Merri Winslow walked out of the Black Swan Club,the trendy wine bar where she worked at night playing the piano. She frowned as she flexed her sore fingers regretting rushing out the door to work and forgetting her warm gloves.
So many requests tonight I barely got a break, I am exhausted.
Standing under the green and white awning in front of the brick building Merri shivered while she waited for the bus. She looked at her watch then peeked around the corner to see if the bus was coming. Brrr...it is freezing cold. I will be glad when Winter is over... She tightened the red scarf around her neck and put her small hands in the pockets of her white cashmere coat.
Glancing at the rain mixed with hail pouring down and the sky filled with dark clouds she inwardly complained as the chilly wind hit her face. The forecast never mentioned rain. I would have brought an umbrella!
She chuckled thinking about the weather forecast being consistently inaccurate, the local station hasn't been right all year. It is as though they have to look out the window to check the weather.
Merri pushed up the wide coat sleeve and anxiously looked at her watch again and frowned, shouldn't the bus be here by now? I hope I didn't miss the last one. I don't want to spend money on a taxi and in this weather it is hard to get one late at night.
Four muscular men followed by a tall handsome man wearing a black trench coat exited the bar. Merri recognized the intimidating group from earlier and quickly stepped to the side to let them pass.
According to the bartender, the cold and aloof man was a friend of the owner and had a rotten personality. One of the servers accidentally spilled wine on him and he motioned to the bodyguard not far away. The bodyguard broke her hand and the owner fired her immediately.
She tilts her head and can see his chiseled cold profile. The man definitely looks as though that would be a natural reaction to her clumsiness and offending him.
Trying to minimize her presence ,she stood as far away as possible from the group of men in black suits. She took small steps towards the corner then lowered her head staring at her feet.
The man in the rear, narrowed his eyes when he noticed Merri cowering to the side and sneered, timid as a mouse.
Alexi Baranov had the urge to bully her because he didn't like the feelings that were stirred up listening to her play the piano. He had a faint smile, I bet the pitiful little woman looks beautiful when she cries.
Impulsively he stood in front of the petite woman.
While looking at the ground she could see his long shadow looming over her in the light from the street lamp.
Frightened by his terrifying aura, she was quivering. What is he going to do?
Alexi Baranov didn't say anything, he just stood motionlessly his eyes glued to Merri with a scorching gaze waiting for her to look up.
Nervously clutching the sides of her coat she finally succumbed to the suffocating atmosphere and raised her head. She met his unfathomable pitch black eyes and his icy gaze seemed to pierce her to the bone. Sooo scary!
He looked like a beast ready to devour its prey. Unnerved by his strangely intense gaze she fluttered her eyelashes and in a small soft voice asked, "Is there something?"
Alexi's voice was hoarse and low from drinking, "You are the piano player right?"
He sounds Russian, is he one of the powerful men Marla mentioned? She warned me about them. Friends of the owner Ivan Ninski possibly Mafia bosses. "Ummm..yes."
His eyes reflected her trepidation and his thin lips curled up into a malicious smile, "You are fired.'
His unexpected words startled Merri. Her amber colored eyes widened in disbelief and in a pitiful voice she stammered, "Wha..what? You can't do that."
"Can."
He was enjoying watching the frightened girl's face pale and her eyes flickering, obviously unwilling to accept what he said, but too timid to raise her voice in anger.
She bit her lower lip knowing the man was the owner's friend and extremely cruel. After hearing about his ruthless behavior earlier she believed that he had the ability to randomly fire any employee.
Tears started to form and her eyes were covered with a layer of mist, I really need this job. The pay and tips are excellent and the Piano Competition is next month.
He saw her long black eyelashes glimmering with crystal teardrops and watery amber eyes and felt a sense of satisfaction. As expected the timid little mouse looks even more beautiful being provoked by me. His pitch black eyes had a devilish gleam, the tiny woman looks like a fragile porcelain doll that could be broken by a mere touch.
Wanting to see her delicate face covered in tears he taunted Merri, "Nothing to say? Don't you want to know why?"
Merri saw the bus coming and unexpectedly suddenly sprinted into the freezing downpour. Hmmph! I don't want to engage with you any longer than I have to. You are a psycho! I think you want me to beg you or something from that disgusting smirk on your face. I still have my pride even if I don't have a job!
"..." Alexi pointed a long slender finger at Merri escaping to catch the bus. One of his bodyguard moved quickly and the muscular man caught Merri by the arm before she could step onto the bus. He had a heavier Russian accent as he expressionlessly said, "The Boss wasn't done."
Her slender arm hurt and the muscular man's iron grip felt like it was crushing her thin wrist. She opened her mouth to protest but was so stunned by his rough treatment she was speechless. How did I provoke this devil?
The bodyguard dragged her back to Alexi as she helplessly watched the bus leave. She was terrified, what is he going to do?
Alexi lit a cigarette and blew the smoke towards her face. "You didn't answer me."
Merri coughed from the smoke and really wondered how she provoked this lunatic. It took all of her courage to face him but she didn't want her pride stepped on any longer.
She swept the wet hair off her face and straightened her back. She hoped since the coat was long he couldn't see her legs shaking in fear.
Merri lifted her chin defiantly and although she had a naturally soft voice she tried to sound fierce. "What does it matter...what is done is done. I don't need to know why. You don't appear to be a man who waffles in his decision making. Can I go now?" Oh my God! Now I need to get a cab and I am jobless!
Without answering, Alexi had a rare genuine smile on his face as he strode towards the sidewalk. One of the bodyguards held an umbrella over his head as he lazily walked to a Black Maybach. He inhaled the cigarette and blew out a thin stream of smoke. So easy to bully... like a small white rabbit
Merri watched him leave and shook her head. What a crazy man! She walked back into the wine bar to call a taxi and have a glass of wine to calm her frayed nerves.
The bartender saw Merri sit at the end of the bar and walked over to her. "I thought you left."
Putting her elbows on the bar Merri rested her chin on her palms. She wrinkled her delicate eyebrows, "Danny, you know the man earlier...the Boss' friend...well, I must have offended him somehow...anyway he said.. No I am not going to drag Danny into this mess. " Forget it...it doesn't matter. Could I have a glass of Chardonnay? I missed the bus and need to call a cab."
"I can give you a ride home. I get off in an hour if you don't mind waiting."
"Really? That would be great!"
Danny poured Merri a glass of white wine. He wanted to ask what happened but another customer called him over. After he walked away she took out her phone. I might as well not waste time and put in some applications while I am waiting.
Alexi Baranov sat in the backseat of the Maybach and his body was extremely hot. He took off his suit coat and loosened his tie then growled, "Turn off the heater, it is like a fucking oven in here."
The driver turned off the heater and looked in the rear view mirror. He didn't feel hot at all, as a matter of fact he had been considering turning the heater up a notch. When he saw Alexi's flushed face he said, "Boss, should you go to the hospital? You don't look so good."