Katherina awoke early and began her tasks by changing the beer barrels from the night before and restocking any bottles that ran low.
Once that was taken care of she began wiping down the tables and sweeping the floor.
She did everything and anything, after all, it kept her mind focused on the present instead of the past and that was all she could ask for really.
"I've never seen the place look this tidy," Harry's voice stated from the side of her. As she looked up she could see him smiling as he inspected the bar. "Pretty, early riser and tidy" He listed. "If you keep this up I'm sure you will have the job for life."
"U-um t-thank you." She stuttered at the praise. "I-I just thought it would help before you open."
"It will definitely help," He replied smiling at her. "I don't want you to worry the morning bunches aren't that bad."
"Y-You don't need to worry H-Harry." She replied smiling. "I-I can handle it."
It wasn't long after that, the first group of men came in asking for pints, gin and whisky. They seemed pleasant enough, as they talked about what they were doing that day to each other and not really bothering her.
She watched as men came and left the pub, though a few lingered every now and then to finish their conversation.
She kept quiet but polite as every man who came in said their good mornings and placed their money on the bar as they ordered their drink.
Some made small talk with her but thankfully the majority left her alone in peace. She was fine being left in the background, in fact, it allowed her to carry on her duties. Well, that was until a man approached her and began to looked her over.
He was a tall and well-dressed man, he had a neatly trimmed moustache and sleek rust-coloured hair. He was also very intimidating, though lucky for her, Harry as if seeing the man approaching her came up to stand next to her.
"Harry," He greeted Harry, who began to serve the man a drink. "Who's this little lady?" The man's voice was gruff in tone but pleasant. Katherina gave a small smile, before looking away to carry on with her duties.
"This is Katherina," Harry introduced. "Katherina came in yesterday looking for a job." Harry informed him. "Thought I could use a hand."
"Well, we could use another face around here." The man said before taking a sip of his drink. "I'm Arthur Shelby."
Shelby, so he was the one Harry told her about.
"Nice to meet you, Mr Shelby." Katherina said politely.
"Just call me Arthur little lady." He replied with a smirk. "So tell me, Katherina, what brings you to a place like this."
"I-I needed work and I saw this advertised," Katherina responded quietly. She then received an order from a different customer that came up to the bar. "And Harry was kind enough to give me a job." She finished as she handed the man his drink."
"Harry has always been a good judge of character." Arthur told her.
"Katherina, is staying up in the flat." Harry informed him, joining the conversation again.
"Harry, what kind of man lets a pretty thing like her, live in that hole." Arthur abolished.
"The girl needed somewhere to stay and that was the only place I got." Harry defended.
"A-and I really appreciate it, Harry," Katherina replied coming to Harry's defence, after all, he didn't have to give her the job in the first place. "A-anyway I'm sure it will be lovely when I'm finished."
"Well if you need any help, you come see me," Arthur instructed. "I know some men that could use the work."
"U-um thank you," She replied shyly. "I'll keep that in mind."
After that exchanged she carried on with her work, after that, she felt uncomfortable stares thrown her way, making her feel uneasy in her own skin.
She had paused every now and then to exchange some uncomfortable words with the men. She did this, only so Harry didn't think she was unsociable because she needed the job. Though deep down, she was praying for the night to come to an end.
It wasn't long after that, the man called Arthur Shelby got up to leave. "Good day, Katherina." He said with a smile.
"Bye, Arthur."
She watched him as he left, somewhat relieved though her hands still shook, though she managed to hide it well.
She continued with her duties like serving until Harry pulled her aside.
"Katherina." he said softly.
"Yes?" She said nervously as she saw the worry in his eyes.
"I want you to try and stay away from the Shelbys," He said calmly warning her again. "Continue being nice and polite." He told her pausing to look her over. "You don't want to get on there bad side, they are not people to be messed with."
"W-what do you mean?" She asked just as quietly.
"People fear them around here." Harry stated as if it was a matter of fact. "And I don't want you getting tangled up in that." Katherina gulped at the words he was telling her. "However, if one of them ends up wanting you, there isn't much anyone can do about it."
"W-what." Her voice shook with fear.
"I'm not saying they will, but I want you to be aware." He said patting her on the shoulder. All she wanted was to stay unnoticed and she was sure she was doing that.
No one would want her she tried to reassure herself, she was plain.
"I-I will keep my head down." She replied as she served a whiskey to a customer. "I don't want to get mingled up in any situation."
"Good." He told her.
After the warning, she went back to work, though his words plagued her mind throughout the day.
000
Everything seemed to run smoothly and Harry seemed happy with her as she kept on top of everything. She had no complaints, in fact, the customers seemed to speak highly of her from what Harry told her.
She was just serving another customer when the pub doors flung open causing her to jump slightly. As she looked up she saw a relatively tall man smartly dressed, with a flat cap on. Looking away quickly, she gave the man his drink who in turn moved faster than lightning to somewhere else, especially when she heard his footsteps come closer.
"What will it be, sir?" she asked, only looking up when she saw his hand on the bar and met his icy blue eyes.
"Whiskey. Leave the bottle." He told her. He took off his hat and placed it on the bar. Nodding, she moved to get the whiskey and a glass, trying to control her breathing as she did so. He was very handsome but something made her want to run and hide in a corner somewhere.
"This is on the house." Harry whispered coming up to stand next to her, causing her to nod in return before going back to the customer.
"Harry says it's on the house," She told him, however, he ignored her. He placed his money on the bar top and poured himself a glass of whiskey. Once he was finished he pulled out a cigarette.
"So you're the new barmaid my brother told me about." He said. Katherina looked up at the man as he addressed her, noticing the way he squared his shoulders and adjusted his posture. "You certainly got my brother interested in you." he continued, making her look over at Harry before wiping down the counter. Honestly, she didn't know what to say. "Arthur also told me you're living in the hovel upstairs?"
"I am," She replied trying to stay polite but also wanting to leave. "Harry was kind enough to allow me to stay in the fixer-upper."
Harry thankfully made his way over to again. "If that's okay with you, Mr. Shelby," he said quickly, though she assumed that he already got permission from the other Shelby. "She needed a place to stay. I gave her the room upstairs."
She could feel his eyes on her but she made sure not to meet his eyes. Men like this, it was best not to meet their eyes. Instead, she focused on cleaning the bottles and fixing them.
"She can stay." He said.
"Tommy." A young man greeted as he entered the pub a moment later coming up to where they were. He had a toothpick on the side of his mouth and his flat cap tilted to the side, he also dressed in a tailored suit. "Hello, angel." He turned and addressed her suddenly. "I'm John Shelby, this one's brother." He said as he pointed over to the one called Tommy. "You must be the new barmaid my other brother spoke about."
"I'm Katherina." She introduced shyly. "U-umm can I get you anything?"
"A pint, angel." He replied smirking at her. "So where you from?"
"Nowhere special." she answered, as she served him a beer mug, making sure not a drop spilled.
"Nowhere special you say," John said, lifting the beer she gave him to his lips. "Well, it seems they have lost an angel and we've gained one, eh."
She couldn't help but blush at this.
She thanked him and went back to work immediately, trying not to react to the eyes penetrating her as she went.