The sudden outburst caught her by surprise. The whole bar had turned quiet for a moment as she watched a familiar face storm through the door. She had never seen him act like that before; he was always reserved, humbled, and polite. Despite all the times he came here up to now, she didn't know his name. She wondered as she washed the glasses if people like that woman kept driving him to drink at the bar. Funeral? Did his mother die? A wonderful man like him didn't deserve all the problems he had to endure.

What exactly had this hag of a woman said about his mother?

The music in the bar came to a halt as the announcement came over. There was a bit of static as a male robotic voice played, "All Pelgarians citizens this is a reminder, all Pelgarians citizens this is a reminder. The annual job termination is scheduled for tomorrow. The annual job termination is scheduled for tomorrow. Mayor Hernando Cortez wishes you all the best of luck. Mayor Hernando Cortez wishes you all the best of luck."

The music kicked back in.

"Hey, another martini, girl, and get it right this time. I couldn't taste a goddamn thing, otherwise, I won't be paying."

She looked up to see that it was the same woman who was in the outburst moments ago. For a moment she fought the urge in her to curse this woman, instead she just gave her the fakest smile she could produce.

"Why are you always like that? Haven't you done enough? It's like you're dragging the bloody heat from outside here, " the man next to her responded.

"What, she's a Haratian can't you tell from that heavy accent. Don't tell me you forgot how they treat Pelgarians over there." She gave a shrug as her eyes turned to him. "They arrest our people for fishing in the water and now they take what little jobs we have left."

She bit her tongue as she found it funny that she would think that. Knowing that most Pelgarians got a boat or stowed themselves over the sea because of the far better foreign exchange rate of Haratian dollar. Did it even matter? After the war they were all under the yoke of the U.A.C.

He sipped his drink before bring it down on the counter. "Then you wonder why no man wants to marry you."

She frowned, her face as she gripped her glass and lowered her head.

He turned his direction to the bar. "I am sorry, sweetheart. What is your name?"

"Zora."

He ran his hand through his hair as he turned his body towards her. "The drinks are fine, mine was wonderful. Bring another two at your own time."

He placed twenty dollars on the bar. "And this is for you and the trouble we caused."

Zora nodded in response as she took it and placed it in the tip jar and watched the two resume their conversation in a lowered tone.

The woman fiddled with the straw in the glass, pushing around the ice."That's just like you Andrew, you have to call things the way it is and not pretty it up with pleasant words. You're too sweet sometimes, that's why people would take advantage of you."

"People like you?"

"Ha, like that girl, you think I haven't seen you buying her things. Where do all of those bags you have in that car go? Certainly not to me."

"Anyway, Kim, what was all that about just now about Domenic's mother?" Andrew asked.

Kim fidgeted in the chair as she straightened herself up for a fraction of a moment. Her face was tense as she frowned slightly before giving way to a devious grin. "The truth."

"You know I have known Domenic, my entire life and I have never once seen his mother come across the way you claim. She was always nice to us back then. Life was a lot simpler for all of us. I can think of one woman who might be a bitch though."

"Whatever, I just call it like it is. You don't know that woman as I do, she was my sister and I know what she truly was. Domenic is nothing more than a mere fool that can't see the bigger picture."

"You might not have liked the woman, but Domenic is still your family. You don't think you could of at least been more sympathetic towards him. You already know how he is right now and what he is going through. He won't even let me----."

"Sympathetic?" Kim chuckled. "That sounds big coming from a playboy like you. Wait, is that why you are tending to his wife?" 

His arms crossed as his eyes shifted away from her. "You read my ---."

"Can I get two whiskey sours!?" a customer shouted further across the bar.

"Damn this girl is fine, get me something too guy," the man beside him said as he placed his arm around his shoulder and pointed with the glass in his hand towards the bar.

"Shut up, Tom, you're already drunk from those last rounds."

The shout drowned out the words that Andrew said as she turned the tap off.

"Don't forget our drinks girl," Kim said.

Zora nodded, turned to the counter for some glasses, and started the orders as another bartender passed her in the small spacing. When she was done, she removed the former glasses and placed the fresh ones in front of them as well as carry the two additional orders down to the other customer and placed in the tab orders. She was doing things slightly faster than she normally would in an effort to hear what they were saying. The more she heard, the more she wanted to know.

It wasn't long, and she didn't know if the drinks would taste good, not that she cared too much. The two men were already drunk. She distributed the drinks and rang in the tabs before taking a stationary position at the bar, close enough to hear their conversation, but not enough to be intruding. She used the cloth beside her to pretend to be shining glasses.

"I can only tell you, from my experience, how something looks. You do seem to have a thing for married women." She placed a hand on top of his. "I personally don't like to share certain things with everyone, but you are such a beast that I alone can't tame you."

He placed the glass to his mouth and took a sip. "You need to mind your own business. I will call him later in the week when he cools off. Don't mention a thing again to me about Mallory, especially to him, that's my business. Otherwise, I will end this thing we have going."

"That one girl means that much to you? You would put me out over her. Hmph. Some people forget how they got certain positions. Don't forget to come over early from tomorrow the curfew will be starting then."

"I would like the bill, please Zora."

"Ah, yes, no problem."

She quickly entered the tab and put forth the bill.

"Thank you for the drinks. Here is a hundred. It should be more than enough." He said as he left through the door. The woman got up, following closely behind him.

Zora watched them both leave. Domenic, she thought. So that was his name.