Underrhelm

Chapter 6

RAYNA

The child laid with her face buried in Ember's lap. I stood with my arms crossed as Ember stroked the child's back.

"I will explain what has taken place after close tonight. Looks like I will need you at the meeting after all. I'm sorry to put further strain on you." I said apologetically.

"I can pretty much guess what happened. I know you well boss. This little one has a story similar to my own." she stated smiling.

"I can trust you to help her through this then?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"Yes boss of course. My only regret is my failing health, I cannot put off going back. Who will care for her while I am gone?" she asked concerned.

"Most appropriately would be Nyx. For now I have to get to work. I'll see you in a little while, see if you can get her to tell you her name." I stated while entering the hallway. I closed the door and leaned against it, rubbing my temples.

"I cannot believe I have to do this all over again." I sighed.

As I headed toward the elevator, the doors opened and there stood Kiva.

"Please stop ruining my day." I whimpered.

"I was just coming to tell you Ember's first client is here." she said cautiously.

I stood next to her in relief. "Oh right, Graham."

"He's seated at a booth." she added.

"I should apologize for my mess you and V are having to take care of." I groaned.

"You don't have to apologize boss. I would have shot her myself in the waiting room for how she made her daughter cry, but you had come up the stairs in time." she stated stone faced.

I looked at her a bit concerned.

"Well then I am glad I took care of it. Please have V guard the elevator for the night." I ordered as I exited the elevator.

"Boss." she replied, bowing.

"Graham! Baby! How's it hangin?" I laughed as I sat in the booth and put my feet up.

"Hello Rayna. Where is Ember? I am not here for you." he replied coldly. I gestured to a server with two fingers and turned my attention to him.

"Ouch Graham. I was just saying hi. So clingy you are." I teased. "Have you reconsidered our last conversation?" he asked.

I lit a cigarette and the server dropped two glasses on the table. One with green liquid and one with red.

"Absolutely not. I told you then and I'll tell you again. I will never sell any one of my people. They are under my protection and they are not objects of sale." I answered, taking a sip of the green liquid.

"Why does everyone in this f*****g place think s*x workers are property. I'll kill everyone if I have to, to prove otherwise." I growled to myself.

"That's rich coming from someone who sells them to others to make yourself money." he snapped.

I polished off my glass and inhaled my cigarette and replied,

"Not that it is any of your business but, one, they sell themselves. They have complete control over whom they see and what they do. Two, I do not get paid from what they make. I don't even have access to their money. I pay myself from cover charges and libation sales. Maybe a little from placing fight bets."

A memory came to me of the time V one six times in a row and I was throwing cash around like a millionaire at a strip club. I took a drag and dropped my cigarette on the floor. I stood up and stomped it out with my heel.

"And three, I came here to tell you Ember is still ill and will not be seeing clients this evening." I huffed. Graham slammed his glass on the table and stood up. He was about the same height as me with my heels on. His skin was tight and plum colored. His eyes were infuriated and gray like a storm about to hit. He flipped the table over and yelled, "This is bullshit! You are hiding her from me!"

I decided in this moment the best way to protect myself and get revenge was to shift into what he desired most. My skin melted into a melody of orange, yellow and white. I shrank a few inches and my hair turned red.

"Graham, you are embarrassing me in my own club." I purred.

My tail whipped around his neck causing him to fall to his knees.

"I have already had bad day. Now this mess you've made, my staff has to clean up. Whatever will I do with you?" I grinned.

I loosened my grip and he fell forward on his hands. I started to dust off my dress when he made a dash for me. As I suspected looking like his precious Ember made him falter. Then V grabbed him by his shirt collar in mid lunge.

"This is pathetic. You have a little crush and you think killing her keeper is going to make her run away with you." V ranted.

Graham tore his shirt ripping from V's grasp and turned to him, fists at the ready.

"You would know, wouldn't you Valentine." he goaded. V began to blush and grimace as he coiled to attack.

"Ember doesn't want to run away with you, you morn. If she actually cared for you and wanted to leave the boss would let her. Ember is loyal to her in ways you'll never understand or deserve to know!" V shouted as his fist made a crunching sound against Graham's face. It sent him flying into the table he had flipped over and smashed it to pieces.

"That's enough V. Show him the door please." I ordered.

I melted back into my original skin as V grabbed him by the tail and dragged him to the door.

"Sorry everyone. Free round of drinks on me for the disturbance." I announced and the crowd erupted in drunken cheers.

"Margo and Cassius clean this up please."

I made my way back to my office and sat quietly for a moment. I couldn't help but fixate on what Graham said to V. "Why would V know what it's like to have a crush on someone making him crazy? Does he have someone in his life he hasn't told me about?" I asked myself upset for some reason.