Ste couldn't remember the last time he had been so rushed off his feet, it had been a while, when he was away he probably held a couple small jobs to get by but nothing compared to working in a busy and clearly high popular nightclub.
His first shift had been more or less learning to ropes and trying to ignore the dagger looks shot at him by both Rhys and Jacqui, they helped when he needed the support or had a question but most the time he kept himself to himself. Still he couldn't help but hear them talk about him, mostly it was about the bruises on his face and how he managed to get them. Eventually he just told them bluntly he was jumped and there was no point sticking their noses in any further. Not only had he had to contend with them but one of Brendan's business partners. Danny Houston. Had been watching him like a hawk he could practically make a list of all the people who clearly didn't trust him because of his past behavior.
Rhys, Jacqui, Danny… Who else would be added once they had been updated? Cheryl? If she found out or even believed what was being said he could lose his job as quickly as he got it.
He sat alone in the basement watching as he twined and untwined his fingers, he didn't feel comfort upstairs for his break, so being the coward he was he decided it would be best just to hide downstairs for the time being.
"Now just what are you up too?" he physically jumped at the voice of Danny and stood up knocking over a barrel in the process. "Nothing, just on my break." He swallowed nervously as Danny scanned the surroundings and moved forward. "Ste? Right?" he only nodded to acknowledge his name, to scared to open his mouth. "Are you afraid Ste?" he turned his back on Ste before turning to face him and grabbing Ste by his hoodie. "I would be afraid if I were you Ste because I know a lot about you. Surprised? Well watch yourself because I'll be watching your every move." With surprising force he pushed Ste into the wall and moved back.
"Now, what's going on here?"
Relief flooded through Ste at the familiar soft but deadly accented voice, he half slid against the wall as Brendan came into view. His dark eyes moving from Ste half sitting on the floor a look of pure fear on his face and Danny who seemed oblivious to what he had said to Ste, and why one of his employees looked as if he had seen a ghost. "Just telling young Ste where he stands." Brendan's lips twitched. "Right, right."
Brendan moved towards Ste pulling him up by his hoodie, his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure Steven knows his place. Don't you Steven?" he felt a slight pressure on his shoulder not painful but a twinge of fingers digging into his flesh. "Don't you Stephen?"
He took a sharp breath as Brendan dug his fingers deeper into his shoulder, forcing a reply. "Yeah, yeah I do."
Danny watched him for a moment as the pressure Brendan's fingers released before looking satisfied and leaving closing the door behind him.
"You just can't seem to stay out of trouble now can you Steven?"
Cliffhanger! What's gonna happen next?