Page 52 of Savage Empire

Still, part of me finds the luxury of it allexhilarating.

And that’s exactly why I’m going to get a job.

Chapter Sixteen

Rayna

I’m so out of my comfort zone, my skin is crawling.Whydid I think this was a good idea?

The loud bass thumps and pounds, vibrating through the floor and transferring through my feet. It radiates through my body in an overstimulating pulse that makes me shiver and my heart stammer.

Less than an hour ago I was at the apartment, enjoying a quiet night with my brother. We ate pizza for dinner, watched a movie, and talked quietly about our days. I put away all of my new shopping, and did the dishes. It was utterly normal and perfectly domestic. But after Yordan went to bed, the atmosphere shifted.

I was about to sneak out to go get a job I wanted him to know nothing about, and I was changing into clothes I never wanted him to see me in. I crept out of the apartment wearing the highest heels, and the tightest short dress in my closet. Both pink, both more suited for a club than a job interview. But a clubis exactly where my potential job was, traditional interview or no.

Club Caldawas located only fifteen minutes from my place, and according to their website, looking for late-night waitresses. Applicants need not apply, just to come in and ask for the manager. It was nerve-racking to say the least, but bottle service girls made loads of money.

And if I was going to escape my reliance on Apollo, I needed to make a lot and fast. I needed to be able to provide for myself or be subject to the whims of a man I refused to fully trust. Trusting men has never worked out for me in the past and I have no reason to believe this new situation I’ve found myself in will end up any differently.

“You looking for a dance, sweetheart?” a sultry voice asks. My eyes widen at the woman before me wearing nothing more than a sheer bra and tiny blue thong.

“Um, no thank you,” I tell her quickly. I’ve never been approached by a stripper before, and I’m not sure where to put my eyes.Is it insulting to not look?“I’m looking for the manager?”

She tilts her head, assessing me with a surprised look. “Are you trying to work here? You don’t look like a stripper.”

“I can’t tell whether you think that’s an insult or a compliment,” I reply awkwardly.

She grins, eyes lifting up with mischief. “I like you, new girl. I’m Kat. I’ll bring you to Adrian’s office. Can’t guarantee you’ll get the job though, you look like a fish out of water in this place. Can you dance? Have you ever taken your top off for money before?”

Why does the name Adrian sound familiar?

“I’m just looking to be a waitress.”

“Bummer,” Kat huffs. “Means I’ll never get to see what you got under that hot little dress of yours. Unless you want to show me?”

“I…Are you hitting on me? Does this normally work for you?”

“Have you seen me?” She chuckles, offering a sassy eye roll. “Not into women are you? Or not into femme women?”

“Oh, uh, no. Just men for me, I guess.”

“A travesty,” she huffs. “No man deserves all this.” Waving up and down my frame to demonstrate what she means, Kat shakes her head. Grabbing my hand, she spins around and starts to slowly pull me through the crowd. “Come on, I’ll take you to the boss-man. You’re lucky he’s in tonight and the lower manager is off. Adrian’s the nice one, doesn’t even check us out. He’s too into his wife, and I can’t blame him. She’s a dime.”

Seriously, why is this man’s name giving me a sense of déjà vu?

It doesn’t take long to navigate the busy club with Kat as my guide. The seas of people seem to part at her mere proximity, making it easy to glide through the masses. Within a minute, she’s tugging me up a small set of stairs and toward a large wooden door.

She knocks twice before yelling, “I’m coming in!” and swinging open the door like she owns the place.

Kat pulls me over the entryway before I can protest about whether or not we should wait for permission to come in. The small but comfortable-looking office is immediately more quiet than the surrounding club. Seated behind a solid, sleek desk is a man with a deep tan and dark features eyes the both of us. There’s no disdain in his gaze, but there isn’t a welcoming sort of shine either.

“Got a live one for you, boss,” Kat chirps. “This is…shit, I didn’t even ask your name.”

“Rayna.”

“Pretty,” she comments. “Anyway, Rayna here wants to waitress. Waste of a banging body to keep it wrapped up all the time. But I respect it.”

“Do you plan to hold her hand through her interview or get back to making money for yourself?” Adrian arches a brow. “I’m told Mr. Black just arrived.”