Abby frowned hard at her newly acquired phone, cussing the offending device under her breath. How dare he order her around like that? Who did he think he was? Oh...she snorted loudly...that's right, he's Mr. Adam Steele. She felt the sudden urge to snap the damn thing in half and leave it in the backseat of the car. Mumbling to herself, she turned it off with a flourish which did little to elevate her irritation and unceremoniously shoved it into her backpack. There it would stay out of sight and out of mind until she could figure out what to do about her persistent suitor.

Slipping out of the car, she gave the door a satisfactory slam, but her gratification was short lived when she heard the sound of driver's side window sliding down. Sighing deeply, she turned reluctantly around.

"What time do you wish for me to pick you up, Ms. Lane?"

"I don't," Abby snapped, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

Erich made no reply, only continued to regard her expectantly. Abby rolled her eyes. She was acting like a petulant child, she knew that, but it was difficult not to when she was so angry over the sudden takeover of her life by his infuriating boss who didn't even deem it necessary to say goodbye. Flinching inwardly at the thought, she tramped down the hurt feeling it caused.

Smiling sweetly at Erich, she tried again. "I won't be requiring your services, thank you."

"Mr. Steele was very clear, ma'am." He turned his gaze to the windscreen, briefly before turning back to her. "I am to pick you up and deliver you home after work until his return."

His tone made her bristle. "And if I don't tell you what time I get off work?"

"I will sit in the parking lot and wait." Erich shrugged, quirking a bow at her.

"I hope you enjoy the wait then." Turning on her heel, she started marching towards the entrance of the Kit Cat Club. She was about half-way to the door, when her conscious woke up her guilt, making her shoulders sag in shame. Taking a steadying breath, she turned back around and walked up to the car. "I'm sorry," she apologized to Erich. "I'm just not use to...," she waved her hands around, encompassing everything around her, "any of this." Frustration making her voice crack.

"I understand, Ms. Lane." He grinned, slightly. "Mr. Steele can be a bit overpowering at times, but, I can tell you," Erich leveled his eyes at her, his expression serious, "he has only your best interests in mind."

Abby looked nervously at him. "Why? Why me, Erich?"

"That is something you will have to ask him." He gave her a small smile.

Shaking her head, Abby threw her hands up in the air. "I get off work at 11," she muttered.

Giving her a little nod, Erich rolled up the window and she watched him drive away. Her mind whirred crazily on how her life had suddenly become so out of control. One minute she had been living a boring, but somewhat safe life of complete anonymity and now...she felt like the wizard in the Wizard of Oz when the curtain fell. Exposed.

She could feel her resolve slipping further away each time she encountered his compelling presence. Surrendering little by little to the command that radiated out of the man in waves. Melting her determination with his touches and making her fall under the power of his lips, until she was nothing but quivering puddle of mush.

A beat up brown sedan pulled noisily into the parking lot, snapping her out of her thoughts. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself to block out the chill which wasn't caused by the weather and headed into the club.

Opening the door, she yelped in surprise when she was greeted with an exuberant bear hug from Trevor as he lifted her off her feet and spun her around in circles.

"Hello, kitten!" he boomed. "We missed you."

Laughing as he whirled her around, Abby clung on to his massive shoulders. "I've only been gone a few days," she said breathlessly.

"I know." He set her back on her feet and smiled down at her, clucking her under the chin. "But, it's not the same without you around."

"You mean there isn't anyone to referee you and Scotty," she teased, poking him in the ribs.

"Muah?" Trevor reared back incredulously. "He's the one who keeps wandering out of his cage at the zoo."

"You're terrible."

"And that, kitten, is why you love me," he chuckled, wrapping his beefy arm around her shoulder, he pulled her in and kissed her soundly on the top of her head.

Abby slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "How come you have bouncer duty tonight? Where's Jack?" Craning her neck, she looked around the club for Trevor's carbon copy.

"He's in the back breaking up a cat fight between Dolly Parton and Beyoncé." He rolled his hazel eyes. "Apparently, Beyoncé has absconded with Dolly's cleavage tape."

"Oh God," Abby giggled. "Not again. Mike should know better than to schedule those to on the same night."

"You'd think," Trevor snorted. "Especially after the whole silicone padded pantie diabolical." He shuddered dramatically. Turning to check ID's of a couple of young men, he gave them the bouncer once over. Letting them enter, he turned his evaluating gaze back to Abby. "Is everything okay with you, kitten?" he asked, cocking his head to the side.

Her smile faltered, slightly. "Couldn't be better," she fibbed. "I've got to go clock in." Giving a little wave, she hurried off before Trevor could probe any deeper.

Though she considered him one of her dearest friends, she wasn't 100 percent positive how he would react if she told him about Adam. Knowing Trevor, it wouldn't be favorable. The bouncer took his responsibilities above and beyond the call of duty and when it came to her...Jo Jo was right. He would tear Adam from limb to limb if he caught wind of what had transpired since the last time she'd been at work.

Sighing, she entered the employee lounge. A small room which housed the employee lockers, changing room, restroom and a couple of couches. As mad as she was at Mr. Steele at the moment, she wasn't prepared to send him to the ER via Trevor. Though it would server him right for being so rude, she thought opening her locker.

"Welcome back, sweetie." Steph said, walking in. Wrapping her arms around Abby's shoulders, she gave her a peck on the cheek. "How's the ankle?"

"It's almost as good as new, although I doubt I'll ever dance again." Abby smiled, giving her a hug back.

Steph laughed. "Oh, sweetie. I've seen you dance. No big loss there," she teased, winking. Leaning against the lockers, she twirled her tray on her index finger with the agility of a pro basketball player. "So...you and Adam Steele, huh?"

Abby jerked her head up. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't be coy with me," Steph said with a knowing smile on her face.

"I..." Abby gulped. "I'm not being coy. I'm being confused as hell," she muttered, turning her telltale blushing cheeks away from Steph's prying eyes as she dug through her backpack for her apron.

"Yay! Chore here," Layla announced, walking in excitedly. Plopping her slim frame on the couch, she propped up her lemon yellow heels on the armrest. "Has she spilled the beans yet?"

"No, we were just getting to that," Steph supplied with a grin.

"We were not getting into anything." Abby slammed her locker shut, narrowing her eyes at the two women.

"I want in on the girl talk." Scotty sashayed in, easing himself onto the cushions next to Layla. Crossing his legs, he hugged one knee up to his chest and looked excitedly at Abby. "Come on girlfriend, give us the good stuff and don't leave out a single detail."

Abby turned and thumped her head against her locker a few times. Holy crap on a cracker, I should have stayed home. "Who told you?" she croaked.

"Jo Jo." Three sets of voices answered in unison.

He's dead. I'm going to jail for the rest of my life for the murder of my roommate and I don't care, she thought to herself. "I don't know what any of you are talking about. He was just a customer," she huffed, sending them each a quelling look in hopes they would drop it.

"Just a customer?" Scotty snorted. "I don't know about you, honey, but none of my customers ever show up at my doorstep looking all hot and drool worthy."

Layla sighed melodramatically. "Jew are so lucky. My last boyfriend didn't even have a yob."

"That's job, dearie." Scotty rolled his eyes. "Besides, wasn't your last boyfriend 18? That's not dating. That's babysitting."

"Chew are so beeshey." Layla tossed a rolled up napkin at him.

"Stop it!" Abby moaned. "Nobody has a boyfriend, okay?"

Three pairs of eyes turned to her before they all burst out laughing.

"Me thinks thou doth protest too much," Steph snickered behind her tray.

"I don't know what you're being so secretive about," Scotty complained. "You could do a lot worse than having an uber billionaire at your beck and call."

"He's not at my beck and call," Abby groaned, covering her face with her hands.

"Yes, he is," Layla sang, giving her a wide smile. "Jo Jo said he bought chew a phone."

"Jo Jo needs to mind his own business," she retorted back harshly. "Look, Mr. Steele is not my boyfriend. We aren't anything. He came over, we talked," Abby took an unsteady breath, "and he left. End of story." Hopefully Jo Jo hadn't divulged everything that happened that night. Although, showing restraint wasn't going to save him. She still was going to bitch slap him so hard, Google wouldn't be able to find him.

Steph put an arm around her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze. "I saw how he looked at you. That man is crazy about you and you know what? It's about damn time you found somebody. I have a feeling he could be your Mr. Right." She gave Abby a stern look. "So don't fuck this up, missy."

"Amen, sister," Scotty piped up, rearranging himself on the couch until he was reclined back and examining his nails which were painted a brilliant purple.

"How do you know he's my Mr. Right?" Abby asked, a little taken aback by Steph's declaration.

Scotty sniffed. "Because we have all dated Mr. Douchebag, Mr. Asshole, Mr. Cheater and the guy I'm currently living with...Mr. Commitment Phobe." He rolled his eyes heavenward. "We can spot those types of guys a mile away."

"Jew aren't kidding." Layla crossed her arms over her chest, nodding in agreement. "Chew should listen to him."

"All men are fucking assholes," came the slurred comment from Clara as she leaned unsteadily in the doorframe of the lounge holding a glass filled with an amber colored liquid.

All four of them turned in surprise as she staggered into the room.

"What? I work here. Aren't I allowed in on the gossip?" she sneered, taking a healthy drink out of her glass.

"Of...course you are," Abby said, turning wide beseeching eyes to everyone in the group. They all nodded their heads and mumbled in agreement.

"Ha! You don't mean that. You're just like him!" Clara glared at Abby, sloshing some of her drink as she pointed to all of them. "Admit it. You think I'm a worthless drunk." She stumbled, but caught herself on the edge of the couch. "Just like he does."

"We don't think you're worthless, Clara." Abby said softly. "We're worried about you." She took a step towards her. "You have a drinking problem and you need help."

"I don't have a problem," she hiccupped. "You have the fucking problem. Not me."

"Honey, maybe you should lay down." Scotty got up off the sofa, holding his hand out to Clara to help her sit.

"Get away from me." She shoved him away hard. "If you were any more of a dick, Scotty, the gay guys around here will start sucking your forehead," she hissed, laughing at his crestfallen expression.

"Clara, stop it! He was only trying to help." Abby crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her. Drunk or not, she wasn't going to stand there and let Clara abuse her friends.

"And you..." Clara jerked her drink in Abby's direction. "What do you know about anything? Little Miss Fucking In Everybody's Business?"

"I know when you sober up, you'll regret behaving this way."

Clara snorted. "Yeah...I don't think so pipsqueak." She tilted the glass back and drained the rest of whatever was in it. Smacking her lips in satisfaction, she looked at it for a minute before she hurtled it with everything she had against the wall. Smiling in glee at their screams when it shattered and rained everyone with shards of broken glass.

"What the hell is the matter with you, Clara?" Steph shouted, running over to Layla who sat whimpering holding a hand over her left eye, blood oozed from underneath her fingers.

"You are such crazy bitch!" Scotty snarled, pulling out his bartender towel and applying it to Layla's head.

"Oh...did I do that?" Clara mocked.

Abby bent down and checked on Layla who had a nasty looking gash above her eye. "You need to leave," she fumed. "Now."

"Make me."

"That's enough!" Mike roared from the doorway, fury contorting his features.

Clara spun around to face him, weaving unsteadily on her feet. "Oh-oh," she giggled. "Parties over guys," she snickered over her shoulder.

Mike brushed past Clara who leaned against the couch, drunkenly cackling. Bending down, he pulled the towel away from Layla's face and inspected the cut. Pulling her gently to her feet, he turned to Steph and Scotty.

"Take her to my office and have Trevor take a look at her head," he said gruffly. Watching them hurriedly help Layla out the door, he narrowed his eyes at Clara. "Abby, get out on the floor," he said darkly.

"No!" Clara clutched Abby's arm as she walked past. "I think she needs to stay." Cuddling her in her arms, Clara stroked her hair. "She wants to stay. Don't you, dolce bella?" she crooned bitterly in Abby's ear, glaring at Mike.

The smell of the liquor on her breath made Abby wince. The aroma brought unwanted memories floating to surface and she had to struggle to keep them and the panic at bay.

"Let her go, Clara. This is between you and me." Mike's mouth was set in a stubborn line as he crossed his arms over his chest and continued to scowl at Clara.

"Whatever you have to say to me you can say to dolce bella here," she shouted at him. "Yes, Mike. I know what you call your little girlfriend."

Abby gasped, jerking out of her hold. "What are you talking about?"

"Clara, for fuck sakes." Mike blew out a frustrated breath and angrily plowed his hands through his hair. "She's not my girlfriend," he growled.

"Oh?" She narrowed her eyes at him and put her hands on her hips. "But you listen to her, don't you, Mike?" she hissed. "She's the reason you want to send me away!" She clumsily yanked out a folded up brochure out of her pocket, tossing at him. It landed on his chest and fluttered to the floor. "Admit it! I heard you two the other night. You were pretty fucking cozy." A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Clara...," Abby started to explain.

"Shut up!" She pointed a shaking finger at Abby. "It's your fault he wants to send me away," she slurred.

"Nobody wants to send you away, Clara. We...I just want you to get help," Mike stated firmly, yet calmly. "You can't keep showing up for work drunk off your ass."

"I don't need help!" She yelled, yanking at her hair as she stomped around the lounge.

"Yes, you do," Abby said quietly. "Look at what you did, Clara. You hurt Layla."

"I don't care," she snorted, waving a dismissing hand in the air.

"That's not true." Abby shook her head. "It's the booze talking, Clara. Inside, I know you care a great deal." Talking a step towards her, Abby pleaded with her. "Please, let Mike help you."

Clara whirled around. "What do you know?" She glared at her. "You don't know a fucking thing about me." She stomped over to her locker. "You know what? You can have each other. I'm sick of all of you. I quit!" She jerked her locker open and started yanking out her bag, stuffing things into it haphazardly.

"Clara, please don't do this," Mike said quietly, his face resigned. "If you leave, I'm not coming after you this time. You'll be on your own."

She laughed drily, turning unfocused eyes to him. "I've always been on my own, haven't I Mike?" Slamming the locker, she stumbled towards him until she was weaving only a few feet away. "I had my heart set on you...once. Who knew love could be so fucking cruel?" She swallowed hard. "Look at me!" Bringing a trembling hand up, she caressed her scar that ran the length of her face. "Haven't I shed enough blood for you to earn a little fucking respect?" Blinking rapidly, tears poured out of her eyes in small rivulets. "Enough for you to love me?"

Mike paled. "Clara..." he began, pain strangling his deep voice in a choke hold.

"Save it for someone who gives a shit." Brushing past him, she weaved her way out of the lounge.

Sagging onto the couch, Mike picked up the forgotten brochure and buried his face in his hands. His back bowed in misery. Abby stood quietly, not sure what to do. He didn't even seem to know she was still there. Part of her wanted to go after Clara and demand to know what her problem was, while the other part's heart was breaking in two for the both of them.

Deciding her boss needed her more, she walked over to Mike and sat next to him on the sofa, leaning her head tiredly against his shoulder. Her shift hadn't officially started yet and she already felt wrung out. "You did the right thing, Mike," she whispered softly.

They sat there in companionable silence for a while before he turned to look at her. Sadness etched in every nook and cranny of his handsome features. A small half-hearted smile ghosted his lips. "If it's so right, bella, then why does it feel all wrong?"

Abby sighed deeply. A lump formed in the back of her throat at Mike's lost expression. She'd been asking herself that very question every time she tried to do the right thing and turn Adam away. It was the right thing to do, but it still felt so horribly wrong and stole a little piece of her away every single time she did it.

Her eye's searched his face, absorbing the sorrow she knew only too well. "I don't know," she answered, leaning her head back against his shoulder.

I wanted to take this time to thank you for reading!! I really hope you enjoyed this installment of Bending Steele and you'll consider giving it a vote. I can't tell you how much your support means to me and how much it motivates me to keep going.

If you find any errors along the way, don't be afraid to point them out and I enjoy any recommendations or critiques you may have. As always, I will try and update once a week, usually on Thursdays, but if you don't see an update here, check out my other works When Roses Collide or FANGED. Thanks again!!