Surrender (Club X #2)(18)
Author: K.M. Scott

“My people will be in costume, Stefan,” Kane said in his usual annoyed tone. “But the first thing people see when they enter this club is your part, so your bartenders will need to be in the right look.”

“Fine. I’ll Google the 1970s and see what I can find.”

“And after you do that, you need to convince Shay Callahan to come back to work here. I’ve seen her behind the bar. She’s good. A whole hell of a lot better than Mika, Stefan. I’m not saying I’m going to fire her when she comes to see me tonight, but you need to get your priorities in order, little brother. Lawsuits are bad enough, but you’ve never let the bar suffer before. You need to fix this and fast.”

I wanted to sit there and take my brother’s scolding like I wanted to tear my arm off and beat myself with it, but he wasn’t wrong. I’d messed up with Shay and needed to make that right. Not that I wanted him to know all that, though.

“If we’re done, I have a full day’s work to do,” I said, trying to hide how much this whole Shay thing bothered me.

Looking over at Kane, Cash said, “Unless Kane has anything to add.”

“I have nothing. I haven’t lived in a self-involved cave all my life, so I don’t have to research anything for Marshall’s party. As always, my people will be ready.”

Standing, I looked down at my half-brother. “Maybe if I had a costume designer like you, my life would be easy too.”

Before he or Cash could give me more shit, I left our weekly Monday afternoon meeting, sure I didn’t want to go through anything like that again anytime soon. I was also sure of one other thing. I had to find a way to get Shay to return to Club X.

LEANING IN toward the bathroom mirror, I examined Mika’s handiwork on my cheek. A thin scab covered where she’d scratched me with her fake nails, except for near the corner of my eye where it still remained red. Thankfully, it seemed to be healing well and I wouldn’t be scarred for life because of that crazy bitch. Shaking my head, I still couldn’t believe all that had happened because of Stefan March.

The worst part of the whole damn thing was I wouldn’t be able to make all that money at Club X that I needed for my trip, and now I didn’t even have a job at all. How I’d pay rent and all my bills I had no idea. This was what I got for being so stubborn.

Elliot padded up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Looking at me in the mirror, he said, “You look tough, Shay. Chicks with scars are hot.”

Rolling my eyes, I shook my head. “Not funny, El. That crazy bitch could have literally scratched my eye out.”

He nuzzled my neck and mumbled, “Is that really possible?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t try to make me happy about this. I’m still angry about the whole thing.”

Elliot looked up at me in the mirror. “Okay, stay pissed. It’s good for the soul.”

“You’re no help at all, you know that?”

He backed away from me, patting me on the ass. “I do what I can.”

I returned to staring at my bruiser look and heard a knock on the front door. I so wasn’t in the mood for dealing with anyone. I waited for Elliot to answer it, but the knocking continued, so I trudged out and opened it to find standing there in the hallway none other than the person who’d caused all my problems.

“Hey, Shay. Can we talk?”

Stefan March looked out of place asking to talk to me at my home, and my first inclination was to slam the door in his face. Nothing he had to say could make the situation better.

“I don’t think we have anything to talk about, Stefan. You showed me who you were the other night, and I don’t want to work for someone like that.”

The hurt from my words registered in his eyes, and for the first time, he looked truly bothered by one of my comments, even though I’d said much worse to him nearly every day since we met.

“If you’d just give me a minute, I really think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

“Unless you plan on apologizing and offering me my job back with a raise, I’m not interested.”

“Well, that’s pretty close. Can I come in so we can talk for a minute?”

An apology and more money? It certainly was tempting. But I knew how this would end up. I’d go back to Club X and the whole Mika problem would still be there. “I don’t think so, Stefan. Nothing’s changed at the club. I can’t work like that.”

I began to close the door, but he grabbed the edge and stuck his face in close. “Come on, Shay. Hear me out.”

He looked so silly with his face pushed in between the door and the jamb that I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You remind me of Jack Nicholson in The Shining.”

Smiling, he shot me a wild look. “Here’s Johnny!” His expression softened, and he said, “Please let me in.”

“That you knew what I meant by my Nicholson reference impresses me, Stefan.”

“Enough to let me in?” he asked as he gave me his best puppy dog eyes.

I backed away from the door. “Yeah. Come in.”

Flashing me that fabulous Stefan March smile, he pushed the door open and came in, happier than I’d ever seen him. Elliot moved close by my side as the door closed, and we all stood there awkwardly staring at one another.

Stefan leaned forward and extended his hand to shake Elliot’s. “Hey, I’m Stefan March. Shay’s boss. Nice to meet you.”

“Former boss,” I corrected him as Elliot grabbed his hand to return the handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Stefan. I’m Elliot.”

And then we stood there awkwardly silent again until finally Elliot kissed me on the top of my head and quietly said, “I’ll be in the bedroom if you need me.”

“Nice to meet you, Stefan.”

“Yeah, you too.”

I waited until I heard the bedroom door close and said, “Do you want to sit down?”

Stefan looked around at my old living room sofa and hand-me-down chair my aunt had given me when I moved in and nodded. “Sure. Okay.”

It wasn’t what he was likely used to, but I wasn’t about to be ashamed of what I had. It may not have been the kind of place he had with his millions to spend, but it was my home. I took a seat on the sofa as he sat on the edge of the chair like he planned to bolt out the door at any moment.

“So what did you want to talk about, Stefan?”

He looked toward the bedroom for a moment and then back at me. “So, is that your boyfriend?”