And so, here we are at chapter two :) Arabia starts work at the bar and meets Kamal's sexy son Raul, things can only go downhill from here...
Chapter Two
I got home to find mom in the garden reading, she has put on some weight and has a healthy glow to her skin, I smiled, she has come leaps and bounds since her ordeal in Gotham. I just wish dad was here to keep her company. She looked and wiped her brow, she smiled at me and waved. I love seeing her smile; all those times she cried herself to sleep in the Gotham Mental Institute are long behind her now, she can finally relax in the sun and begin to forget what she went through.
"Hey there," She said, getting up and dusting off her skirt. "Been shopping?"
"Yeah, I saw a few tunics and headscarves and decided to buy them," I said.
It's not lying if I don't tell her everything, I'll tell her about the job after my first day. Besides, I don't want to worry her.
"Where's Bane?"
"Out with some members of the league, he should be back soon." Mom said, surveying her work.
I nodded and went back into the house which was 10 degrees cooler and up to my room which I share with Bane. I tried on all my new tunics and wrapped the headscarf over my head, delicately throwing it over my shoulder. I smiled as I ran my fingers over the soft cotton, I just wanted to go to bed and wake up tomorrow morning and go to my new job. I actually felt dizzy with excitement as I put away my new clothes.
"You seem happier." A familiar voice said behind me.
I turned round to find Bane leaning up on the door frame, a lopsided grin on his face as he watched me. Despite the huge scar on his face, Bane is a very handsome man.
"That walk through the market did me good." I smiled back.
"I knew moving out here was a good idea," Bane said, walking over to me. "You look healthier, there is a renewed light in our eyes."
"I have a new sense of purpose." I shrugged. Again, it's not lying if I don't tell him everything, besides I can't imagine he'd be fairly happy with my decision.
"And a new lease
of life." He replied, pulling me into a huge hug.
I wrapped my arms round the hulking mass that was Bane and closed my eyes, he smelt of hard work and soap, despite everything, this man has done has so much for me, he rescued me from a life I shouldn't have been living, showed me the truth and relit the fire inside me that had been long put out. Because of him I can live and love again, free to do as I please. I just hope dad can see me and mom from wherever he may be now and can see how happy we are. Bane kissed me on the cheek and patted me on the small of my back. He isn't the romantic type, far from it, I mean come on now, did you see what he did to Gotham? But still, he tries his best and that's all I want from him.
oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I got to work 20 minutes early, I want to show Kamal and Raul that I am reliable and that they can trust me. Kamal was there already when I got there.
"Ah Arabia!" He smiled as I approached the bar. "I almost didn't recognise you, ready to work?"
"Yes boss." I smiled back, saluting him.
Kamal laughed heartily, I can tell we are going to get just fine.
"First things first, I'll show you around, hopefully by the time I finish Raul will be here to supervise your first day." He said.
We spent roughly half an hour going through the stock, how to work the cash register which was a basic machine that you had to manually type in the prices, I picked it up pretty quickly so we moved on to handling the customers.
"Obviously, you know to treat each customer with respect and warn those who start to cause a fuss, now I must warn you that a few activists in the area who don't agree with drinking will come in to threaten you to close down the bar, leave them to me, I don't want you putting yourself in danger." Kamal said sternly.
"Be polite, minimise hassle, avoid trouble got it." I listed off my fingers.
"Exactly," Kamal replied. "Ahh, Raul! You are just in time to meet our new barmaid, Arabia this is my only son Raul, Raul, this is Arabia."
Kamal's son Raul smiled brightly at me, he was indeed very attractive, deep olive skin that looked smooth as butter, his hair a mess of thick black curls that you could run your fingers through and not get bored and the greyest eyes I have ever seen, if I wasn't with Bane I'd be quivering with anticipation right now. He was quite tall, probably about 6 foot 2 and looked quite toned. Hey he was wearing a white t shirt that was showing the definition of his abs, I'm sure he'd look extremely delicious covered in chocolate...stop it Arabia focus on the job at hand AND your BOYFRIEND BANE who has no idea you are here. I shook the naughty thoughts from my head and smiled at him.
"Nice to meet you." I said, keeping my voice strong.
"The pleasure is all mine." He replied, bowing politely, a mischievous smile spread across his gorgeous face. Jeeez, I'm going to have problems with this one.
"When you are done flirting with Arabia, Raul I need you to do a stocktake, I have a feeling the last barmaid we hired might have helped herself to the stock before she quit." Kamal grumbled.
"That's what happens when you hire a girl you find drinking in the corner of the bar." Raul said raising his eyes to the heavens as he walked into the stock room.
Kamal shrugged. "I have a soft spot for lost causes, not to say you are a lost cause, Arabia."
"No offense taken," I chuckled. " I must have looked down on my luck yesterday."
"Nonsense, I'm glad you are here," He said, patting me on the back. "And now to work."