**ROSEANA**
"We are here." I lost my attention on Macy when I heard the taxi driver's voice, waking me up from my serious listening to Macy's gossip. I looked outside and saw the club where we were going to work.
We thanked the taxi driver and got out of the car. Macy paid for the fare for both of us because I didn't have a salary yet. I saw how the taxi driver looked at us from head to toe before he finally left.
"Pervert," Macy said irritatedly. I just shook my head.
"Hi, ladies!" Ric happily greeted us as we entered the club. He walked towards us with his arms open, initiating a hug. He approached Macy first. He was about to hug the woman, but Macy pushed his forehead. She even has the guts to raise her middle finger at her boss.
I expected him to get mad at Macy's action, but he just laughed at it. He turned toward my place. "Rose!" He said my name loudly and gave me a wide smile. I couldn't cry anymore when he hugged me. I didn't feel insulted by him hugging me because he didn't touch me. Although he came closer to me and, if you look at it from afar, we looked as if we were hugging, the truth is that he did not stick his skin to my body.
“Tsk!”
Me and Ric stopped laughing because Macy walked out. She left the two of us and walked towards the bar counter.
"You know what? You should stop making her jealous. Why not man up and ask her out?” I asked him. My gaze couldn't be taken away from Macy's wrinkled face while wiping the bar counter.
I can see Ric standing next to me and also looking at Macy. "What do you mean?" he asked me while standing next to me. I stopped myself from hitting him on the head because of his answer. This man is also confusing; he is hard to understand. It's obvious that they like each other, but they don't want to admit it.
I left Ric at that spot. I didn't answer his question anymore. He won't admit that he has feelings for my best friend, so why waste my saliva on explaining it to him in a way he could easily understand? It's up to him to decide what to do with his life, and that's his decision.
I approached the annoyed Macy. I helped her wipe the bar counter. When the clock struck six, the club gradually filled with customers. The girls are already dancing on the podium.
I have been busy with my work. I didn't mind the pain in my foot anymore. Maybe I just got used to it.
"Miss, you have been serving wine ever since the club opened. Why don't you join us for a minute?" I was startled when I felt the old man's elbow lightly rub my legs. I was busy putting their drinks on their table; my knees were slightly bent and my back was arched downward.
The tray where I put their drinks almost hit the old man's face. Luckily, I was able to stop myself. I distanced myself from that pervert, then politely shook my head. I distanced myself because I might lose my temper and hit him with his rudeness toward me.
"No, thank you, sir," I said politely, even though my hand was itching to slap him. He reached that age, yet he is as perverted as others. Was he not taught good manners and right conduct?
The old man didn't seem to hear anything. He openly rubbed my body with a lewd look. I firmly balled my fist. My lips formed a thin line.
"Oh, come on! I know that you are just after my money. Come here, little girl. I have plenty of money.”
I feel like I want to vomit at what he says. He called me a little girl. What does he think of me? Child?
I gave him a fake smile. "I'm sorry, sir. It's not possible." I refused his offer.
"I will give you five thousand just to accompany me." He still insists.
"Sweetheart, why are you asking for her? I'm here. She is a waiter; she doesn't work like us." The woman next to him answered. The old man's gaze shifted to her.
I saw how the woman's fingers ran along the old man's chest, seeming to tame him. She succeeded in getting the man's attention. Now his hand is on her legs, pinching and massaging them. When I looked back at the woman's face, she motioned for me to leave. I mouthed a thank you to her before I left. She nodded at me.
I didn't realize I was holding my breath. I breathed out a long sigh of relief when I finally got away from their place. It was my first time dealing with such customers. After all, this is only my second day at this job. I should brace myself for a similar situation. I know that it is inevitable that such events will happen again. I don't expect everyone to respect me while I am in this club. They think that because we work in this place, they can insult us. Such narrow thinking they have.
I asked the bartender for cold water. I temporarily sat on the high stool. I almost dropped the glass because my hand was shaking. I put the glass back on the counter. I hid my hand underneath and tightly balled it into my fist.
"Do you want me to punch that fucking pervert, old man?" I didn't realize that Ric was standing by my side. His hands are in his pockets while he calmly observes the club that he owns. The playful nature of his face still hadn't disappeared, but his voice sounded so dangerously serious that I had to check if it was him next to me or if I was just looking at it wrong.
"I'm fine." I wanted to say that I was not okay, but I kept my mouth shut.
"I'll have that old man banned from my club." Ric's decision is complete. I saw his different side tonight. In the two days I knew him, I thought he was only capable of humor. I didn't know that he could be dead serious just because of this.
I didn't speak. I just kept my mouth shut. I don't even know what to say. I am still trying to control the shaking of my hand.
We saw Macy walking towards us. I am doomed.
Her expression was dark. Her expression mirrored the atmosphere around Ric—dead derisive.
"That man again."
"You should ban him from entering this club of yours, Ric. If I can't hold back, the bottle of wine he's drinking will hit his shiny head," Macy said seriously. She is staring directly into Ric's eyes.
Rick sighed. "That is what I am planning to do," Ric said grimly. Macy nodded. She seemed pleased at Ric's answer.
Ric kept watch at the club all night. He also instructed the bouncers to keep a close eye on drunken customers.