Please respect my boundaries

Luke's smile never wavered. "No worries, Mabel. It happens. I've been here three months now, so I know what it's like to be the new kid on the block."

As we chatted, a customer with brown hair approached the bar, his eyes lingering on my figure in a way that made my skin crawl. "Can I get a Sex on the Beach cocktail, please?"

I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I tried to ignore the customer's suggestive gaze. "Coming right up," I replied, expertly mixing the drink.

As I handed the customer his drink, he leaned in close, his breath hot against my ear. "What's a pretty girl like you doing behind a bar? Want to have some fun with me?"

My instincts kicked in, and I politely but firmly declined. "I'm here to make a living, sir. I'll pass on that offer."

The customer's face fell, but before he could say anything else, Luke stepped in, his eyes flashing with a warning. "I think the lady has made it clear she's not interested, buddy. Why don't you take your drink and enjoy the music?"

The customer scowled, but eventually backed down, taking his drink and slinking away. I let out a sigh of relief as Luke turned to me with a smile.

"Thanks for stepping in, Luke. I appreciate it."

"No problem, Mabel. We look out for each other here. Now, let's get back to work. We've got a lot of drinks to make."

As the night wore on, I found myself enjoying Luke's company. We worked well together, our movements syncing as if we'd been working side by side for years. We shared a few laughs, and I felt relaxed. My feet ached from standing for hours, and my hands were sticky with spilled drinks and sweat. But despite the chaos, I felt a sense of exhilaration as I expertly mixed drinks and served customers at the bar counter.

When the bar started to get busier, Luke turned to me with a serious expression. "Hey, Mabel? You're doing great for your first night. Just remember, if any customers get too rowdy or make you uncomfortable, don't hesitate to call for help. We've got your back."

I smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Luke. "Thanks, Luke. I appreciate it. I think I'm going to like it here."

The bar was packed within hours, the noise and energy of the crowd creating a constant buzz around us. Luke and I got so busy that we began to sweat. His white shirt soaked through and clung to his body, revealing the outline of his well-defined abs and muscular chest. I couldn't help but gulp as I admired him. Even though I had broken up with that asshole Michael, I still appreciated the sight of hot men like Luke and Steve too. I flushed, remembering the intense sex Steve and I had in my bedroom.

"Mabel, you okay?" Luke asked, noticing my red cheeks. "You look a little flushed. Do you need a break?"

"No, I'm fine, Luke. I'm good," I said quickly, waving my hands dismissively. I looked down, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Just feeling hot, that's all.”

Damn it! Steve. This is all your fault!

Luke nodded, but I could tell he was still concerned. "Okay, just let me know if you need anything," he said, before turning back to the customer he was serving.

Just then, I spotted Hazel walking in with her friends. I’d have to be crazy not to notice her; most of the men's attention instantly went to her, and it was no surprise. She had an undeniable confidence in her stride, dressed in a daring red dress that hugged her curves perfectly. The Harrison family definitely had good genes. She hadn’t mentioned she was coming today, but I was actually happy to see her.

She and her friends headed to the counter where I was, taking a seat on the stools. Luke was about to serve them, but I grabbed his hand, stopping him. “I’ll do it,” I said quickly.

“Hey, Hazel. You didn’t tell me you’d come in today,” I said, a smile spreading across my face.

“I wanted to surprise you,” Hazel replied, her grin infectious. She introduced her friends to me, pointing at each in turn.

“This is Elina,” she said, gesturing to a striking woman with mid-length brown hair. She wore a fitted black short gown, and her red lipstick added a bold touch.

“This is Rachael,” she said, introducing a gorgeous woman with long blonde hair dressed in a black bum short and a red T-shirt, a daring combination that suited her perfectly. As she spoke, her eyes wandered to Luke, and a small smile played on her lips.

“This is Tony,” she continued, pointing to a charming guy who had a more laid-back vibe, with his dark hair and black jeans giving him a relaxed, effortless look.

“And this is Mark,” she finished, drawing attention to an undeniably hot guy with shoulder-length brown hair. His white shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal a glimpse of his chest, complemented by black jeans that made him look effortlessly cool. Hazel certainly had a great eye for good-looking friends.

“Guys, this is Mabel, my new roommate,” she announced.

“Hi, Mabel. Hey, Mabel. Nice to meet you,” they said, their voices a mix of excitement and curiosity.

“Nice to meet you guys too! What would you like to drink?” I asked, my tone warm and welcoming. They each told me their drink preferences, and as I prepared them, I noticed Rachael’s gaze lingering on Luke. I turned around and realized who had captured her attention.

“That’s Luke,” I said, smiling knowingly at Rachael.

Rachael replied, her eyes never leaving Luke. “He’s hot.”

“I agree,” I said, winking at her. I turned back to Luke and nudged him, “Hey, Luke, can you serve that blonde woman sitting over there? I’ll finish up here.”

He glanced at Rachael and smirked, “Sure thing,” he replied, winking back at me before heading over to her.

After a while, Luke and Rachael’s flirting became more obvious, with Luke playing along. Hazel and her friends started to drink more, their laughter growing louder and their movements more exaggerated. Mark, Hazel’s friend, tried to engage me in conversation, but I was polite yet distant, my attention mostly on Luke and Rachael.

Hours passed, and the crowd thinned out. Hazel’s friends started to leave one by one, with Mark, Rachael and Hazel being the last to go. Before Rachael left, she exchanged numbers with Luke, whispering something in his ear that made him laugh. Just as Rachael was leaving, Steve walked in, his face stoic, but handsome as ever, he scanned the room. He spotted Hazel and made his way over to her, barely acknowledging me as he paid for her drinks. "I'll take her home," he said, his voice firm but polite.

Hazel nodded, her eyes glassy from the drinks. "Thanks, Steve," she said, her voice slurred.

Steve helped Hazel out of the bar, leaving me feeling a bit awkward. I turned back to Luke, who was watching me with a concerned expression. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine," I said, trying to brush off the awkwardness.

Luke raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the issue. Instead, he turned back to the bar and started cleaning up. He then went to the staff room.

I was taken aback by Steve’s coldness towards me. We'd been getting along so well during sex, and now he was acting like a stranger. He was a stranger, but not really a stranger. What did I expect? It was just sex, but it still hurt to be ignored like that.

Mark still lingered, trying to keep the conversation going, but I was done. I had too much on my mind with Steve’s unexpected chilliness.

"Hey, Mabel, how about we grab a drink somewhere else?" he asked, his eyes locked on mine.

I shook my head, feeling a sense of relief that my shift was finally over. "I'm done for the night, Mark. I'm just going to head home."

Mark's face fell, but he didn't give up. "Come on, Mabel. Just one drink. I promise I'll walk you home afterwards."

I felt a surge of unease, but I tried to be polite. "I appreciate the offer, Mark, but I really need to get going."

Mark's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer to me. "You're not going to make me beg, are you?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I took a step back, trying to create some distance between us. "Mark, I said no. Please respect my boundaries."

As Mark continued to try to persuade me to go out with him, I felt a growing sense of unease. I didn't want to be rude, but I also didn't want to lead him on. I tried to think of a way to let him down gently, but before I could come up with anything, he reached out and grabbed my wrist.

I felt a jolt of surprise and discomfort at his touch. I tried to pull my hand away, but he held on tight. "Mark, I said no," I said firmly, trying to keep my voice calm.

But Mark just smiled and leaned in closer. "Come on, Mabel, just one drink. I'll make you feel good afterwards."

I felt a surge of panic as he pulled me closer. I didn't like the way he was touching me, and I didn't like the way he was looking at me. I tried to think of a way to get out of the situation, but before I could come up with anything, I knocked over a glass, and the sound of shattering glass filled the air.

The sudden noise caught the attention of the few customers who were still lingering in the bar, and they stopped to stare at us. Some of my coworkers who were still clocked in and were about to leave also stopped and watched, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them. The bar fell silent, with all eyes on Mark and me.

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me as I realized I was the center of attention. I didn't want to be the new girl who caused a scene on her first day of work. I tried to play it cool, but I could feel my face burning with embarrassment.

Mark's grip on my wrist tightened, and I felt a surge of fear. But before he could do anything else, Steve appeared out of nowhere, his face furious.

"Get your hands off her," Steve growled, his voice low and menacing.