Fighting Fate

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

After doing the rounds, the only job offers on the table were the usual ones… in strip joints. Vegas attracted young, beautiful women like a magnet. Every day the airport and bus station spawned new hopefuls. In the world-famous city, there was no shortage of spritely females in need of money, and that meant there weren’t always enough jobs to go around.

Strip joints offered good money, but she left that circuit years ago. Being there meant basically admitting you were only as good as the breasts on your body. She didn’t want to be employed simply because God had graced her with a generous pair.

After paying what was due, her savings were gone. If she didn’t find employment, next week’s bills wouldn’t be paid.

Poring over the newspaper on the coffee table, she circled possibilities and would trek to the payphone on the corner after checking all the ads. Exercise didn’t scare her, anywhere within walking distance would get a personal visit.

Trudi burst into the apartment waving a flyer, which she came over and slapped down on the coffee table.

“What’s this?” Ivy asked, picking up the yellow paper to read the advert for a swinger’s club. “Uh, there’s no way—”

“Not that. On the back,” Trudi said, sitting on the couch to tug off her boots.

An address, phone number, and another number were handwritten on the back.

“What is this?”

“I had a client last night and—”

“I’m not interested in hooking, Trud—”

“I know,” Trudi said and tsked. “His boss is looking for a live-in housekeeper. It’s the real deal. I could never put up with that kind of crap, the ‘yes, sir, no, sir,’ stuff. But you could and look at the starting salary!”

“I don’t know,” Ivy said, tempted by the number at the bottom. “What kind of place is it? Maybe they’ll expect extras, you know? If his employees use your services…”

“Please,” Trudi scoffed. “Have you ever met a guy in Vegas who doesn’t use s*x services? I don’t think so. This is just perfect for you. You should be grateful I thought of you.”

She and Trudi hadn’t seen eye-to-eye much, especially recently, but she hadn’t thought the woman was eager to kick her out.

“I guess I could call and see what it’s about. The address isn’t too far so I’d still be in Vegas.”

“Right,” Trudi said, standing to begin shedding her clothes as she headed for the bathroom. “And Carlos says I could start seeing clients here at home, that would help with the rent. I mean there’s only one bedroom, so it would be cool to live alone, right?”

Trudi didn’t wait for an answer and went into the bathroom to turn on the shower.

Reading the newspaper ads and the back of the flyer side-by side, she considered both. There wouldn’t be any harm in calling and finding out more about the housekeeping role. She gathered everything and headed out to use the payphone.

Getting a job and more importantly, getting paid, was her only priority. Unless it was linked to something sinister, she’d happily take a job with a salary and somewhere to sleep into the bargain. If it was as good a deal as Trudi said, a bunch of people would apply. Hopefully, Trudi had given her an inside edge, she had a personal connection, and maybe got the tip before the job was available everywhere.

In the blazing heat, she picked up the pace. The housekeeper job would be her first call. Could this be the lucky break she’d been waiting for?