AN: Hi *waves* so I'm reposting this fic again after I deleted it...it'll be 2 chapters, at least that's what I'm hoping =]
Ps: I wanna say Thank You to the bestest person ever Amber (AmberScanlan1234) for helping me with this one. I'm super glad you're my fic twin!
Mondays. The one day that brings absolute misery to every human being. Who decided to make the work week 5 days and the weekends only have 2? Wealthy people that's who. The people that Ste is now going to be assisting.
Ste had applied to countless numbers of restaurants and it amounted to nothing. Not experienced enough or we already have enough staff members. It was their easy way of saying "you suck now get out." It was time for Plan B.
Bills were about to start piling up and there was only bread and bologna in the flat. He needed a job, any job. Which is why he now finds himself as a Selfridges sales associate. He hates himself for even applying to this place. I mean a coat costing over 1,000 pounds. He could pay his flat bills for a year with that. It's bloody ridiculous.
Ste remembers his interview quite well. He wore the only black trousers he owned and a white button up shirt. Tony lent him a blazer to complete the look. With his hair gelled up to perfection he walked in to the interview and put his game face on. His answers almost made him throw up all over the store manager.
"Of course I love helping people."
"Yes yes I will take their bags out for them with no hesitation."
"The customer is always right."
"I will do absolutely anything to get them to leave with a smile on their face."
Ste ended up leaving the interview with a scowl on his face as he got the job. As he was walking out he saw 2 women looking at a purse and he caught a glimpse of the price tag. For that price it must be made out of 24 carat gold.
The store manager, Pete, let him know to come back on Monday for his first shift. It would consist of a short orientation and then he would be trained on his job duties by another employee.
He got stuck with the evening shift, just his luck. 5 PM-10 PM. Of course he would have to stay after to help close. Once again Ste puts on the same black trousers but wears a gray shirt this time. Tony insisted that he buy him a blazer and after about an hour of refusing he gave up and Tony bought him a navy colored blazer. He does his hair again and makes sure he looks presentable. Once he double checks himself in the mirror for the millionth time he heads off to work.
Ste makes it there with almost half an hour before his shift starts so he decides to go look around and familiarize himself with some of clothing they sell. His eyes almost pop out of their socket when he sees a plain black shirt that cost more than his entire wardrobe. He hears the stores paging system go off.
"Brendan to register 3 for a return please."
Ste looks around and wonders where the hell register 3 is. This place is bloody HUGE. He leans against the clothes stand and almost topples over as it shifts. The shirts all fall to the floor. Ste makes a dash for it and runs to the other side of the store. Most likely a shirt ripped and he is not paying 500 pounds for it. He makes it to the men's department and sees a line of people at a register. The guy at the front of the line his tapping his fingers on the counter and huffing out his breaths. Must be the return. Ste looks up and sees the girl that's trying to apologize to the customer for the wait, only to receive a grunt as a response. He flicks his eyes up towards the man next to her. His heart literally stops beating for a second as he sees what he can only describe as the most beautiful man his ever seen. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair, perfect face, an odd mustache. He will overlook that as it fits him surprisingly well. The man is wearing a dark blue shirt and black trousers. Ste can't help but be a little pissed off that he's not wearing a jacket so why the hell is he wearing one. It appears as if the transaction starts moving again and when the man looks up he catches Ste looking straight at him. Ste being the most awkward person you could imagine does some sort of 'I wasn't just looking at you and was caught so decided to abruptly stare at the ceiling' look. He slowly moves away bumping into some clothes on the way. How embarrassing he thinks.
Finally Ste clocks in to start his shift and quickly gets through the orientation. Wasn't anything to important. Pete assigns him to register 5, which happens to be upstairs in the women's department. Lingerie. He tells Pete isn't this a little awkward. Apparently Pete doesn't see it that way. Besides it's the least busiest department so it's perfect for a rookie. Pete explains the different keys on the registers and how to do basic sales and returns.
"Shouldn't really have much problems up here but if you do just hit the page button on the phone there and calm for back up. It'll go through the stores speaker so everyone can hear it."
Pete hands him his name tag and leave him too it.
It's been 30 minutes and not one person has bought anything. In fact Ste hasn't even seen a customer up here at all. Just as he is about to lean on the counter a tall lady approaches him. She's wearing sunglasses INSIDE the store. Brilliant he thinks.
"These weren't the right size so I want to return them."
"Umm-" Ste looks at the panties and has no idea how anyone could come back to a store and actually ask to return them. "Did you use them?"
"Excuse me? That's not your business and is rude. Look just return them ok. I don't have time for this."
I don't have time for you Ste thinks, but calls for help as he needs someone with the register key to authorize the return.
"Umm need...someone at...what register am I...5...register 5...I have a return...how do I turn this...off...the red button."
Needless to say Ste is not that great with the paging system. Ste starts turning red as he waits for anyone to come while the lady in front of him gives him the evil eye. She's pouting her lips as if she can't stand him and tapping her fake nails on the counter. Every so often she sighs. She literally sighs out loud.
Ste hears footsteps coming off the escalator and thanks god that he won't have to deal with this bitch by himself. When he looks back he sees Brendan approaching while fiddling with a bunch of keys.
"You know everyone could hear you right?"
"What?"
"The pager. You were talking to yourself. Heard everything."
"Oh bloody hell."
Brendan gives him a small chuckle and moves next to him about to turn the key into the register.
"What are we returning?"
Ste completely misses what he says as he was too busy with other things. Like staring at Brendans body.
"Panties!" He says out loud and just wishes this was all a dream and not reality. The embarrassment just keep piling on.
Brendan looks at the counter and finally gets it.
"Can't return that love."
"Why the fuck not? I have the receipt so do your job."
"I am doing my job and if you would take the time out of your busy life and read the receipt you would see it clearly states we don't return any undergarments soo...no."
She throws a tantrum that can rival any 5 year old and when she gets a blank expression from Brendan she grabs her things and stomps her way out of the store.
"Sorry I should have known we didn't return that but she was getting annoyed and I didn't kno-"
"Shhh. You talk too much someone needs to shut you up."
"You what."
"Nothing. Names Brendan. Assistant manager...well in the evening at least."
"Ste...umm cashier." Add another piece into the embarrassing pile.
Brendan leans over on the counter and stares at him. "So you're new right? Guess I'll stay up here make sure you don't need any help."
Ste can't help but look at Brendan's mouth as his tongue licks his lips. Brendan's eyes trail down his body and stop right on his groin. Ste notices that Brendan bites his lip and then looks away.
"Anyway I'll just be right over there if you need me." He walks over to a small room on the side so Ste continues his shift.
Overall it's a quiet day. He doesn't get many customers and the ones he does get aren't difficult. It hits 10 PM and the employees close the doors. The pager announces that it'll be 45 minutes before they can go and to clean their section up.
Ste walks over and starts picking up the various bras and panties that are thrown all over the floor. He doesn't understand why people just don't pick them up. Then he remembers the shirt from earlier and shuts his mouth. He's too caught up cleaning that he doesn't notice Brendan has walked right in front of him.
Slam.
Ste collides straight into him and grabs onto his waist to support himself.
"Oh god sorry." He moves away quickly and sees Brendan staring at him.
"It's fine. Need some help?"
Things move much quicker as they both take the opposite sides of the area and meet in the middle. They wind up talking the whole time by shouting across the room.
"Thanks. Would have taken me forever."
"No bother."
Ste looks at his watch and there's still 30 minutes left. Brendan has taken a seat on the floor and is being covered by the nightgowns in front of him.
"Let me guess this one of your hiding spots?"
"Yeah no one ever comes up here."
"Lazy git."
"What's that?"
"Nothing."
Brendan untucks his shirt from his trousers and leans back against the wall. Ste doesn't even realize that he hasn't moved his eyes away from him.
"Steven am I that interesting?"
"What?" He still doesn't tear his eyes away from him.
"You're looking at me like you want to eat me...which I wouldn't mind."
Ste swallows and sees Brendan give him a mischievous look.
"Don't know what you mean."
"Right. I think there are some clothes in the fitting rooms that need to be put back. Get to it."
Ste pouts and drags his feet all the way to the fitting rooms. When he passes Brendan all he says to him is "Good Boy."