Page 5 of Ink

The anxiety is building as I think about tomorrow and what my new boss will think of me. Fingers crossed he’s like the guy I met today.

Rinsing out the kettle one more time, I set it in the sink and head to the front desk. I’m praying that someone else other than the man who gave me the creeps at check in is at it. I never thought I was the type of person to be squeamish around blood, but seeing the guy’s hand at the desk with blood seeping through an ace wrap that probably should have been changed three days ago made me lightheaded, forcing me to hold on to the grimy countertop to keep me steady. I tried to concentrate on anything but his hand, but of course my eyes were ignoring the message my brain was trying to send and stayed trained on the crimson stain.

I sigh internally as the front desk comes into view.

It’s him.

“Excuse me, sir,” I start off, making his gaze move from the movie he’s watching behind the desk to me as I approach. “Do you know where the library is?”

He says nothing for a long moment.

“Does it look like I fucking read, lady?” He holds up his bandaged hand and shakes. “Look it up yourself. I’ve got one fucking hand right now.”

My eyes widen in shock at his instant aggression as my mouth opens and closes as I try to form some type of response.

My skin starts to feel like little bugs are crawling all over it, kind of like how those giant beetle things came out of the guy in The Mummy as he eyes me up and down.

“If you’re ever lookin’ to make a little extra cash, let me know. I know a lot of guys that will pay top dollar for that doe eyed look you have going on.” He pauses as he continues to study me. “You a virgin?”

My breath catches in my throat to where it feels like it’s closing in. I can feel my cheeks catch fire at the absurdity of this conversation.

Did I really leave one version of hell and walk right into another?

“I don’t see how that is any of your business,” I whisper, eyes trained to the floor, but somehow unable to move. The confidence I had been building since the day I left is circling down the drain.

“Suit yourself.” He shrugs. “Woulda added more to the table.”

I don’t have the balls to tell him my table is just fine the way it is. I think I’m in shock that a complete stranger wants to pimp me out. I thought stuff like this only happened in movies.

“Don’t look down on that shit. You see where you’re staying? You ain’t better than any other bitch that works out of here. I’ll let ya get settled for now, being new in town and all, but the time is going to come to pay your dues.”

Pay my dues?

I feel his eyes burning little holes into my back as I leave the lobby. I don’t have the guts to look over my shoulder and confirm.

Holy heck, I need to find a new place to stay as soon as possible.

Chapter

Four

INK

“Where is she?” I ask Gage while I’m looking at an empty reception desk that should have the girl he decided to hire without asking if she had any fucking experience.

“I told her one.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” Gage asks as he fills bottles with green soap and saline.

“Why would you tell her one when we open at noon?” I’m usually a pretty patient man, but sometimes Gage needs to use his fucking brain.

Gage sets the bottles down on the counter and turns to me. “If you have something to say about when I told her to show up, then fucking say it. I don’t exactly remember your ass being here like it was supposed to for her interview.”

“Watch it.” I warn. “All I’m sayin’ is it makes us look fuckin’ stupid to have no one at the desk when we open. I’m sick of doing bitch work. I own the goddamn place, for fuck’s sake.”

“We’re all sick of doing bitch work, so suck it up for one more hour, princess.”