I decided to become a bartender. I know I'm crazy to want to be around drunk people until 2 am. It's okay really. I grew up with my sister Taylor and my brother Austin, our aunt Linda raised us. Our parents got divorced and our mom started using drugs, so her sister took us into her care.

I'll never forget the things I saw. I watched my mom become a hooker/stripper. The guys she brought home, they touched me and my sister while Austin was asleep. I woke him up crying, he went and beat the shit out of him, then called our aunt.

When we packed and left, my mom was coming down and she wasn't even phased. I'm being hired by Gerald Gillum at Club Eazy. I get to meet him face to face tonight after my mixology class. I exit my bedroom, fully dressed in a hoodie and jeans. I had a crop top under my hoodie but I wouldn't show it until class. It was the required outfit for tonight.

I hated showing off my body.

"Hey, Ali?" Taylor asks as she's walking out of her room towards the bathroom.

"Yes, Tay?" I ask looking up at her.

"Good luck tonight, you'll get the job," she says smiling at me.

"Thanks, sis, you do good on that test in class tonight," I say back to her before walking into my bedroom.

"Thanks!" She falls out, then shuts the bathroom door.

I grab my purse, car keys, wallet, cellphone and charger. I leave my room, dropping my charger and wallet into my purse, I slip my phone into my back pocket. I leave the house, locking the door behind me. Austin is pulling into the driveway as I got to my car. I unlock it and throw my purse into the passenger seat.

"Ali?" Austin calls out as I'm about to get into my Chevy Malibu.

"Yes, Austin?" I reply back to him, turning around as he's walking towards me.

"Evan keeps asking about you... are you going to text him?" Austin asks, leaning against my car.

"No I'm not, sorry Austin, he's sweet and all but I'm not interested in him. I like my freedom. I don't need to answer to another man right now," I say looking at him.

"He's a good guy Al!" Austin says.

"I know, but I just can't Austin, you know why. I'm just not ready, not after what our mom's friends did, plus my ex." I say looking away.

This subject made me uncomfortable. I feel a pair of arms wrap around me.

"I know, stop thinking about it, before you have an anxiety or panic attack again. You know they scare me after you collapsed last year," Austin says.

"I know, but I got to go before I'm late. I have an appointment before my mixology class, then I have to meet Gerald about that bartending job." I say hugging my brother back.

"Good luck! I'll see you later tonight," Austin says breaking the hug.

"Thanks, bro," I say getting into my car.

He smiles at me, then shuts my driver's side door. I start my car and leave. I go to the nail salon and get my nails redone. After that I spend 6 hours in class, I'm paired with this guy's Alec, he barely stares at my body. Which is fine by me, most guys want me for just one thing.

"Orange Dream," Alec reads from our card "3 cups of ice cubes, a ½ cup of freshly squeezed orange juice no pulp, 2 oz of whipped cream pinnacle vodka and to garnish, whipped cream and orange slices."

"Ew," I say with a look of disgust on my face.

"What?" Alec asks looking over at me.

"I hate oranges..." I say trailing off the look of disgust still on my face.

"Damn that sucks, at least you don't have to drink it," Alec says cracking a smile.

"Touché," I say smiling back.

Class ends about 20 minutes later. Alec and I earned an A for our cocktail. It was made perfect and the teacher was impressed. I grab my purse and hoodie, then head for the door. I feel a hand grab my arm, it puts me on high alert. I turn and see it's Alec.

"Here, this is my number, no I'm not hitting on you Aliyah. I just want to be friends, if that's okay since we started classes, you're always so withdrawn." He says handing me a slip of paper.

"You can call me Ali, Alec. We can be friends, id like that." I say with a smile.

"Cool, text me whenever. We'll make plans to meet," Alec says smiling back.

"I'll text you after my job interview," I say.

"If it's a success, I'll buy drinks at Club Eazy," Alec says, "I bounce there."

"Strange... that's the club I was just hired at by Gerald," I say laughing.

"That's the owner, his partner Stephen is pretty cool too. You'll love the job," Alec says, "That's where I'm heading now, want to follow me?"

"Sure," I say smiling.

We leave school together and get into our cars. I follow him to Club Eazy. We get out and I pull my hoodie over my head. Alec and I walk side by side together. We get stopped by security when we approach the doors.

"Names," the tall tatted up guy says.

"Alec Lightwood and Aliyah Grey," He says.

The guy checks his clipboard.

"Gerald's expecting you Aliyah and Stephen is looking for you Alec," the guys says.

"Thank you," Alec says and heads inside.

"Follow me, Miss Grey," the security guard says.

I follow him into the club, my heart nearly stops when I see it doubles as a strip club. Memories come flooding back to me of my mom in our living room using a strippers pole she had installed. I shake them. Off and follow him as he leads me to an office upstairs across the club. He knocks 3 times before a voice says,

"Come in!"

He opens the door, " Aliyah Grey, sir."

"Thank you, Steven. Come sit Aliyah," Gerald says.

Steven leaves, closing the door behind him. I was sitting in front of a big celebrity. His music was the only reason I kept fighting my demons. I also felt the way he does, angel and devil, like there's two of me. Sweet Ali and Savage Ali. Savage Ali is deep down and will only surface if I feel unsafe.

"Can you take off that hoodie?" He asks me.

I just nod and slowly take it off. His eyes never leave my face.

"You're hired, I know you are still in school for bartending, but we'll also teach you as you go. You can start this weekend. Starting pay is $3000 a week plus tips. We double as a strip club, you can work both the bar and the pole if you choose. But I'll need to know what days you'd strip and bartend," Gerald says.

"I think I'm going to just bartend for now," I say looking at him.

"That's fine if you change your mind let me know. Here is my personal number In case of emergencies," he says handing me a business card.

"I'll see you on Friday at 2 pm, we open at 4 pm. We take a few hours to organize everything," he says.

"Okay I'll see you Friday," I say standing up.

I extend my hand, Gerald takes it and instead of shaking my hand, he brings it to his lips and kisses it. His kiss sends shivers through my body or was it the way he was looking at me?

"Alec is waiting for you at the bar," Gerald says.

"How?" I ask, confused.

"I watched you walk in together. You two a thing?" He asks.

I shake my head as I say, "No, he's in my mixology class, we're partners."

"Okay, go enjoy yourself," He says smiling.

"Thank you," I say.

"You're welcome," he replies back.

I exit his office, I go find Alec and we got drunk. Alec drives home, as I'm stumbling to my car, I feel a pair of hands gently grab my arm. I look up and see Gerald.

"You're not driving, I got you," he says.

I'm so drunk I barely comprehend what's going on. I follow him to a black 69 Mustang. He helps me in and buckled me up. I pass out before he starts his car. When I wake up the next morning, I begin freaking out.

I have a really bad panic attack and pass out onto the floor of Gerald's bedroom.

A/n newest creation!

Thoughts?

Low key Ali is all messed up from her childhood, what do you think Gerald's gonna do if he finds her passed out on his bedroom floor instead of in his bed where he left her?