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“Why don’t we just talk here?” I ask Vince. “We have time now. Just tell me about the job.”
“I don’t like talking business at dinner,” he says, before swigging his drink.
“What’s your problem, kid?” my dad says to me. “The man’s nice enough to buy you dinner and give you a job and all you do is complain? Apologize before I reach across the table and slap some sense into you.”
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“Don’t worry about it.” Vince puts his hand on my arm and squeezes. “A lot of people are nervous when they first start.”
I don’t like him touching me, and he’s giving me a weird smile.
“And what’s the job?”
“Product sales. Customer service.” He lets go of my arm. “We’ll go over everything when we get to the office.”
Product sales? Customer service? Okay, maybe this is legit. I was starting to think he was hiring me to be a stripper. The way the guy looked at me when he saw me in this slutty dress? Meeting with me at night? But my dad wouldn’t do that to me. There’s got to be at least part of him that still sees me as his little girl, and that part of him wouldn’t want to see his daughter on a stripper pole.
Our food arrives, and I’m so hungry I scarf down my burger and fries like a ravenous dog. My dad and Vince aren’t even halfway done with their meals when the waitress takes my empty plate.
“Would you like dessert?” Vince asks.
“No, I’m full.”
I am, but I should probably eat more since I don’t know when I’ll eat again.
“Actually, I think I will get dessert.” I pick up the menu and look for the desserts.
“How’s Belinda doing?” Vince asks my dad.
“Same as always. She’s hoping to get back to work soon.”
Vince nods. “I want that too, but not until she gets her shape back. That kid really did a number on her.”
“You know Belinda?” I say to Vince.
“She used to work for me. Took time off when she got pregnant.”
“So you sell massage products?” I ask, knowing Belinda’s a massage therapist.
“Is she using again?” Vince asks my dad, ignoring my question.
My dad shrugs. “Here and there. She ain’t using like she used to.”
Listening to them talk, I feel like there’s a lot I don’t know and probably don’t want to. I’d like to just forget the job and go back to the apartment. Now that I have a key, I can go out and look for jobs myself. I don’t need my dad’s help.
Deciding to skip dessert, I wait for my dad and Vince to finish their meals and try to think of a way out of this. My dad’s determined to make me meet with this guy. If I refuse to go with him, my dad will kick me out. I’ll have to sleep in Ted’s car, which in this neighborhood is just as dangerous as sleeping on the street.
When we leave the restaurant, my dad heads to his car.
“Dad, wait!” I race after him. “I’m not feeling great. I’m just gonna go back with you.”
“Like hell you will.” He leans down to my face. “I got you this interview and you’re gonna make me proud. If you don’t, you’ll be out on the streets. Now go. Don’t be making him wait.”
Feeling tense and sick to my stomach, I turn and walk down the dimly lit street back to Vince.
“Right this way,” he says, smiling at me. He takes me to a place a few doors down from the restaurant. The sign above the door reads Serene Heights Massage. We go in and I see a girl a few years older than me standing behind a counter.
“Hey, Vince,” she says, sounding bored.
