“They were all interested in becoming actresses at some point or another.”
Moretti shrugged.
I understood why he was so calm, cool, and collected when Clarissa was going off. He had dealt with this many times over.
“Hey, New York is expensive. It beats waitressing for minimum wage and some tips,” I said.
I couldn’t believe it. This is the side of life my father had always wanted me to avoid. That was a bad idea. I liked it.
“I think you are going to like your membership here,” Moretti commented.
“You’re right,” I whispered. “Clarissa is coming back.”
Clarissa came back from the ladies’ room and sat down.
“What did I miss?” she asked.
“No. Nothing. It’s all good,” I said.
Moretti nodded and winked.
“Our dinner special will be served soon for both of you. And—and Cole will be taking you out for a night on the town. How does that sound?” Moretti asked.
“I like it,” she responded.
She turned her attention to me and winked. I winked back.
This is going to be one memorable night for both of us, Clarissa.
CHAPTER 8
CLARISSA
PRESENT
Ralph had taken John to the bus station. He was happy with the money, and I was happy to get him out of my hair.
The room felt comfortable and spacious. My mind drifted to memories of long ago.
Nothing like my bedroom from my childhood, small, hot, and humid with a broken air conditioner.
I was living a life that was a far cry from those early years.
John had been my first love, my high school sweetheart. My parents hated him with a passion, and rightly so. He’d knockedme up right after I came back home from New York the first time around to help look after my grandfather, Rafael.
John never married me. For some reason, he liked to say we were married. He liked to say that when he got drunk. This was never the case.
Soon after, I had Ralph. I left him with my parents to care for him and came back here to New York to pursue my dream of becoming an actress. I needed to get out of the poverty my parents had offered me all my life up to that point.
I was heartbroken as a very young mother, but I couldn’t give up on my dream. Thankfully, my parents understood.
My phone started buzzing, and I was quickly back in the room, sitting on the chair. It was Cole.
“Hey, Cole. I was waiting for your call.”
“Hi, Clarissa. We really need to talk!”
“Sure. What’s happening?”
