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“I hate to do it, hon. But I have to. If I lose my license, all those girls upstairs will lose their jobs. And no one’s going to hire girls from a club that was shut down for prostitution. They will all get labeled as hookers,” he explained.
“So you’re okay with me being labeled?” I asked hotly. “You’ve known me for so many years, Bo. Have I ever put a foot wrong?”
“I know you haven’t, darling. I’m not saying you did it. All I’m saying is that I have to do what I have to do for the sake of the club. That guy was serious about calling the cops.”
Bo sighed as he pulled off his toupee - a sign that he was under severe stress - and scratched his head.
“Look, if you ask me, it looks like a put-up job. Someone doesn’t want you working here. I don’t know who it is, and I don’t know why, but someone wants you out of here. Did any of the other girls give you any trouble?”
“No. They don’t mess with me because they know I need the job. They all know about Rose. I have a child to raise, Bo. Don’t kick me out,” I begged.
No other club would hire a disgraced dancer. Except maybe those shady clubs near the airport. The ones that openly offered ‘extras’. And there was no way I was stooping to sex work in the name of dancing.
My chest felt tight as I tried not to panic. I tried to remember how much money I had in my account. Would that cover the mortgage for the next few months?
“Will you give me a reference?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Honey, I’d be lying if I said I could. How can I give you a reference when I’m firing you for soliciting a customer?” he asked regretfully. “But I’ll give you a very healthy severance. Here, all this cash is for you.”
He pointed to the pile of cash in front of him. It looked like there were at least ten thousand dollars in there. I wanted to throw the cash in his face because it didn’t make up for the loss of my livelihood, but I needed the money.
With a grim face, I scooped it up and stuck it in my purse.
“Baby girl, can I at least get a hug?” asked Bo, looking unhappy.
I shook my head.
“Not when you’ve just torn my life apart on the say-so of a random guy. Not a chance in hell, Bo,” I replied with quiet dignity before I walked out of the club with my head held high.
I wondered who hated me enough to get me fired. It must be Brandon, I decided.
And then I saw him.
I would never have believed it if anyone told me it was Marcus who wanted me fired.
But I saw him laughing and talking with the man who had just got me fired. As I stared in utter shock, he shook hands with the guy and clapped him on the back before the other guy got into his car and drove off.
CHAPTER 15
MARCUS
Ismiled when I saw Celine walking towards me in the parking lot at the club. I wondered why she was out so early today, but I was happy to just see her.
When and how did this woman become so important to me that just seeing her sparked this level of joy? We still had a couple of hours before we had to pick up Rose. Maybe I could take her out for an early dinner.
I held my arms out, hoping she’d jump into them, but she ignored my outstretched arms and strode up to stand toe-to-toe with me. And for some reason, she looked upset. I took a closer look and realized that she didn’t look upset. She looked devastated.
“Babe, what’s wrong?” I asked.
Celine shook her head slowly and tears ran down her face.
“I trusted you, Marcus. How could you do this to me?”
“Celine, honey, what are you talking about?”
“You two-faced bastard! I’m talking about the manyouwere just talking with. Why did you do it, Marcus? Just tell me why!” she yelled.
I held on to my temper because I knew something was seriously wrong here. Celine wasn’t the type of woman to create drama for no reason.
