Sweet Little Thing(11)

The first person I saw when I walked in the front doors was the redhead  from last night who had taken me to Carey's office. She waved me over to  her. "I need to get you a uniform. Then Neil will be showing you the  ropes tonight. You can shadow him-and take notes."

"Okay," I said hurrying to follow her down the same hallway I'd been in last night that led to Carey's office.

We passed his door and went all the way to the end. A blue door that  said Employees Only was to our right. The redhead opened it and we went  inside. There were uniforms on hangers along the back wall and dressing  rooms. There were also mirrors, toilets and one shower.

"This is where we dress, use the facilities, and take breaks," she said  as she walked to the uniforms and took one from the rack. "A four  correct?"

I nodded.

"Put this on." She reached down and picked up a pair of red high heels that had sparkly toes. "Wear these."

"I need an eight," I told her not wanting to have to squeeze my foot into yet another shoe.

She sat them down and picked up another pair. "Here. They run small. These are nines."

The idea of walking around in heels didn't seem so bad now that I knew  my toes weren't going to be cramped all night. "Thank you."

"Sure. Get dressed and then come out to the front. Neil will be waiting on you."

"Who's Neil?"

She paused at the door. "Tall guy. Dark blonde hair. He will be looking for you. Just head out front."                       
       
           



       

"Okay," I replied as she walked out. I still didn't know her name. She wasn't exactly the friendly sort.

I got busy changing into the work uniform, and then stood in front of  the full-length mirror and winced. The skirt was so short I was afraid  to bend over. I'd have to watch that tonight. Slipping on the heels I  felt more vulnerable than I ever had, like I was on display. I didn't  like attention. This outfit was going to get me attention.

I could always keep looking for another good paying evening job. This  didn't have to be forever. It wasn't like I was the only one dressed  this way. There were other servers who would be just as scantily  dressed, and more than likely, so would the customers. This was a club. I  had to get over myself.

After I gave myself a pep talk, I made my way down the hallway toward  the front where Neil would be waiting on me. The first person I saw was  the guy who had met me outside Carey's office last night and knocked on  his door. He was tall with dark blonde hair. When he saw me, he waved me  over. It was the guy I was supposed to trail, Neil. Or at least I  assumed he was.

"Beulah, correct?" he asked holding out his hand. "I'm Neil."

"Yes, and it's nice to officially meet you," I told him.

He smirked. "Yeah, I was in a hurry last night or I'd have been friendlier."

"That's fine. I thought you were friendly enough."

He ran his hand through his hair and glanced around the place. People  were trickling in, but it wasn't busy yet. "This is the early crowd.  They are here to eat the bar food and do some socializing before the  crowd. A Monday night crowd isn't that bad. It's the slowest night of  the week for us. That's why Carey had you come in so soon to start. This  is the night he likes to train his newbies."

Neil pointed at the redhead. "That's Shauna. She's the manager of the  waitresses and hostesses. She's been here for five years. She's not the  nicest person around, but she works hard and makes sure the place runs  smooth."

He began to walk and I followed. "If you need something, come to me  first. Shauna doesn't like dealing with the little details. She deals  with the big issues. I am second in command and I deal with the small  stuff. If it's too much for me to smooth over, I involve her. She's big  on the chain of command thing, so don't go directly to her unless I tell  you to. She looks pretty but she can go monster on you in a second."

We walked to the hostess area, and he patted the countertop that stood  between me and guests as they arrived. "If the guests get to you, then  they made it through security. They will have on blue bracelets that  have our logo on them if they are under twenty-one. You will greet them,  take any bags, wraps or jackets-which won't be many this time of  year-and check them in. Tag their item with a number using these  tickets, then give them the other half. Put their items in that room. In  the winter, this is a busier job. Much more of a hassle and we have  three people working the front then because of it. Right now, it won't  be a big deal. With me so far? Any questions?"

This seemed easy enough so far. My nerves had eased and I nodded. "Yes, I am good. What else?"

"Fast learner. I like it. Okay, you will look at this chart and decide  on what table, section area to seat them. If they have paid for VIP  reservations, you will have them stand here away from the crowd, and  contact me or whoever is on duty handling the VIP. We will seat them.  You don't handle them-you handle the rest."

The next few hours went on like this. I followed Neil around and he  never stopped talking. He was constantly teaching me something. I even  took a few shopping bags and one silk wrap and tagged them in the coat  check. When two in the morning rolled around, the place was almost empty  and I was told I could leave.

Sinking into the front seat of my car, I slipped off my heels and stretched. I can do this.

I touched the hidden pocket on my skirt. There was fifty dollars in  there from customers who had tipped me. The lady with the silk wrap had  given me a twenty-dollar bill when I returned her wrap to her. The other  thirty dollars came from a group of guys I seated. Neil said if they  tipped me, to be thankful and take it. So, I did.





THE THREE AND A HALF hours I slept last night felt like I barely closed  my eyes. The alarm went off by my head, and for a moment I thought I was  at home in in our single-wide trailer. I was still in bed, it was a  school morning and I was going to hit the snooze button. But when I  peeled my eyes open to find the blasted noisy alarm, I saw the washing  machine and I remembered I wasn't home. I wasn't in school anymore.                       
       
           



       

Yawning, I stretched and my calves burned. My feet ached, and my eyes  felt raw as if I had cried all night. But I hadn't. I laid there and  stared at the ceiling. It was a fancy ceiling for a basement. It was  white with crown molding. Much like the rest of the house.

I wondered how many mornings Ms. Charlotte had laid here and stared at  that ceiling. Had she ever wished to quit? Or had she loved working  here? I couldn't imagine loving working for the Van Allan's. They  weren't a happy bunch.

I also wondered if her shoes had fit her as I wiggled my toes, dreading  putting on my shoes. Lying here wasn't going to get breakfast cooked nor  was it going to give me time to catch Jasper before he left today. I  had to talk to him. There was a good chance Stone already had. When I'd  gotten in last night and my code for the door still worked, I thought  that was a positive sign. At least I hadn't been kicked out.

With great reluctance, I crawled out of bed and got dressed. I left  putting on my shoes for last, just before I went upstairs. The good news  was I didn't have to chase Jasper down this morning. He was already  awake and in the kitchen. The bad news was he appeared to be waiting on  me to arrive and he wasn't smiling. The coffee in his hand said he  hadn't just arrived. It was only six-thirty, and I'd never seen him up  this early. Another negative.

"Good morning," I said, stopping after I walked into the room. I didn't  know what to expect but I was prepared. I would be more prepared if I'd  had my coffee, but I was prepared enough. This was a conversation I'd  gone over in my head several times the past twenty-four hours.

"Late night?" he asked, and then took a sip of his coffee.

"Yes. I'm guessing Winston told you about my second job."

He frowned. "Second job?"

Oh. So Stone hadn't told him. Oops. That wasn't the way I wanted to lead into it.

"You need a second job? I thought you were paid very well here. Surely  there isn't anything that costs so much in your life you need more  money."

This was where I considered telling him about Heidi. It would be easier.  It would make sense. But I was scared. I had watched people mistreat  her over and over in the past. They didn't want the hassle, or they  didn't understand. Could I trust Jasper with something this important?

"I'm saving to attend college." There. That had been the truth once.  Didn't make it the truth now, but I didn't know Jasper well enough to  trust him.