>>Seraphina
I blinked at him in confusion, "You are offering me a job?" I wasn't sure if that was it but it sure as hell was surprising.
"Why are you surprised?" He asked,
"Because you said it was my problem." I said, "And you told me I have to take care of it."
"It still is your problem," His gaze dropped down from my face to my clothes, "But," His hand moved towards me. I kept my eyes on his fingers as his touch, cold and assessing, traced the contours of my bruised face. The weight of his gaze seemed to dissect the marks of my struggle, "I'm not fond of seeing beaten up faces," Then he lowered his hand, his fingers lingering on the torn fabric, "And torn clothes."
"You don't need to worry about me," I moved away from his hand
"I have no reason to worry about you," He smirked at me as if he was mocking me.
"Then why offer me a job?" I stared at him suspiciously.
"Because I happen to have an empty slot." He looked back at me with a calm gaze, "And I can use a pretty face."
"Is that all?"
"Look," He grabbed my face with his hand, squeezing my cheek, making me wince, "I don't care if you want to go back to your old job and have your face beaten up again." He tapped his index finger on the bruise making me hiss, "If you want the job, then come to Lux at seven." He retreated his hand while I pursed my lips, "Now leave, I already wasted too much time on you."
I had nothing I could retaliate with so,I opened the door and half got out when I turned to look at him again
"A night club…" I was a little hesitant to say it, "Is a risky job for a girl," I landed both my feet on the sidewalk.
"If you're aware, then, learn to behave," He stared at me, "You're the one without options." He had the door closed and the car sped off right after.
I stared at the vehicle leaving, then looked down at my feet as I fell deep in thought. My hand reached for the bruise on my cheek.
Work? At a nightclub? And become a target for harassment?!
No way!
…
But, I don't have the money to feed Eris… I do need to work… And the collectors won't leave me alone unless I provide them with money… But, it's not like the goons would always be around my part-time job, right? I can go back. I can still work there!
And as if my thoughts were a bad omen, as if my thinking was wrong and it had to be proved wrong, my phone began to ring.
I took it out and looked at the caller ID
It was my manager at work
"Hello?" I picked it up right away
"Oh! Sera," There was a nervousness in his voice, "You didn't come in today!"
"Ah, yes, sorry I-" I wanted to make an excuse and tell him I would be there tomorrow but he didn't give me the chance to,
"There's no need to be sorry," His voice seemed forced, "You don't need to come anyway."
His words hit me where I didn't even know hurt, "Yes, what did-?"
He cut me off again, "You don't need to come," He repeated his words.
"B-but why?" I began to panic, "I was only late for the first time-"
"You're fired," He kept cutting my sentences short, as if he didn't even want to listen, "That's why you don't need to come, is it that hard to understand?"
"WHY!?" I let out a single word, so that he couldn't cut me off this time.
"Why?" He let out a sigh, "You're seriously asking me why?! Sera, because of you, there have been a whole bunch of gangsters outside the cafe since early morning and people are texting me saying they won't visit the place again." His tone was angry, "Don't ever think about coming back here!"
"But-" I had no explanation to give, I mean, what could I even say in my defense? The gangsters were there because of me. Yet I wanted to reason with him, I wanted to present some sort of excuse. He on the other hand didn't want to hear anything, "Hello? Hello?" I brought the phone away from my ear and saw that he had hung up.
Ah…
I continued to stare at the phone for a while, letting the whole thing get absorbed in.
I'm fired?
…
I see
I'm fired…
Then finally, I let out a deep breath and looked down again. I opened my phone and opened the chat with Mom
'Dear mom, I was fired from my job,' I paused and thought about it, then wrote further, 'But don't worry, I've been offered to work at a nightclub.'
'I can't go back to my normal job because of the debt collectors but I don't like the sound of working at a nightclub either…' I clicked sent and thought about it again.
'But I've heard it pays a lot better too.'
I closed my phone and looked up at the sky
What do I do?
***
>>Azef
"Beta Azef," Raye, who was driving the car, spoke,
"Hmm?" I was busy looking at my phone.
"Why help the girl?" He asked, "She's of no use to us."
I let out a soft chuckle, "She isn't, but she looked a little too pathetic running away like some abandoned abused kitten." I don't know what got over me when I pulled her in but I like how her spirit didn't break even after getting a few hits.
"I don't think she's the type of girl that can work at a nightclub." He stopped at a red light,
"I'd like to see how it plays out." I turned my phone off and looked out the window
"If we can't find Allen, do you plan on doing something to her?" He had his eyes on me through the rearview mirror.
I smiled, "If we can't find Allen…" The corner of my lips twitched, "That would annoy me very much now." I rested my hand on my jawline as I placed my elbow on the siderest, "I wonder~"
***
>>Seraphine
The dim glow of the club's neon lights painted the scene in hues of crimson and indigo as I navigated through the sea of tables, my tray held with a practiced balance. Since I've worked at cafes a lot, it wasn't much trouble. The murmurs of the patrons melded with the pulsating beats of music, creating a backdrop for my newfound role as a server.
Honestly, I didn't see Azef after that day in the car and I've been working at his club for a few days. It was Monday when I started and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be since weekdays have no rush, but it's Saturday night. I didn't have a late shift on Friday, but I could still feel how crowded it got.
The place is packed tonight and I've been getting a bad feeling since the moment I entered the place.
As I made my way through the crowded space, the attention of some patrons shifted from their drinks to me. The whispers and hushed comments followed me like a shadow. It wasn't lost on me that my presence had become the focal point for some. The weight of their lingering gazes made me feel uncomfortable but it wasn't unfamiliar. I had gotten these dirty stares for a long while now.
The men at the tables, emboldened by the dim lighting and the atmosphere of the club, attempted to tease and flirt. Their comments, laced with innuendo and suggestive glances, echoed through the air but I did my best to remain professional.
The club required me to put on makeup and bright lipstick and although I was able to avoid the makeup, the lipstick had to stay. It's part of the 'work' to be appealing. The heels started to hurt after a while but at least, the servers got to wear pants and I was thankful for that.
As I approached each table, the dynamics shifted. Some greeted me with a knowing smirk, while others tried to engage in banter that bordered on the inappropriate. I learned to deflect their advances with a polite yet firm demeanor, all while maintaining a veneer of composure.
The night wore on and I wasn't expecting it when I got to the bar but it happened.
"Sera," The manager approached me.
"Yes,"
He pointed at a special tray, "Take these to the VIP room 3," He signaled for me to serve a private area.
"Me?" A chill ran down my spine for some reason.
"Yes, you," She was a female yet she looked so stoic.
"Is a rookie supposed to do that?"
She glared at me, "Do what you're told to do!" She was scary
"Yes," And I didn't want to get on her bad side so I immediately picked the tray up and went on my way to the second floor.
As I entered the secluded space, I felt something in my gut but unfortunately, I wasn't at liberty to turn around and go my way. I opened the VIP room and walked in. There was a big round table where sat a number of burly men.
Shit,
The place stank of cigars and alcohol.
As I approached the table, the hushed conversations ceased, and the predatory glint in the eyes of the men seated there sent a shiver through me. The air felt thick with unsaid intentions, and I braced myself for what awaited.
Someone in there whistled but I didn't look to see who, I just wanted to serve and get out of there. It was enough that their gazes lingered in ways that made my skin crawl. I set the tray down on the table as I stood between two seats, on which sat two middle aged men.
I forced a smile, "Your order, gentlemen." I set down the champagne and the clean glasses on the table.
The men reached out, "Why thank you," Their hands grazed my arm and shoulders in a disturbing way which made me immediately retreat my hands.
"I'll be leaving then," I stepped back when a hand reached for my butt from the right side.
"Why don't you stay deary?" His hand roamed around my butt, "It's not everyday we get to see a face so pretty."
The repulsion was visceral, and the sense of violation grew with each inappropriate touch. I fought to stifle the disgust, a war raging beneath the surface. But, I can't
This job is paying me a lot more than any other part time job. I can't. I can't react. I told myself to keep it calm.
I gulped but the skin on my body stood up in response.
The atmosphere in that private enclave was suffocating, and I felt trapped in a disconcerting situation with patrons who saw me as nothing more than an object for their amusement.
Another hand came and slapped my butt, "What's your name?" The hit sent a jolt in my body.
"I was here to serve you," I controlled my breath, "I'll be leaving now," I tried to leave but they blocked my path with their legs.
I felt my body shake. I can't, I can't, I have to control myself. If I make a scene, Azef might get mad too. I'll be immediately fired, I haven't even gotten paid yet!! "I have to get to work." I tried being nice without looking anyone in the eye.
"Hey!" The first man squeezed my butt, "You should answer when someone's talking."
I can't!!! I fought with myself but the boundaries between professionalism and personal space blurred. My grip on the tray I was holding increased, causing my knuckles to go white.
I can't, I looked at the ugly man who had squeezed my ass
I can't, but, I feel too sick!
"What are you looking at?" He winked at me and I lost it.
I seized the bottle of champagne I had put on the table and swung it towards him with a force fueled by frustration and anger.
The room fell into stunned silence as the glass connected with a satisfying crack, bursting and spraying around the liquid in it. The man recoiled, his hand clutching his face where a red mark began to bloom. Shock replaced the arrogance in his eyes, and for a moment, the air was thick with tension.
"You bitch!!" And then they all lost it, "How dare you do that to the leader!"
I let go of the bottle and tried to make a run for it when I felt someone grab my hair and throw me to the ground.
"You're going to pay for this!!" I felt someone's hand come around my neck to strangle me.