Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“I heard that she was found on the street. I guess this would be the first time someone actually brought the trash in instead of taking it out.” Brooklyn cackled as if she’d told the funniest joke.
Tam had dealt with way worse in her life than a couple of catty bitches who were looking for a rise out of her. She was well aware that was a no fighting rule among the girls and breaking that rule was cause for automatic termination. Maybe they thought she would attack them. And to be perfectly honest, it would have felt good to knock them down and stomp their boney asses into the ground but neither was worth the effort. Instead, she decided to use her words.
Tam pasted a smile on her face. “Brooklyn, right?”
Brooklyn sneered, which contorted her face into something far less attractive. “Yes. What’s it to you?”
“Oh, I just wanted to match the name to the face. After all, I’ve heard so much about you. Sorry about your little situation.”
Brooklyn crossed her arms over her chest. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Just because Tam didn’t involve herself in some of the drama a handful of the other hostesses were embroiled in, it didn’t mean she didn’t hear things and she found it ironic that the two people who had the most shit to say were the ones who the other girls whispered about the most. “Well, that little problem. I mean, I’d be so embarrassed if one of the clients complained about me having an odd odor down there, but I think it’s very brave of you to be able to continue on. And you…” Tam turned to the brunette whose name she couldn’t remember. “And it must be so frustrating to be constantly passed over for younger and prettier girls every night. Maybe after your next facelift, things will get better for you.” Tam widened her smile while the two women stared at her gap-mouthed. “You two have a great night.”
She walked away with her chin up and shoulders squared. It had taken everything out of her to not get physical but she refused to give them what they wanted. When she made it into the club, she recognized a few of the men from the night before but a lot of new faces. Julie had told her that she’d get used to the regulars after doing this for a while.
As she headed to the bar, she was intercepted by Natalia who grasped her by the arm. Tam felt the bite of the other woman’s nails in her skin and whether it was done intentionally or not, she couldn’t tell, after all, Natalia wasn’t a particularly warm person, to begin with, but toward Tam, she was barely civil.
“You’ve been requested. Seamus wants to see you again. But he’s taking you for an outside date. I expect you to act accordingly. Seamus will be here shortly so you should go wait in the lobby. Understand?”
Tam barely registered Natalia’s condescending tone as her heart began to race at the mention of Seamus’s name. She thought after he’d kicked her out that that would be the end of things between them, but apparently, he still had plans for her. “I think I can handle it.”
Natalia narrowed her eyes. “I should hope so. But just a little friendly advice. Don’t get too comfortable with Seamus. He’s only interested in you because you’re the new girl. You may be his favorite for now, but eventually, he’ll grow bored of you just as he has with the other women he’s taken an interest in.”
Tam pulled herself out of Natalia’s grip. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were jealous. But you have no reason to be, right? Since he’ll just get tired of me.”
Natalia glared. “You’d better watch who you’re talking to. I can make things very uncomfortable for you while you’re here.”
And Tam didn’t doubt she would. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from saying what was really on her mind.
“Is that all?”
Natalia looked Tam up and down. “That’s it. Your appearance is acceptable tonight. You’ve certainly cleaned up to a level I didn’t think possible. Just be grateful for what you have now and don’t get too ahead of yourself.” She turned around, leaving Tam staring at her back.
It was moments like these when she thought being on the streets weren’t bad. At least then she wouldn’t have to deal with people who would smile in her face and then stab her in the back without a second thought. At least on the streets, people double-crossed you for their own survival. Here it was because these women had too much damn time on their hands.
Tam found Seamus in the lobby puffing on an e-cigarette and then blowing out a thick cloud of smoke. She tried to calm down the beating of her heart as she approached. He looked incredibly handsome with his hair slicked back and the top three buttons of his shirt undone to reveal a smattering of hair that rested on his toned chest.