Intermission - Get together (part 2).

For a moment Eric was worried they’d have to rent a room to be able to use the bar. He wasn’t sure how things worked, so maybe access to the facilities was only permitted to guests? Thankfully, Steven had courage to spare and didn’t hesitate to ask that very question at the reception desk.

“No, the bar and the restaurant are available to the public,” the receptionist told them, gesturing towards a closed, dark wooden door with a sign on it that said ‘open’ and a small neon sign beside it that simply said ‘Bar.’ “Please, go ahead.”

“Thank you,” Steven said.

The group of four walked towards the bar. Eric would’ve been nervous to even open a closed door, fearing he somehow wasn’t allowed in despite being told the opposite, yet Steven fearlessly opened the door.

“Woah… Nice place,” Luna muttered.

Eric could only nod in agreement.

Dim purple lighting coming from small neon lights. Dark red carpet on the floor and brighter red walls. A long counter made of mahogany with dark wooden stools in front of it. Shelf after shelf behind it with bottles of all kinds of liquors, most of which Eric didn’t even recognize. It was fancy, like Oliver had said.

Surprisingly, the place was busy. All four tables were occupied by a couple each, and the two cubicles with larger sofas at the back were also in use by larger groups. The only open spots were six stools at the counter, with the other two already occupied.

“Ah!”

That exclamation made the group turn to look. Oliver was standing in the middle of the room with a tray with empty glasses in hand. He had a white shirt and black dressing pants on, looking formal.

Steven smiled wryly. “Sorry. Did we come at a bad time?” he asked.

Oliver shook his head, quickly moved behind the counter to set the tray down and gestured to four seats available. “Please, take a seat,” he said with a calm, polite smile.

“...”

Eric wasn’t the only one left a little stunned. The way he moved was fluid and deliberate, his tone of voice gentle and polite, his smile charming in a very… non-sexual way. The group sat down wordlessly, either because of the shock of seeing Oliver in full ‘Work Mode’ or because the atmosphere of the place was already fairly quiet. Maybe both.

“I’m sorry. The cubicles at the back were reserved in advance,” he told them with an apologetic smile. “Will you be comfortable here? If not, you could wait a moment and I’ll arrange two tables for you.”

“A-Ah, n-no, no, this is fine,” Ruby said, softly clearing her throat. “Thank you.”

“Are you sure we’re not being a bother?” Luna asked, looking around. “The place seems busy.”

Oliver smiled and shook his head. “If not you, others would come. Please, relax,” he reassured them. He then turned to the other person behind the bar. “Diana?”

The woman finished garnishing a cocktail, which once completed, she smoothly slid forward towards a customer. Once done, she bowed and moved towards their group.

“...!!!”

If they’d been cartoon characters, their jaws would’ve hit the floor. The woman, dressed in black pants and a black shirt that could barely constrain the size of her chest, was named Diana, and Eric had recently heard that name. Not just that, but had heard what she did from Oliver’s own mouth. Meaning…

“W-W-W-Wait… D-Diana? You mean she’s…” Luna stammered.

Oliver sighed, but nodded. “Diana, these are my classmates from university. I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you they’d be coming today. Guys… this is Diana, the manager of the bar and head bartender. Also…”

“Your g-girlfriend?” Ruby asked.

“Y-Yeah…”

Oliver’s mask of professionalism broke for a second. He smiled wryly, as if he didn’t like to admit it, likely because he was at work and his girlfriend was also his boss.

They were all in further shock. They knew Oliver was in a relationship with multiple women, and the fact that this one was as hot as the scorching sun was, weirdly enough, not the biggest surprise. They all were. But the fact that Diana was clearly in her mid to late 20s made things different in all sorts of senses. Or maybe that was just Eric. Ruby and Luna may have just been smitten.

Diana bowed politely with a hand under her chest. “Welcome. We’ll do our best to offer you a great experience. I can make just about anything, so feel free to order whatever you like. If you have nothing in mind, I can make some recommendations.”

“Waiter?” someone called from a table behind them and Oliver immediately perked up.

“Sorry, I’ll leave you in Diana’s care. You won’t find a better bartender in the city, so take this chance to try something interesting,” he suggested, bowed, then went over to the table.

“He’s… pretty different here from how he’s at school, huh?” Steven said, grinning amusedly.

“Our job here is to not only provide excellent service, but a certain kind of atmosphere,” Diana explained with an easy smile. “Please, forgive him if he seems cold. We’re having a busier night than usual and he’s been running around all night.”

“Cold wasn’t the word I’d use…” Luna said. She coughed to clear her throat. “I like girls, but… I think I can see what you see in him, Steven.”

“H-Hey, not in front of his girlfriend!” Steven went red in the face, much to Eric and the girls’ amusement. “I’m sorry, I… uh…”

Diana chuckled. “No, it’s no trouble. I’m sorry he doesn’t… swing your way.”

Steven sighed. “It’s alright, I’ve moved on.” He chuckled nervously. “What do you recommend to drown my sorrows? I want something strong.”

“How strong?”

“Very strong.”

“It’s not for me to ask, but since you’re friends with Oliver, I will. Can you handle it?”

“I can take my liquor.”

Luna sighed. “I’m not drinking since I’m driving, so I’ll take him home if he’s too plastered.”

“Very well. Then how about a Long Island Iced Tea?”

“I don’t know what that is, but yes, I want it,” Steven said. “And don’t tell me. I want to be surprised.”

Diana nodded. “You, miss?” she asked Ruby. “Anything in mind or would you like a recommendation?”

“I’d like a Tequila Sunrise,” Ruby said. “I always have one when I go to a new place.”

Diana nodded.

“Um…” Luna began. “I’m not drinking, but is there anything non-alcoholic that’s not just… a plain soda or a non-alcoholic beer?”

“Of course.”

“And… c-can it look like a proper cocktail? I don’t want to feel like a kid drinking juice…”

“You’re such a child,” Ruby teased her. “Trying to appear all grown up.”

“Well, then you drive, then!”

“Nope. I won rock-paper-scissors.”

“Don’t worry,” Diana said. “I can make something you’ll like. How about a Hera’s Crown? It’s orange and lemon juice with pomegranate syrup and club soda, but it’s my personal go-to when I can’t drink.”

“That does sound good… I’ll have that!”

Diana nodded with a smile. “And you, sir? Have you decided?” she finally asked Eric.

“Um… I don’t… know much about drinking. At most I have some rum and coke…”

“So you’d like something sweet? How about something with chocolate?”

Eric blinked. “There are cocktails with chocolate?”

“Well, chocolate-flavored, more like.”

“Then… Yes, I want something like that.”

“Then can I recommend a chocolate martini? It’s chocolate liqueur, creme de cacao, vodka and half-and-half.”

“That’s a martini?” Steven asked.

Diana chuckled. “In name only.”

“I’ll have that,” Eric said.

“It’ll only be a moment,” Diana said.

The bartender got to work while Oliver cleaned tables and poured drinks for new customers.

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