Chapter 5

Lucy

[I]Report to work when you're fully healed[i/]

[B]lights off[b/]

Who the hell signs a letter like that??? Okay...I know I'm being silly, but whoever wrote this letter would have signed his name instead of the club's name at least to help me figure out who visited me at the hospital while I was unconscious. It's not as if I can walk up to Mr Baron or Mr Velvet, demanding the say something so I can figure out who owns that voice at the hospital.

'Mr Velvet Cardin' is my life revolving around that name or what??

I picked up the handkerchief that mysteriously found it's way into my pocket many years ago. I'm not exactly sure the particular year that I found this handkerchief in my possession, but I know it was a very long time ago.

Tracing the inscription on the handkerchief which has Cardin written boldly in cursive writing. Is it strange that I have a boss's boss named Cardin and also a mysterious handkerchief with Cardin inscribed on it? Shaking my head, I laughed at how stupid I sound right now. It is simply a mere coincidence that the both bear the same name.

Limping to where I carelessly dropped my phone, I called Helen's diner and explained my current condition to them but they said that my position can't be left vacant while I heal, so I lost the job. In order to lift my spirit, at least I still have my job at lights out, I opened the last ice cream in the refrigerator and used it as my companion.

My healing process was slow, but I finally got there without the help of any friends, visitors or housemate. So here I am, changing my clothes in the changing room, getting ready for the busy night at lights off. So far, nobody have asked me if I am okay, or how my healing process went, not that I'm bothered or that I'm waiting for that attention, it is just a mere observation.

I walked into the bar to meet Jasper, one of the old workers here. He stopped what he was doing when he saw me, his face lighting up.

"You are finally back, nobody was telling me anything about you, I even asked the boss to know if you got fired or if something has happened to you, but she got pissed at me"

Yeah...I guess someone really did notice my absence "something happened, so I had to take few weeks off from work"

He resumed what he was doing before I walked in but kept talking to me "you call more than two months just few weeks? If you don't mind me asking, what happened? Miss Ashley will only give you few days off work if you are dying"

Guess I was really dying "it's nothing to worry about, I'm back, that's what is important right?"

He nodded in agreement. Using his left hand, he fished out his phone from his pocket and pushed it towards me. "Type in your number, I need to know how to reach you in case you decide to disappear again"

I eyed the phone then looked up at him. Do I really need someone blowing up my phone with unwanted phone calls?

"We don't have all night Lucy, it's going to get very busy pretty soon"

Deciding to take a shot at it, I typed in my number and handed the phone back to him. He typed in few things into his phone and mine chimed.

He grinned at me "that's my number, make sure you save it" he pointed at me with all seriousness "save it either with my name or handsome"

Shaking my head at his cockiness, I saved his name as cocky.

Everything was going on well until Anita the club's bitch_excuse me for calling her that_walked up to me

"VIP area 1 is on you"

I blinked at her "who gave the order?"

She popped her gum loudly "do I need to answer that? When I say area 1 is on you, you are expected to take the drinks there"

She's fucking Mr Baron and everybody knows that, so most times we try not to get on her bad side to avoid her asking a favor from him. I looked up the stairs which won't be easy for me to climb. I might be healed and all, but climbing that stairs is really pushing it.

Jasper as if sensing my delima spoke up for me "she's a bar attendant not a waitress Anita, are you just hoping for a fight?"

She glared at him before returning her glare to me "what is he? Your spokesman? Rose got fired for giving him the wrong order, I hope Jasper also speaks on your behalf when he decides to fire you too"

she turned to leave but stopped "P.S he requested for a neat vodka".

Watching her walk away comfortably in those heels makes me wanna push her. Take a break Lucy, she's nothing but a messenger. I picked up the bottle from the bar and placed it on the tray with a shot glass.

"Let me serve them"

I spared Jasper a glance "them?"

"He's probably there with Mr Baron and Miss Ashley. Let me me take their order"

I bit my lips in confusion "but you heard Anita, he requested for me"

"I noticed you were limping a little while you were trying to get round this counter, I'll just tell them that you couldn't climb the stairs"

If only you know how correct you are. I handed the tray over to him and carried on with what he was doing, silently praying that I don't get us both fired for not serving that drink myself.

Jasper came down few minutes later and I jumped on him with questions "is he upset? Do I still have my job?Am I now among Miss Ashley's shit list?"

He pushed me back a little bit with little or no force "give me some breathing space Lucy...No, you are not fired. He actually seem to understand the reason why you couldn't climb the stairs" his blue eyes homed in on my face "do you care to tell me the reason why you are limping? At least, you owe me that much"

I exhaled loudly "I was involved in an accident"

He blinked rapidly at me "bad enough to keep you away for two months?"

"Bad enough to get me crunches"

"I thought I specifically told you to report to work until you're fully healed? What's this shit about you not being able to climb the stairs?"

I visibly froze at the sound of that voice, the hairs on my body stood at an attention as if sensing the authority that is before them. I slowly turned to face the owner of the voice and I partically shit myself when I saw Mr Velvet scowling at me

"She didn't know she won't be able to climb the stairs until she tried earlier" Jasper spoke on my behalf again

"Speak when you're addressed am I fucking clear?" Mr Velvet asked through gritted teeth. He turned to me "what is he? Your spokesman?"

Damn!! The same question two times in a night by two mean people.

"How the fuck do you attend to customers if you aren't able to give answers to simple questions?"

I drew in a stuttered breath "I'm sorry sir, I didn't mean to disregard your order. It's just like Jasper said, I didn't know it will be difficult to climb the stairs until I tried earlier"

He straightened his spine "you're dismissed"

My eyes grew larger and I felt my heart beat faster in a very irregular pace "please sir, don't fire me, I really need this job...Please..I swear I won't disregard your order next ti_"

He scratched his brows with irritation "who said anything about firing you? I meant you're dismissed...Go home until you are better to climb the stairs"

Staying at home isn't going to help me. I always eat my dinner from the food provided by the club then I take the leftover home in the morning for breakfast, thereby saving some money. But these few weeks that I've been feeding myself from my pocket, it kinda affected my savings. "Sir please I can't go home, I'm going to be bored to death, I need this job to keep me busy"

He stared at me for few uncomfortable minutes before he brought out dollar notes from his wallet, he dropped them on the counter before me "give yourself a week to heal properly then you can resume work. That cash should be enough for your feeding for a week"

I stared at him dumbfounded. What is he? A mind reader?

"Lucy..I don't want to see you here next week, if I see you here working, then you will be truly fired" glaring at Jasper once more, he turned and walked back to the VIP area.

Jasper picked up the hundred dollar notes on the counter and counted it "girl it seems I'll have to arrange for a car to run me over too .I wouldn't mind getting hospitalized."

The only thing that came to my mind was 'what the fuck?' he visited me at the hospital, now he's dropping me hundred dollar notes. I dropped my hand to my chest to calm my erratic heart.