It's been about a week since Erin started working with her supervisor, and suspected criminal, Jay Halstead. It surprised her just how nice he was. She'd been watching him whenever she had the chance. He was polite and respectful, especially to her, although she figured that's what he was like with all his co-workers. Erin witnessed him taking care of women who came into the bar, which was the biggest surprise of all. But then again, who knew what really happened when she wasn't able to watch him. She was even more confused when she saw him call a cab for a group of women a few days ago. Wouldn't they be the perfect target? Unless it would be too much work for one person alone to kidnap 3 women. But that didn't make sense, right? There have to be more people behind this, she figured.
It was Friday night and Erin was eager to find out more about him and so far it seemed like he's willing to build a friendship. He was kind, and friendly with her, and he made her laugh a lot, which only confused her further.
Erin was on her way back behind the bar to throw out the last few beer bottles she'd collected a few minutes ago when she suddenly heard someone call after her. He was the only customer left in the bar; It was a little after 3 am, she'd been ready to get out of this place hours ago, but couldn't leave until he did.
"Hey, beautiful! Why don't you bring your perfect little butt over here and get me another round?" He said with a laugh.
She put the bottles down on the bar and looked up at Jay, silently questioning him as to whether or not she should get the guy another drink. He simply shook his head and looked behind to the customer.
"Sorry, Henry. You gotta come back tomorrow, we're closing up now!" Jay shouted over her. The old man let out a loud sigh.
"How am I supposed to leave with a sight like this?!" The more he talks, the more frustrated Erin grows with this guy. He's been all over her ever since she arrived that evening. He's been sitting in the same chair since before her shift started, only moving to use the restroom every few hours. She knew he was watching her, felt his gaze on her body. Erin felt dirty just thinking about what he was probably conjuring up in his mind the whole evening. She looked up at Jay again only to see him smirking at Henry.
"Something funny to you, Halstead?" She caught him off guard. His face was hard to read most of the time and when he didn't stop smirking, she wasn't sure if he got the message.
"Sorry, it's just Henry. You'll get used to him after a while."
"All the other bitches weren't this hard, girlie! Why don't you let me show you how to relax a little!" He laughed. Jay's eyes shot from Erin to look at Henry. His dirty laugh filled the empty bar. Erin closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. Her back was still turned to Henry but she was ready to turn around to give him a piece of her mind. Erin turned and was about to speak up when she suddenly felt his hand on hers, flinching at the spark that she felt ignite her whole body. It was the first time she looked up at Jay again and she was able to read his expression for the very first time. He was fuming. His face was turning red, his green eyes sparkling with a quiet anger that she hadn't expected.
"I got it," he says quietly before looking up at Henry again, "Not cool man! What makes you think you can talk to a woman like that, huh?!"
Jay walked around the bar and comes to a stop right next to her.
"Calm down, son. She was practically asking for it. Didn't you see her all night? Shaking her ass around and giving me those smiles. She behaves like a little bitch, I'll treat her like one." Henry was now on his feet too, swaying from one side to the other, emphasising just how intoxicated he was.
"First of all, don't call me son!" Jay grits out "Second of all, all she was doing was her job. Bringing your drunk ass beer after beer all night for a tip that's not even worth half as much as what she deserves for treating you as well as she did. I'm not blind, Henry. I can see that she's an attractive young woman, but you need to learn how to control yourself. Now, either apologize to her, leave in peace, and you can come back tomorrow and act like a decent man. Or I'm going to kick your ass out of here myself, for good. The choice is yours."
Erin stood in shock, still trying to comprehend the events of the past few minutes. Looking back and forth between her boss and a drunk that was getting on her nerves all night. Henry stood surprised for a few moments, when he decided that it would probably be better to just keep his mouth shut.
"Whatever, I'm sorry." He mumbles on his way to the door, not looking at either of them again. Jay shoulders relaxed only when the door closed behind Henry. There was a silence for a few moments, and they both went back to cleaning up until Erin speaks.
"For the record, I can take care of myself." Jay spins his head around to face her, confusing marred his face.
"I don't know how you usually do thinks, tiny lady, but that's not exactly how we say 'thank you' around here." He tilted his head to the side as if he's somehow able to see her better like this. She knew that he had helped her out, but she didn't need him to, and she didn't ask him to either. She only let him, to learn more about his character. To learn more about his personality.
At least, that's what she was telling herself.
"Listen, I'm really thankful for this job, but I'm a big girl Jay. I don't need someone who thinks it's ok to call me 'tiny lady', to look out for me."
"Feisty, okay." Jay mutters to himself "Well, you're welcome anyways," she rolls her eyes at that, "and I hate to break it to you, but you are, in fact, tiny. But if it makes you feel any better, I'm not doing it because you're tiny but because you work for me, which means I need you to feel safe here in order to do your job. So excuse me, tiny lady, but I will continue to protect you in here." he shrugs.
"How about you call me Em instead, and next time I'll let you know if I need your protection?"
She's stubborn. She always has been, she just couldn't help it. It's the way she's wired. But he seemed to like it.
He gave her a questioning look, waiting for her the crack, to let down her guard. Trying to see through her facade but just it wasn't working. It never does, not as long as she is in control of the conversation. A loud sigh left his mouth and he seemed to give in.
"Alright, deal. But only," this time it's her turn to give him a questioning look, "if you let me walk you to your car." They both held each others gaze, too stubborn to let the other win. It intrigued her, they seemed to have some similarities. It was hard to believe that the guy she's gotten to know this week could be connected to a sex-trafficking ring. But then again, he was really hard to read just like her. If she was able to pretend to be Emma Johnson, who knew who he pretended to be.
"You're missing your chance, tiny lady." A little smirk spreads across his face when she snaps out of her thoughts.
"Okay, okay," Her hands raised up in defense, "whatever you say, Barkeeper." And she couldn't help but match the smirk he had on his face.
It takes them another 30 minutes to finally close. They've been working longer than expected today and were happy to finally get to go home soon. They both didn't like the cleaning part but it turned out to be less annoying with good company, or in Erin's case, someone that seemed like good company. Whenever she looked at him or he smiled at her after telling one of his stupid jokes she believed less and less in the possibility, that he is responsible for all of these girls going missing.
She watched her step when she opened the door to their freedom. It's amazing for her to be able to take deep breaths of fresh air again, especially when it is a summer night. Jay walked out right behind her but doesn't have any trouble catching up to her. He smirked knowing that she isn't able to see him while is amused by her short legs and how easy it was to catch up to her.
Erin only turned to face him when standing right next to her car. Keeping her word to her part of their deal. It's a little windy and even though it's a summer night, her shirt wasn't actually warm enough. But she would never admit that. Her dirty-blonde curls moved off her bare shoulders and made it seem even colder to her.
"Alright! I'm here and I'm safe, happy?" he smiled at that nodding his head.
"As soon as you're in the car I will be."
"What's with this act? Is this how you hit on all the girls you work with?" She smiled with a raised eyebrow. Jay frowns at that, he definitely wasn't used to a woman just saying whatever pops into their heads.
"What do you mean? I'm just doing what any other human being would do for another."
"But most people wouldn't do this. Why do you care so much about me getting to my car safely at night? Or some drunken asshole who's verbally abusing me?" She had trouble reading him but it was getting easier. He scratched his head and took a breath.
"Look, Emma, I want you to feel safe in my bar. I'm responsible for you guys while you're working there, and just because we deal with 'drunken assholes', as you say, doesn't mean you should be treated like shit by them. I won't allow that." he simply shrugged.
She can't help but take a step toward him. It was as if his gaze dragged her closer to him. She smiled, causing her dimples to show.
"You know, technically, we aren't in your bar anymore, so why bother?" a grin spreads across his face at that.
"I guess I just want to make sure you're safe." They stay there for a few more moments. It was quiet, their eyes sparkling in the moonlight. She didn't know what it was but there was something about him. Something that made her feel safe with him, a gut feeling. But she knows for experience that her gut can be wrong sometimes. How many times did she see those women, totally blinded by the words that came out of a man's mouth, thinking they could trust them? When in reality, they were the biggest assholes the world has ever seen. She wondered what he was thinking. Was he thinking about getting home and just wanted her to finally get her ass in the car or did he feel it too? This connection. The pull between them.
Erin blinked herself back into reality, trying to shake herself out of whatever she was thinking. He seemed to notice because he moves to open the door for her to get in. They just nodded at each other as she sinks into her seat. After starting the engine she rolled her window down while he was walking backward, still facing her. He gives her a little wave while he keeps walking slowly.
"See you tomorrow, barkeeper." She winks at him with a smile on her face and then drives off, excited to get home and finally fall into bed.
She's been home for over an hour now but she couldn't sleep. Sitting on her couch, all her files and pictures spread out on her coffee table. She was confused, questioning herself. None of this made sense. They had placed Jay under surveillance before beginning the undercover op. Pictures of him, helping women into cabs, breaking up fights in the bar, flirting with girls that ordered drinks. He seemed like a perfectly normal guy. What was she not seeing? Or was there even anything?
'Something doesn't add up.' She thinks as she takes a sip of the glass of scotch she has in her hand.
Her boss told her to build a relationship, to do whatever it takes, but could she? Erin was conflicted. She liked him and that's what made it complicated.
"What am I not seeing?" She whispered to herself. She eventually gave up, crawling back into bed and praying that the two drinks she had consumed in the last twenty minutes would help quiet her mind enough for her to get a little sleep.
She was seeing Antonio in a few days, to let him know how things were going and what she had learned so far. He could offer her some insight, hopefully.
Because the only thing she knows for sure anymore, is that she's not sure who Jay Halstead is anymore.
A/N: Hey everyone, thanks for your reviews on the first chapter, we're so glad you like the story! We're going to be making it into a full story now, so please leave us a review and let us know what you think :)
Maddie and Laura x