Sarah Kelley POV
I ran away from home two years to get away from my dad and his left hook. After my mother died, he became impossible to be around. I knew I had to leave even though I had nowhere to go. I packed a few of my things in a backpack and left. I have never looked back or thought about going back until tonight. It really is not an option, but I have to go somewhere.
When I arrived in Sin City, I met some girls like myself. All of us got jobs, saved our money, and were able to rent a house together. We have looked out for one another for the last two years. We keep each other safe. I thought maybe I could make it here. Now I know I am wrong.
First, Ashley started acting strange. She met a guy at the bar and at first, I thought she was in love with him, but now I know he has poisoned her mind somehow. Drew is up to something with Ashley; I know it. He brought another guy around that hooked up one of our roommates, Anna, and now she is also acting strangely.
All I know is that I have to get out of here before whatever is happening to them starts happening to me. I am afraid for the first time in a very long time. As soon as I pick up my check on Friday, I am getting a bus ticket and heading somewhere far from here. I hate not saying goodbye, but Anna and Ashley are not themselves. I cannot help them, and I have to look out for myself.
I grab my things and head for work. Today is Wednesday, just a couple of days until I can get out of here. I have a little bit of money saved, and it should be enough to start over in another town. I have to do this.
I walk out of our house without saying anything to any of my roommates. I am already running late for the club. Thomas will give me hell if I am late today. He does not care about what is going on in my personal life. He only cares that I am on time to tend the bar while the men look at the strippers. Thomas says I am too skinny to strip; that is why he put me behind the bar. I make good tips, and I get to keep my clothes on all night. I guess I should be grateful.
I run into the club ten minutes late. "You are late, Sarah!" Thomas screams at me.
"I am sorry," I say. I try to give him the best puppy dog eyes and pout I can manage, but he does not care.
"You are always late, and you are always sorry. Get behind the bar and get things ready. I do not have time to scold you tonight," Thomas says.
I hurry to the time clock to clock in for the night. I put my bag in my locker and say hi to the strippers getting ready for the night. Alicia stops me as I go out of the back.
"Hey Sarah, did Thomas tell you we are getting a lot of VIPs tonight?' Alicia asks.
"No, but I will make sure they are drunk and spending money on you ladies," I say.
Alicia smiles. "Thanks, love," she says.
Alicia is friendly to me. The rest of the ladies that strip treat me like an animal. They kiss Thomas's ass and complain about me for anything. If I talk to a guy at the bar and get a tip, they are mad. If I change in the dressing room, then I am taking up their space. If I use the bathroom in the back instead of the public restroom, then they whine about it. I cannot do anything to please any of them except Alicia. She is always kind to me. That is why when a guy asks who is the best private dancer; I always suggest Alicia. I keep her card full, and she always shares the wealth.
The night is crazy with VIPs. VIPs are constantly demanding and arrogant. To top it off, they do not tip well. Tonight brought out a bunch of weirdos dressed like vampires from a cheap horror flick. It must be a convention in town. We get a lot of those. One night we had men dressed like Teddy bears. It was weird, but those guys did tip well.
"Miss, can I get a whiskey sour, please?" a man asks. I look up to see this man standing in front of me. He is tall, very tall. His skin is pale, and his hair is long and black. He is unusual but very handsome.
"Sure," I say as I grab a few supplies from under the bar. I set the supplies behind me and grab a glass to mix his drink.
I set his drink down in front of him, and before I can tell him how much, he lays a fifty-dollar bill on the counter. "I will be right back with your change," I say.
"Keep it for being something beautiful to look at in this sea of sin," he says.
"Thanks," I say. I am not sure how to respond to that. I go to the till and change out the fifty. A forty-five-dollar tip that will go a long way on getting the hell out of here.
I go to the next customer and continue making drinks, then back to stocking the bar. The night is busy, and it seems to go by fast. I cannot keep the bar stocked, and Thomas took my bar back from me to help the strippers. I do not think this night could get any worse, and then it does.
"Hey Sarah, come here," Thomas calls for me.
What in the hell did I do now, I wonder. I walk over to him with a smile on my face. I cannot wait to tell him to go to hell and leave this place, just a few more days.
"Yes, sir," I say as I approach him.
"You waited on Lord Vincent earlier, and he wants you to dance for him in the private room," Thomas says. He does not ask, and he is telling me that I will dance for this Vincent guy.
"I am not a dancer, Thomas. Remember, I am a bartender," I say. I start to walk away.
"He said he will give you two thousand dollars for an hour," Thomas says. This proposition stops me dead in my tracks.
"I am not sleeping with him if that is what he wants," I say.
Thomas moves closer to him. "Look, I get ten percent, and you walk out of here tonight with some serious money. He is not weird or anything. He probably just wants you to talk to him for an hour. Be nice, smile at him, and maybe sit in his lap," Thomas says.
"You know this will piss off your pets," I say.
"I know, but Alicia is willing to give you one of her outfits and watch the bar for the hour," Thomas says.
I need this money. It would get me out of here on Friday with a nice nest egg. "Fine, I will do it, but he better not touch me anywhere below the waist," I say.
"I will set you a place to change in my office. Alicia will be up here to watch the bar for you in about ten minutes, okay," Thomas says.
I watch Thomas leave the bar. Customers are yelling at me, but I want to see who this Vincent guy is. "Miss, I need a beer," A guy yells at me.
I grab a beer from behind the bar, not taking my eyes off of Thomas. Then I see him talking to the guy that gave me a big tip. Maybe this will not be too bad. I set the beer on the bar for my customer.
"You are not a very good bartender," the strange-looking man says.
"Thanks, that will be five dollars," I say. The guy slams a five down on the bar and walks away.
I set the bar up for Alicia and tried to make things easy on her. She bounces up to the bar topless. She will probably make killer tips, and it will not matter if she knows how to make a cocktail or not.
"I left you something in Thomas's office. I think it will look great on you for your dance with Vincent," Alicia says.
"Thanks, I cannot believe I am doing this," I say.
"Make that money; you deserve it," Alicia says.
"I have everything set up for you. Just give them beers and shots until I get back," I say.
"I do not know how to make drinks, but I wanted you to make this money tonight. I know you need it," Alicia says.
"Thanks, Alicia," I say.
I leave the bar and walk back to Thomas's office. I go in and lock the door. I do not know why I am so nervous about this, but I am. Alicia left me a short plaid skirt and a tiny halter top to slip into for my dance. This will be interesting. I slip into it no problem. I look at myself in the mirror in Thomas's office. I look good. I fold up my clothes and leave them in a chair. I take a deep breath and walk out of the office.
"Damn, Sarah, I did not know you could look this sexy," Thomas says.
"Where is he?" I ask.
"Room seven, have fun," Thomas says.
I walk away from Thomas and start toward the private rooms. Some of the girls are glaring at me. I know they are pissed off because, to them, I am taking a big score. I did not ask for this. Vincent asked for me.
I walk through the back to room number seven. I open the door and there he is waiting for me. He stands up and walks toward me. He is smiling. I smile and try to seem happy about this. I try to think about the money. I need this money.
"I was afraid you would say no, Sarah," Vincent says. He takes my hand and leads me to the couch. I sit down beside him and cross my legs. I do not want him to get any ideas about touching me between my legs.
"I do not normally do this. In fact, Vincent, you are my very first customer," I say.
"That is what Thomas said. He told me you only tend bar," Vincent says. He touches my chin and forces me to look into his eyes. His eyes are beautiful. He is alluring to me.
"I am nervous. You will have to tell me what it is you want from me, Vincent, within the rules, of course," I say.
Vincent reaches behind me and pulls me close to him. I do not fight him. Something in me wants to be close to him. "I only want you to sit here with me and talk to me. Tell me about yourself. Who is Sarah? I want to know everything about you," Vincent says.
Something inside me wants to run, but something else inside of me wants to tell him everything. "There is nothing to disclose. I am just a girl that works in a bar, trying to make it," I say.
Vincent touches my hair and pushes behind my ears. "I do not believe that, Sarah. I think there is a lot to tell about you," he says.
Vincent leans in and kisses me on the lips. I do not push back or fight him. Part of me wants to get up and run from this room, and another wants to kiss him. It is like a battle is going on inside me.
