Chapter 8
SIENNA
— I know, Corbin. It's just that he mentioned we should allow him a couple more days to settle his debt with you.
— No, no. That's simply not how business operates. When someone neglects their financial obligations, they need to be reminded in no uncertain terms why they should steer clear of situations where they clearly don't belong! Or should I intervene personally and handle it myself?
— No, sir, I'll handle it right away. I promise.
— Just one day, John, just one solitary day. Now tell me, have you organized tomorrow's race?
— Yes, of course, everything is prepared. Why do you ask?
— I want you to get Katy ready for tomorrow's event.
— Is he really going to go through with it? You typically don't involve yourself in such activities.
— It'll merely be for entertainment, that's all it is.
— Okay, well, I suppose it's time for me to take my leave; I'll see you tomorrow.
— Remember, John. Just one more day. We don't offer second chances lightly.
— Yes, sir.
I quickly distanced myself before Corbin could notice that I had been within earshot of their conversation. The dialogue I had just overheard left me enveloped in a swirling sea of uncertainties and doubts. What in the world were they talking about? At that particular moment, each word reverberated through my mind like a wandering echo that simply refused to dissipate. I felt a tumultuous mix of perplexity and discomfort as I made my way toward the bar, a venue that had once provided me solace but was now beginning to feel like an entrapment.
As I entered, the bar—classic and elegant, as familiar as the comforting embrace of an old friend—now appeared transformed in a way that I couldn't quite articulate. The dim lights, which had once created a welcoming and warm ambiance, now suggested an undercurrent of secrecy and intrigue. The music, which used to float gently as a soft backdrop, now resonated in my ears like a distant whisper, concealing the hushed truths lurking just beyond reach. I walked with purpose toward the bar, where Tony, with his back turned, seemed to be lost in his own chaotic world, absorbed among a myriad of bottles and glasses.
— Hi, Tony —I greeted, attempting to regain some semblance of normalcy in this reality that had suddenly felt so distorted and unsettling. He quickly swung around, his expression a mixture of surprise and confusion.
— How can I help you, sweetheart?
— Oh, I'd rather put it this way: I'm here to assist you.
— Me? —he replied, bewildered, squinting his eyes as if he were still processing my unexpected arrival.
— Tara sent me; she mentioned you needed help. And here I am, just as she requested.
— But I...
— Just relax, I'll help you with whatever you require. Besides, now that I'm already here —I interrupted, adopting a determined posture as I moved around the bar and began to organize the whiskey glasses, placing the red wine and champagne glasses precisely in their designated spots.
As I diligently wiped the polished mahogany surface, the shine of the wood reflected the soft light around us. For a fleeting moment, I became lost in the soothing monotony of the task. However, as the bar gradually returned to its familiar, orderly appearance, the discomfort lurking within me remained steadfast, refusing to wane. Despite the atmosphere growing warmer and more inviting, the unease stemming from the conversation I had recently witnessed clung to me, a spectral presence.
A short while later, I heard Tony calling out for Maddie, asking her to deliver something to Corbin.
— Maddie, could you take this to the boss? I'm swamped with the new inventory.
— Sure thing, no problem —I quickly replied, taking the double whiskey glass he had meticulously prepared for Corbin. I proceeded toward his office, which I had previously regarded merely as a workspace, but which now dripped with an aura of mystery that piqued my curiosity. I found my thoughts consumed with the need to uncover whatever secrets lay hidden behind that door.
The temptation to walk away and leave the bar behind danced tantalizingly at the edge of my thoughts, but I found myself paradoxically drawn closer to Corbin. I resolved that I had to dig deeper; I had to unravel the impenetrable veil of secrets and lies cloaking him. As I neared his office, my heart raced, already anticipating the impending revelation.
With every step I took, my thoughts multiplied in intensity. Who exactly was Corbin, really? Was he merely the proprietor of this bar, or did he harbor something far darker lurking beneath his charming exterior? The disquieting words from his conversation with John echoed incessantly in my mind. Deep down, I sensed that this place and its enigmatic owner were far from what they appeared to be. Perhaps he had constructed a wider facade, a web woven with connections and secrets that I was only beginning to unravel.
The future is cloaked in uncertainty, and what could have been an average, mundane moment in the bar now felt like the prelude to a significant revelation. I was tantalizingly close to the truth, yet the uncertainty surrounding it made me hesitate. As I arrived at the door to his office, the air in its vicinity felt charged with an electric tension. With one final deep breath to steady my nerves, I decided to thrust open the door and confront whatever awaited me on the other side. With trembling hands, I grasped the doorknob and took a decisive breath.
As I opened the door, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.