Chapter Seventeen
Madison smoothed down the front of the brightly-colored uniform she was currently putting on, trying to make it look as presentable as possible.
This was the waitress uniform she had gotten, when she had been hired to work in this bar or was it club rather, and all her colleagues also were required to wear it too.
Her palms clammy as she rubbed them over the dress, Madison let out a hiss at how the cloth looked tonight. It was rumpled after she had washed it earlier, and since there was no electricity, neither did she have a pressing iron she could use, she had left it there to dry and stretch like that.
There was the alternative of taking the clothes to the dry cleaners, but well she couldn’t exactly afford, and weighing her options she had decided to just wash and leave it.
Sighing for the umpteenth time again, she flipped out the dress again, smoothing it down with her to take out all the creases, but all her attempts was proving futile.
Frustrated already and sighing yet again, she grabbed her purse and raced out of the motel, in order not to be late. If she stayed any longer, or a minute more she would definitely get to her workplace at the worst time, and this was something she didn’t need, especially now that things were going good for her.
She couldn’t afford to make any silly mistakes that could cost the job, and so she was trying her possible best to get there on time.
Her hair roughened and cascading a little bit wetly down her back, she smoothed out the tangled strands as fast as she could, sitting upright in the taxi that was taking her to the club, and arranging herself properly.
This style would have to do, she decided within herself successfully packing the large hair bundle into a bun, and laying back in the car seat, enjoying the breeze and the cool evening that whooshed past.
Soon, the taxi got to the club, and taking out some cash and paying the taxi driver, Madison quickly climbed of the taxi, ready to face the day.
Seeing that it was already ten minutes to her shift, she raced into the the bar before anyone could notice her absence.
As soon as she came in, she sighted one of the other waitresses, and a smile flickered on her lips when she heard a girl whose name she had forgotten, greet as she approached, “Welcome. You came right on time.”
From the look of things, her shift was over as she had torn her apron away, turning to face Madison yet again, she blabbered, “You should get to work immediately though. There are a lot of people here tonight, and we are two people short tonight.”
Madison quickly nodded, and after talking for a few minutes, as the girl showed her around, she started to work continuing right from where the previous waitress had stopped.
As she served drinks round with a smile plastered on her face as required, she would occasionally straighten the hem of her dress, still feeling a little bit uncomfortable even though she tried her best not to show it. She couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious about her rumpled dress, and she kept on wondering if the creases were noticeable under the flashing club lights.
After she had served her first two rounds of drinks, she went round, packing up empty trays and glasses sprawled on the tables, and taking them up to the back of the bar where the kitchen was located.
Having done that, she re-emerged, and continued her routine seeming drinks, with a smile plastered on her face.
She made sure to serve well, not wanting to get in trouble with anyone, and also because she wanted to make a very good impression.
Who knows, the club manager might decide to keep her after the one month had elapsed, if she did pretty well not that she intended on taking the offer since she had to leave for London though, but she could only imagine..
As she moved to carry up another tray of drinks, her phone vibrated in her apron, and she froze instantly.
Letting out a string of curses, and sneaking a glance around to make sure it was safe to check her phone, she procured it from her pocket and unlocked it swiftly. She smiled wide and genuinely a little when she saw that it was a text from Alvarez asking what she was up to and how she was doing.
‘I’m okay. At work.’ She texted back, slipping her phone back in her apron. Her phone buzzed again as she served drinks again but she didn’t take it out until she had finished the round.
‘Oh. Damien and I are headed somewhere tonight. Has something to do with work too. Don’t forget to be careful, okay? I’ll visit tomorrow. Take care.’
Madison stared at the name on her screen, her grip on her phone tightening at the sight of the one name she had come to dread.
Even in words, just like the way it sounded, the name always had the same effect on her. Why? She pondered, sniffing a little and trying to hold herself together.
Squaring her shoulders, and discarding her thoughts she quickly texted him back, ‘Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then. Bye.’
Pushing the thoughts of Damien out her mind yet again, she slipped her phone back into her apron, and pushed herself back to work.
She couldn’t afford to get caught texting on her shift, as that would be disastrous and dent her name. When she had gathered herself again, she plastered a smile on her face and resumed her serving.
“Hey hot lady…” Some of the men hooted as she walked past them, catcalling and patting out her ass, waving their goodies at her, as if she would make out time for them, but she just shot them stern looks and continued on her way.
She felt disgust flow through her as their eyes raked her up and down as she worked, but she gritted her teeth trying her possible best to ignore them.
She was here to work, and that’s exactly what she was going to do. She already knew it would be like this when she accepted the job, so she was ready to face it.
So head held high, she moved round the bar, serving and taking orders and masking her irritation with a smile.
She was here for the money, and nothing else!
…….
Damien sat in the back of his car deep in thought, as Alvarez drove him to one of the clubs he owned in downtown New York.
He needed to meet some partners in the VIP section today, and this was also a good opportunity to check on the club and see how well business was faring.
He had bought the bar a couple of years ago, and so far it was booming just like the other businesses he’d bought, and it had also recorded tremendous success, becoming one of the most popular clubs in town.
He scrolled through some documents on his phone, as he prepared himself for the meeting at hand, not wanting to be caught off guard on any area.
He was so engrossed in the documents he was reading, that he didn’t realize when they arrived until Alvarez called out to him.
Quickly getting out of the car, his eyes roaming through the exterior of the building, trying to get the outlook of thinks, and from the crowd of people still waiting to get in, he knew it was extra full today.
He smiled, because this meant that things were looking good, and extra money meant extra customers.
He had good eyes, buying assets and turning them into flourishing business sites.
“I need to use the restroom. You can go ahead, I’ll be right up.” He heard Alvarez say from beside him, and nodding Alvarez diverted to the back of the club where the restrooms were located.
Damien watched him leave, his jaw set tightly.
Things were still a bit stiff between them after the incident of last time, but just like now every time the guilt came, he would brush it off.
Soon Alvarez would see that the threat had been the best thing to do, and that the woman in particular who was the cause of their strife was not just worth it at all.
The buzzing sound of his phone alerted him, and he whipped it out to see a mail from the partner he was supposed to meet, informing him that they had to cancel because an emergency had come up.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“What the fuck?” Damien mumbled to himself, glaring at the screen, annoyed at this cancellation.
So this meant that he had come all the way for nothing? Eyes burning bright red, he shoved his phone back in his pocket, trying to see the bright side of things.
Well, maybe this was a blessing in disguise as he wasn’t even fully prepared yet for the meeting anyways, and with them cancelling he would have more time to prepare.
Maybe this could also serve as his night off, He needed a drink or two to cool off after the rough events of this week.
First heading to the bar to observe and maybe have a few drinks, his eyes roamed round the room carefully, checking to see if everyone was carrying out their respective jobs like they should.
He didn’t want to go meet the manager for now, wanting to survey things from his end and check out the activities of the club now that he was opportuned to.
His eyes still roaming around, they landed on a waitress whose hair color, seemed oddly familiar.
Unsure, he headed to the scene where the waitress in question was being accosted by a much older man, his white hair gleaming in the lights and his teeth bared as his hands moved swiftly down to her waist.
“Stop! Get your hands off me.” He heard her yell continuously as she tried to break free from his grip, while the other men seated around broke into a round of laughter.
Damien stopped in his tracks, his ear perking up instantly.
He knew that voice, and now he could remember where he had known that hair from.
The hair he had loved, touched, caressed, gripped while fucking her and…
No!
Just as he was still thinking, the waitress turned halfway, her face red as she shoved the old man away from her, and instantly spotting her, his doubts confirmed, Damien bounded in her direction in anger.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” He yelled, making her come to a standstill as she slowly turned to face him.
“My establishment, my club, and you have the guts to step foot in here! What the fuck, are you doing here sleaze? Security!” He boomed, his voice carrying round the room, as chaos erupted.
He watched her stumble back in surprise, a horrified look on her face when she recognized him, and then the words bursted out of her lips, as she covered her mouth in her hands, “Da… Damien…”