Chapter Seven
Carly
There were days when I found myself second guessing my decision to not let Harry coerce me into fucking the customers. It would have put a little more money in my pocket even if my pride would have taken a huge hit. Today was starting out to be one of those days.
“It's not fair! Ricky has that new game I really want and he keeps bragging! How come I can't have it too, Mama?”
It broke my heart when I couldn't give my son the things he wanted. Like now. “I'm sorry,Vita Mia, you know I would get it for you right now if I could. Maybe next payday.” Even if it meant I went without.
“I know, Mama. I'm sorry.”
His pouting made my heart hurt. “It's all right,Amato. I know it's hard when Ricky brags about the things his mama gives him. I have to leave for work soon, Eli. You be a good boy for Risa.”
“Are you gonna be home before I go to sleep?”
“I don't know,Vita Mia. I'll try.” I kissed the top of his head before I ruffled his hair. “I love you to the moon and back,Amato.”
“Love you to the moon and back, too, Mama,” came his reply.
“Don't worry, if you don't make it home before he falls asleep, I'll have him call to tell you goodnight.”
“Thanks, Risa. Tonight is supposed to be an early night but we both know that doesn't always happen.”
“No, it doesn't. See you when you get home tonight.”
By the time I got to work, I was already dreading the night. Sure, Harry was gone, but that didn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. He wasn't the only one who pressured the dancers into fucking customers for money. It also didn't change the fact I still had to take my clothes off for a bunch of horny drunks who don't know how to keep from putting their grubby hands places they didn't belong. On top of that, there was no telling what kind of boss Gio was going to turn out to be or who he was going to bring in to manage the club.
Entering the club through the employee entrance, my eyes immediately went to where Gio stood at the bar with two other men. Neither man was familiar. A frown creased my brow. Who were they and where were Nick, the bartender, and Terry, who was a piss poor bouncer but he'd been there for years?
“Carly. Just the woman I was waiting on. Come here a minute.”
My frown deepened at the summons and the use of my real name. “It's Lola once I walk through those doors.”
“Not anymore.”
“Excuse me?” I couldn't help but bristle at his words.
“Relax,Bella, it's a good thing. As you already know, Harry is no longer here, which means Dangerous Curves needs a new manager.”
“Which of you gentlemen will we be answering to?” I assumed one of the strangers would be my new boss.
“Neither. They will be answering toyou.”
I blinked at Gio. Then blinked again. “What did you just say?”
“Who better to manage the club than someone who has been up on that stage, someone who will have the dancers' best interests at heart? I spoke with some of the dancers last night, after you left. They all said the same thing. Of all the dancers here, you stood up to Harry the most, not just for yourself but for them as well. You refused to be coerced into fucking the customers and he wouldn't fire you because you could get him into too much hot water with the cops. That's the kind of person who should be managing the club.”
I stared at him. “You're serious.”
“I'm serious. It's more work but the hours are better. I'll even give you free reign to hire an assistant manager to share the load. You'll of course get a pay raise if you accept the position, and before you say anything, I have already given every single employee a raise because they were being underpaid. They will also have medical insurance, provided by the company, and benefits, including paid vacation and sick pay. What do you say?”
What do I say? As if I'd be stupid and pass up the opportunity? Unless there was a catch. “What's the catch?”
“No catch. This is a straight forward job offer.”
Two things made the decision for me; getting to hire an assistant manager and the raise. “I say you have yourself a new manager.”
