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She nods. “Sure, I wanted to talk to you about the investors.”
“Oh, okay?”
She pulls Ellen’s chair out and sits down. Today her catsuit is yellow, and to be honest, she really should stop wearing those things. Not that I’ll tell her that.
Looking over at me, a smile sits on her lips and she says, “New York is very interested, as in, ready to sign you now. The only problem is that I don’t think you should take anything until after that night. They aren’t offering you enough. They’re trying to lowball you, and I feel that Vegas could offer you more. I wanted to tell you, nonetheless.”
I process what she’s telling me and can’t believe it. They are already offering me a job? They haven’t even seen me wow the crowd yet. I mean, I’m not saying I don’t give it my all every night, but I plan to kill the stage on the investors’ night. I have come up with some awesome stuff, and I want them to see what I can do.
“No, thank you for telling me. I think I’ll take your advice, but can I ask what they offered?”
She smiles. “Only a twenty-grand signing bonus, which is disrespectful.”
Twenty grand sounds pretty damn good to me, though. “Oh?”
“Yeah, Claire, you are worth triple that, and I think that Vegas will be the one to give you an offer you can refuse. I’m telling you, you are going to do big things.”
She then stands and I smile as I look up at her. “Thank you.”
“No problem, baby,” she says before reaching out and cupping my face in a motherly way. “I’m very proud of what you’ve come up with, and while I’ll be sad to see you go, I will be there opening night, cheering you on.”
“Thank you,” I say.
We share a smile and then she’s off, leaving me completely in shock that I was offered twenty grand for basically a shitty performance. If I give it my all, no telling what they’ll come at me with. I’ll be set for life and the excitement is eating me alive. I reach for my phone to text Jude, but I pause. I can’t text him this late because I’m supposed to be sleeping. Man, I’m getting tangled in my lie and I need to just tell him the whole truth, but I know I won’t. I’m already too far gone in this deceit; there is no reason to ever tell him, or Phillip. I’ll just wait till I’m hired by a prestigious company, earning thousands to make up dances for burlesque dancers. Then I’ll tell them. They can’t be mad because I’ll be doing something with it.
Right?
I just don’t know. Standing up, I pack up my stuff and throw my jacket on over my sweatshirt. I always make sure to wear it out of the club in case a patron is outside. I don’t want anyone knowing where I am, or even who I am. I spent the whole night changing outfits to make sure my arm was covered so no one could see my tattoo. I should have waited to get it, but oh well, I love it.
Bundled up in my jacket, I throw my money in my bag and head to security so they can walk me to my car in the back. Ben is happy to do it, thankfully, and walks out with me. We don’t really talk much as we walk, mainly because I don’t want to distract him from seeing anyone who is out to get me.
A little paranoid? Yeah, just a tad.
Pulling out my phone, I click Jude’s name and type:
R u awake?
I watch the screen, waiting for his response. When he doesn’t answer by the time we reach my car, I tuck my phone in my pocket. But when I look up, I am frozen in place. My stomach drops, my heart races, and everything inside me goes cold as I gasp for breath.
“Who’s that guy in your car?” Ben asks, but I can’t answer him.
I can only choke back the tears as Phillip slowly unfolds himself from my car, his eyes flashing with anger.
Swallowing loudly, I whisper, “My uncle.”
Chapter 42
Claire
“So you’re good?” Ben asks and Phillip’s head tilts to the side, waiting for my answer.
One would probably assume I’d take the coward’s way out and say no so that Ben could protect me from the wrath of Phillip, but that’s not how I roll. I knew this was coming; I had to face the music someday, and today, or well, tonight is the night. While, yes, my body is shaking with fear, my heart feels as if it’s coming out of my chest, my throat is thick with emotion, and I have no clue what I’m going to say to him, I know I have to stand here and take responsibility for what I have decided to keep to myself.
He loves me. Phillip will support me. I know this.
Taking in a deep breath, I say, “Yeah, I’m good.”
Ben looks wary to leave me alone, but like I knew he would, he says, “Okay, have a good night. Holler if you need me.”
