Page 4 of Up In Smoke
What? Wow. That’sdefinitelynot happening.
“Why? I told you, she’s the one who went on a damn fishing expedition down my pants. If anyone’s owed an apology here, it’s me.”From her and you both,I add silently. The customer isn’t always right, for fuck’s sake. “I thought you were supposed to have our backs when customers get out of hand.”
He sneers at me. “The only thing I’m here to protect is the business. Right now, you’re hurting the business. Go out there and apologize or go clear out your locker. It’s your choice.”
Coldness rushes through my chest. When I speak, my words are low and tight. “So you’re telling me…if I don’t say sorry to the woman who just sexually assaulted me…I’m fired. Have I got that right?”
He laughs but there’s no humor in his eyes. “You’re a fucking stripper, dude. You getpaidfor people to objectify you. If you can’t handle things getting a bit touchy feely, then what are you even doing here?”
And that’s it. That’s the final straw. The moment I snap.
“Good fucking question,” I snarl in his face. I don’t bother elaborating on my answer, other than to flip him the bird as I march out of his dank office.
My heart is pounding and there’s a small voice in the back of my head reminding me that I need this god-damned job. ButI’m too busy making a beeline toward the booth to pick up my earnings to think much beyond that.
Of course someone’s already cleared it out.
I ball up my fists and clench my jaw. However, I only allow myself a second to rage before spinning on my heel and heading straight for Jerry. “I need to cash out for the night,” I tell him without any preamble. My head is starting to pound, probably from sobering up as well as all this bullshit.
It only gets worse when Jerry frowns at me. “That was Fen’s session that just came in.”
I close my eyes, reminding myself that this guy’s only doing his job and wasn’t the one who molested me. Besides, the kid needs the money more than I do.
Maybe.
“Fine, I’ll just take what I’m owed for the week.”
He’s still frowning as he checks his watch. “Don’t have today’s wages yet. You know that, kid. Besides, you’re not done yet.”
I laugh hollowly. “Believe me, I’m done. I’ll just take whatever I can.”
He seems confused, but he does what I ask, slowly pulling together my share and slipping it into an envelope. “Everything okay, kid?” he asks as he hands it over.
A part of me appreciates the sliver of kindness he’s offering, but I’m too pissed to be nice about it. “Oh, yeah, everything’s just peachy. See you around, Jerry.”
I lie to myself and make a promise that I’ll come back next week and see if I can’t argue my way into getting the rest of what I’m owed. Deep down I know it’ll never happen, but the thought keeps my feet walking toward the dressing room at least.
Normally, I’d take my costume home and launder it myself. But I just strip the shorts off, shove them into the cowboy hat, and discard them on the floor for someone else to deal with later.It’s unclear if the long swig I take from the bottle of vodka I have stashed in my bag helps or hinders the situation, but doing something destructive gives me some savage satisfaction.
It usually does.
There are a few guys hanging around, either openly watching me or pretending not to be interested in my little tantrum. But as soon as I’ve pulled my regular clothes on again, I hightail it out the door and don’t bother to say goodbye. Part of me considers finding TJ on the floor and promising him I’ll pay him back either with cash or dope, but honestly? I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep that promise.
Much easier to sneak out of this hell hole and never look back. Who knows? Maybe this is the kick up the ass I needed to finally sort my life out.
Or maybe things are about to go from bad to worse. I’m not optimistic about my chances that all of this is for the best, but I guess stranger things have happened.
I’m able to loosely cling to this delusion until I step out of the employee entrance and find someone waiting for me.
Three someones, to be precise.
“That’s him!” the cougar woman shrieks, pushing herself off the car she’d been leaning against and pointing at me with a trembling finger once again. There’s still some mascara lingering around her eyes and a half-full bottle of Champagne is dangling from her other hand. “That’s the guy who attacked me! You’re going to be sorry now, you little shit. My husband and brother aren’t happy with you for hurting me at ALL!”
Dread floods my chest as I take in the two huge guys flanking her. I hold up my hands and shake my head. “I don’t want any trouble. I was just defending myself.”
“From my sweet little wife?” the man on the right cries. His eyes are blazing as he advances on me, fists curled. “Oh, yeah, I’m sure you were really scared.”
The other guy, the brother, chuckles darkly as he crowds me from the left. “Let’s see how you like being pushed around, pretty boy.”