Ares and I get out of the car and we make our way to the door. There used to be a large man sitting on a stool just outside the door, under the awning. Now that man’s been replaced by a thinner man in a business suit. The moment he sees me, his face lights up.
“Mr. Orlov,” he says. “Nice to see you again.”
I have to pause to look at him. He’s thinner… but if I picture him with a baseball hat and a dirty tank top… “Junie… right?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow. Hardly recognized you. You look good.”
He pats his nearly non-existent belly. “Had to get in shape, you know what I mean?”
I just nod and smile. “So, the manager around? I’ve got business with her.”
“Yeah, she’s in her office.” He reaches for the walkie-talkie on his belt. “Want me to let her know you’re here?”
“Please.”
He gets on his walkie-talkie and announces me. I’m half expecting her to respond that she’s not there, but she doesn’t. Instead, she says, “On my way.”
“Give her a second,” Junie says to me.
I nod in acceptance. “We’re going to get a drink at the bar.”
We walk to the bar and order a drink. As the bartender does his magic, I notice Ares’ eyes following the ass of a cocktail waitress as she passes by. I can’t blame him for being distracted. I look around this place and I can see how it triggers a response in him… and everyone else. Almost every table is full. The girls are all strikingly beautiful. Silicone tits bounce past me as a dancer leads a customer by the hand to the VIP room.
The dancers on the poles are skilled performers. As the bartender slides the drinks to us, I find myself drawn to a dark-haired one in a glittery red G-string as she spins around the pole, pulls herself up, and lands in a split on the stage. She’s showered with approval in the form of dollar bills.
“This is like a fantasy land,” I hear Ares say over the thumping music. “Mind if I partake in some of the festivities while you?—”
“Go ahead. Don’t get lost, though.”
He downs the shot he’s ordered and stands, eyeing a blonde with pigtails and a school girl outfit. “Sir, yes, sir.”
He walks off, and I turn my attention back to the stage. The dark-haired girl gathers her money as the next song starts and another woman saunters on stage. The DJ’s voice echoes around us.Let’s give it up for Brandyyyyy!”
“Enjoying the show, Mr. Orlov?”
I look around to see Ember standing beside me. She looks like an angel in the darkness. Her white hair hangs down past her shoulders with gold ringlets at the ends. She’s wearing a pale colored blouse that reflects the flickering colored lights from the stage and a pencil skirt with a hem that stops halfway down her thighs. One side of her mouth is turned up, giving her a mischievous look as she regards me.
“I am. Very much, in fact,” I respond. She chuckles.
“Well, you’re not here for just the sights, I take it.”
“No. Not at all.”
She nods, the polite smile still on her face despite the question in her eyes. “What can I do for you?”
I take a sip from the drink I just ordered. Mmm. Whiskey. High quality, too.
“I was hoping if you had a second, we could talk about what comes next for this place now that Omar’s gone.”
She narrows her eyes slightly, then she nods and says, “You’re the one who sent Mr. Stanislov to look at our books. I wasn’t aware that you had a stake in this business.”
“More than a stake,” I say with an eyebrow raise.
She nods slowly. “So, I guess this is you telling me that you and your organization will be taking over as owners, then?”
I can’t help but chuckle. Smart woman. Maybe a little too smart. “My ‘organization’? What do you know about my ‘organization’?”
