Manager and the odd bar girl out

Maki had deemed it incredibly unfair (in her head) that Anya had gotten to see Erik in his bathing suit (she didn’t) before the actual beach day, so she harassed Erik to ‘show the goods’ in their 1-on-1 texts. Erik didn’t see the big deal, so he had pulled on the shorts and a singlet and sent it to Maki and had left it at that.

Maki decided that it was probably a better idea not to harass him into taking off his top and sending a shirtless photo, that would be too weird, right?

But… He still really looked good, and she did stare at the photo and enjoy looking at it way too much for what a normal stepsister would.

She closes the photo and looks up from her phone, across the penthouse at her little sister, knees up at her chest, tablet balanced on her thighs. Sitting on one of the single-seater couches on the balcony. She leans into the couch, letting the softness take her as she lounges greedily.

“I didn’t think this through.” She groans softly.

The beach day was just… An excuse. To see him undressed, to see him look hot and to see the water on his skin. She didn’t consider that it would mean spending an extended period of time with him, with this taboo attraction. She’s not sure if she would be able to hold back on the day… And then there’s the real issue, way back when she saw him with Heidi.

“We tell each other everything.”

Maki has no idea how that would go… Will he commit to that, to telling his girlfriend that his older stepsister… Did…. Something?

Her brain is being pulled in two directions. He either tells her and they break up because… Well… Maki is his stepsister… Or he doesn’t tell her… And she becomes part of the reason why this seemingly perfect relationship falls apart.

“I should just cancel…”

“Cancel what?”

Maki removes her hand from in front of her eyes, she hadn’t heard Anya come back inside.

“Nothin’.” She replies with a sigh. “I was just thinking out loud for the bar.”

“I don’t think you can cancel the shoot, sis.” Anya says, plopping down on the couch by Maki’s feet. “Everyone is coming in tonight.”

Maki shakes her head, lifting her feet and placing them on Anya’s thigh, who stares at them with a soft level of disgust.

“Your dawgs stink.”

“No, they don’t! If they did, why do guys always suck on my toes?”

Anya blushes and pushes her sister's feet off of her legs, making a cutting motion on the couch. “Stay on your side of the leather, please!”

“Anyway.” Maki continues. “I wasn’t cancelling the shoot. I want to officially open the club during the summer break, and I wanted to do a little postin’.”

“Any reason?”

“Well, it would be fun to have Erik and Vi.” ( Maki feels a flash of worry when Anya instinctively pouts when she hears their names combined) “Both attend the ‘official’ opening night and not just the soft launch. They would bring their other friends and stuff too.”

Anya tilts her head. “So, I thought it would be smart to do a little bit of marketing showing off our very hot staff.” She winks, tapping Anya’s shin with her foot.

Anya tries to be indignant but she can’t hold back the smile that crosses her lips.

“So there would be two posts on the official club page, one showing off the boys, for the girls. Then a post showing off the girls, for the boys.”

“So, lure people in with the promise of being able to ogle hot staff?” Anya asks.

Maki grins. “Well yes, little Anya, do you think I hired you for your drink-makin’ skills? You did pick it up very quickly, though. But yes, you do have the girl-next-door aesthetic down pat.”

“I hate when you say that… I’m just blonde.”

“And hot.” Maki winks, sitting up properly, putting her hands on her knees as she stands. “You and I both know that’s more than enough. Or shall I remind you of Joe?”

Anya goes bright red at the mention of her first fling when she was in university earlier this year. “Low blow.” She says, casting her eyes away from the older sibling.

“Come on! Let’s go get changed and ready for the shoot!” Maki holds out both her hands, wiggling her fingers, waiting to help Anya onto her feet.

Maki crosses her arms under her breasts as Anya steps out of the guest room, patting down that light brown apron. “That’s it?”

Anya looks offended. ‘What?”

“You’re not going to add…” She waves her hands dramatically. “A little Anya flair to it? Just the plain ol’ uniform?”

“I didn’t know what you meant when you said to add personal pizzazz!” She protests.

Maki walks up to her and grabs the front of her shirt, popping a button she pulls the shirt open. “See! Pizzazz!”

“Maki!” The younger girl slaps the redhead's hand away. “I’ll find something else! I don’t have the chest for that anyway…” She says blushing.

Maki rolls her eyes but narrows her eyes. “Come on, sis. I need you to stick out at least a little!”

Anya waves her hand at Maki dismisisvely. “I’ll find something else! I’ll figure it out!”

“Get a pin or something! We’re trying make money here!”

…

Anya comes down the elevator well after Maki, she scoured her room but could not find a single defining item to attach to her uniform.

She pouts, a little bit frustrated. Maki could have been clearer…

The other bartender, also a blonde stands, chatting and laughing with the bar team lead, Bryan, tattooed, tall and raven-haired… Not at all Anya’s type. He has a bandana tied around his forehead and he’s ripped the long sleeves off the shirt, giving him a real edgy punk look.

The blonde girl, Bea? Anya isn’t 100% sure, wears a leather skirt with a black cropped denim jacket, her shirt unbuttoned low on her chest, enough to catch a tantalising glimpse of her fiery red bra.

Anya glances at Maki herself, talking with the photographer and the other final barman. A long-haired brunette, with a very windswept look to him, a pair of glasses resting on his nose, his shirt unbuttoned, showing off his hard square pectorals, and a pair of black gloves.

There’s very much a theme that Anya does not fit into.

“Girl next door, meanie…” She mutters. Approaching her older sister.

When Maki sees her approaching, she grins and looks over the photographer's shoulder, calling across the room. “Bea! C’mere! Girls time to show the boys how it’s done!”

The boys boo her playfully.

Anya takes a quick look at her sister. Leather, shiny black thin strap top, white jeans. Simple, and shows off her assets. The kind of marketing that would not really get you a good grade in uni, Anya was never surprised that she struggled and ended up dropping out,

Bea approaches the sisters and grins, sticking out a dainty hand. “Hiya! I’m Bea, though I think you heard.” She grins a wide grin. “Loud as hell ain'tcha?” She directs at Maki.

Maki rolls her eyes. “Watch yourself, Bea. That’s my sister here, she’ll keep you in line.”

Bea’s seemingly permanently narrowed eyes sparkle as she turns on her heels excitedly. “Sister!?” She leans forward, studying the younger of the siblings. “Hmm. I see it.”

“Really?” Anya asks, crinkling her nose, catching a dirty glare from Maki.

Bea for her part, laughs, bounding next to Anya, she hooks an arm through hers. “Ooooh, I like you! I think I have a new work bestie!”

Maki snorts. “Should’ve backed me little Anya, you’re not getting rid of her.”

Bea chuckles and lets go of Anya, tilting her head. “So, Anya is it?”

“Oh, yes sorry. Nice to meet you.”

Bea grins. “Hell yeah! You too! I can’t wait to work with you more! I was a bit worried that it was going to be a sausage fest.” Her narrowed eyes somehow got narrower. “You gay?”

Anya looks shocked. “Ahh. No. Sorry? Very straight.”

Maki scoffs.

“Ecuse me?” Anya says.

Bea’s eyebrows wiggle with interest.

“Didn’t you have a crush on that singer of that emo rock pop band? Hayley somethin’?”

Anya blushes and shakes her head. “That’s just a celebrity crush!”

Maki scoffs again.

Bea snorts, slapping at Anya’s arm playfully, shocking her but it’s kind of endearing, how quickly this girl has decided to be her friend. “Don’t knock it until you try it!”

“Are…. Are you gay?” She asks nervously, not really sure how to handle this sort of conversation.

Bea sticks her tongue out and winks. “Nah! Not straight either though!” She grins, putting her hands behind her back and rocking on her heels. “Labels are so restrictive, aren’t they? I get with anyone that gets me.” She pushes up a pair of imaginary glasses. “I don’t do that woke stuff.” She says in a mocking tone before bursting out laughing. “Nah. For real though. Gender is a social construct and I will not have who I find attractive be bound by the societal standards perpetuated by man and— Ooh! Photo time! Let’s go!”

Anya doesn’t understand this girl at all, just non stop jumping between whatever thought is in her head. She turns to Maki with a questioning look. Maki can only smirk.