Chapter One – First Encounter

Friday night. Loud, busy, messy. The air in the club is saturated with the stench of alcohol and hot bodies. Dance and House music night. The worst night to Brendan. The pounding music and swollen heat adding to his migraine as he sits in the office, hunched over the CCTV images on the screen in front of him. The usual local student lot are gulping down shots of tequila and sours; the McQueen girls dressed up like hookers, all fake tan and false lashes, flirting and writhing over businessmen from the city. No doubt with wives and children sitting at home. Riley Costello, professional player for West Ham, and his fellow team-mates, are swilling champagne in the V.I.P lounge.

To Brendan it is like watching a swarm of flies. A swarm of dirty, dumb flies crawling all over one another to get to the most ripe rotting rubbish in the tip.

This thought amuses him momentarily as he watches a busy buzzing Mercedes McQueen unashamedly flirting with the bouncer at the ropes into the V.I.P. Area. He watches as she makes a grab for his crotch only to be flung swiftly around by the bouncers and pushed back to the direction of her sisters. Yep, dirty greedy flies. Think of the money he tells himself.

Then he notices his own sister shimmying through the crowd towards the stairs leading up to the office. With a bang and slight stumble, Cheryl announces herself to the room.

"Hiya Lovieeee! I am telling you Bren, it is manic out there tonight! What did I tell you about having the shots on offer, they have really pulled people in. The tills are constantly ringing. I. Am. A. Genius."

Brendan raises an eyebrow as way of reply, as he continues to survey the scenes from downstairs. Cheryl flops down onto the leather chair on the opposite side of Brendan's desk, and tilts her head to the left.

"Yeah Chez, well done, really good night, fantastic work sis." She speaks in deep gruff voice.

She then tilts her head to the left. "Aww thank you Brendan, nice to know my hard work is appreciated around 'ere."

Brendan laces his fingers together and rests his chin on them while looking at her bemused. "Yes, Chez, was a good idea. Now if your done feeding your ego, I have a massive headache right here" Brendan points to his left temple,

"And here," he points to his right. "And now here." He points to Cheryl.

"O you cheeky bugger, I have been working my fingers to the bone out there tonight, while you've been sat on your arse doing nuthin'. Come on, we need a hand on the bar. That new girl was supposed to be here half an hour ago and Rhys has gone home sick."

"Jesus Cheryl where do you get these staff? Incompetent, the lot of 'em. If you'd just listen to-"

"Quit your moaning Brady boy, and move it now!" Cheryl points to the door sharply, face covered in a grin, then proceeds to steer Brendan by the shoulder out into the flies nest.

"Alright mate, can I get two -"

"I'm not ye mate."

"Eh? Sorry?"

"I said, I'm. Not. Your. Mate, mate."

"Err. Right. Two house vodka doubles please."

Brendan slams the two glasses down, carelessly spilling half of each drink onto the bar, and snatches a ten pound note from the wasted lads hand.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Cheryl Brady."

"And you are-?" Grunted Brendan, without looking up.

"Violet Taylor. I'm new, starting tonight."

"Oh, right would tonight mean a fucking hour ago? Yes, back out that door you can go." Brendan growls as gives the wasted lad his change.

Violet laughs, "Erm, yeah sorry about that. Heavy night last night. Totally slept in. Messed the whole day up. So, where is Cheryl?"

Brendan pauses for a moment as he swallows down the frustration trying to rise up inside of him. He turns to look at Violet. Did this girl miss the seriousness in his voice or was she just down right stupid? She looks a mess. Scruffy hair tied up into a top knot, baggy grungy jumper and skinny jeans more holes than actual fabric.

"Sorry, think you missed the point darling. I'm Brendan Brady. The boss. You were late. Now you're fired."

As he turns to serve the next fly, Violet speaks again.

"Hang on a minute, think you've missed the point darling. I'm here to work, sorry I was late, shit happens, now where's Cheryl?"

Brendan finds himself beginning to laugh. A hoarse cracked laugh. The front of this girl. Doesn't she know who he is?

Violet looks thoroughly puzzled at his reaction.

"You're good. Very good." Brendan says whilst wagging his finger at her, but his face suddenly drops as he leans across the bar so his face is close to hers. "Now see ye."

With that he strides out from behind the bar and storms off towards the office.

"Okay, look I am sorry! Its been a bad day, and I really need this job, please can I just start now? It won't happen again!"

"Nope." States Brendan simply. He begins to march up the stairs, two at a time. Violet is yet to give up.

"Well if you just stood still for a minute I might be able to fucking explain. Come on, one more chance."

Brendan reaches the top of the stairs, and the end of his tether. He swings the office door open wildly. Violet goes to follow Brendan in, only for him to stop dead so she walks into the back of him.

"Sorry, er , I-" She stutters.

Brendan looks at her and softens ever so slightly. Under the light from the office he can now see her better. Her hair is a shock of dark glossy red, dyed, and actually not as scruffy as it first appeared. She is fresh-faced, and her skin is clear and peachy coloured. Although dark circles under her sky blue eyes give away the tell-tale signs of someone running on very little sleep and lots of partying. Her lips are plump and pale pink. She is biting then nervously under his hard stare. She is tall and slim , almost too thin. Her collarbones jut out ever so slightly underneath her long slender neck, which itself is decorated either side with purple beaded drop earrings.

"Please, I didn't mean to be rude. It's just I keep messing jobs up and I really didn't mean to mess this one too, I've gotta pay me rent and I've bugger all else to go on, and I'm really short of cash at the moment and..." She trails off and Brendan notes a slight vulnerability in her voice. A whole side away from the feisty, gobby one he had just witnessed.

Brendan inhales deeply. The warm citrus tones of her perfume makes his head go fuzzy for a fraction of a second. Then, with a quick snap, he slams the door closed.

Just as a deflated Violet admits defeat and turns to walk away, the door opens once more and Brendan throws her a black t-shirt with the 'Bar Brady' logo on it.

"Put this on, Cheryl's at the cocktail bar, she'll show you what to do. One chance. Do you understand me? I have no time for flaky stroppy students." Violet watches as he slams the door shut again, all the while grinning and nodding enthusiastically.

SMASH.

"Christ Violet, that's the second one tonight, Bren ain't gonna be happy."

The glittering bottle of vodka crashing to the floor, is accompanied with the jeers and 'Wahey!'s from the intoxicated men on the other side of the bar.

"Grow up twats!" Snarled Violet, as Cheryl hands her a dustpan and brush.

"Ooh touchy!"

"Ah come on babe, give us a smile!"

"Yeah you gotta be nice to us, especially if you want a nice big tip."

"Nah Darren, I've got something nice and big for her."

"She looks like she could do with it Dodge. Nothing like a good shag to cheer you up a bit, eh love?"

Violet saw red. In a flash she picks up one of the mens' drinks a throws it over both of them.

"What the hell are ya doing?" Cries Darren.

"Violet!" Cheryl marches across and takes the glass from her hand. "I'm really sorry lads, Violets new, just not use to the banter yet. Are you m'dear?"

Violet scowls at Cheryl.

"Are you Violet?" Cheryl says pointedly.

"No fuck that Cheryl, they were acting like dogs! They're lucky it was just their beer round their heads and not the glass!"

"For gods sake, get Dodger another drink and then go take a break." Cheryl says through gritted teeth.

"What? I'm not serving them."

"Excuse me? Yes you are."

A thick Irish accent growled behind, "No. She's not."

Violet spun around to see Brendan standing there.

"Brendan, come on you know these lads are harmless. Don't undermine me here."

"I'm not Chez. Violets not serving them, because she's leaving." He says with an absolute air of cool.

"What?" Piped up Violet.

"You're fired."

"Hey you can't do that, it's my first night!"

"Exactly. And you stroll in late, cost me money in losing stock, been rude to customers, rude to my sister, and the bouncer just informed that you've been snorting shit up your nose in the toilets. Ye know you shouldn't do coke if it makes you this...hostile. I took the liberty of taking the rest out of your bag, to save you from yourself."

"You can't go through my things like that-"

"If I believe a member of staff is bringing drugs onto my premises, then yes I can."

"Fine. Fine."

Brendan, (and Darren and Dodger who had been watching the heated exchange intently), kept his gaze on Violet as she pulled her Chez Chez T-shirt off, walked out from behind the bar and sat down on one of the bar stools.

And with a wide smile,

"I'll have a double JD and coke please Mr Barman."

Brendan opened his mouth slightly in amazement before straightened up.

"You got your drinks, what are you still doing here?" Brendan says sharply towards Darren and Dodger, before they shuffle away back towards the dance floor.

Brendan now turns his attention back Violet.

"What do you think you are doing?" He says simply.

"Well I'm not at work, I'm a paying customer, and I'm gasping for a drink, this is a bar, so..."

Brendan looks at Violet with a menacing glare. He has too admit she has some nerve, and Brendan likes people with balls. She's too much of a pain in the ass as an employee, but as an individual?

Brendan fills her a glass. Pushing down the drop of attraction he feels towards her; not letting on that he finds her rather entertaining and refreshing. Most people just bow down to Brendan's presence.