VIP part 2

"Who the fuck are you?" I ask. He just chuckles and kisses behind my ear. He tells me to check my phone later. I think, ‘Just what the hell did he do to my phone?’ I'm getting pissed. What's with the games? How hard is it to give a name? Well, two can play this game, mister. I pull back. I ask, "What can I get you, Mr. Strangelove?"

The guy just chuckles. Reed says, "She's got spunk. By far the best bartender in a long while."

Jake comes over and asks for another drink. I make him another. He goes to put more money into the jar. I try to stop him. He informs me that he gets what he wants and calls me sugar. He walks away yet again.

Reed asks how much he owes. I tell him that it's usually $5, but Jake overpaid, so the drink is on him. Reed proceeds to tell me that isn't how he does business and pays me, plus a tip. I've lost control of my patrons, well, these patrons anyway. This, by far, has to be one of my oddest nights here.

Kiki comes over and informs me that we need more scotch. I message Bart to bring a case, figuring that I'll restock any leftovers. Bart can't resist picking on me. "Maddie, don't forget to take some time to play!"

"You know damn well I don't mix business and pleasure. I'm working here. I'm not all play like you!"

Bart says, "Yeah, you're no play." I tell him to go chase a skirt. We banter a bit. He finally relents and tells me to go see Gran and to come in late. "You busted your fine ass tonight, so you earned it!"

I say, "Go bury your head under a skirt, Bossman!" He just shakes his head and walks out laughing. Reed asks me if that's how I treat my boss. I tell him yes. Kiki informs him that if anyone else did that, they'd be fired.  I reply, "I earn my keep and do most of the work, so I'm entitled to speak my mind."

Kiki says, "Maddie, you'd make a killing stripper."

Mystery guy says, "Oh, she'll never do that."

I ask, "How would you know, Sir Cryptickiller?"

Jake pops by, laughing his ass off, while getting a bottle from Kiki. He manages to ask, "Why all the names?"

"He never told me his, so I'll assign some until he does properly."

Jake smiles, "I like you already. I hope you stick around." Then he leaves, laughing.

"So mystery man, why won't I strip?"

He says, "Because like the song you danced to, you don't want to be put on display, you just want to be yourself, with the ability to not be chained to anyone."

Well, shit, he paid attention. "Perhaps, are you drinking?"

He sighs, "Fine, ask your question."

I smirk, "Okay, what is your ideal end to an evening? Alone, a good conversation, a kiss, or in bed?"

He looks at Reed. Reed says, "Mine was a different question, but she nailed it."

Mystery guy says, "Depends on the company."

"Ideally then."

He answers finally, "Conversation, kissing, then bed." So I make him my version of a Lucky Devil. "It's quite good, what is it and what does it mean?"

"It's my version of a Lucky Devil. It has spices to perk up a conversation. Yet it is smooth and sensual enough to lead to a transition to the bedroom. And it may or may not be an aphrodisiac to enhance what occurs once you're in the bedroom."

Reed says, "It looks like she nailed you, too."

I can't help but laugh. Mystery guy just chuckles and shakes his head. Reed laughs harder. The tension between the two has lessened. But there's definitely something going on, not just between those two either, and I'm going to figure everything out.