STUCK BETWEEN THE MAFIA BROTHERS

OLIVIA The air smelled of cigarettes as I pushed through the glass doors. Subtle music played in the background matching nothing like a club I imagined would be like. One step at a time, I looked down over the rail. At the center of the ground floor a table of gamblers circled staking millions. If only they knew what they were up for. I glanced away and went straight to the inner room to get changed. It was my first night at a huge club like this. Midnight City wasn't like a regular party club that blasted music with speakers that could bust ears. It was a membership club exclusively for VIP members who spent millions to have wicked fun. For weeks I have been trying to get a spot as a dancer here until last night my neighbor asked if I could take her shift due to an emergency. Knowing how tough it has been for me to get in, I accepted the offer without hesitation. At the backstage, a few women were changing into their outfits. Ass and t**s in the open, one client was all we needed to hit jackpot. A part of me wanted to back out. But remembering I had to restock Adrian's cereals and my three months overdue rent, I smacked my lipstick on and shook off the thought of losing out on this opportunity. After getting changed one of the attendants led us to the private lounge. Each woman was assigned to different rooms. Along the way smacking and moaning sounds echoed through the hallway. "Remember, serve your clients according to their wishes. After your shifts you will get paid," the attendant coldly said before she assigned the rest of us to our rooms. I breathed out, gripping my leather jacket in front of the room I was assigned to. All I had to do was pull through the night and get paid. Counting down in my head, I knocked at the door and turned the door knob letting myself in. Just like the ground floor, the room was filled with the stench of alcohol and smoke of expensive m*******a. Some women giggled, drawing my attention to a particular man seated at the center of the room. A stripper twirled exotically around a pole entering him while others showered him with praises. He was definitely a hot shot because other men in the room seemed to shrink slightly whenever he spoke like they were waiting to be told what to do. Being the next dancer, I asked another dancer behind me out of curiosity. “Who is he?" “He is the owner of the clubhouse," she whispered. I glanced back at the man who looked unbothered by the women who were pushing their luck to get his attention. It was obvious he wasn't interested in this kind of show. So I quickly looked around him, checking for anything that would give me an upper hand. Instead of climbing the stage to dance, I strode over to where he sat and slumped on the couch next to him. I glanced at the table where he had burned his cigarette and a piece of documents that had a disapproved stamp on it. Putting my head on the line, I grabbed the paper and that caught his attention. I read through the document and smiled knowing this wasn't a difficult task to do. “Finding it hard to run a business?" I asked, giving him back the paper. He took it but remained silent as if I had not said a word to him. Still I pushed on. “If you can tell me how you run your business I could provide a solution that would help you get that document approved," I said and this time I fully got his attention. "What do you know about running a clubhouse or business management?" He asked with a sarcastic tone judging my outfit with his eyes. “I majored in business administration at Harvard and studied business and property management for three years at Stanford. That's the lot I can tell and read through that proposal. If I were an investor, I wouldn't have granted you a loan. I have talked too much, I will take my leave," I said using my disinterest as bait for him to call me back which he did. “The clubhouse runs all day. Mostly, high valued customers are accepted with VIP membership for top executives. Currently, it is on the verge of shutting down if I don't bring up its sales in a month," he explained the situation with his business. I sat back on the couch next to him and with a wave of his hand, he sent every other person out. Once they were gone, I began to pitch him on what to do and how to sustain his business with the idea I had come up with after reading the proposal. He listened carefully, realizing his flaws as I pointed them out. He sat back and watched me. I couldn't tell where I got the courage from but talking about business strategies and improvements made me feel whole. "You should work for me," he cut me off in the middle of my explanation. "As my business advisor, I will provide whatever you need and pay you a handsome salary if you accept." "Are you being serious?" "We will draw up a contract the moment you say yes." I looked at him awestruck by his offer. With this position I would be able to cover costs and even access most of the information I need on Boyle's activities and trace back everything he took from me. “It is a yes," I agreed on the spot without thinking twice. He handed me his phone and told me to type in my details on a form. I filled out the form and we both signed the contract. "Welcome aboard, Olivia." He read out my name from the form. "You can start work from tomorrow," he said with a dismissive smile. I left the lounge feeling more fulfilled than ever. Tonight's job was secured indeed. On my way out, I noticed one of Charlie's men who I recognised inside the room, watching me from the top floor. I slowed down when our eyes met, but he didn't look away. A strange uneasiness settled in my stomach. Why was he staring at me like that? I quickly looked away and continued toward the exit. Maybe I was overthinking it. I had just landed a job that could change everything for me. I wasn't about to let one strange look ruin it. With that thought, I left the club.