Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“Which is why going to see John would benefit you. He’d get you in the company and work around your schedule. You even get to pick who you say yes and no to. There’s a whole damn questionnaire you fill out. Trust me, it’s better than being here and having to deal with Anthony’s slimy hands.” She shuddered. “Is The Nutcracker still a definite yes?”
“Yep.” I tried to fight a smile, but it was impossible. I’d be playing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy and was nailing every single rehearsal.
“You need to text me the dates so I can come watch you. Maybe I’ll convince one of my clients to take me.” She winked. I laughed. She grew serious quickly. “Meet with John.”
“Doesn’t Giovanni Masseria own that club?” I asked, shooting her a pointed look. “You know he’s fucked half the ballet company.”
“Maybe a few years ago, but not anymore,” she said. “He’s happily married. Besides, he’s never mixed business with pleasure.” She shot me a look. She didn’t need to add “unlike Anthony Costello” but she might as well have.
“Fine.” I took a breath. “I’ll meet with John, but I’m not promising you I’ll quit here. I’m so, so, so close to finishing paying this back, Yari.”
“I know, and if you want to keep bartending to come up with the money faster, at least do it at one of their clubs,” she said. “John’s always looking to hire new people, and it bears repeating that he’s not going to try to fuck you just because you’re an employee.”
I set down the final glass. As long as I was able to get another job quickly, it shouldn’t affect my ability to pay the debt or my rent. My father, on the other hand, I wasn’t sure about. Anthony threatened to hurt him in the past if I tried to quit, but I wasn’t sure how serious he was. What I did know was that I hated who I’d become since this started. I hated looking over my shoulder and living in a constant state of anxiety.
“When can you meet with him?” she asked, typing away on her phone. “Tonight?”
“I can be there after rehearsal.”
“Ros.” She glanced up. “Are you not going to sleep?”
“I don’t work tomorrow, so I’ll sleep then.”
“You’re crazy.” She shook her head and went back to her phone, surely texting John. “Can you go tonight at seven?”
“Seven should be fine.”
She beamed. “I promise you won’t regret getting the fuck out of here.”
I smiled back at her, wishing I had half her excitement. In her eyes, my getting out of here would fix all my problems, but I knew better.
I was downing the last of my water when I reached the door to Devil’s Lair, where I was meeting John. I opened it and found a man, definitely security, standing on the other side. He glanced up from his phone when he saw me.
“Hi.” I smiled. “I’m here to see John Spellman.”
“You’re Roselyn Vega?”
“Yep.”
He gave a nod, his eyes traveling down my body. My shoulders were already rounded back. Otherwise, that was exactly what I would have done now, to show that even though I was half his size, I wasn’t afraid of him. His lip twisted into a smile, seemingly reading me correctly.
“This way.” He pushed off the wall, set his phone in his pocket, and led me into the club.
I wasn’t sure what it looked like on nights that it was actually open, but I could picture it. There were stages similar to the ones at Tempt, which didn’t surprise me since I’d been present when Tommy and Anthony had discussed installing them after someone sent them pictures from inside of this club. Apparently, they’d tried to copy everything, yet this club felt different. It felt luxurious. Tempt felt . . . well, like it was trying to be luxurious and failing. When we reached the second floor, the security guy opened a set of double doors and led me through them. Inside was a waiting area that looked like one I’d expect in a lawyer’s office, not a nightclub.
“You can take a seat here. John will be right with you.” He pointed at one of the chairs and walked out.
I took a seat. There were two sets of doors, one to the left and one to the right, and because I wasn’t sure which ones John would come out of, I remained on high alert, my eyes bouncing between both. The doors to the left opened and I was about to stand up when I saw Giovanni Masseria himself walk out. I sat up a little straighter. I’d never seen him in person, not this close anyway. When his sister, Catalina, danced for the company, he’d go watch her, but I was one of the youngest dancers at the time and wasn’t privy to the private parties they held for the donors. He was absolutely as handsome as they said. Behind him, a woman walked out, a huge smile on her face. She seemed to light up the room as she stepped into it, and instantly set me at ease. He turned around to look at her and grabbed her hand in his as he led her out of the office. I wasn’t sure any man had ever looked at me the way he looked at her, but seeing it with my own two eyes gave me hope that one day I’d find someone who would. It wasn’t until they were halfway to me that they seemed to notice someone else was in the room.