The ambience of the bar looked different when walked back in that evening after my appointment with Leonid. It was the same wall, same lights, same arrangement but I kind of see it with the same vision Leo saw it.I understand now why he always looked around like he was missing something or figuring out something.
The angles of the bar, the patterns, the blind spots,everything was surprisingly vivid like I had recovered from an eye surgery and everything I had seen before was in 480p.
The staff noticed me immediately,both old and new.The old ones who were a bit familiar with me did not look at me in the eye longer than four seconds,they sent the new ones to let me know that my place was no longer in the serving section of the bar while handing me a bunch of documents which I am assuming is for the day to day transactions of the business.
I would be a liar to say that I was not kind of expecting the manager,the previous one,as I hear the old and new staff whispering about it,to show up,walk in directly towards me and ask me what the hell I was doing in his corner but it has been three hours and he's name was no longer mentioned after the first thirty minutes.It seemed like everybody had an agreement to forget him.
It then occurred to me that I was working full time now,almost 10 hours,since the bar opens at 7 p.m. and closes at 5 a.m.
At exactly 11 p.m., Two men I had never seen before who did not seem they were there for drinks,entered the bar.
They were very calm,not intimidating to ordinary eyes.They separated and sat at opposite ends,ordered nothing alcoholic and watched everything that went on that night,including myself.
This situation went on for three days and then I was summoned by Leonid.I arrived at the Corporation by 8 in the morning.
This time I wasn't as nervous as the first time,surprisingly the guards and the staff at the ground floor recognized me.I went on the elevator and the assistant received me smiling warmly like I was part of a family,their family.
Leonid was seated when I got to his office.He looked good as always but there was a striking difference,he wore a red shirt,this drew me to his brown eyes that had a bit of red I hadn't noticed before.He then interrupted my thoughts by telling me to sit down.I guess he noticed I was staring,I am so embarrassing.
He sat for while,still but there was something I could not place in his gaze.
"You're settling"he said, "I think I am learning" I reluctantly said back to him.
He leaned back slightly in a motion to look better at me since he was taller even when sitting down,clearing his throat,it was smooth,effortless, and so masculine.He then asked precise questions about the business at the bar,he seemed serious so I snapped out of the haze I was in to give accurate answers.He asked more questions like, what nights are the busiest,who spoke to whom,the time the staffs came in and out,what staff drank on shift,what staff were reliable so far,who asked too much questions and who asked less questions than necessary.
I had no choice but to give an accurate and genuine report even though I have a feeling that he knows maybe more than me,even too much.
He subtly nodded when I made a good point. "Have you realized your role" he asked. I genuinely did not know what to say to that,as my former job was just pouring drinks and engaging in baseless conversations,now I track records,time,observing people going in and out,ensuring everything is in control and in order.I have only done this for three days,I am no master to whatever this is,so I tell him no. He smirked like he was testing me and expecting me to give that answer.
"Your job is to be reliable" he said. "I do not need you to be violent but you will be brutally honest at every given opportunity you have,Maksim"
"Tell me you understand" he said to me and I did just that.
"Your intelligence will be rewarded"Leonid said.I then asked reluctantly "What if it is not enough".
"What do you mean"Leo asked me.
"The…My…intelligence,what if I don't know what to do or how to do it"I asked.
His gaze lifted from his watch,sharply to mine,unwavering and shaking me in my seat.
"Then you do not act,you do nothing on your own,you inform,then leave it to me to decide" He said.
This created a weight in my chest that settled and then relieved me.
He stood up,moving closer to my seat so I quickly got on my feet.He still came closer,it did not feel like he was invading my space,he has something I think is a bit welcoming so I don't walk backwards when he came closer to me and we stood almost chest to chest because he was taller and he bent a bit slightly to say "You come from disorder,that is why you would never fail to recognize it,I do not need a soldier who is blood thirsty,I need one who understands consequences"
I noticed two men who seemed like bodyguards at the entrance,one opened the door of the office then Leo said "I trust you would do well,Mak"while smiling brightly then I noticed a gold thing on his teeth,it wasn't a grill.He then walked out of the office majestically leaving me alone in his office.It took about three minutes to get my self out of my head,the words he spoke "I need one who understands consequences". "One," "One?"what does he mean by that? I wondered if I had unlocked a life changing opportunity or if I had unknowingly offered myself as a sacrificial lamb to be used, maybe now or later.