Chapter 8 The bar 2

For some reasons Sally was not surprised when she saw the man.

"Well, well, well, so this man really out did himself"

Sally muttered.

From where Sally stood,she could see Regee with a hint of a smile, glanced at her watch and then back at the bar owner, Mr Jack, who seem trying to persuade her to stay.

Regee stood sat there listening to Mr Jack talk about how he felt he could impress Mr Richard by releasing her off her duties.

"First of all this isn't a job, sir"

Regee said looking sternly at Mr Jack.

"I'm only tipped, which is only very measly"

She added.

"Mr Richard has promised to pay you"

Mr Jack said beckoning a bartender to get a drink for Regee.

"Who the hell is this Mr Richard?"

Regee asked feeling irritated.

"The CEO of Ashford companies" Mr Jack said scraping the drink on the table towards her.

Regee looking confused

"Wait, what? I don't even know him"

"Oh my good lord, girl,where have you been"

Mr Jack leaned towards Regee whispering.

"So are you taking this deal of coming back to play?"

Mr Jack asked, but this time anticipating a positive response.

"No!"

She politely but firmly declined his offers her eyes sparkling with a hint of uncertainty

"I'm sorry, Mr Jack, but I have a prior commitment," she said, with a firm voice.

Mr Jack's face fell, but she didn't linger, quickly gathering her belongings and making her way towards the door.

"What do I tell Mr Richard?"

Mr Jack asked in attempt to follow her.

She didn't care.

She saw figure waving enthusiastically - her friend, Sally, with a bright smile and a knowing glint in her eye.

The lady's face lit up as she hurried towards her,

"Sorry I'm late!" Regee exclaimed, as Sally replied,

Late?

I thought you were going to take the offer?

Sally asked in deep concern.

Nah!

He ditched me to impress some Richard, the rude dude the other night.

Regee said looking at her friend with a grin.

"But I would have taken the offer, but it seems the dude put him up to asked me to get the offer"

Regee said feeling a bit uncertain.

Really!

Sally exclaimed.

"No wonder he fixed his gaze at that direction constantly, I should have known and those gullible, journalist and photographers were just flicking cameras."

They giggled, linking arms, and strolled off into the night, leaving the bar and mr Jack's disappointed gaze behind.

"Sir I don't think she will be performing"

Mr Jack said trying to avert his eyes from flicks from Camera outside.

Mr Richard, his face red with rage, slammed his fist on the bar, making the glasses shake.

"You're telling me that,that low life of a pianist, refused to play for me?" he growled, his deep voice menacing.

The bar owner, stood firm, his eyes locked on the billionaire's.

"That's right,

Mr Richard. Regee has a mind of her own, I think"

The billionaire sneered. "You mean she doesn't take kindly to being offered a small fortune to play a few songs?"

Mr Jack shrugged. " I think she was hurt, probably from the way you snapped the other day, it was rude, despite the fact that she was trying to help, you should apologize to her, maybe money is not everything".

The billionaire's face turned purple with anger. "You're going to regret this, Jack. I'll make sure your little bar is shut down within a week."

Mr Jack didn't flinch. "I don't know if to panic but I ditched her to impress you,sir.

"Is that suppose to make me feel better"

Mr Richard said lifting an eye brow.

Mr Jack grinned still trying to avert the multiple flickers from cameras.

"Why do you want her anyways, when you can pay the likes of Keturah Ama to play for you"

" I don't think apologizing will take a thing from you"

The billionaire's eyes narrowed, but he knew he was beaten. With a final glare, he stormed out of the bar, leaving Jack to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Well, yet another day as a bar owner" Jack muttered to himself, as he gulped a glass of whiskey.

Soon he noticed the billionaire left the paparazzi behind who were creating a nuisance outside.

Mr Jack's patience was wearing thin. He strode out from behind the counter, his eyes blazing with determination, and marched straight to the paparazzi, who were clicking away with their cameras.

"That's it, gentlemen," he said, his voice firm and commanding. "You're leaving. Now."

The paparazzi, taken aback by Jack's sudden assertiveness, hesitated for a moment before scattering, their cameras and microphones still clutched in their hands.

But Mr Jack was relentless. He ushered them fat from his vicinity until they were all standing on the sidewalk outside.

"And don't come back," Jack added, his eyes flashing a warning.

The paparazzi, realizing they were outmatched, slunk away into the night, their tails between their legs. Jack watched them go, a satisfied nod on his face, before turning back to the bar.