking. I faltered, unable to focus my thoughts as she stared at me curiously. What the fuck was happening? My dick throbbed. “Just remember, I’m your boss, and I’m not going anywhere. Decide if you can handle it.”
She took in a deep breath as her expression hardened. “I won’t quit,” she said after a moment of silence.
“Fine.” Grabbing a black server tray to hide my growing erection, I stalked away and left her there.
“Oh, and Theo,” she called after me.
God, would she stop talking already? The last thing I needed her to see was the massive hard on I sported in my trousers.
I stopped dead in my tracks and glanced over my shoulder. “Yeah?”
“If you’re interested, they have a ton of books on running a bar. It may come in handy.” Her underhanded comment, disguised as helpful, grated on every nerve in my body and my jaw tensed.
I shook my head. “Get back to work,” I retorted through clenched teeth.
She smiled wide. “Sure thing, boss.”
I stormed out of the bar area and into the tiny office off of the kitchen.
I couldn’t even talk to this girl for five minutes without my anger boiling over and my cock getting hard.
Who the hell did she think she was? Queen bartender? Give me a fucking break.
By evening, I made it home to my two-bedroom condo. The first week of owning a bar didn’t go how I envisioned. My general manager quit, and I had a bartender who’d been given a glowing recommendation for management, but required a major attitude adjustment, which only turned me on more. All week long Penny continually shot me a perplexed stare every time I voiced an opinion or idea. There were two customers in the bar this afternoon, how difficult was it to stop and say goodbye as they left? Not fucking hard to me.
My phone pinged with an incoming call and I glanced at the caller ID. Fuck, Blair. What did she want?
I debated on ignoring the call, but after the third ring, I answered.
“What?” I huffed into the phone.
“Hello, Mr. Moody. What’s got your panties in a bunch?”
“What do you want, Blair?” I rubbed a hand across my forehead. Her games were the last thing I wanted at the moment. Cracking open a beer and putting this mess of a day behind me were the only things appealing to me right now.
“You’re still coming this weekend to grab Lucy, correct?”
“Why would you think I wouldn’t be?” I asked, reaching in the fridge for a beer.
“I’m just checking.”
“Then I’ll be there. Haven’t missed a time yet.”
“Alright then,” she huffed. “See you soon.” She hung up without saying goodbye, and I didn’t blame her. My attitude was borderline pure asshole and instead of taking my frustration out on the person who caused it, Penny Marks, Blair felt the brunt force of it.
I tossed my phone down on the black granite countertop and clasped my hands behind my head. What a fucking mess. It was now clear, the previous owner of the Bearded Goat fucking lied and I fell for it. Also, the pressing issue of my employees thinking I didn’t know what I was doing created havoc on my system.
I put the beer back in the fridge, unopened, and made my way down the hallway. Inside the bathroom I grasped the marble sink with both hands and leaned over, staring into the mirror. A look of defeat stared back at me. Fuck that. I wasn’t going to give up. Pushing off the counter, I removed my clothes.
I turned the shower on and stepped inside the glass stall, the hot water relaxed me instantly.
My cock grew heavy as I tugged it firm. I needed to come. I’d wanted to jerk off since the second I laid eyes on Penny at the bar. Her smile intoxicated me, and her eyes were like a well-worn penny casting her hatred at me. Her tight ass and tanned slender legs did things to me, wicked things. Things I should bury deep away in the bottom of my mind. Mostly though, it was the freckles, a splattering of a few light brown freckles which crossed over the bridge of her nose. I shouldn’t jerk off to her—it was so fucking wrong.
Instead, I tried my damndest to conjure up my silver moon goddess from months prior.
“Fuck,” I said on a groan, my balls heavy with lust. I tried to remember the way I slammed into her from behind and how she felt as I took her to new heights. Her pussy wet just for me.
How would Penny’s wet pussy feel? No, stop thinking about her, think about the goddess.
I fixated back to the beach, the moon and stars shining down on us as I fucked the gorgeous woman who haunted my dreams at night.
I stroked along my cock remembering the way her skin tasted as I trailed my tongue along her neck. I pumped harder—fuck I wanted her again.
“Oh, God.” My panting picked up as I braced a hand against the wall.
My mind played tricks on me as Penny’s golden hair sprang through my consciousness and I clutched my cock tighter. Stroking my dick, which ached for one moment with her, down to my balls, I tried to push away the thoughts of Penny. Get out of my head.
I grunted, loudly. The sound echoed off the tile. I groaned not able to fight my mind any longer against her.
The hot water cascaded over me as images of Penny in her bright pink tank crashed through my mind.
Pressing my hand harder on the shower tiles my cock throbbed.
Closing my eyes, fantasies of Penny naked, slowly exhaling and panting from arousal were taking over. I’d take a handful of her hair slick from the wetness of the water, wanting control, and kneel her before me. Her shining eyes would gaze up to mine—captivating and hungry. God, she’d be perfect below me, taking my cock in her sweet, open mouth.
“Damn,” I moaned.
My arm flexed as I tightened my hold. Pumping, throbbing, and needing her more than I wanted to admit.
I squeezed my eyes shut, fucking my hand, and enjoying every moment of it.
I grunted as I picked up speed. Her head bobbing in between my legs played in my mind like a slideshow.
My arm grew weak trying to hold myself up, the hot water scalding my skin, my hand pumping vigorously as I imagined Penny’s sweet lips sucking me off.
What would she feel like? I was so close to coming I couldn’t stop the rapid images flashing behind my closed lids. Big, round tits. Sucking them in my mouth. Biting her nipples. She was so fucking hot.
As I grew closer, my thoughts shifted as I imagined slamming her against the tile and fucking her hot, wet cunt.
My breathing was heavy and my body was in agony from not having her here, her tight pussy wrapped around me, her body begging for my touch. The muscles in my thighs tightened as soon as I felt the first wave of my orgasm rip through me. Fuck, I wanted her.
I jerked my hand faster as I came hard, my chest heaving from the force of it.
Damn. I wanted her the hell out of my bar and my head.
I needed to make a list. Lists always made me feel better. I toweled off and slipped on a pair of black gym shorts.
Not bothering with a shirt, I made my way into my bedroom. After grabbing a pen and spiral notebook from the drawer of the nightstand, I settled into bed and flipped on my Boondock Saints night lamp and started writing.
Reasons To Fire Penny
● Her attitude
● Her complete lack of respect for authority
● Her sassiness
● The guests really do like her
I paused briefly before furiously crossing through the line when I thought about the way they did in fact like her. Can’t
fire her for that. Shaking my head, tapping my pen on the notebook, I narrowed my eyes. Back to the list.
● Her complete lack of regard for me
● The way she smiles at me
Ok, this list wasn’t working out well. I wasn’t finding any real reasons. I thought long and hard for anything which would warrant firing her.
● Late
Chewing on the top of my pen, I stared at the word Late scribbled on the paper. It really was a one-time thing, and she’d been on time since then. Actually, she was usually early. It remained on the list anyways. Maybe I should make a list about what to do to get rid of her. I crumbled the paper and tossed it to the floor.
New List How to get rid of Penny
● Fire her
No, I guess I couldn’t outright fire her. It would probably cause more problems for me. Think.
● Ride her harder at work, so maybe she’ll quit
Yeah, I’d ride her ass hard. Ok, thoughts like these weren’t helping. They got me in this mess. What could I do to get rid of her? Maybe a list of what to do to stop thinking about her would help.
New New List How to Stop Thinking About Penny
● Make her wear a long sleeve shirt.
● No makeup at work
● Freckleectomy
Did they have a surgery to remove freckles? I could always add it to the list to find out. Either way Operation Forget Freckles was now underway.
● Focus on anything else
What could I do to stop thinking about her? She was slowly creeping in. I clutched the pen tighter in my hand as I freed my mind and started writing.
● Read more
● Search high and low for the Boba Fett action figure (priority)
● Watch Star Wars over and over until you have every line memorized
● Buy a new video game (GTA is coming out)
● Play the video game until my fingers break
● Stop staring at her
● Tell her she’s no longer allowed to talk at work
Fuck, this list was pointless. I yanked the paper from the spiral notebook and crushed it into my fists. Throwing it into the air, I cursed again.
