“We’ll see. Get the mop and clean this again, we don’t want anyone wearing two hundred dollar shoes feeling like they’re in a college bar tonight.”
Not even the thought of cleaning up can dull the excitement. I’m going to prove her wrong, and that she is right to put her faith in me.
After another long shift serving drinks to rich men and the occasional miserable looking woman, I head to the dressing rooms to change out of my uniform, if you could call it that.
It’s one way to get used to people staring at my body. My ass practically hangs out the bottom of the shorts, and the apron does nothing to keep my boobs under control.
It’s not exactly against the rules, but I have little satin covers over my nipples. To keep them from poking through the fabric if I get cold, not because I’m scared of anyone seeing them.
Lily is in the changing room when I come in, staring at her reflection. She is topless, wearing just a pair of denim shorts.
“Hey, break anything else tonight?”
I blow out a breath so hard my lips vibrate, then walk over and sit at the dressing table next to her. She’s been nice to me from day one. I would have been really upset if she had lost her job over Stella.
“Beside the champagne bottle, no. I think I’m getting better.”
She snorts a laugh and picks up some wet wipes to remove her makeup. The girls need to put on a lot of heavy makeup to wear under the lights. She is prettier as she removes it, and peels off her false eyelashes.
“Karin saw Ellie talking to you earlier,” she looks at my reflection in the mirror beside hers.
“She was telling me that just because Stella is gone, doesn’t mean her slot is open.”
“That sucks.”
“It’s okay, I mean, I understand why. She says it’s about making sure they don’t break any laws.”
That gets a real laugh out of her. She tosses her wipes into the trash can and stands to reach for her bra. I force myself not to turn away. Although seeing naked women in a setting like this isn’t so bad.
“What’s so funny?”
“You know who owns this place, right?”
“Beast?”
“And you’ve noticed what he wears?”
“Of course I have, I’m not blind. I know they’re bikers.”
“One percenter.”
“Like Sons of Anarchy?”
She laughs again. “Yeah, like that. Only real life. Don’t worry,” she takes out her earrings and drops them into a tray on the table, it’s just costume jewelry, so not worth anything. “There has never been any trouble here. But don’t be under any illusions about these men. They’re criminals, they do bad things. This place,” she leans closer. “Either washes their dirty money, or it’s one of the businesses they have that are clean, where their criminal dealings don’t get involved. I’ve never figured out which.”
Wow, that’s interesting. I’ve worked in some shady places owned by unsavory people. This is nothing like any of those places.
“Like I said, they look after the dancers, the clientele is decent and if they’re not, they get thrown out. And they pay really well. Which is why,” she pauses to pull on her T-shirt. “I was an idiot for jumping into that fight. Beast doesn’t tolerate violence.”
“You were defending Ellie.”
“I’m lucky they saw it that way. Plus, Stella is a bitch.”
I have nothing to say about that. I didn’t know her well enough, and she never made the effort to try with me.
“What are you up to tonight? Heading home?” she asks.
“I was going to go grab something to eat first, it’s kinda hectic at my place, I prefer to wait till most of them have passed out.”
