It’s the cute little waitress. I mean, it did the job.
She just smashed a three hundred dollar bottle of champagne on the floor.
Chapter Two
Charley
Everyone is looking at me. It might not have been the best idea, but it stopped the fighting. I can’t stand fighting, and seeing women tearing at each other like that just brings back bad memories. It wasn’t really a conscious thought to break a bottle, but I needed it to stop.
And the two bikers trying were doing a really bad job.
Only now I’m looking down at the mess and the label on the bottle. Oh God, this is going to come out of my pay. And that is a huge chunk of change.
I’ve dropped enough trays over the last week, I’m surprised they haven’t already fired me. Ellie has been good about it, though another waitress has been helping me practice. She doesn’t look as easygoing now. Hopefully, that has more to do with Stella starting a fight.
The interruption has given Beast and his friend opportunity to break up the fight and separate the girls. He has pushed Stella into the booth and is guarding her from getting up.
The other guy, the cute one who throws out winks like dollar bills, is watching me with a frown. He’s probably pissed about the champagnetoo. My gaze goes back to Stella, there is blood on her face where Lily has raked her nails down it.
The fight has been brewing for a while. Ellie was trying to handle it, guess Stella lost her faculties for a minute if she tried to hit Ellie.
I’ve only known Ellie for five days, but I already like her. She’s been nice to me, even if she’s still refusing to let me dance. Which is why I came here in the first place.
I’m lucky to have the job they gave me. If they hadn’t, my next stop was the club a few blocks over. I did my research, and although Elegance was my first choice, I was fully expecting to be refused a job here. The thought of dancing at a place called Fantasy Island made my skin crawl.
But I need money, and as much as I hate the thought of it, dancing at a place like this is a way to make it fast and easy.
If taking your clothes off in front of a room full of strangers is easy.
I’m still working up to it, which is crazy given I came here planning to do just that. Part of me is glad Beast won’t let me dance.
I’m twenty years and nine months old, and he still refuses to let me dance. He really doesn’t live up to that name. At least, from what I’ve seen of him, and the other girls all rave about how great he is.
Given he hasn’t come over here and yelled at me or fired me for smashing that bottle, I have to agree.
There is still time. He needs to sort out Stella and Lily first.
Max comes out from behind the bar with a brush and shovel set. I take it from him, even though he offers to brush up the glass for me. This was on me, so I thank him but get on with it, he brings a garbage can out for me to dispose of the glass, then a mop and bucket to wipe up the alcohol.
Some of it got on my legs, and my shoes are soaked. They're the only pair of sneakers I have until payday. I’ve asked Ellie for an advance, she said I need to get through seven days before they consider it. Almost there.
If I don’t get fired.
Like Stella just did. Ellie was going to do it anyway, but it’s come from Beast, and she’s not going to swing on him.
In the back of my mind, a small kernel of hope starts to build. They’re down a dancer for tonight. It’s too soon to go ask, right?
The hot biker escorts Stella back to the dressing room to get her things. Ellie is talking to Lily and doesn’t look happy about it, but she rubs her arm at the end of their chat. I’m glad she didn’t get fired too. I like Lily. Some of the other dancers haven’t been as welcoming.
They think I’m entitled because I wasn’t turned away when they said I couldn’t dance. Beast gave me a server job. I’m not like that, it’s not annoyance that I’m not getting what I want. It’s disappointment and frustration.
The place I’m staying is loud, cramped and I barely get enough sleep, it was all I could afford when I got to Baltimore.
Luckily, I have access to this place early, so can sneak in for a shower before the others arrive for their shift.
It’s been a long hard road getting here and I’m not out of the woods yet but for the first time, I feel like I’ve landed somewhere that is going to get me out of that apartment and into my own place, somewhere safe where I don’t have to barricade the door before I go to sleep.
“It was good that you wanted to stop them fighting, but maybe grab one of the cheap bottles next time,” Max says, taking the mop to wheel away from me.
