This night at the bar is dim, not depressing dim, but the kind of pretty ones you see in movies.
These low lights move slowly but are glued to the ceiling. Slow jazz music plays from hidden speakers, and people speak slowly and quietly. It feels like the bar is a pretty fragment of the world tonight.
He's here again tonight. He's here, but not at my counter. He's at the private place in the bar. A lot of businessmen come there, and a lot of business meetings go on there.
(At the private room)
Leonid shakes hands with a business partner who leaves the room. Leonid walks over to his assistant, saying he will leave on his own. The assistant leaves immediately.
Leonid leaves the room and goes to a counter at the bar. The attendant's shift there just ended, and Maksim walks over to attend to him.
Maksim: Good evening.
(No answer from Leonid.)
What would you like tonight?
Leonid: Whiskey… straight.
Maksim: Alright, sir.
(Gives him the drink and lets him have it for a bit.)
Maksim: Is that going to be your regular order?
Leonid: What???
Maksim: I asked if that,(points at Leonid's hands)is going to be your order every time you're here.
Leonid: (stares with no emotion)
Maksim: I am just saying, I can recommend better stuff to you.
Leonid: You think I don't know what I want?
Maksim: Forgive me, sir. I just wanted to make sure you enjoy the services we offer here.
Leonid: Who are you?
Maksim: I am Maksim, sir. Maksim Popov, sir.
Leonid: Leonid.
Maksim: What?? Leonid?
Leonid: Call me "sir" more… I'll shut down this bar. You talk like you like serving.
(He says sarcastically.)
Maksim: (quiet)
Leonid: You don't like your job?
Maksim: I… uh… it pays fine.
Leonid: Hmmm… What more would you recommend if it seems like I'm bored with this?
(Maksim immediately recommends better stuff to him.)
(After a few moments)
Leonid: I want you to do something simple for me.
Maksim: What would you like me to do?
Leonid: I will have my next meeting here.
I want you to be the one attending to my business partners. They seem really stiff. I want you to help them relax before I arrive. This convincing thing you tried here with me, they need it. Those motherfuckers need a little something to help them make the right decision.
Can you handle that?
Maksim: Yes sir.Yes.
Leonid: Tell your boss to call my assistant in the morning.
(Leonid pays and tips huge, then walks off.)
⸻
(Maksim POV)
I saw these businessmen leave, but I could not feel that presence. I looked carefully. He wasn't there. I guess he's gone. I just started my shift two hours ago. My partner's shift just ended, and I'm ridiculously bored.
Oh God… he stepped out. Coat still on, his posture relaxed but intentional. He wasn't scrolling on his phone,he wasn't even with a phone, just walking directly, majestically. He watched the room carefully, like the way someone watches a type of game they already understand. There was a quiet authority to him, the kind that doesn't ask but gets attention.
He is walking to the bar… but he is at my colleague's counter. His shift is already over, so I walked over behind that counter with all the courage I could summon and said good evening. Most customers don't greet back. I'm used to it.
I asked him what he wanted, and it was the same thing as last time. My colleagues said he has been here three more times, and all he drank was whiskey,maybe I was nervous so I tried recommending something to him. It was hard to, but I think next time he will at least think about his other options.
Right now, I'll just think about the job he asked me to do for him. I already spoke to my boss about this, and he said everything's alright.
⸻
(Leonid POV)
The plan was to go to this bar and relax a bit. This simple bar has become a spot for me because it is quite cozy and not really popular. Moreover, the servers here know a bit about respecting people's privacy, not that I don't hear their whispers when I come around, but it is a bit controlled.
I had spare time and was driving around before deciding to come here due to an arising issue at work with some of the business partners. So I ordered my assistant to direct them to this bar because their private rooms are top-notch, and it would be alarming for shareholders or potential ones to see angry businessmen affiliated with Belov Conglomerates storm into popular hotels or bars together, or even hear or get a clue of the discussions that go on in between walls like that, due to wiretapped rooms and the curiosity of die-hard entrepreneurs and finance personnel.
They were invited here, and after their arrival, we had a brief meeting, but it was dismissed to be continued.
I had to have my space, so I went back to the bar. The server apologized and left. Then another one came, with his sleeves rolled up, his veins visible from the end of where his shirt is rolled up. He looked really familiar. I know this because I'm very good with faces. It then came to my memory that he attended to me for the first time here. He was quiet that day. Today, he has a lot to say.
He said good evening, then asked for my order. I told him whiskey. He kept his head down, reached for a glass, poured carefully like he was counting, then pointed at my drink and asked if that would be my regular order.
He spoke like we'd met several times. I kept quiet a bit, hoping he'd leave it. He then tried recommending other drinks. He doesn't think, or have a clue, that I have maybe had all of them, and I would rather stick to the one in my hand.
He just kept talking like he was trying to sell, sell something. Not just drinks, but more. More than whatever was going on at that bar.
I am thinking to myself, I should try him and see how well and how far he is willing to go.