Indecent Proposal (Book 5 of the Forbidden Series)

13

Ronny hung up his phone, his mood dark. He had just checked his messages before heading out for the night. With no surprise to him, there was a message from Vi waiting to cancel their dinner plans. It was starting to tick him off. She had come up with a reason to blow him off every day this past week. All of which he was sure were lies.

At first, he had tried not to make an issue of it. After all, their relationship fell within certain parameters. She did not have to answer to him, as she had said he did not own her. They were not exclusive. However, he was quickly growing tired of lies. Why could she not respect him enough, to be honest with him? He was not a fool. Did she believe she could continue to string him along and he wouldn’t notice?

Aggravated Ronny decided he’d had enough. He was going to get to the bottom of things. If Vi was not going to be honest with him, and tell him where she was going and who she was with, he was going to find out in other ways. He could hire a private detective to follow her. He could confront her, but she would probably lie to him again. Then again there was always another source of information. Vi had a roommate who conveniently worked for him.

Deciding to head into the club tonight Ronny debated how he was going to interrogate Vi’s roommate. Sure, she was his employee, but she was also Vi’s friend. He was not sure if she would break her friend’s confidence. He reached the club before opening and headed inside. Everyone was busily preparing to open for the night. Ronny informed Larry he had no intentions of staying this evening he was merely passing through. Once he had the information, he came for he would likely leave.

Ronny spotted Vi’s roommate up at the bar and walked over trying to remember her name. It was something short. Something simple. Jill? No, perhaps Jess? Jan, that’s right, he recalled as he reached the bar. He tapped his hand on the bar to gain the young woman’s attention. She looked a bit surprised to see him and then she smiled. “Can I get you a drink, Mr. Creek?” She asked sweetly.

Ronny leaned against the bar and flashed her a knowing smile. “Let’s cut the crap sweetheart. Why has Vi been lying to me?” He came right out and asked. He saw no reason to beat around the bush.

Jan shrugged her slender shoulders. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She said.

She was lying too. “You’re not a very good liar. Where has she been going?” He asked.

Jan shook her head pretending not to know a thing. Ronny took out his wallet and held up a hundred-dollar bill. “She is going to the Black Diamond each night. She is a waitress there.” Jan said taking the money.

Working at the Black Diamond? He’d heard of that place; it was a flesh club. What the hell was she doing there? “Why is she there? She works here.”

Jan just looked at him quietly for a moment. He rolled his eyes and held up another hundred-dollar bill. Jan took the money and stuffed it in her pocket. “Not anymore she doesn’t. Larry has a thing about you two dating, so he cut her hours and forced her out.” She said.

“Oh, he did?” Ronny was furious. Why had she not just come and told him Larry had cut her hours? He would have done something about it. There was no need for her to get a new job especially one as degrading as the Black Diamonds. Then to lie to him about it. “And she lied to me because…”

“She didn’t believe you would approve.” And he didn’t. “I told her to go to you, but she has this obsession with finical independence. She said she didn’t want you to fight her battles, but when you confront her, you didn’t hear it from me.” Jan said returning to her work.

Ronny wandered off to his office. It would seem he had some things to do this evening. He headed into his office and first called up some of the guys. He was going to go out tonight. Once he rounded up some buddies, he then poured over some of the personnel files reviewing their progress reports for anyone that stood out. One guy seemed to have potential. Gorge Henderson, one of the assistant managers, had a rather good track record and was working this evening.

Ronny decided it was time to hook up with his buddies, but first, he had one piece of business left. He took out his chequebook and wrote a cheque then sealed it in an envelope. Before the doors opened, Ronny called a staff meeting on the dance floor. Everyone gathered around, and he made an announcement. “As of tonight, I am making a change in management.” He announced drawing a murmur from the gathered staff. Larry’s eyes were wide with shock. Ronny handed him the envelope that contained the cheque he had just wrote. “This is two weeks’ severance pay; you’re fired.”

Larry took the envelope still stunned. “I don’t understand.” He said. “Didn’t I do a good job? I kept the club popular and profitable.”

“Yes, and you misused and abused your power over the rest of the staff. You were warned if you were caught abusing your position again you would be terminated. Take your pay and leave.” He instructed. “Don’t make me have security escort you out.” Larry glared at him and then at the staff. In a huff, he headed back to what had been his office to gather his things and leave. Ronny turned his attention back to the rest of his staff. “I’ve been reviewing the personnel files and based on the past progress reports I’ve decided to promote Gorge Henderson to Larry’s position as manager.”

Gorge had been standing in the back and suddenly looked, god, smacked when he realized he had just been promoted. The job meant more hours, but it also meant more money and prestige. Everyone began to congratulate the young man on his good fortune as he came up to the front to accept his new job. “Thank you, Mr. Creek. I won't let you down.” He said shaking Ronny’s hand vigorously.

“Yes, well just remember not to abuse your position.” He said prying his hand from Gorge’s. “Now you have a busy night ahead of you, and I am going out. Good luck.”

Ronny left the club and headed home to change for the night. He was going partying for the evening. He showered and changed into something that would draw attention. He headed down to his parlour and cracking his safe open he padded his wallet for the evening’s festivities. He had no sooner locked the safe and returned the painting to the wall when he heard the doorbell. His ride had arrived.

Ronny headed out to the limo waiting outside. He and his buddies had decided to go all out tonight. Boys’ night out. He had spilled the beans that Eric was back in New York and once the word was out that he was back and suddenly single all the boys were more than eager to hit the clubs. Mike and Damien had jumped at the chance to come out both leaving their wives at home. Travis, Troy, and Sam (the guys in Kat’s band) had been happy to come out and celebrate with the men that had given them their start. A group of rowdy musicians out on the town. Everyone was getting drunk, laid, and it was likely someone would wake up in jail.

Ronny climbed into the back of the stretch limo joining his friends. He smiled at the boys. “So where should we terrorize first?” Travis asked.

Ronny flashed an evil grin. “Black Diamonds Gentlemen’s Club.” He was going to teach Vi a lesson. He didn’t appreciate being lied to, whatever the reason behind it.

***

It was cold as the artic in her skimpy uniform and Vi shivered as she placed her drinks on the tray she carried. She hated her job. The music was too loud, and she was sick of seeing the dancers and watching the men drool puddles on the floors. She was sick to death of the crude comments she had to put up with and the roaming hands. Her bottom had been groped many times; she had to resist the urge to smack the customers. She got a few tips but not as many as she would have hoped. The customers saved their tip money to throw at the dancers and buy lap dances. Not that she hadn’t been propositioned a few times.

Thank god the wage was good or she would have quit a hundred times over. “Oh my god, we got celebrities tonight.” The bartender grinned as he finished pouring the last of her drinks.

“Oh my god!” Giggled another waitress as she bounced up and down clapping her hands. “It’s Quick Shot and the Heathens.”

Heathens! The word was like being doused with a bucket of ice cold water. Oh no, it couldn’t be, he couldn’t be. Vi turned around to see Ronny coming to sit at a table with his friends. He was here, where she was working. Vi quickly squatted down trying to hide behind the other waitress. Her heart beat wildly in her chest.

“What are you doing?” The waitress asked looking down at her.

Vi smiled awkwardly up at her colleague. “I’m shy.” She lied. “I can’t be seen.”

“They are seated in your section.” The bartender pointed out.

“Thank you; I’m aware of that.” Vi snipped.

“What are you doing?” She heard the manager growl from behind her.

Vi looked up at him and jumped up to her feet. “I dropped something.” She lied not wanting to lose her job.

“Are you blind or completely useless? Do you not see those big spenders sitting over there? They have been here a total of five minutes, and no one has served them.” He snarled taking the tray and shoving it into her arms. “Sever your drinks and go take their orders. I want them drunk and happy, because bored sober celebrities do not spend money. Move your worthless butt.” He ordered.

Reluctantly Vi was faced with two options. Face Ronny or lose her new job. Vi served the table she had been working before they had come in and then took a deep breath. She would have to face the music or to be more accurate the musician. Vi looked down at her skimpy silver uniform and desperately wished she had been dressed in something less revealing. Especially in front of his friends.

Vi bit the bullet and walked up to the table of men who were all talking and casually watching the dancer. “What can I get you, boys?” She asked trying to put a smile on her face. She could feel her face flush with embarrassment when all eyes at the table turned on her. She knew that half of them recognized her right off. Two from the VIP and the other from dinner at Ronny’s home. They shot Ronny a quiet look but said nothing.

Ronny smiled up at Vi, and she realized he didn’t seem surprised to see her. “So, this is where my girl has been hiding.” He knew she realized, somehow, he had found out she was working here, and he had come to torment her. “We will have a round of rum and keep them coming sweetheart,” Ronny said with a sly grin and took out a wad of cash tossing it on her tray. “On me tonight.” She turned to head back to the bar when he suddenly slapped her on the bottom. “Be quick about it.” Vi jumped shocked by the contact, and she stared back at him. Her gaze held his as he flashed her a smug smile.

He was as horrible as any of her other customers. This was not the man she had come to know. She could understand he was upset with her for lying to him but did he need to be such a jerk? Vi went to the bar and got their drinks annoyed with Ronny. She loaded the drinks onto her tray and looked back over her shoulder to watch as the other girls began to swarm the table offering their time and affections for a negotiable price.

She watched as Mike turned down the offers as did another but the rest of the men at the table were happily accepting the ladies’ attention. Vi felt a sting when she saw one of the other dancers settle happily onto Ronny’s lap with a giddy little giggle. She could not hear what he was saying to her as his fingers brushed back her hair, and he whispered in her ear, but from her experience with the man, Vi was certain it was racy.

It enraged her to see him openly flirting with another woman. She collected the rest of her drinks and headed back to the table. “Your drinks boys, to help get the party started.” She said with a forced smile as she handed out the drinks around the table serving Ronny last. As she reached him, she casually knocked the glass off her tray and down the other woman’s top. She screamed and leapt to her feet tossing the ice to the floor and cursing at Vi. “I’m sorry.” Vi lied.

“Clumsy twit.” She hissed walking away to change her outfit in the back rooms. Vi tried hard to hide her smirk as she watched the little hussy walk off.

“You ruined my fun.” Ronny accused staring up at her.

Vi glared down at him. “Oh dear, did I? I’m sorry?” She lied.

“Liar.” He said standing up and leaning in close to stare her in the face. “You have become quite the little liar lately.” He accused. “Every time you speak to me it’s been nothing but lies.”

Suddenly she felt pain of guilt. She had not wanted to lie to him, but she had just not seen any other option. “I’m sorry.” She whispered. “Can we not discuss it right now?” She asked quietly looking around. She did not want to start a fight in front of everyone and end up fired.

“When do you get a break?” He asked.

“In an hour.”

“We will talk then.” He said taking his seat. “Bring me another rum since the dancer is wearing mine.” He snipped with annoyance. It was going to be a long evening.