An otherwise normal workday

Despite the intensity of your morning meeting with Maria, the rest of your day goes by without any noteworthy event. Well, except that Maria had already put your new workload in place by lunchtime. You spent some time getting a teammate up to speed, but now you're free, working on much smaller and fewer tasks.

The clock hits five, and you lock your computer with a grin. Things are improving. Things are improving! For the first time, you feel like you've truly made progress towards your goal. The realization instills a giddy happiness within you.

Leaving your office behind, your heels click a merry tune against the bubble-gum-covered concrete beneath you while walking down the block. The Rice Room in the distance, you ponder what comes next. Surely, you wouldn't continue bartending? Would Uncle Ivan want you to?

You soon find that the answer is no, when Dmitri ushers you into the backroom upon entering the familiar bar. Ivan sits at his desk, his arm moving across a stack of papers as he pens his John Hancock on who-knows-what. He looks up as you enter, sets his pen down, and motions towards the seat across from him with a flick of his finger. A still-burning cigar sits in an ashtray on his desk, faint wisps of smoke curling away from its ember tip.

"Nephew, good to see you. Take a seat. We have business to discuss."

You settle into the worn chair, as he continues.

"This business from yesterday... Dmitri cleaned the area and left no traces. We will speak no more of it for now."

He stops speaking, an eyebrow cocked at you in wait, and you nod in silent understanding. He continues, saying, "Still, you showed a certain grit. A certain...ferocity. I did not think you had that in you, but you proved me wrong. I think it is time we pull you from behind the bar and keep you with Dmitri in the evenings. What do you say?"

You grin at your uncle and lean forward in your chair. "Me, all day with that grizzled old man?" You shoot Dmitri a wink. "I'm kidding. I think I am ready to take on more responsibility. But Uncle, I have to tell you something first; I made an arrangement with my new manager at work... I only work Monday and Tuesday now. I have the rest of the week free."

Ivan arches an eyebrow. "Really? How did you manage that?" He glances at Dmitri, bemused.

"I got someone promoted and now they're indebted to me. Or they feel like they are, anyways. But it is good news. I keep my salary, but I can work more with you."

Dmitri shrugs, and Ivan laughs. "Lev! You continue to surprise me. Maybe you should have joined us long ago, as you seem to have a knack for this. Very well, you will work with Dmitri during the days you're not at work. Do you wish to continue working the bar in the evenings? If not, Ana will need to replace you. She's grown very dependent on you, you know."

Don't you know, though? You allow yourself an internal chuckle and think for a moment. You could be closer to Ana, but you're already planning on doing that outside of work. Is working with her worth losing your evenings with the other girls? No, no. It isn't. You'll make up for the lost time with her some other way.

"Unless you need me to, I think I'd rather spend the time with my family."

Ivan nods, lips perched. "I thought so. Good for you, Lev. I am glad you are able to spend more time with them now." He picks his cigar from its ashtray and takes a heavy drag on it. The tip burns orange then fades as he exhales.

Dmitri rests a hand on your shoulder, and says, "Be here at eight sharp on Wednesday morning, and we'll get started. Good?"

"Yes sir," you answer. He gives you a friendly pat, and a calm feeling settles over you. Yes, things truly are moving forward. In the span of only two weeks, you managed to totally reshape your life. Thoughts of where you still have left to go make your stomach flutter, but then your mind takes a darker turn: how much time had you wasted, working so much, when change was within your reach? Probably, even without the app's help, Ivan and his crew could have dug you out of your hole.

You push the thoughts aside, knowing nothing of value can be found within them. The past is the past.

You talk with the men for a while longer, cracking jokes and explaining how you landed your new cushy corporate role (although, you leave out the gory details). You leave the back room with the sound of laughter fading behind you, and make your way through the bar towards the door. You stop, though, as you pass by Ana. She's busy shuffling shot glasses and pouring liquor from a handful of bottles, so you wait until you catch her eye.

Her face lights up as she sees you, and a warm smile spreads on her cheeks. "Lev!" she mouths, and motions to the end of the bar. She leaves her work behind for a moment to join you.

"Come to work tonight?" she asks, as you approach.

You lean closer to her, your elbows resting against the bar. "Afraid not. Looks like Ivan is pulling me off the bar, actually. I'm going to be running with Dmitri from now on."

Her smile falters for an instant, then returns. "I knew it would happen eventually, I just didn't expect it so soon. I'll miss you, cousin."

"I'll miss you, too." You grab her hand across the bar and caress the back of her palm. "I mean it. Maybe you can stop by the house after work one night and stay with us, so we can get some time together?"

A mischievous twinkle fills her eyes, and she says, "I can manage that." Then she's gone, and you're staring at her wonderfully tight ass in thin black pants as she flits back and forth across the bar, attending to her patrons once again.

You admire the beautiful woman for some time, before turning away and heading out the bar's front door.