Chapter Five

Erin's point of view 

It's the second day I've managed to get inside the Star Gazer; it seems the Mafia has moved on. I am a little puzzled, though I thought they would have stuck around for much longer, hoping that Warren would have returned. 

Maybe they've already found him, and that's why they've left the pub alone. I can't say I feel sorry for him; Karma has a habit of biting hard. Okay, maybe that's a little too extreme. I hope they kick his ass, though, before they leave him in the gutter and chop his little dick off. That will teach him a lesson. 

I am still heartbroken when I see the mess inside. I have so much to do and not so much savings left to do it with, especially after buying the house, but I need to get the place back on its feet as quickly as possible, and I need to start earning some money. 

I smile when Leah pops her head around the door, along with a friend, and thankfully a huge and strong male friend, one who can help us to move some of this heavy furniture; she's a good kid, and she follows me around, picking up the broken pieces of chairs. Thankfully, all the glass has been cleared after spending yesterday cleaning it up.  

We spend the day clearing up until the whole bar area is finally cleared, and I can finally start bringing the spare tables and chairs down from the storage room upstairs; I hope I won't have many new ones to buy. 

At the end of the day, we clean ourselves down before taking a seat and enjoying a drink and a sandwich, and I smile as I listen to Leah moan about Raul not letting her go to some party; it's funny because I could have sworn she said her stepfather's name was Liam the other night, but then again, I did have a lot going on that first day. I must admit it seems strange that her parents won't let her go if the rest of the school is going, but it's not my place to say. I'm sure they have their reasons, as lovely and well-mannered as I think Leah is. She still disappeared in the middle of the night just a few days ago, and she must learn the consequences of dealing with her actions. 

Today, I even have the courage to drive my car home, and after parking in my drive, I wave Leah off as I wait for her to go through her door before heading through mine. I drop my keys on the side table before slipping my shoes off and heading upstairs to run a hot bath; it's been a stressful few days. 

The following day is a Monday morning, and I know that my little sidekick is back in school, so I'm on my own today. I'm up early, so I might as well head to the Star Gazer and make an early start; I'm really hoping to get the place up and running tonight, but to do so, I must restock the bar as those bastards smashed every bottle in sight and that's going to take my funds dangerously low. 

But needs must. I can't run a bar without any beer now, can I? 

Monday night and, the Star Gazer finally reopens its doors, but the customers are not coming back as quickly as I hoped they would. I guess the rumours have started regarding Warren and the Mafia; apart from a couple of my die-hard regulars, the place is empty,  

As I am cleaning the optics later in the night, I nearly drop one of the bottles when Mr tall, dark, and handsome walks in. 

He takes a look around the place before he says, 

"Can I have a glass of water, please, Erin? It's quiet in here tonight." 

I shrug my shoulders before I reply, "I think my customers are listening to the rumour mill. Hopefully, they will start to come back soon…if they don't, then I don't see how I can keep this place going. 

He looks at his glass before he says, 

"It's a Shame; the stargazer is in a great location and has a great reputation." 

I shrug my shoulders. "Yes, but my great reputation won't help me get my customers back if people are too scared to drink here." 

"Why don't you let me invest in the bar? I think it could be a wonderful opportunity for both of us. The Star Gazer lacks marketing consciousness. I can bring customers in, and in exchange, you need to provide us with a proper room for business meetings. Sometimes, I need to talk business in this way." 

I frown as I look at him, wondering why this handsome man suddenly wants to help me, but I quickly shrug it off. What do I have to lose? I need to get my customers back. 

"Deal' I say.  

He grins as he shakes my hand.  

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Erin."  

Holy shit, the electric current runs up my arm, and I drop my hand as though it's on fire… 

I can't be attractive to a married man...

He drinks his water before leaving me alone with my thoughts.  

In the following few weeks, Raul helped me a lot. I launched several new drinks, and he promoted them on ins and TikTok; many influencers came. We tried our best to prove this place was safe enough and that the Mafia wouldn't appear in this bar ever again. 

The Stargazer is back to normal; there is not a spare seat in the house, and I'm grateful when the profits start to pour back in. I want to thank Raul, but when I tried to contact him, it was like he'd disappeared off the face of the earth; even Leah hadn't seen him lately. 

He must be busy with his own company. I will surely hear from him soon; it's only been a few nights. 

I'm just getting ready to close the bar when an incredibly beautiful woman walks in, the kind of woman that turns every man's head. She orders a drink before looking around the bar, before she says, 

"So, this is the place Raul is obsessing over; I don't know why, though it's nothing special." 

My heart drops at the mention of his name; this must be his wife and Leah's foster mum, Lucy. 

I shrug my shoulders, trying not to dislike this woman and her high and mighty attitude. She is Raul's wife, after all, and it's thanks to him that my bar is back on its feet. 

"It's home", I say, "how is Raul? I haven't seen him around for a few days." 

"My husband, you mean?" 

I'm trying really hard to like this woman and failing miserably. 

"Yes, your husband and my business partner," I say as I pour myself a drink. 

She flutters her stupidly long eyelashes as she says, 

"He's amazing. I'm a very lucky lady, and we are so in love; you know he only invested in this place because he felt sorry for you." 

I take a sip of my drink, unable to get a single word in as she carries on talking over me.  

"Look, Ellen, I've seen you following him around like a little lovesick puppy, but he's not interested in you; I mean, look at you." 

Ignoring the name slip, I look down at my bar clothes. A woman needs comfort when she's working, and she still carries on talking over me. 

"He doesn't want you, not when he has me, sweetie; I don't want you to make a fool of yourself, so I will say this only once." 

"Say what?" I manage to get a whole two words in before she carries on  

"Stay away from my husband. He isn't interested in you……" 

She says as she looks down her nose at me…. 

My heart drops: she's right, though I can't be chasing after a married man, even if he is as handsome as Raul. He hasn't been here because he's been with her, his wife, and I have no right having these silly thoughts over him. 

I take a drink, trying to look as confident as I hope I sound as I say. 

"I have no interest in a married man."  

"I'm so glad we've made ourselves clear, Ellen; it was lovely to meet you."  

"You too," I lie.