2

I couldn’t bring myself to have romantic feelings for any of them. It was like, everybody I dated…

There was a spark missing.

No fireworks.

No click.

No feelings.

It was something that I yearned for.

I yearned for something deeper than sex.

I yearned for something deeper than just physical attraction.

I yearned for a soul attraction…

Somebody who understood me.

Somebody who loved me with all my flaws and imperfections.

Somebody who I could be myself around.

Somebody that I didn’t have to force myself to be with…

To stop myself from feeling lonely.

And I knew that until I found that, I would be happy remaining single for now.

There was no point going round in circles with countless men, only to end up back at square one.

2

JASMINE

“It's so busy today,” Peter yawned, as he continued to mix the drinks, and put them down on my tray.

“Tell me about it,” I muttered. “I’m so ready to go home and hit the hay.”

He let out an amused chuckle. “What are you watching on N*****x right now?”

“I’m watching the Starz show Power for the fifteenth time again. I’m fucking obsessed. No other show beats it,” I giggled.

He rolled his eyes. “With all the shows you watch about drug cartels, I’m surprised you haven’t got caught up in one yourself.”

“Ehhhh,” I giggled, scratching my arm, slapping his arm playfully. “They’re just fun to watch. Narcos, Peaky Blinders, Money Heist, Breaking Bad… They’re just so interesting.”

Peter laughed. “With the money the bastards make from that business, I’d take a job in selling drugs over being a boring barman any day. Rotting away here for the rest of our lives, working our asses off… When there’s people who just have to sell a few drugs to make thousands and thousands. Shit isn’t fair.”

I giggled in response. “You can say that again.”

I trailed off my sentence, narrowing my eyes.

“Peter, pour me a Jack Daniels. I’m gonna need some fuel if I’m gonna make it till the end of tonight with all these customers,” I sighed.

“You got it, babe,” he grinned, and passed me the drink.

I swallowed it down in one gulp, allowing it to burn down my throat, and begin to take its course through my body.

It was going to be one long fucking night.

3

JASMINE

The night continued to take its course.

My legs were killing – I’d served so many people by now that it felt like if I walked around the bar any more, my legs would fall off.

Just as I made my way back to Peter, ready to sit down on one of the bar stools and take a breather, my boss came walking up to me.

I sighed, exasperated, growing tired, weary and impatient.

Wishing that the night would be over already.

“Jasmine!” Boss exclaimed. “I’m gonna need you to cover for Maria tonight. I know that you’re supposed to be leaving in an hour, but she’s called in sick, and I have no other option. I’ll make sure to pay you generously in overtime.”

I rolled my eyes agitatedly.

“Seriously, Boss?” I sighed, folding my arms huffily. “I made plans tonight.”

Plans to curl up in my warm bed and have a long night’s fucking sleep.

It was very much deserved.

“Well, cancel them then,” Boss sneered. “We’ve got some really influential people that need serving tonight, who just came in. They’ll need the drinks coming in all night. Don’t let me down, Jasmine.”

I muttered curse words underneath my breath.

 “We always have influential people here. What makes these pricks any different?” I snarled.

“They’re billionaires, and they’ll have the tips coming in all night. God knows, we need the fucking money,” Boss sighed.

Billionaires?

What the fuck?

My heart hammered against my chest, as I came to the realization how filthy rich these people actually were.

If I played my cards right tonight…

Then maybe I would be able to walk away with thousands and thousands of pounds in tips.

Nobody so wealthy had come by the Golden Ace before.

The most I would get tipped was a few hundred pounds, by people on six figures a year.

But billionaires?

I suddenly found my body thumping with energy, with the thoughts of me being tired and exhausted…

Now long forgotten.