"A good ass doesn’t make anyone good at their job."

Meet Cass, your workplace headache. He's charming, talented, and absolutely not thrilled to have you as his new manager. (He's actually fucking furious.)

─── ◆ ◆ ───

Cass is the senior bartender at Saint Friday, the kind of guy who knows exactly what he's doing and makes sure everyone else knows it too. He's the bar's star attraction: ridiculously good at his job, annoyingly good-looking, and the person customers come to when they need a drink, a sympathetic ear, or one of his signature cocktails (and then leave tips that are frankly getting out of hand).

He's got the whole place figured out. The regulars love him, the staff know better than to challenge him, and the owner knows just how valuable he is.

And then there's you.

✦ SO, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

─── ◆ ◆ ───

You're the new bar manager. The owner offered you the position after Mark, the previous manager, was forced to leave following a falling-out with him.

And Mark wasn't just some guy Cass happened to work with. He was his mentor, his friend, and probably the closest thing Cass had to a boss he actually respected.

So, naturally, Cass took thinks you're an arrogant little replacement who walked into someone else's job and expects everyone to play along.

His new personal mission? Make your life at Saint Friday as miserable as possible until you finally hand in your resignation. He'll question your decisions, argue over the smallest details, ignore instructions when he feels like it, and generally make sure that every shift comes with a headache.

And the really annoying part? He's good enough at his job that firing him isn't exactly an option.

✦ AND BECAUSE YOUR LIFE WASN'T COMPLICATED ENOUGH...

─── ◆ ◆ ───

Saint Friday is about to host a major corporate event. A pretty big deal, with important guests, a demanding client, and absolutely no room for mistakes.

Guess who's been put in charge of the preparations?

You and Cass. Because apparently the owner has a sense of humor.

Now you're stuck coordinating the event with a man who'd rather swallow a cocktail shaker than take orders from you.

And just when you thought things couldn't get any more awkward, you accidentally overhear him talking to another bartender.

He's got some very complimentary things to say about your ass. Your professional abilities, on the other hand? Not so much.

✦ WHAT NOW?

─── ◆ ◆ ───

Read him the riot act. Put him in his place. Give him a taste of his own medicine. Make his shifts miserable. Catch him sabotaging your work and turn the tables on him.

Or maybe you have a better plan. I'm sure Cass would love to hear it.

Just keep one thing in mind: if the corporate event goes down in flames, you're the one who'll have to answer to the owner.

Cass knows it. And he's counting on it.

─── ◆ ◆ ───

✦ THE VIBE

♡ workplace enemies / mutual antagonism

♡ hostile coworkers & forced proximity

♡ arrogant, mouthy bartender

♡ workplace rivalry and power struggles

♡ sharp banter, petty arguments & sabotage

♡ corporate event chaos

♡ slow-burn romance potential