“Make sure you’re checking back there.”
“Will do, boss.” Masher nods and looks over at the other bouncer, telling him to open the door for me.
Loud music filters out and onto the sidewalk. I’m not ready to head back inside, since the reason I left is still there waiting for me, but I have shit to do. As if I needed proof that my problems didn’t disappear, a dancer stands near the rear entrance, waiting for me, and when her eyes lock on mine, she adjusts her stance, making it clear she plans on staying until I speak to her.
“Ah hell,” I mutter. I need to find someone to manage the girls. I have no clue how Vanity did it for so long. She’s only been gone a week, and I’m ready to rip my own hair out. If one more dancer comes to me to get me to switch her set or complain about the other girls, I’m going to lose my shit.
I look around, noticing a waitress who’s worked here for a long time. She used to dance, but when the tips started drying up a little, Vanity put her on the floor. She’s balancing a tray in her hand and giving the guys at the table she’s serving a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, but they don’t notice or care. I watch her for a few more seconds as she finishes up with them and looks around for another table.
I point at her. “You!” Pretty much everyone in the club looks my way. Maybe I should have approached her with a little more discretion, but it’s too late for that now.
She looks around, then points at herself, asking if I really mean her.
“Yeah, come here.”
She doesn’t waste anytime heading right for me, even though her eyes are so wide, they look like they are about to fall out of her head.
“You have been working here a while,” I observe. Now that she’s closer, I’m worried she might not be a good fit. Vanity was tough as nails, and I’m not sure this girl is.
“Yes,” she agrees slowly, not knowing where I’m going with this. At least she’s not folding because I’m talking directly to her, so that’s a good start.
“I need someone to handle the girls.” I tilt my head to the side, indicating the dancer still standing near the backdoor, where my office is.
She looks toward the girl, not missing a beat.
“You think you can handle them? You’d be in charge of hiring, firing, and dealing with all the shit they come up with, plus scheduling shifts and sets.”
I watch her eyes narrow a little as she turns to face me again. “What happened to Vanity?”
“She quit.”
“She’s not going to come back and be pissed at me?”
“No,” I reply, telling her the truth. Vanity moved down to Florida with the guy she’s been with for a few years. I’m happy she got the hell out of here. It also proves this girl is smart. I wouldn’t want to cross Vanity either if I were her.
“Do I still have to work the floor?”
“Nope, as long as you keep them from bugging me.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Do I get a raise?”
“Whatever Vanity made.”
Her eyes widen briefly before she nods vigorously. “One condition—you have to tell them I’m the new lead.”
“What’s your name?”
“Misty,” she supplies quickly.
I look her up and down, hoping she doesn’t get her ass kicked. Some of the girls are as mean as snakes. “Come with me.”
She trails behind me as I walk toward the back. The girl who’s waiting steps to the side as we approach, but when she opens her mouth as if she’s going to say something, I hold up my hand to stop her. Pulling the door open, I gesture for both of them to go in ahead of me with a wave of my hand.
I take notice of Misty’s raised chin as she ignores the other girl, then lead them both toward the dressing room. Once I’m inside, I realize I probably should have knocked or at least alerted them that I was coming in, because several of the girls are naked or close to it.
All of their heads turn to the door after the volume in the room dies down, and I pretend not to notice the way their eyes avoid my jaw. I can never decide which is worse—when they stare, or when they avoid my face altogether.
“This is Misty, she’s the new lead. If you have a problem, you see her, not me. She has sole discretion over sets and scheduling, just like Vanity.”
