MARRIED TO THE MUTE BARTENDER

"You don't have to go to the bar today if you feel sick. You're always working." Mum pleaded but I ignored her and started putting my work clothes on.

"Chloe, honey, you're overworking yourself and it's bad. You can spend some time with us for the night. We'll catch up on your favorite shows if you want." Dad joined her.

I turned and found both of them staring at me with pity and guilt in their eyes. I knew what they were thinking, their only daughter was working too hard to provide for the family.

"Mum, dad, it's fine. I'm fine. It's only a slight headache. I'm sure I can handle it, you don't have to work about me. I'll buy something for us to eat on my way back." I responded.

A sudden ache hit my head again, making my eyes spin. I almost lost my footing but I was able to grab my shaky closet before I could fall. Mum and dad jumped out of their seats and rushed to my side.

Mum was sniffing back her tears while dad tried to hold me steady.

"I won't allow this. Yell, protest, cry all you want, you're not leaving this house today, young lady and that's final." Dad instructed with a stern face.

I wanted to protest and argue but my head was spiraling, I was starting to see things in double, every part of my body throbbed hard with pain.

"Oh my goodness! My baby, I'm so sorry we're doing this to you." Mom cried with anguish.

"I'm fine, I can do this, I'm fine!" I wanted to yell and crash out but the words were stuck at my throat. With every passing second, my vision became blurry and I found myself slowly falling into unconsciousness.

"I'll go get Doctor Maven. Stay here with her, honey." I heard dad say before walking out of the room.

No, no, we can't afford a doctor. If we get the doctor, we won't be able to pay the electricity bill. My mind spun round and round as I tried to fight against the force weakening my bones.

"Stay calm for goodness' sake, Chloe. Please let us take care of you." Mum's tears dropped on my face. She held my hand gently, caressing and humming a sad tune. The minute I tried to touch her, a huge force hit my head, sending me into darkness immediately.

The next time I woke up, my ears caught light, squeaky sounds close to my head. I tried to turn but my head felt like it would snap if I made any attempt to do so.

"Mum? Dad?" I called out. My heart was beating fast, almost slamming into my ribcage. I tried to open my eyes and was hit by a bright, sunny ray of light seeping through the window. I knew I had no choice but to stare at the ceiling while my mind spiraled.

"What happened to me? Why am I in bed and not at work?"

Hold on- Work!

All I could think of at that moment was my boss yelling at me and going crazy because I missed a day of work. We're meant to host a special party tonight at the bar and missing it would mean hell for me.

"I'm taking it out of your pay!" I imagined her loud, shrill voice.

No, no, I can't let that happen. Losing my pay would mean that I can't pay for Marion's monthly medication and that would spin into having him admitted at the hospital, which would make him miss school and send me back into the arms of loan sharks.

I forced myself up, pushing the pile of clothes off my bed. I almost fell over the first time but my hands caught the bed stand before I could tip over, then the door opened, with a loud, squeaky noise as usual.

"What are you doing, Chloe? Why are you up?" Mum's shrill voice resounded in my head. She had pure terror in her eyes as she stared at me.

"Mum, it's fine, I'm fine. I only got dizzy for a second. I'm heading out to work now." I ignored the tears in her eyes and took slow and shaky steps towards my closet.

"The doctor instructed that you stay in bed all night. You can't go to work, your father won't allow it." I didn't need help to know she was panicking terribly and while I wanted to assure her that I'll be fine, I knew doing that would make her coerce me into going back to bed, which would be a disaster.

"Mum, it's fine, really. I have to work tonight if we want to pay the doctor. The landlord is coming for the rent soon and if we can't pay, he'll kick us out. I can't just stay in bed all day." I pushed. Taking a quick glance at her, I knew she wanted to argue but couldn't.

"Promise me you'll be fine, honey." She muttered, her voice low and shaky.

I found my apron and hung it over my shoulder. My head was still aching terribly but I pushed the pain aside, focusing on my mother. I let out a small, painful smile.

"I'll be fine, mum. I'll be back before dad gets back so you don't get into an argument." I said to her, making for the door.

"Chloe." She called my name and I turned to her with a forced smile.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered with tears falling out of her eyes. I wanted to respond, hug and tell her that I didn't mind working all my life to give our family a good life but my heart was aching terribly. Turning once would shatter me so I broke our eye contact and stepped out of the room.

"When will this ever end?" I asked myself.

"I'm disappointed in you, Savio. You're meant to be the face of our empire. You're meant to be a good ambassador but all you do is spend lavishly, get into scandals and party like there's no tomorrow." Dad yelled with his fore muscles stretched.

I faked a yawn because honestly, I was bored to hell and I wanted nothing more than to disappear from this hell hole.

"Do you know how much it cost me to rebuild the model you crashed, huh? I spend all day all night at the office, working my head off for a grown adult like you, yet you've refused to take after my steps. Your mother will be so disappointed in you." His breathing became ragged after the mention of mum. I flicked the cigarette stick in my mouth.

"Dad, don't bring mum into this. Correct me, yell all you want but do not bring mum into this." I warned him. He gave me a challenging look, as though daring me to do my worst.

"Of course you don't want to hear about her because you know how much of a disappointment you are to her." He spat with utter disgust.

The thought of mum in this conversation riled me up so I stood from the cushion, ready to leave but not without putting him in his place.

I held a strong belief that in all of California, my father had to be the most problematic person.

Despite being the richest man in all of California, he could yell down an entire building for no reason.

"That's so rich coming from you, dad. I think she'll be more disappointed in you than in me. I mean, she trusted you to save her life but you watched her die, all because you wanted to be with another woman.

You're not one to preach righteousness dad. Leave it to the Christians." My words obviously stung him as his countenance changed.

His eyes became hollow and sad but I couldn't care less. A satisfied smirk spread on my face while I watched his conscience beat him up.

"Anyways, if that's all you wanted to say, I guess we're done. I'm out of here and I'm not coming home tonight, I have a party to attend." I told him flippantly and lit my cigarette. His eyes widened as soon as he realized what I'd just said but I was fast out of his office before then.

"Savio! Savio! Get back here! Savio!" His yells reached me until I got to the elevator.

"Ugh! Such a party popper!" I groaned inwardly.

Just as I was about to step out of the elevator, a call came into my phone and I smiled upon seeing the caller.

"Hey, buddy. What's the update?" I smiled before getting into the car.

"You know the deal man. I've sent the location of the party to your driver, you should be here in a couple of minutes plus I have girls secured. You'll love it." Danny, my best friend, responded with glee in his voice.

"Good, good. But there's something I'd like for you to do on my behalf. That pop star girl from Instagram, I need you to find out where she'll be in the next two days. I want to have her on my bed." I flexed my muscles in pride. Danny laughed knowingly and with pride as well.

"You've got it, man. I'll have her ready for you whenever you want...." His voice paused as my father's call came in.

"Ugh! Let me call you back in a minute, Danny. My pest father is calling me." I said and ended his call to answer dad's.

"Nothing you say will change my mind, dad. I'm not coming home tonight." I spoke before he could.

"Sir! This is Elise, sir. Your father just passed out, sir. I think you might have to come take him to the hospital." The housekeeper's voice broke as she spoke.

"What? What do you mean he passed out? What was he doing? What the fuck?" I groaned angrily with balls of sweat trickling down my face.

"He's been complaining of chest pains for a few days now. Please come back home to take him to the hospital." She broke out in tears and I drew a deep breath.

"Shut the fuck up and listen to me, Elise." I ordered and her voice went mute.

"Good, there's a piece of paper on his bedside table. It has the phone number of our personal doctor. Call him and he'll be there in a couple of minutes." I instructed and heard her gasp.

"You're not coming to take him to the hospital?" She asked and I threw my hands up in irritation.

"Bitch, I have a party tonight! You must be crazy in the head to think I'll miss that because my father chose to be a party popper. You heard what I said, call the doctor, get him treated. I'll be back tomorrow." I instructed and ended the call.

My heart was beating fast in fear, a part of me wanted to return home to make sure he was okay but I couldn't miss the party either, I had a reputation to keep up.

"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" My subconscious whispered and I shifted uncomfortably in the car.

"You know what? Turn the car around, I need to go home first." I said to the driver, hating that I had to sacrifice my pleasure for it.

"God! I hate this man." I muttered silently. Danny's call came in a few seconds later.

"You won't believe who just arrived at the party." He yelled with excitement. There was loud pop music playing in the background so I could barely make out what he was saying.

"Who?" I asked.

"Tasha Romero." He responded and ecstacy coursed through me.

"What?" I yelled with excitement.

"Oh, hell, I'm sorry, dad. You'll have to be fine without me tonight. There's no way I'm missing Tasha." I thought. My mind went wild with the imagination of things I'd do to her in bed.

"Turn the car back. We're heading to the party." I ordered and the car zoomed off.

"I'm taking it out of your pay, you lazy fool!" Madame Marie, my boss yelled and stomped the ground in her face. I fell on my knees immediately, holding on to the hem of her clothes while trying to force tears out of my eyes. As someone who has worked with Madame Marie for years, I knew her weakest point.

To be worshipped.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am. I'm so sorry, I promise I'll never come in late again, ever. Please spare my pay." I begged with fake tears trickling out of my eyes.

She looked down at me aloof but with pride in her eyes and swollen chest. Before I could tell her next move, she kicked me to the wall with a loud thud. I groaned due to the pain I was still feeling in my body.

"What made you come in late? You know how much I hate lateness. What if the party had started then? Who will supervise the rest, huh?" She glared at me from her seat. I struggled to stand up, attempting to hide the tremendous pain I was feeling.

"Something came up with my parents. I promise it'll never happen." I begged I'm tears and she scoffed.

"You always say that. Chloe, the only reason I still have you working here at my prestigious bar is because you're the only worker I can trust. If you make this mistake, one more time, you can as well kiss your job goodbye." Her words pinched at me but I was more grateful to still have a job.

"Thank you ma'am. I promise not to..." My words were cut off by the squeaking sound of the door opening. One of the bar bouncers walked in with a menacing look on his face.

"Ma'am, there's no one at the counter and the men are complaining. They want a bartender now." He reported. Madame Marie glanced at me quickly.

"Well, what are you still doing there? You know what to do." She directed at me with a wave of hand.

I limped out of the office with a deep sigh of relief. The loud music reverberated through the entire place drowning the loud thud in my chest.

A group of friends had booked the entire bar for a birthday party. I could tell the kind of people they were after seeing the jerk that came to make the payment. He was rude and spoke as though he owned the place.

I slowly made it out of the dark corner into the main bar where the crowd were dancing and singing to the music on the dance floor. A couple of guys were at the counter.

I dusted my apron and went over to them. As usual, I heard whispers.

"There she comes. They say she never talks at work." I heard someone say.

"She's mute. Why do you think she's called a mute bartender?"

"Such a beautiful body going to waste, how do I fuck someone who doesn't have the ability to moan?" Another asked and this caused an uproar of laughter but I ignored them.

"Hey, mute! Come serve us drinks." One of the guys hollered at me. I ignored his voice and went right to the bar station.

A loud noise erupted in the midst of a crowd and my eyes went over them until it stopped on a person.

A guy, actually. A proud and stupid one because the moment he noticed my eyes on him, he released a proud smirk. He winked at me with a sly smile that made me scoff.

I ignored his existence and continued serving the people before me without saying a word. As usual, they were trying to get me to talk but none of them could get my attention.

"Hi, I'd like a drink." I heard a soft, bass voice right before me. I looked up slowly and my eyes met his brown, warm eyes.

It was the guy from earlier and just like before, he still had that stupid smirk on his face.

I gave him a blank look, expecting him to order immediately but he just kept looking at me.

"Hey man, she won't speak to you. Just tell her what you want, she'll get it for you." One of the men at the bar counter laughed. He joined in the laughter, but I stayed mute as usual until he realized that the man's words were true.

"You really won't speak to your customer, huh? I wonder what type of customer service you have here." The cunning smile on his face revealed what his plan was.

"Don't try too hard, man. She won't say a word, there's a reason she's called the mute bartender. Her mouth is shut off like the door to an Egyptian mummy tomb." Another man said.

In that moment, something flashed in his eyes. Curiosity? Craftiness? Maybe danger. I couldn't tell what it was but I didn't care either. All I cared about was making money.

"May I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen?" He yelled over the loud music so the people at the bar could hear. His eyes held a mischievous glint as he stared at me intently.

Who the fuck does this guy think he is?

"Tonight, I would like to make an offer to the bartender, 'the mute bartender' I heard she's called." He started with a light chuckle. A couple of people were watching his stupid performance now.

"I'll make a mention of five of the rarest cocktails I know, if she can make all five of them correctly, I'll give her a thousand dollars but if she can't, she will not only speak, she'll sing and perform for us tonight. Do you agree?"

I sighed inwardly, braving up for the challenge.

"Hell yeah." Someone from the crowd screamed and everyone else did the same. He gave me a stupid smile again, which I suppose was meant to warn me but instead of ignoring him, I smiled back this time.

This idiot has no idea what he's getting into. Let's get the show started!