[ WP ] You 're a successful womanizer and across the room you see a beautiful yet disinterested woman who you must have .

Quietly slipping my ring into my pocket, I pushed myself against the ominously large wooden doorway of the newly-opened bar. I found myself exerting more force than I'd anticipated, as though the entrance itself wanted nothing to do with me. That'd make two of us, then - though I did n't pause and consider the meaning of this or anything pretentious like that. I was here for fun, not philosophy. And so, I threw the doorway open and quickly slipped in before it had the chance to shut on me. 
 
 My eyes had trouble adjusting to the light. It was late, making the contrast between outside and here the same as night and day. A single, bulky television set hung above the bar tables, providing a constant stream of football. `` Monday Night Football''... then, it was Monday. I'd always had trouble keeping up with dates. They were never really my thing. After a quick glance at the screen I diverted my gaze to the stage. A small band, seemingly local, was providing gentle ambient music to the scene. Was this jazz or country...? I did n't even consider it could be possible for music to be so ambiguous genre-wise. A quick glance was all I needed there as well. I slipped my hand into my pocket and checked my ring, just in case. Of course it was still there, and quickly I'd realized that I'd been standing about at the entrance for a minute or two. I quickly made my way towards the nearest bar counter. 
 
 `` What'll it be for ya?'' came a voice out of nowhere, even as I sat down. I'd had my eyes on a group of girls towards the stage for a bit and had n't been paying attention. It was the bartender, of course. A short, stubby little man with a shaved head but by no means a shaved face. I briefly imagined the difficulty he would have drinking from such large mugs without getting his impressively long beard soaked with ale. I almost laughed - what a strange thought. 
 
 `` Nothin' for me, not yet.'' I made sure to say'not yet' so as to avoid being removed from the building. I would n't be drinking today, yet I've learned from past experiences to not let anybody involved with the bar know that. Lost me a good catch once that way. Never again. I glanced over in the direction of the little party of cuties hanging out down by the stage. `` But,'' I continued while directing his gaze towards the ladies with my head, `` I'm thinkin' one of those ladies could stand to have a bit more, yeah?'' 
 
 The bartender - whose nametag, claiming his name to be `` Chuck'', had just caught my eye - tried to cover up a sigh yet failed to do so. Chuck had been mindlessly wiping down the same section of the counter since I'd sat down, clearly expecting something different from myself. 
 
 Sorry, pal. Ca n't help myself tonight. My money's just as good as any, though. 
 
 Chuck gazed over at the girls for far longer than what one would describe as a simple glance. The word `` gaze'' came to mind. Hell, he was looking at them longer than I did. What was he doing? Weighing his options? I could n't help but lose a little bit of my friendly smile. What's the big deal to you? She's just a girl, and money is money. I'd even pay extra if he resisted. 
 
 `` They're just here to have some fun, sir,'' he politely noted. `` See the one on the left? Just turned twenty-one today. Came here with her friends on a whim. I would n't want to invade on that if I were you, sir.'' 
 
 `` Ah, so, first time to a bar huh? Well, y'know, legally anyways. Quite a looker, that one - I'd say she's no first-timer to bars.'' I rambled on, still staring at the lady he'd pointed out to me. She was the one, no doubt. He'd even been nice enough to give me some details on her, though he certainly did n't mean it that way. `` Girl's got a lot goin' for her though, for sure. Looks like a real animal, yeah? Would n't even be shocked to hear she could drink more than me! One drink'll do her no harm, I think. Three drinks'd be nice and safe for her, even.'' 
 
 `` Sir, I do n't think... I'm not in any position to tell these things myself. I assure you that the drink itself is not the problem. It's just-'' 
 
 Words came out of my mouth before he even finished his sentence. `` Eh? No problem, you say? C'mon then, one little drink. I'll pay extra, I will. She'll be nice and safe, wo n't do any harm to her. She's got all her friends to back her up, too.'' I stopped looking at the girls and focused on the bartender, who was shaping up to be my biggest obstacle between me and the girl. Morality is admirable, sure, but what's he think I'm going to do to the girl? Never anything without consent. 
 
 He followed suit, now looking directly at me, yet still wiping down that same part of the counter. It almost seemed like he was pressing down far harder than he'd been earlier, though it could just be me. After a moment though, and to my utmost surprise, he stopped wiping and placed the rag down. 
 
 `` Sir,'' he began with a sigh, `` do you know where you are?'' 
 
 His eyes held no hint of sarcasm or insincerity. Suddenly, the atmosphere became extremely uncomfortable, even for myself. I could n't help but fidget ever so slightly in my seat. 
 
 `` I ca n't say I do, not specifically anyways. Just know it's a bar. That not good enough?'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry sir, but not quite good enough. I'm Chuck. The owner of this bar, Chuck's Tavern.'' He stood up straight now, making him quite a bit taller than me, as I remained seated and heavily slouched against the low counters. `` I do n't appreciate people like you coming into my property and treating it like some sort of brothel, you hear me?'' 
 
 His voice was heavy. Heavy in that it almost made me shake, and heavy in that it was shockingly loud and focused on myself. I glanced quickly over towards the stage to see that what I'd feared had been true - the girls had heard the commotion and had fixed their eyes on myself and Chuck. I shrugged, trying to take control of the situation, but I knew my mission was going south quickly. Mindlessly checking my pockets, I grabbed my ring to ensure it was safe. At least I've still got this, I thought, before swiveling on my stool back to face Chuck. 
 
 `` Gotcha Chuck, no harm meant here, just wanted to see those girls faces when they'd gotten a gift from a nice stranger like myself, nothin' more, I swear. If ya still think that not true, though, I could settle for a nice drink myself, no need for nothin' more than that. Pay you for your troubles n' all.'' As the words flowed gracefully out of my mouth, I felt like the smoothest man to walk the Earth. Towards the back, a few giggles came up - some, I thought, even came from the ladies watching me at the stage. 
 
 Chuck looked at me in such a way that I swear I'd been interrogated, switching from eye to eye and squinting a little bit more each second. I felt the tension grow, even after I'd attempted to diffuse the situation. I wondered to myself why I did n't just get up and leave at that point. I would imagine that the eternity I felt his eyes on me was not an actual eternity, though I would n't be surprised if it was close, though at some point he did lift his heavy gaze off of me and go back to wiping down the counter. Never thought I would've missed seeing him do that. 
 
 `` Alright, sir. It's not a problem. What'll it be for you?'' he asked, with a hint of a smile that could either be entirely real or entirely fake. 
 
 `` Get me a Black Velvet, would you?'' I asked as politely as I could. Bringing back Chuck's wrath was something I was n't ready to do. 
 
 `` Of course, sir. One moment.'' 
 
 I was glad he knew what I'd ordered. For a moment I considered he may not understand, and might've thought I was trying to make a fool out of him. Despite his strong sense of morality, the guy seems to know what he's doing, I thought. Perhaps we'll even be able to put this behind us, and maybe I'll come back again in the future. Just for drinks, of course. 
 
 Suddenly, however, the relative silence and tranquility of the post-war bar scene was interrupted by Chuck's yelling voice. `` Sharla! Where'd you put all the damn champagne!?'' 
 
 I had n't noticed anybody else working at the bar at that time. There were very few people - in fact, aside from the group of ladies, there may very well have been less than three other individuals present. Turning around in confusion, I searched for this Sharla... 
 
... when I saw the same lady I'd eyed up earlier speak up. Or, rather, shout. `` Dad, I already told you I'd moved it to the very back of the storage room!'' 
 
 I may not be the brightest individual, but the moment she began to speak I realized my mistake. The revelation hit me full force. I'd never been punched before, not square in the face, but that's the only comparison I could possibly make. 
 
 I tried to take home the owner's daughter. 
 
 `` Thank you, sweetie!'' shouted Chuck back, as he turned to me and announced he'd be right back with my drink. I simply sat there, stunned. It might've just been my imagination, but it seemed like the smile he gave me before leaving to get the goods was one made not of friendliness but of malevolence. He knew I'd embarrassed myself, even if nobody else knew what happened. Well, that's fine. I'll admit I should've seen it coming. 
 
 The music died down in the bar as the local band left the stage, the last performance of the night. The soft lighting grew dimmer and dimmer to warn customers of the bar's upcoming closing time. Football was over, the single television hanging above the bar counter blinked off. And when Chuck, the family-friendly owner and bartender of the newly opened Chuck's Tavern, returned to deliver my drink... I had already left, ring in pocket, entirely defeated.
