Still a little dazed from the interview, Sarah tugged on some boots. She hadn't really been on an interview before, and she knew the place was rough, so what did she expect? That was what she had told herself to justify the events.
Her hand went to her cheek, touching where he had slapped her. "Nothing you haven't been through before." She told herself.
One last look in the mirror revealed a short, curvy woman in torn, faded, jeans with worn cowboy boots. A tight floral tank-top covered her chest and she put her brown hair in two small braids. It seemed a sensible outfit for a waitress at a roughneck bar.
She descended the stairs, grabbed her keys, ready to start her new job. She had to admit, she was kind of excited. Perhaps, even, a little hopeful. She imagined her world opening up to her.
Sarah would have money of her own for the first time. She would be able to buy clothes from an actual store and not Goodwill. She would be able to get a real phone and not one of those pay-as-you-go everyone-thinks-its-a-burner phones. Most of all, she would eventually be able to move out and get her own place. So she would have to take one on the chin every now and then. What girl didn't have to make sacrifices for her independence?
Pulling up to Rusty's she noted the lot was dotted with a car or two as well as about five motorcycles. She frowned. She had hoped the place would be a bit busier. Then again, it was early. The sun was still out. She had purposely arrived a half an hour early. Surely, Charles, no that didn't feel right, Mr. Brunt would offer some sort of training.
She strolled into the dimly lit bar with her head held high. She wanted to be confident. She was a strong woman. Or well, she told herself she was. Scanning the bar, she noted some larger men playing pool, the prospect from earlier was sitting at the bar talking to another man. She pursed her lips, no sign of Mr. Brunt.
Steeling her nerves, Sarah marched up to the prospect. He was the only one she knew, so hopefully, he would recognize her. He cheeks would flash a bit pink as the thought he might not recognize her crept through her brain. She shook it off. He would.
"Excuse me." She tapped on his shoulder when it seemed a natural break in his conversation with the other gentleman.
He turned. His eyes sparkled when they swept over her.
Relief. Pure relief washed over Sarah. He obviously remembered her.
Taking his hand, he held his jaw. "Well, well, it's CS Sue."
She swallowed remembering the nickname she had been given. "Yes." She affirmed.
The man the prospect had been speaking to was behind the bar. He leaned over it and Sarah could feel his gaze on her. He too seemed to be assessing her. She tried to focus on the prospect.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Sarah shifted her weight.
"Well?" The prospect finally said.
Sarah's cheeks went pink, "uh," she stammered. "Well. I. I mean. It. I."
The two men laughed. The man behind the bar pushed off it, to get to his full height. He lifted a glass and wiped it with a cloth. "Nervous little rabbit, eh?"
The prospect kept his eyes on her but addressed the other man. "Chuck gave her a job. She's supposed to start tonight. Real tight this one. But accommodating."
Sarah bit her lip and lowered her eyes. Accommodating. That was what Mr. Brunt had told her to be. She didn't deny it. Instead, she realized there was a flutter in her chest and a bit lower as they spoke about her as if she wasn't standing there.
"Just the way I like 'em." The other man commented.
"What time did Chuck tell you to be here CS Sue?" The prospect asked placing his wide hand over her behind. He gave the left buttock a nice hearty squeezed before gently kneading it.
Sarah's breath hitched. "S-s-seven." She said trying to keep her balance.
The man behind the bar checked his watch. "She's early."
"I had hoped to get some training." Sarah piped up quick as if defending her right to be present in the bar.
The two men looked at each other. Wide grins over the two men's faces as Sarah's eyes crept up looking back and forth between them. It was then she noted the man behind the bar had a path on the left breast of his leather vest: "V. Pres."
The vice president replaced the glass under the bar. He canted his head as he studied her. She once again shifted nervously on her feet. The prospects hand remained on her butt. She had become accustomed to it at that point.
"Well," the vice president began, "I think we should give her some training. What do you say, Axel?"
Another tight squeeze to her behind sent Sarah up on her toes trying to keep her balance. A whimper escaped her lips. She said nothing.
The prospect, Axel, let go of her behind. "I think we got some time."
The vice president whistled and waved his hand. "Needles!" He called to one of the men playing pool. "Watch the bar for me." His eyes went toward Sarah. "We got some training to do."
Sarah swallowed hard. Her heart began to thump in her chest. She wrung her hands. Why did they have to make it sound so menacing? She was just getting trained as a waitress. Why was she so nervous? Why was she so excited? She squeezed her thighs together as memories of her "interview" played over in her mind.
Her gaze would shift between the two men. Surely, they wouldn't put her through that again. She had shown them already that she was accommodating. Even Mr. Brunt said so. She just needed to know what to do.
A man with a bloated beer belly, stringy gray hair, and an unkempt beard came toward the bar. His beady gray eyes narrowed on Sarah. She shied away from him, turning into Axel as if he would offer her some sort of comfort.
"Training?" the older man's voice was gravely and he seemed perplexed.
"Yeah," Axel took her turning into him and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. "Got a new one. Chuck's got her starting tonight."
Sarah leaned into Axel further. This put her back toward the older man, called Needles. Needles took the opportunity to grope her ass with both hands, rubbing it while offering pinches. She whimpered and felt the warmth growing between her thighs.
The vice president came out form the bar. Needles released her ass to take his place. She should have been relieved to have his hands off her. However, she was surprised to find herself disappointed. Did she want more?
"Let's get her trained." The vice president said slapping Axel on the back. "We don't got a lot of time, and I feel like shes got a lot to learn."
Axel released her and pushed her back so he could stand from the stool. Sarah kept her head down as she followed the two men into the back room again, the room where she had had her interview.
The door closed behind her, and she stood, as she did earlier between the two chairs facing the desk. The vice president and Axel faced her leaning against their desk. Axel had his palms resting on the edge of the desk. The vice president had his arms crossed. The two stared at her. She tried to remain still.
The silence in the room was heavy. It did nothing to calm Sarah's nerves. Her head down, her brown hair hiding her face, she waited. She waited for them to say something. She waited for them to start her training. Really, she waited for them to do something.
It was the vice president who spoke: "She does know this is a biker bar right?"
Axel snorted. "I mean, everyone should."
