Game of Passion

Chapter 13: Barney's

Freira looks anxiously around the place as she looks at the piece of paper she has cut out from the newspaper.

Is she even at the right place?

This part of the city is quite dark even in the morning since the smoke is thick and the pavement is quite slippery from the daily wetness it gets. There are people roaming around but there are more men with their smug faces and observant eyes following her every move.

She does not want to back out now since she is already here. And not just because the place looks scary, she would think that the place she wanted to try to apply to would be dangerous.

She read the other job offers in the newspaper and most of it is domestic, needing a servant to a fine house. She doesn’t want to be confined again and not be exposed with many people as she wants. The Barney’s Pub is her best choice. She wouldn't have the opportunity to remember being put to waste.

She raised her head as she read the sign on an establishment. She squints as she realized it was the pub she was looking for. It looks decent. It is a two-story building and it is surrounded by newly built stores and workshops.

Knocking on the door, she looked around her—seeing there are lesser people here and were looking at her curiously. She continued knocking and when no one still answered, she tried to twist the knob.

It was unlocked.

She contemplated if she will go inside. Would it be rude to just barge in? But it is a pub and it is open so might as well. She got inside and felt the place was quite eerie at first glance.

"Hello," she called.

She walked towards the counter. Different liquors were displayed and an array of glasses was placed on one side. There is a second floor in a loft-style and she could see there are more tables there but fewer than what’s below. The pub looks clean, organized, and well taken care of. Therefore, she is confused if they are really in need of a barmaid if they could maintain such cleanliness and organization already.

She rang the bell but there was no response.

Is no one here?

But the door is unlocked.

She roamed her eyes around, walking as she goes. The chairs were finely arranged on their respective tables. And a dais stood across her—understanding that there are performances happening there every time the pub is open. The windows are clear glass and the floor are wood planks that creak whenever she steps. She hasn’t seen any pubs before but she can say that this one caters for the working classes.

She stopped when she heard a rustle from a door. It wasn't coming from the entrance because if it is, she will see who it was since she is close to the door.

It was coming from her right.

She stared at the hallway towards a closed double door—maybe it is the owner's office or something. It is the only door inside the place that looks private and intricately made. If it is the owner’s then she should go there so she could just inform what her purpose of coming here.

Taking a deep breath, she started heading her way to the door when she heard brisk footsteps coming toward her.

"Hey, woman!"

She stopped and turned to see who it was. It was a man ruggedly dressed and with an apron on. He has clean-cut hair and a mustache that is styled in a great arch.

"Where do you think you're going, Miss?" he hissed then pulled her far from the hallway—keeping her away from what is behind that door.

"I was calling a while ago but no one answered."

"It's because I was downstairs. Who are you anyway?" He lets her go and wiped the sweat on his forehead.

"Are you the owner?" she asked.

"Yes. What do you want?"

She let out a small smile, trying to calm the man. "I am Freira. I found out from the newspaper that you are in need of a barmaid."

He walked towards the counter and started wiping glasses. "You want to work here?"

"Well…yes."

"Are you certain about that? You look so fragile. This kind of place isn't for you."

"I am willing to give it a try, Sir."

"My customers are not the typical men and women. You need to have the guts to face them."

"Still willing to try though," she pushed.

The man regarded her. "Do you even know how to prepare drinks?"

Her mouth parted but she wasn't able to give an answer.

"Thought so." Then turned his back on her, ignoring her presence.

"But I can learn, Sir."

"Indeed," he said like he does not care.

"I was a nurse at the public hospital. I can work under pressure and I can handle men better than you expect me to be if that is what you're troubled about."

He snapped a look at her. "Believe me, woman, I am helping you here. Don’t push it."

"It does not seem so. You're rejecting me without even seeing what I can do. Besides, the post had been vacant for a week ever since I have seen it first and I assume it has been there for longer. No one wants to apply but me."

The man raised a brow. "Because it is not a typical job."

"Then why do you have to post it then? When you do not want me to even try for it?"

He scoffed.

"Give me a week and I will prove to you that I am worthy of it."

"Why do you even want it, woman? It's not a high-paying job and you'll be tired every day for certain."

"I want it because I'll get to meet people," she said honestly. "And I needed that, Sir. I do not want to explain more but I needed this type of job."

He regarded her, squinting as if contemplating.

"Within that one week, I am willing to have my services free so you can see if I am worthy to get paid," she added.

"Free?"

"Yes, Sir."

A small smirk etched on his face. "A week trial, no pay but with a single mistake, you're out, Miss."

Her mouth parted. "Does that mean I got the job?"

"You'll work from one in the afternoon until eleven in the evening."

She beamed and nodded. "Thank you."

"And don't wear skimpy clothes. Wear something baggy." He placed the glass on the rack. "Just don't fix yourself too much."

"I will."

The man nodded and then offered his hand. "I am Philip, by the way."

She accepted his hand and gave it a good shake. "Freira Hart."

"Alright, Freira. I will see you at one tomorrow."

~~~~~~~

She was surprised when she entered the pub five minutes earlier than the expected time and it was already filled with people—mostly men, drinking their hearts out and laughing merrily.

"Freira, come over here!" Philip called.

She hurriedly took off her coat and hung it on a rack before going to the man.

"Take this tray to that table and this one over there." He pointed. "After that, clean these glasses. Is that understood?"

"Yes."

"I'll just take something from downstairs."

She nodded and grabbed her apron then started doing her job.

"You're new here?" a customer asked when she was done delivering the tray of drinks to the tables and is now cleaning the glasses.

"Uh, yes," she said then handed him a glass of whiskey.

"Seems like I'll be visiting the pub a lot more often."

She just smiled at his remark. It wasn't the only time she has been asked. They even asked her what her name is and she just answered it without complaints.

It was like that for five days. She gets to learn about Philipp's making drinks and identifying which is which. Sometimes, it was she who prepares them and gives them to the customers. She is confident that the man is slowly seeing her in a different light and not what he has viewed her as a fragile girl who cannot handle these brusque and vulgar men.

It was when her shift ends that is difficult since she has to walk down the street before she gets to ride a hackney. Sometimes, there are no hackneys, therefore, she has to walk to her lodgings late at night. She can feel someone or mayhap more than one is following her and she only quickens her pace. Ever since she first noticed that, she had always carried the gun Doctor Harrington gave her—just for precaution.

Danger was lurking but she does not want to quit the job since one time, when she was deep in her sleep, she dreamt of a house—half cement, half bungalow. It is near the sea and the crashing waves were such a familiar sound that makes her feel so nostalgic. When she woke up, she was convinced that it was a memory. Mayhap, it was the tiredness that made her remember or the pressure brought by the pub. She wasn't certain of the reason for it. But one thing she is sure of is that she will not stop working for the Barney's.

Philipp has other employees—a man who deals with drunk patrons and keeps them out from making any trouble. His name is Ildefonso and he is not one to engage in conversation. He is a bulky man and sports a blank face that scared her the first time but she has grown accustomed to it. He only comes to the pub by seven in the evening which is the usual arrival of more of the patrons and the ones who were there earlier are already drunk. He manages them and kept everything in order.

"Freira, clean this up. I'll take care of that," Philip ordered.

They exchanged their position and started wiping the glasses on the corner, listening to the music. There is a singer on the dais. It changes every evening. It was not Philip who pays the singers so she is not certain if they are still under his employment. She looked up, watching the woman with such a revealing neckline and with rogue painted lips. The woman is beautiful and she has such a lovely voice. Because of her, the pub is packed more than before.

"Keep your eyes on the glasses, Freira. Don't slack off," Philip hissed and she just obeyed him.

She was taking the glasses on their storage when she caught something in the corner of her eye. She slowly looked there, towards the foggy window. She saw shadows passing, men, more than five. For some reason, she felt like something bad is going to happen. Her heart started to beat erratically as she saw them nearing the door. Ildefonso ran towards it and opened it for them.

The people inside were silenced and immediately stood up—as if welcoming the new arrival. There are seven men in total with their black coats and newsboy caps on. They seemed like their usual customers from what they wear but their presence and the aura they give off were too intense to bear.

"They're here," Philip whispered and she can clearly hear the fear laced in his voice.