Jai's POV

Sitting in my office I fill out forms for my business when I see a brown-haired woman sitting at the bar. She orders a drink and throws it back. She says something to the bartender and he replies back.

I wish we had audio on the cameras, so I could hear what she was saying to him.

The woman climbs onto the bar and she has a lighter in her hand. She flicks the lighter and raises it towards the sprinklers.

I can't have her flood my bar.

Pushing my seat back I walk to the door and yell. "SEND THE GIRL UP."

That woman has balls to pull a stunt like that at my bar. I wonder if she knows who I am. If she does I can't wait to see her face.

Walking back to the seat I sit and turn towards the window. I look at the city below. The street is bustling with people and cars.

The door to my office opens and I feel eyes on me. I continue to look out the window and wait for her to do something.

She clears her throat.

Spinning the chair around I come face-to-face with a beautiful woman. She has brown hair and baby blue eyes. She crosses her arms while I scan my eyes over her body.

She's hot.

"Are you done?" She stands taller and her face has a blank expression on it.

I wish I knew what she was thinking.

Shaking my head I say. "Nah, I get to look at you. Since you were the one that blew into my club like a firecracker." Crossing my arms over the desk I ask. "What can I do for you?"

She moves closer to me. "I want a job."

I wasn't expecting that to come out of her mouth.

"Why should I give you a job after the stunt you pulled?"

She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear. "I'm desperate. That's why I did it. Please, can you give me a shot? I'll show you that I'm the right person for the job."

Why would a beautiful woman like this be desperate for a job? There's plenty of jobs that she can do, other than serving rich guys in expensive suits drinks all night.

As I take a closer look at her I see that her face is pale and she has bags under her eyes. Her eyes are also puffy like she's been crying and not getting enough sleep.

I hope this isn't a mistake.

Looking at the table and then back to her. "I'll give you the job. What time can you start? I need someone to help close the bar every night."

"I can be here from four until close. What time do you close?"

"Sunday through to Wednesday we close at 10 pm. Thursday to Saturday at 6 am. I'll need you until 2 am. On the late nights."

"I'll do it."

Moving towards her I say. "Why are you desperate for a job?"

"I have bills to pay. I can't live without a job." She looks at the ground. "No one is hiring at the moment. I tried a bunch of places before I came here."

"Max, the guy behind the bar will train you tomorrow. Be here by 4.30 pm. The club starts to get packed at seven on Wednesday." I point to the door. "You can leave now."

She heads to the door. Before she exits she turns towards me. "What's your name?"

"Jai Marshall."

"Shit!" she whispers.

Ah, a girl that's heard of me. I hope she doesn't believe all the stuff that's been floating around about me.

Her face pales. "I'm sorry for charging in here like a 'firecracker.'

Rising I move towards her. "I hope you don't believe everything you've heard about me. I don't like being judged by what's written in magazines. You seem to be the type of woman that would buy into gossip." I tower over her and she chooses at that moment to rise to her full height.

She shakes her head. "I don't like reading magazines. Most of the time its lies or stuff some idiot reporter made up to make some money. It's pathetic if you ask me."

Pulling off my tie. "You can't tell anyone that you work for me. While you work here you can't date any of my workers, as I don't want any problems in the workplace. I'll let you flirt with the customers, but I don't want to see anything go further than that. Tomorrow I want you to wear a skirt and a tank top. Also, put your hair up and wear some make-up. Don't go over the top with it. I'd tell you to wear heels, but I've been told me how uncomfortable they are to wear for hours on end. So, just wear something comfortable." Leaning forward I ask. "What's your name?"

"Chloe Knight." She opens the door and exits the room.

What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. I'm looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

She waves at me before closing the door.

Watching her on the CCTV, she walks down the stairs and over to the bar. She orders another drink and turns towards the camera, raising her glass. She mouths 'thanks.' She throws the drink back and then I lose her on the CCTV as she leaves the club.

How did she get into my club?

Walking over to the window I see a car parked at the back door. Chloe climbs into the car and pulls away.

Who left that door unlocked? It should be locked at all times.

Moving over to the door, I make my way downstairs. Before I get too far a woman walks over to me and she touches my shirt. "Hey, Baby. Do you want to dance?"

Shaking my head I say. "You've got plenty of guys to choose from. Go and annoy them." I move her out of the way and head to the door.

One of the security guy's walks over to me. "What's wrong, boss?"

Pointing to the door I say. "How long has this door been unlocked?"

"I didn't know it was unlocked." He looks at me. "How do you, know?"

"A girl came in here demanding a job and I saw that she disappeared from the view of the CCTV. I went to the window and saw her exit through the door."

A smile spreads across his face. "You like this girl, boss?"

I laugh. "I do. Any girl that has balls to break into my club, cause a scene and tell me she's desperate for a job is the type of girl you want to keep."

"Did you give her a job?"

"She seemed desperate for a job. It was like I was her last resort. I need to find out what would make a woman like that come into my bar and demand a job. She told me she had to pay for her apartment. But, I think there's more to the story."

"Did you get her name?"

"Chloe Knight. I need you to find out everything you can on this girl. I feel the need to help her with whatever has her acting the way she is." Pulling the piece of paper out of my pocket I give it to him.

He looks at the paper. "I'll have my brother look into her."

Just then the brother walks over. He looks at me. "Hello, Boss. What do you need me to do?"

The security guy tells his brother what I need. The guy looks at me. "I'll have your information tomorrow. Do you mind if I leave now?"

"Go ahead."

He exits through the door behind us.

A group of guys walk through the door wearing suits and I realise one of them being a guy that I went to school with. I walk over to them.

"Knox?"

He turns towards me and a smile spreads across his face. Walking over to me he says. "It's been a long time, Jai. What have you been up to?"

"A bit of this and a bit of that."

Knox looks around the bar. "I heard that you owned this bar and I had to see it for myself." He moves his arm and I see the 9mm in his gun holder.

I hate it when people bring guns into my establishments. It's bad enough that I had guns in my other bars in New York City. Now, I have to put up with it here in Los Angeles.

Knox sees my reaction and pulls me aside. "I need it for protection. You know how people are when it comes to the Mafia." His voice lowers. "I know you are friends with Riker Mesi. He asked me to keep an eye on you and this is the first chance I've had to check on you for an old friend."

Since when would they talk to each other? They are the mafia and run two different cities. Who would have thought that one of them would call the other to look out for me? I don't want to be a part of the mafia life again. I'm happy where I am with my life. I never liked being the cruel guy that killed his boss's enemies.

I was forced into the mafia life as I tried to protect an old friend who owed the mafia money and I was dumb enough to help her out.

She died three months later when she stole from the same mafia family that I protected her from, but Riker didn't let me go until I paid off all the debt and I did all that before I moved to Los Angeles to open a new line of Seclusive bars.

I still have to sell the bars that I left in New York.

"What do you want to drink? I will bring it over for you."

Knox looks at his men. "We'll have bourbon. Just bring the bottle over. You should have a drink with us."

"I'll be right back." Walking over to the bar I grab three bottles of bourbon.

We're going to need a lot.

When I was with Riker he would drink bourbon when he showed up at my bar and he wouldn't leave until the bar closed.

Grabbing eight glasses I place it on a tray and carry it over to the table, joining Knox and his men.

Knox tells me that he needs a place to hold a party and that he wants it to be at this club.

I'm going to have to make sure that Chloe isn't working that night. I don't want her to get mixed up in people like them. Even if it's through my company.

"Give me the date and I will set everything up. I will put the best workers on to serve your party." I pour drinks for the group.

At the bar I see Max put umbrellas in a few drinks for a group of girls at the bar and they flirt with him.

One of the girls leans across the bar and she kisses him. She slips a piece of paper into his pocket and whispers something in his ear.

He whispers something back to her and then he walks away from the group of girls to serve a few other people waiting to order drinks.

After a few drinks, I tell Knox that I need to finish paperwork and head upstairs to my office. I sit behind my desk and go through the papers. The bourbon I was drinking starts to affect me and I push the paperwork aside.

I will have to finish it in the morning.

At 3 am, I rise and move over to the couch. I kick my shoes off and pull the blanket over me. As soon as my head touches the pillow I'm out like a light.