Chapter 3 It wasn’t a wall
CHAPTER 3: It wasn’t a wall
“You’ve been doing really well these last two weeks, Vera,” he said. “Really well. You adapt fast. Cherry was right. You know how to read the room. I like that.”
Justin cornered me at the hallway leading to the staff bar counter. His smile looked friendly on the surface, but something about it made my stomach tighten.
I swallowed and nodded, forcing a polite smile.
“Thank you,” I murmured, smoothing the short skirt of my dress…wishing my palms weren’t suddenly clammy.
I momentarily held my breath when I felt him lean in, lowering his voice.
“So… what do you think about my offer? You never gave me a real answer.”
His offer.
The question made my throat go dry. I knew exactly what he meant. The first night that Cherry had brought me here, he first made the ‘offer’. His hand had been too close to my waist, his breath too warm on my neck.
“Be nice to me, and I'll make sure you're very comfortable here.”
That was his offer. I hated remembering it.
I looked away. “I… I don’t know yet, Sir.”
My job was just to be a bottle girl at the VIP section of the nightclub. The pay was not much, but I didn’t want to lose the job either. Lily and I were depending on it, at least, until I got another job.
“You don’t know,” he repeated with a laugh that wasn’t really a laugh. I could hear the note of anger that had slipped into his voice. “Come on, Vera. I’m not asking for much. A little time. A little company. And in return, I’ll make sure you get the best shifts, the best tables, the high rollers. But only if you and I come to a certain understanding.”
My stomach churned, nausea rising in slow sickening waves.
“I’ll think about it,” I cut in quickly, the words tumbling out before I could stop myself. “I just… need time to think, please.”
He nodded, satisfied enough. “Alright. But don’t take too long.”
After he left, I leaned against the wall, and shut my eyes, drowning out the thrumming of music and low chatter of the customers.
Hot tears pricked my eyes. I didn’t want to accept his proposal, but I didn’t want to lose my job.
As if summoned, Cherry appeared beside me. “Vera.”
My eyes immediately flew open.
“What was that?” She asked, folding her arms.
My brows furrowed. “What?”
“You didn’t say no,” she hissed. “Why do you keep letting people do this to you?”
I lowered my gaze, flushing with shame. “You saw?”
“Yes, I did. And I swear to God, I want to hit some sense into you right now.”
I rubbed my arm, my voice small. “I can’t afford to lose this job, Cherry. You know everything. Lily and I just got here. I don’t have options.”
“So what?” She threw her arms out. “That doesn’t mean you let him pick at you like a vulture,” she shot back. “You’re not that desperate.”
“I am,” I whispered. “I'm that desperate, Cherry. You know I am. I've never been lucky in life. I don't have the luxury of choice,” my voice broke. “This is all I have,” I replied, my voice barely audible above the noise.
I had to make ends meet for Lily and myself. And I also had to start saving up to pay back what I stole from Damien to bring Lily and I here. Just in case, he found us one day.
Cherry’s face softened. She opened her mouth to say something, but a sudden wave of shouting rose from the VIP corner.
Glass clattered. A woman’s angry voice sliced through the music.
“What now?” she muttered, rolling her eyes upward. “Is it too much to ask for a sane night from these rich assholes?” she grunted.
I immediately felt the shift in the air. Multiple heads were turned in the direction of the noise, drinks paused mid-air. Something ugly was brewing.
Cherry grabbed my arm. “Come on.”
We hurried over, weaving through customers until we arrived at a velvet partition for the highest VIP booth.
A woman stood in front of a low table, screaming at the young man lounging there with two women on both sides of him.
She was in a skin-tight red dress, mascara streaking down her cheeks, pointing a shaking finger at him like she wanted to stab him with it.
“I know what you did!” she yelled. “You're unbelievable, Chauncey. You think you can disappear for weeks then ignore me all of a sudden? Acting like you don’t know me? You think I’m stupid?”
The guy leaned back in the booth like her rage was a mild inconvenience.
He was handsome, almost too pretty. Jet black hair pulled in a man bun, with two loose tendrils framing his face, two tiny studs on both sides of his nose caught the light. Light brown eyes that danced with lazy amusement; lips pulled in a lazy smirk, like he’d seen this scene play out before.
“Sweetheart,” he said, voice smooth. “We hooked up twice. That doesn’t make us married.”
Her voice rose higher. “How dare you!”
I saw her eyes dart to the insanely expensive bottle of champagne on the table, and I knew what was going through her mind… what was about to happen.
I stepped closer with a practiced calm. “Ma'am,” I cut in gently, approaching her with hands raised in a calming gesture, even though my stomach continued to feel like it was flipping. “Please relax. Lower your voice. You're disturbing other guests. If you want to talk privately, we can—”
She whirled on me so fast I barely saw the cloud of rage and disgust in her eyes. She gave me a quick once over, eyes blazing.
“Who the hell are you?” She snapped condescendingly.
I froze, feeling all eyes turn to me. I maintained a polite smile on my face. “Ma'am—”
“Shut up! Don’t talk to me, you dirty lowlife!”
I stayed still. “I’m not—”
“Oh, please,” she sneered, looking me up and down. “Look at you. Dressed like that. I'm sure you do more than pour bottles. I know your type… Walking around begging men for attention. I’m sure you want to throw yourself at this asshole,” she pointed to the young man who was not finding humor in the scene anymore. “Or maybe you have, for a few dollar bills.”
This was not the first time I had been insulted, but it didn’t make it less hurtful.
Cherry stiffened behind me, muttering, “Who the hell does she think she is?”
She was about to step forward, to charge at the lady, but I held her back.
My cheeks burned, but I kept my tone steady. “I’m so sorry ma'am, but I meant no disrespect. I'm just trying to help you calm down—”
She snatched the nearest drink from the table and hurled the liquid at me, then threw the glass on the floor, smashing it.
The drink splashed on my face, across my chest and dripped down my arms, cold and sticky, but I didn’t flinch. I only blinked the moisture from my lashes.
Gasps echoed around us.
For a second, everything froze. Then, the young man shot to his feet, pure irritation tightening his jaw. “Are you insane?” He exploded. “You're embarrassing yourself. Why would you do that?”
Cherry let out a furious sound. Then surged forward, eyes flashing with fury. “Oh, hell no. I swear I'm going to—”
She lunged forward, but he instantly caught her arm. “Whoa, whoa, relax, Red. Don’t waste your energy. She’s not worth breaking a nail over,” he said glowering at the lady.
Cherry glared at him, trying to free herself. “Let me hit her once.”
“No,” he said simply.
The woman screeched. “Chauncey, how dare you?” she cried.
“Listen. You embarrassing yourself doesn’t magically make you more important to me. It just proves that you have no value. We had a thing. A short one. And honestly?” He shrugged. “You weren’t even that exciting. Now get out. For your sake, I hope I never see you again.”
She gasped like he’d slapped her.
He turned to me, eyes softening, voice heavy with regret and apology. “Miss, are you okay?”
I nodded, wiping the drink from my face with the back of my palm. “ I'm okay, sir.”
Just then, Justin stormed into the booth. “What the hell is going on here?” He scanned the scene, his eyes narrowing when it landed on me. “Vera, what did you—”
“It wasn’t her,” the raven haired man snapped before I could speak, stepping slightly in front of me.
It was then that Justin saw him. He blinked, his whole attitude flipping the moment he recognized the man. “Mr Rutherford.”
“She didn’t do anything wrong. Your staff handled this better than anyone ever could. Now get this lunatic out of here,” he gestured to the lady.
Her eyes went wide as saucers. “What? You can't do this to me?
Justin motioned two guards, and they moved in quickly, lifting the screaming woman gently but firmly out of the booth as she thrashed and cursed. She shouted insults all the way out.
Justin turned back to the man, bowing his head. “My apologies, sir. It won’t happen again. I promise you that.” He shifted slightly, a nervous smile on his face. “I hope this will not affect your patronage and—”
The man, Chauncey as the woman had called him, rubbed his forehead, his expression bored.
“Scram, Justin. I'll still buy your overpriced bottles of champagne. Now, leave.”
Justin exhaled in relief, his smile broader. “Thank you, sir.”
And with that he left without a backward glance.
I realised that this man must be a really important person.
Cherry cleared her throat. “You might want to let go of my arm now.”
He looked down at her wrist that his hand was still enclosed around, and smiled sheepishly, then let go. “Sorry about that.”
Cherry nodded once, and hummed.
He looked at me. “Sorry she dragged you into that.”
“It’s fine, sir, ” I murmured, even though my clothes were still dripping, and my hair was still stuck to my face. “It’s part of the job.”
“Shouldn’t be,” he muttered. “That girl is crazy. She shouldn't have done that to you.”
He sounded genuine and I was touched by his kindness.
Cherry grabbed my hand. “Come on, Vee, let’s go clean you up. You might catch a cold.”
I shook my head. “No. I’ll go alone. I’m fine. I just… need a second.”
She frowned. “You sure?”
“Yes. I promise.”
I needed a minute to cry a few tears of pain and humiliation. And probably hurl the contents of my stomach out for the third time that day.
Cherry hesitated but let go.
I turned, ready to head toward the staff hallway, but the moment I pivoted, I collided with something solid, tall, unmoving.
I walked into a wall.
But walls didn't smell as good as this. My heel slipped on the wet floor and I pitched forward.
Strong hands caught me instantly.
I was right. It wasn't a wall.
Walls don't have hands.