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They must have left.
Good.
The curtains close, and I release the breath I'm holding, but my body still feels like it’s made of lead.
Placing my hand over my racing heart, I take a few deep breaths hoping my mind will climb down from the shock of seeing Jericho, but it doesn’t work.
“Hey, River, are you okay?” Zara’s voices cuts into my thoughts.
I turn to see her making her way over to me. She the club’s manager. Tonight, she's dyed her mid-length hair a vibrant electric blue and is wearing a matching catsuit that makes her slender body appear leaner.
Quickly, I gather my composure and offer her my brightest smile. The one rule they have here is to always look like you’re having fun, even when you’re not.
“Hey, there, I'm fine.”
“You look like you froze up for a minute while you were in the air. I was worried.” She looks genuinely concerned, a quality I like in her. She’s shown it right from our first meeting when she could see how desperate I was for the job.
“Sorry, I just had a case of lightheadedness.” I chuckle, hoping she can’t see through the lie. “But honestly, I'm fine.”
On hearing that, she gives me warm smile and seems relieved. “Great, because the crowd absolutely loved you. Penelope is having a field day.” She clasps her bony hands and does a little hop.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“You should be. Everyone is obsessed with you and your performances. They’re calling you the mermaid. I can see why.” Zara laughs heartily, lifting the ends of my ponytail and making a show of staring at the red color.
I laugh, too. “I get that a lot.”
“I’m sure you do. You also have private party bookings every night for the rest of the month, with the option for overtime if you want.”
“Wow.” That brightens my mood.
“I know, right?” She grins, running coffin-shaped fingernails through her hair.
“That is amazing and will definitely help me out.”
“I thought so.” She nods, and a spark of sympathy enters her eyes.
“Thank you.”
“No worries.”
My main job here is the aerial performances. I get a base pay of three hundred dollars a night to do that from eight p.m. to one in the morning. However, those party bookings are private functions that could add another three to five hundred on top per night with tips if the men like you. Of course, they don’t just want you there for your pretty face.
I’ve done five parties so far that have brought in an extra two thousand dollars. Half-heartedly, I also signed up for the auction on Friday night, where I hear you can bring in anything from ten thousand to fifty thousand dollars. Or more.
The parties and the auction are both way outside my comfort zone. I know I’ll most likely have to do things I’ll regret, but knowing I have a chance to make all that money to make life better for my aunt and myself gives me strength I desperately need.
I still wouldn’t be anywhere close to my goal, but at least I’m getting there.
“Anyway.” Zara straightens and sets her shoulders back, regaining her business-like poise. “I would love to stay and chat some more, but you've got fifteen minutes before the Everton party begins.”
“Okay, I’ll go get ready.”
“Great. Your dress is already waiting for you in the dressing room, and Tony’s on duty, if you need him. Bailey Everton ? can get a little handsy when he’s drunk.” She grimaces and wrinkles her nose as if she’s seen something too disturbing.
Tony is the head of security, but Zara’s reaction doesn’t exactly instill me with reassurance. In my frame of mind, I don’t think I could handle handsy tonight. My presence at these parties is just to mingle and basically flirt. I don’t do lap dances like the other girls at the parties, but sometimes the men don’t like that.
“I’ll be okay,” I decide to say, because I have to be.
