"There's something wrong with the wine!"
Bella stared hard into William's eyes, searching for any sign of drunkenness.
But his gaze was crystal clear.
No matter how good someone's tolerance was, after nine bottles of red wine, they shouldn't still look like that.
William paused when he heard her accusation. He held out the last bottle to her without a word, but his expression said it all.
Think the wine's fake? Then drink it yourself.
Bella shot him a glare, snatched the bottle from his hand, and—mimicking him—tilted her head back and took a deep swig.
The moment the wine hit her throat, she realized it—this wine was real.
The burn, the flavor, the weight—it was all there.
She choked and coughed, slamming the bottle back onto the table. Her expression shifted instantly.
If the wine was legit… then how the hell had William downed nine bottles?
William didn't say a word. He simply picked up the same bottle she'd just drunk from and started chugging again.
"You—!" Bella's eyes widened.
He was drinking from the same bottle she'd just had her mouth on.
That bottle had her saliva on it.
Was this… indirect kissing?
Since she could remember, Bella had never had any kind of intimate contact with a man. Not even close.
Now, watching William casually drink from her bottle, her cheeks flushed pink. She wasn't sure if it was the wine or something else, but her face was definitely heating up.
Either way, she felt… offended.
"Finished!" William set the empty bottle down on the table with a grin, looking straight at Bella.
Ten bottles. Ten grand each.
Easiest hundred thousand he'd ever made.
Before Bella could respond, Maria rushed over, poured a glass of wine, and quickly said, "Miss Bell, William just started today. He's still learning the ropes. I apologize on his behalf. As for that little bet you two joked about—let's just forget it, alright? There's really no need to go through with it. Our bar has policies, and William isn't allowed to accept money from customers like that."
Maria had sized up the situation. Bella clearly wasn't just some rich girl—she was serious money. The kind of customer you didn't piss off.
She'd already dropped a fortune on wine, and now she was being challenged by a new hire?
If William walked away with a hundred grand and Bella walked away pissed, that was a net loss for the bar.
Best move? Don't let William take the money, and give Bella a graceful out.
Bella was already in a complicated mood, and Maria's words gave her just enough of an excuse to let it go. She shot William a sharp look and said coldly, "Then I'm not giving it to you."
William smiled faintly. "Even if you did, I might not take it."
That smile—half teasing, half smug—might've been charming if he'd kept his mouth shut. But the second he spoke, even Maria felt like he was poking the bear.
"You're the boss, right?" Bella turned to Maria, biting her lip. "I don't want to see him right now. Get him out of my sight."
"I'm really sorry," Maria said quickly, bowing her head. "He really did just start today. I'll make sure to train him properly." She shot William a sharp look and said curtly, "William, come with me."
William followed her obediently, leaving the K8 booth behind.
Once they were out of earshot, Maria turned on him. "Didn't you say you knew how to handle women? That's how you treat a customer?"
William blinked innocently. "I never said I knew how to charm women. My job's to sell drinks, right? I just sold ten bottles."
Maria was momentarily speechless.
Normally, if you wanted a female customer to buy drinks at a bar, being good-looking wasn't enough—you also had to be smooth, charming, and know how to sweet-talk.
But William?
He'd nearly pissed Bella off to the point of explosion.
And yet… he'd just sold ten bottles of high-end red wine. That was undeniable.
First day on the job, first sale: $16,000.
That was a record for the bar.
If Maria hadn't stepped in earlier, William might've walked away with an extra hundred grand in his pocket.
But now, he stood there calm as ever, like none of it had fazed him.
Maria let out a long breath. "Anyway, just don't piss off the customers again. For this sale, I'll give you a ten percent commission—$1,600. You'll get it with your paycheck at the end of the month."
She'd seen enough to know William wasn't ordinary. Guys like him? You couldn't find them even if you searched with a flashlight.
"Go help out at Nicholas's table next," she instructed. "And let me say it again—don't offend the guests. If a guy shows up at the table you're working, find an excuse to step away. Don't steal the spotlight."
Moonlit Harbor Pub had private rooms, of course. Most women who came looking for eye candy didn't hang around the main floor.
To put it bluntly, if a woman came here looking for a handsome young man, she was probably lonely enough that things weren't going to stay innocent for long.
But Maria had her rules. The rich ladies who frequented her bar knew the deal—if they wanted to sleep with the good-looking male staff, they had to earn it. If money didn't work, they couldn't force it.
Of course, some of the guys were already past the point of caring. As long as the price was right, they didn't mind going along with whatever the customer wanted.
Maria had seen it all over the years. In this line of work, it wasn't easy for a man to make money off wealthy women.
Some of those women were old, fat, and not exactly easy on the eyes. Worse, they could be demanding—sometimes even degrading. But if a guy could stomach it, the payout for one night could be enough to live large for a while.
"William, do your best," Maria said, her tone softening. "I've got high hopes for you. I'll assign you to the younger, prettier clients. If you don't want to sleep with them, just stick to your boundaries. If anything goes wrong, I'll back you up."
She wasn't trying to pressure him. William looked young—probably still in school. If some rich cougar pushed him too far, it could leave a scar that lasted a lifetime.
"Thanks, Maria." William nodded, then followed her over to Nicholas's table.
The women at that table were all in their thirties, decked out in flashy jewelry and designer clothes. Their style was a little tacky, but they radiated wealth.
The moment they saw William, their eyes lit up.
Brighter than any man's reaction to a beautiful woman.
No doubt about it—these ladies had money. Some were married, sure, but their husbands were older now.
And older men? Well, let's just say their "performance" didn't always meet expectations.
There's a saying: At your peak, you meet someone at theirs.
William and Nicholas were both in their prime. And these women? Once Maria finished the introductions, they were already calling for a private room to sing karaoke.
What they really wanted, though?
Only they knew.