~Chapter 54~
I walked away from Ja, shaking off the unsettling feeling that I was being watched, but still glanced around the club, scanning the crowded room and everyone seed to be focused on their own conversations or the music.
Shrugged it off as re paranoia, telling myself I was just being silly.
After all, I was in a crowded club, surrounded by people. What was the likelihood of soone actually watching ? I pushed the thought aside and focused on my work.
My first task of the night was to restock the shelves with bottles of liquor and mixers before serving. I worked efficiently, moving quickly as I arranged the bottles in neat rows.
Just as I was finishing up, Marcus, the creepy club’s manager, appeared at my side, his presence making my skin crawl.
He had been totally opposed to working at the club when the boss first hired , and I wasn’t surprised that he would try to make my life a living hell.
His disdain for was obvious, and I could feel his eyes still holes into .
"Katya," he called out my na, making feel like I was being summoned to the principal’s office.
Seriously, can’t this day get any worse. my anxiety was spiking as I wondered what I had done wrong this ti.
Forcing myself to et his gaze and trying not to show him how intimidated I was. "Do you need anything?" I questioned, suppressing my irritation at him with so much effort.
Marcus’s hands were casually tucked into his pockets, but his eyes were far from casual as he looked up and down.
His gaze lingering on my exposed thighs where the ridiculously short uniform barely covered . I tried tugging down the fabrics as his eyes striped bare
I’m sure he had a hand in designing this damned uniform.This wasn’t clothing; it was a thinly veiled excuse to objectify the staff and I felt my anger boiling, biting it back, refusing to give Marcus the satisfaction of getting under my skin but only his re presence was enough to make angry.
I cleared my throat, breaking Marcus out of his trance-like state, clearing his throat, too, gravelly roughly making wince.
"We’re short-staffed tonight, and I need you to cover more tables," he finally said, glancing around the club, before returning to .
His gaze was still unpleasant, but at least it was no longer lecherous. "You’ll need to move quickly and keep up with the demand." He paused, narrowing his eyes into slits "Can I count on you to do that"
I nodded my head with a small, "okay", sounding as neutral as possible. But inside, I was actually relieved.
More work ant more pay, and I desperately needed the extra cash. The thought of the debt motivated to take on the extra workload without complaint.
Marcus expression was unreadable as he looked at for a mont longer.
He humd to himself and turned to walk away. I watched him go to wherever he ca from, relieved that the uncomfortable encounter was over.
Spinning on my heel, I grasped the tray tightly in my hands and began walking carefully up the stairs that led to the VIP section.
The music grew louder and the air thickened with the sll of expensive perfu and champagne as I climbed higher.
Seeing the outlines of rich-looking n seated on plush couches, chatting and laughing with each other.
So of the club’s strippers were already working the room, dancing and grinding to the music with ease.
I didn’t judge them or bla them for doing what they had to do to survive. This world was a cruel place, and everyone had to do what they could to make ends et.
If I hadn’t landed this job at the club and càfe, who knows what I would have been doing to make a living?
The bouncer guarding the VIP lounge nodded curtly to and he pulled open the red velvet ropes, allowing to pass into the exclusive section.
I smiled politely and walked through the opening, taking in the rich decorations and the wealthy patrons who lounged on the plush couches.
Making my way to the first lounge, my short heels clicking on the polished floor as I carefully balanced the tray of drinks.
Setting the drinks down in front of the group of rowdy n, one of them - a portly, middle-aged guy with a lustful grin - tried to pull into his lap.
I yanked away sharply, trying to get myself out from his grasp without causing a scene.
My heart was thudding as I prayed that he wouldn’t be persistent or - worse still - complain to Marcus about my behavior.
I knew that I wasn’t exactly the most popular person among the club’s staff, and I couldn’t afford to lose my job.
But at the sa ti, I refused to be treated like a piece of at or a personal plaything. I wasn’t a stripper, and I wasn’t going to be forced into behaving like one.
The man’s face turned red but to my surprise he didn’t utter a word, nor did he bother to look back at as I swiftly made a zigzag line, weaving through the crowded room to escape.
Practically running down the stairs, until I reached the bottom, tugging at the ridiculously short shorts, trying to yank them down to a more decent level.
But, of course, they sprang right back up, clinging to my thighs.
I let out a frustrated sigh and made my way to Ja, who was busy mixing drinks with his usual flair.
He caught my eye and flashed a small, encouraging smile, accompanied by a playful blow kiss.
Rolling my eyes at his antics, feeling a tiny spark of gratitude for his attempts to lift my spirits.
I filled my tray once more with the VIP drinks, hoping I wouldn’t encounter any more creeps like the guy upstairs.
"Katya, wait up!" I was about passing ja again when he called out to , waving over with a jerk of his head.
I turned, raising an eyebrow in question, and let out a soft sigh. What did Ja want now? I walked back to him.
"What’s up, Ja?" I whispered, standing at the side of the bar where no custors were sitting.
The bar was a flurry of activity, with Ja expertly juggling multiple orders and conversations at once.
I watched in awe as he expertly mixed drinks, handed out change, and chard the patrons with his bright smile.
And yet, he had taken the ti to wave over, leaving wondering what was so important that can’t wait.
"Katya, you rember Sandra?"Ja walked over to my side quickly, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint
Sandra? My mind flashed back to the first day I started working at the club. Sandra had been a fellow waitress, or so I thought.
In reality, she had turned out to be a snobbish witch who took great pleasure in making my life miserable.
I frowned, recalling the way she had insulted from head to toe, her voice dripping with venom as she told to "know my lane" when she saw creepy Marcus giving a tour of the club.
"Yeah, I rember Sandra," I replied, thinking what Ja was getting at. What did Sandra have to do with anything?
Ja leaned in closer to and he whispers. "She got fired, hahaha," he bood with laughter but his laughter was short-lived, as he quickly realized I wasn’t sharing in his joke.
Instead, I was seething with frustration, my eyes blazing with irritation.
What was wrong with this guy? Did he really stop from doing my job just to share so juicy gossip?
And what’s worse, did he want to get fired too? I glared at him, my day was getting worse more and more.
"Did you just stop to say this, Jason?" I asked, using his full na to convey my annoyance.
Ja’s laughter faltered, and he took a step back, his eyes darting nervously to the side. "Ah ha, Katya...I...I thought you would want to hear how it happened," he stamred, raising his arm in a mock surrender.
I sighed, my anger dissipating slightly. "I need to get back to work," I said, moving out from his side before pausing.
"When I’m done, I need the full gist, Ja." A small grin spread across my face, reassuring him that I wasn’t completely mad – at least, not yet.
Ja’s face lit up with relief, and he smiled back at . "Ohh, you’re gonna love it, hahaha!" he burst out laughing, doubling over, holding his stomach.
He was laughing so hard that tears were welling up in his eyes, and his face had turned a deep shade of red. I couldn’t stop chuckle that left , my annoyance forgotten in the face of his infectious laughter.
Slowly composing himself but still grinning from ear to ear as he wiped away tears from his eyes. "Man, I gotta tell you the whole story later," He went back to his job, still chuckling to himself and shaking his head, which only piqued my curiosity.
What could be so funny that it got Ja laughing this hard? I shook my head with a small laugh, moving on to the VIP section.
Making my way to the next lounge, while keeping my head down, focusing on the drinks tray in my hands.
I dropped off the drinks with a quick smile, but as I looked up, my eyes t those piercing blue eyes that had been on my mind all day long.
Him~The man in the suit with blue eyes that had walked into the café earlier that day.
My heart skipped a beat as our eyes t, a shiver dripping down my spine.
Why did he keep popping up today?
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