Parker grunted and frowned.
Shit. The man was not impressed with me.
“This job is not as frivolous as it seems, Ryder. Bottle service is not an excuse to party. Customers are often overly friendly and want you to party with them. My BSBs are allowed one drink or shot every two hours. Most don’t even drink that much. It gets old. They pour themselves water or apple juice and shoot that as often as the client asks.”
That little shit. No wonder stick-up-his-ass Alex was happy to down every round we’d asked him for and never wobbled once. He’d been cheating all night.
“That makes sense. Hard to do your job if you’re sloppy.”
He nodded. “I also have a strict no-fraternization policy with customers or other staff. At least while you’re on the clock or in the building. I don’t give a shit what or who you do on your own time, but my club is not a meat market. It’s the highest-end gay nightclub in all of Boston for a reason. Everything we do is a level above, and I hold all my employees to that standard.”
Seriously? A bunch of hot guys working in their damn underwear and he thought they adhered to this no-fraternization policy? I’d bet my first night of tips that rule was broken and broken often.
Parker chuckled. “I can see the wheels turning in your head. I’m very aware that sex of all kinds happens here every night. I’d need an extraordinary amount of security to prevent it, and then I’d lose business, so I’m willing to look the other way, but not when it comes to my staff. I will not have my club subjected to bad press because my staff can’t control themselves.”
“Understood. That won’t be an issue.”
He studied me for a moment, seeming to assess my believability. More likely to determine how much of a horndog I was and whether I’d follow his keep-it-in-your-pants-at-work rule, which I could. I wasn’t there to hook up. I was there to one-up.
“Your timing is perfect,” Parker said. He unfolded his arms and opened his desk, drawing out a packet of paperwork. One of my long-time guys resigned yesterday. He’s starting an internship and can no longer keep such late nights.”
“Oh, that is good timing.”
“The first month is a probationary trial. You’ll shadow and co-service with one of my guys for a week, then have one table with some oversight from your mentor. After a month, we meet, and if it’s going well, you’ll have more tables on your own.”
A devilish excitement zinged through me. “So, uh, I actually know Alex. I’ve known him for years. He’d be the perfect one to train me.” I gave Parker my most innocent smile.
“Oh, really?” He jotted something on a notepad. “I’m just making a note of that.”
This was almost too easy. Any simpler and it wouldn’t be fun.
“Yeah, we go way back. Met at a summer enrichment program in high school.”
Parker glanced up from his note-taking. “Well, I’ve gotta say, you being friends with Alex is the best reference you could have. He is by far my hardest worker. He very rarely calls out, has never been late, and often locks up for me at night. Customersadore him and request his section more than any of my other bottle service boys.”
I frowned. Listening to Parker sing Alex’s praises threatened to ruin my new job buzz. However, the thought of outperforming him and becoming the apple of his boss’ eye pumped me right back up.
“He’s so great.” Somehow, I managed to get the words past my lips without gagging.
“When can you start?”
“Well, you said Wednesday to Saturday, and today’s Wednesday, so…”
“Fantastic.” He slid the packet of papers across the desk. “Fill these out, please. There’s a section on the application for your sizes so we can get you a few uniforms. I’ll have them ready for you when you come back at nine tonight.”
“Sounds perfect.” I picked up the Mont Blanc pen on top of the papers and got to work. The forms were straightforward, and within a few minutes of silence, I had them filled out and signed my final signature. “All done. There you go.” I slid them back across the desk.
“Great, I’ll get—”
“Oh, Parker…” A sing-song voice floated up from the staircase. “I brought you some lunch because I’m assuming you haven’t eaten, and have been working since six in the morning when you kicked some needy boy out of your bed to come here. Oh, sorry…”
A wide-eyed guy who couldn’t have been more than five feet six inches appeared at the top of the staircase, holding a white takeout bag. He had platinum blond hair with blue tips, and I couldn’t tell which was tighter, his sunny yellow crop top or his skinny jeans.
Parker sighed. “Trevor, what have I said about unannounced visits during the day?”
The growled tone didn’t seem to bother this Trevor guy in the least. A mischievous grin curled his glossy lips. “You said not to. Guess I didn’t listen. Oops. If you feel you have to punish me, I suppose I deserve it.” His grin slipped into a juicy pout.
I snorted out a laugh. It couldn’t be helped. This guy had it bad for Parker and had no problem expressing it.
