Michael’s eyebrows lifted as he studied me.
“I mean, you could pour the vodka from the handles into the fifth bottles to make it look more presentable. People won’t know the difference.”
Growing uncomfortable at his silence, my eyebrows drew together.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Um, because you’re like the dudes from Good Will Hunting and a Beautiful Mind rolled into one,” Lucia chimed. “Solidmath, Katia. She’s got a good idea with the handles, boss. Let me know.”
Lucia sauntered away and Michael cleared his throat. “Were you going to tell me that you were an undercover math whiz, or is that something you keep from everyone?”
Laughing, I shrugged. “It’s just simple subtraction. Math has always come easy to me. If I stayed in Estonia, I was going to go to school to be a math professor.”
Michael’s eyes darted between mine as he seemed to contemplate. “Hmm...”
“Anyway, it’s almost time for me to go back on. Sorry about your accountant. Hope you find someone better to replace him.”
The next morning, Michael had asked me to come to the Gilded Cage early. Nervous, I entered the office and sat in the seat before him.
“I hope I didn’t perform a lap dance wrong. Wouldn’t want to lose my kneecaps like your accountant.”
Leaning forward, Michael smiled as he rested his arms on the desk. “Funny you should say that because my accountant’s mistakes are why I asked you to come in.”
“Okay...”
He slid a piece of paper toward me. “I’d like you to look at this invoice and tell me if you find any mistakes on it.”
Confusion marred my features as I picked up the paper. “Um...”
“I know it’s a strange request. Please humor me.”
I nodded and studied the invoice. “Well, the subtotal is incorrect. It’s off by two dollars. And the total is off as well. Also, the sales tax is listed as eight percent, but the total reflects about six and a half percent.”
Michael’s lips curved as he sat back in his chair. Steepling his fingers, he pressed them to his mouth as he studied me. “Katia, have you ever thought about becoming an accountant?”
My features drew together. “In what dream world? The one where I’m not a stripper and where I have unlimited time and resources to get a degree?”
“Yes.” He nodded with the arrogance of a man who saw no limits to what he could accomplish. “I looked at programs last night, and you can earn an Associate of Science degree in accounting at Kingsborough Community College in two years.”
A laugh escaped my throat. “That’s great, but I work for you five nights per week. I mean, I guess I could find the time if I really wanted to, although I don’t know how much the tuition is—”
“It’s eleven-thousand dollars for the two-year degree. I’d obviously pay for your school and hire you immediately to start on my books.”
My mouth fell open. “You want to send me to school to be your accountant? Michael, I don’t know—”
“Yes,” he interjected, showing his palm. “I’ve already made up my mind, so there’s no use in arguing. I’ll assign this office to you, and you can renovate it however you like. You’ll obviously have to stop dancing, but I’ll pay you handsomely. I’m thinking two-hundred thousand a year to start.”
I shook my head, trying to free it from the madness of the strange reality I’d entered. “But I don’t know how to bookkeep or do accounting. If the degree takes two years, why would you hire me right away?”
“My third cousin, Stan, is a former bookkeeper. He’s offered to train you on immediate items as you get your degree. He’s retired and bored as hell, so he definitely won’t mind spending time with a beautiful woman who needs his help.”
Grinning, I asked, “Is Cousin Stan married? I’m not sure his wife would like that.”
“He never had the appetite for it, but he’s always loved a pretty lady.”
“Smart man,” I muttered. “Marriage is overrated.”
Michael studied me, questions swirling in his eyes, but he remained focused on our conversation.
