Jai's POV

Sitting in my office, filling out forms for my business, I see a brown-haired woman at the bar. She ordered a drink and threw it back. She said something to the bartender, and he replied.

I wish we had audio on the cameras to hear what she was saying to him.

The woman climbs onto the bar, holding a lighter in her hand. She flicks the lighter and raises it towards the sprinklers.

I can't have her flood my bar.

Pushing my seat back, I walk to the door and yell. "SEND THE GIRL UP."

That woman has the guts to pull a stunt like that at my bar. I wonder if she knows who I am. If she does, I can't wait to see her face.

Walking back to my seat, I turn towards the window. I look at the city below. The street is bustling with people and cars.

The door to my office opens, and I feel eyes on me. I look out the window and wait for the woman to say something.

She clears her throat.

Spinning the chair around, I come face-to-face with a beautiful woman. She has brown hair and baby-blue eyes. She crosses her arms while I scan my eyes over her body.

She's hot.

"Are you done?" She stands taller, and her face is blank.

I wish I knew what she was thinking.

Shaking my head, I say. "Nah, I get to look at you. Since you were the one who blew into my club like a firecracker." Crossing my arms over the desk, I ask. "What can I do for you?"

She moves closer to me. "I want a job."

I wasn't expecting that to come out of her mouth.

"Why should I give you a job after the stunt you pulled?"

She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm desperate. That's why I did it. Can you please give me a shot? I'll show you I'm the right person for the job."

Why would a beautiful woman like this be desperate for a job? She can do many jobs besides serving rich guys in expensive suits and drinking all night.

As I look closer at her, I see that her face is pale, and she has bags under her eyes. Her eyes are also puffy as if she's been crying and not getting enough sleep.

I hope this isn't a mistake.

Looking at the table and then back at her. "I'll give you the job. What time can you start? I need someone to help close the bar every night."

"I can be here from four until close. What time do you close?"

"Sunday through Wednesday, we close at 10 pm, and Thursday through Saturday, at 6 am. I'll need you until 2 am on the late nights."

"I'll do it."

Moving towards her, I say. "Why are you desperate for a job?"

"I have bills to pay. I can't live without a job." She looks at the ground. "No one is hiring at the moment. I tried a bunch of places before I came here."

"Max, the guy behind the bar, will train you tomorrow. Be here by 4:30 p.m. The club starts to get packed at seven on Wednesday." I point to the door. You can leave now."

She heads to the door. Before she exits, she turns towards me. "What's your name?"

"Jai Marshall."

"Shit!" she whispers.

Ah, a girl who's heard of me. I hope she doesn't believe all the stuff that's been floating around about me.

Her face pales. "I'm sorry for charging in here like a 'firecracker.'

Rising, I move towards her. "I hope you don't believe everything you've heard about me. I don't like being judged by what's written in magazines. You seem to be the type of woman who would buy into gossip." I tower over her, and she chooses to rise to her full height.

She shakes her head. "I don't like reading magazines. Most of the time, they're filled with lies or stuff some idiot reporter made up to make money. It's pathetic if you ask me."

Pulling off my tie. "You can't tell anyone that you work for me. While you work here, you can't date any of my workers, as I don't want to cause any problems in the workplace. I'll let you flirt with the customers, but I don't want to see anything further. Tomorrow I want you to wear a skirt and a tank top. Also, put your hair up and wear some makeup. Could you not go over the top with it? I'd tell you to wear heels. However, I've heard how uncomfortable they are for hours on end. So, wear something comfortable." Leaning forward, I ask. "What's your name?"

"Chloe Knight." She opens the door and exits the room.

What a beautiful name for a lovely girl. I'm looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

She waves at me before closing the door.

I watched her on the CCTV as she walked down the stairs and over to the bar. She ordered another drink and turned towards the camera, raising her glass. She mouthed, 'Thanks.' She threw the drink back, and then I lost her on CCTV as she left the club.

How did she get into my club?

Walking over to the window, I see a car parked at the back door. Chloe climbs into the car and pulls away.

Who left that door unlocked? Somebody should lock it.

Moving over to the door, I make my way downstairs. Before I get too far, a woman approaches me and touches my shirt. "Hey, Baby. Do you want to dance?"

Shaking my head, I say. "You've got plenty of guys to choose from. Go and annoy them." I move her out of the way and head to the door.

One of the security guys walks over to me. "What's wrong, boss?"

Pointing to the door, I ask, "How long has this door been unlocked?"

"I'm not sure." He looks at me.

"A girl came in here demanding a job, and I saw that she had disappeared from the view of the CCTV. I went to the window and saw her exit through the door."

A smile spreads across his face. "You like this girl, boss?"

I laugh. "I do. Any girl with balls to break into my club, cause a scene and tell me she's desperate for a job is the type of girl you want to keep."

"Did you give her a job?"

"She seemed desperate for a job. It was like I was her last resort. I need to find out what would make a woman like that come into my bar and demand a job. She told me she had to pay for her apartment. But, I think there's more to the story."

"Did you get her name?"

"Chloe Knight, I need you to learn everything about this girl. I need to help her with whatever makes her act the way she is." Pulling the paper out of my pocket, I give it to him.

He looks at the paper. "I'll have my brother look into her."

Just then, the brother walks over and looks at me. "Hello, Boss. What do you need me to do?"

The security guy tells his brother what I need. The guy looks at me. "I'll have your information tomorrow. Do you mind if I leave now?"

"Go ahead."

He exits through the door behind us.

A group of guys walked through the door wearing suits, and I realised one of them was a guy that I went to school with. I walk over to them.

"Knox?"

He turns towards me, and a smile spreads across his face. Walking over to me, he says. "It's been a long time, Jai. What have you been up to?"

"A bit of this and a bit of that."

Knox looks around the bar. "I heard you owned this bar, and I had to see it myself." He moves his arm, and I see the 9mm in his gun holder.

I hate it when people bring guns into my establishments. It's bad enough that I had guns in my other bars in New York City. Now, I have to put up with it here in Los Angeles.

Knox sees my reaction and pulls me aside. "I need it for protection. You know how people are when it comes to the Mafia." His voice lowers. "I know you are friends with Riker Mesi. He asked me to watch you; this is my first chance to check on you for an old friend."

Since when would they talk to each other? They are the mafia and run two different cities. Who would have thought one would call the other to look out for me? I don't want to be a part of the mafia life again. I'm happy where I am with my life. I never liked being the cruel guy who killed his boss's enemies.

I was forced into the mafia life as I tried to protect an old friend who owed the mafia money, and I was dumb enough to help her out.

She died three months later when she stole from the same mafia family that I protected her from, but Riker didn't let me go until I paid off all the debt, and I did all that before I moved to Los Angeles to open a new line of Seclusive bars.

I still have to sell the bars that I left in New York.

"What do you want to drink? I will bring it over for you."

Knox looks at his men. "We'll have bourbon. Just bring the bottle over. You should have a drink with us."

"I'll be right back." Walking over to the bar, I grab three bottles of bourbon.

We're going to need a lot.

When I was with Riker, he would drink bourbon when he showed up at my bar, and he wouldn't leave until the bar closed.

Grabbing eight glasses, I place them on a tray and carry them to the table, where I join Knox and his men.

Knox tells me he needs a place to hold a party and wants it to be at this club.

I will have to ensure that Chloe isn't working that night. I don't want her to get mixed up with people like them, even if it's through my company.

"Give me the date, and I will set everything up. I will send the best workers to serve your party." I pour drinks for the group.

At the bar, I see Max put umbrellas in a few drinks for a group of girls, and they flirt with him.

One of the girls leans across the bar and kisses him. Then she slips a piece of paper into his pocket and whispers something in his ear.

He whispers something back to her, and then he walks away from the group of girls to serve a few other people waiting to order drinks.

After drinks, I tell Knox I must finish the paperwork and head upstairs to my office. I sit behind my desk and go through the papers. The bourbon I was drinking started to affect me, and I pushed the paperwork aside.

I will have to finish it in the morning.

At 3 a.m., I rise and move to the couch. I kick my shoes off and pull the blanket over me. I'm out like a light as soon as my head touches the pillow.