Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“I had my own Mr. Darcy.” Gloria smiles softly.
I place my book down onto my lap as I watch her. “Did you?”
“I did.”
I smile.
“He swept me off my feet and we were married for seventy-four years. Happy until the day he died.”
“How wonderful, Gloria.”
Her face falls solemn. “We were never gifted with children.”
“Oh.” Is all I can muster because I’m not sure what to say.
Her eyes flicker up to me. “What about you? Have you found your Mr. Darcy?”
I laugh and shake my head. “They don’t make men like they used to, Gloria.” I stop for a moment as I try to articulate my thoughts. “We only seem to breed one dimensional men these days.”
Her wise eyes hold mine. “And you want a three dimensional man?”
I nod as I smile softly. “Yes. I want mind, body, and soul.”
“And you just find the men who want the body?”
I nod sadly. “Seems so.”
She holds out her hand and I take it in mine.
“Your Mr. Darcy will come for you,” she whispers.
I smile and squeeze her hand in mine. “Maybe.”
I glance at my watch. I have five more minutes.
“That is very true,” replied Elizabeth, “and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”
“Pride,” observed Mary. “Is a very common failing I believe.”
From the corner of my eye, I see something move, and I glance up to find Dr. Stanton leaning on the door frame listening to us both.
How long has he been there?
I sit up nervously and close the book. “I’m… I’m just reading to Gloria,” I stammer.
He smiles softly. “So I heard.” His eyes hold mine with a glow I haven’t seen in them before.
What is that look?
“Gloria, can we pick this up tomorrow?” I ask as my eyes find her.
“Yes, dear, thank you so much. You have made me so happy.”
I smile, place the book on her nightstand, and she holds her hand out. “Can you pass the book to me please, Ashley?”
“You are going to try and read it?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, I just want to sleep with it.”
Emotion overcomes me and I quickly hand her the book. I keep my eyes on the floor and scurry out of the room before Cameron sees my tears.
I don’t want to die alone.
The sound of the music echoes through the space, and I struggle to hear what the clients are ordering.
“Scotch on the rocks,” he announces. I swear I’m getting good at lip reading.
I’m on my third shift behind the bar at Club Exotic. It’s so busy. Men are everywhere and, even though I would never admit it, I look forward to coming here now. The girls are really nice and the members are all so polite and friendly. The money is amazing and I don’t start until Owen is in bed tucked up safe. I couldn’t ask for a better part-time job.
Never once have I felt cheap.
We’re short staffed tonight. The Barr exam is on tomorrow for all of our Law students, so we are all working that bit harder to cover for them.
“Vivienne, can you do the door for me for a minute while I run this order down to the Escape Lounge?” Ebony asks me.
I frown. “I’ve never done the door before. What do I have to do?” I ask.
“Come, I will show you.”
I follow her over to the little desk near the front entrance and she swipes on the touch screen computer. “So, when they come through, you swipe the barcode on their card with this gun.” She picks up a little laser gun thingy and shows me how to use it.
“Okay.”
“And then all the names will come up on the screen of the men who are in the club tonight.”
“Aha.”
“Just welcome them with Welcome to Club Exotic and then check the screen to make sure that their name adds to the bottom of the list.”
“Got it.” I frown. “Wait, do I ask them their name?”
“No. They don’t ever tell you their name, but their real names come up on the screen. But you never acknowledge that you know it. That’s a big deal. Never let them know that you know who they are.”
My eyes widen. “Oh, okay.”
“If someone is going to the Escape Lounge tonight, you will have to wait until I get back, so just let them in, but tell them they have to come back to see me.”
I nod. “Got it. How will I know if they are going to the Escape Lounge?” I ask.
“Their name will be red on the screen.”
“Okay.”
She disappears into the darkness and I stand and wait at my position by the door. I’m wearing my little leather cream outfit. My hair is down and the girls put my makeup on tonight in the staff room. I’m feeling a bit sexy, to be honest. I watch as Simone, one of my new friends, walks past me in her sheer top and her little leather hotpants. She’s about to give someone a lap dance. The song Naughty Girl by Beyoncé comes on, and I watch her slowly walk up to the guy sitting in the chair like she is going to eat him alive. His eyes hold hers and he sits back as he waits for her private show.