The Naked Truth(4)

One day she would return to school. She’d become the lawyer she always dreamed of being and she would always help the little people. Now that she was what people considered a bottom-feeder, she knew how hard it was for them.

She didn’t live far from work. It only took her about ten minutes to get there. She parked in the back as she usually did and went in through the side door. When she entered the dressing room, her co-workers stopped talking and looked at her. She wiped her face and wondered if she had food smeared on it. At her station, she glanced in the mirror, but she looked fine.

Jenna approached her, crossing her arms. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean? I’m scheduled tonight, aren’t I?” Crap. Had she looked at the schedule wrong?

“You were, but you no longer work here.”

“What do you mean?” Had she been fired? This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t afford to not work here. And once you got fired from one strip joint, it was tough to get in with another.

“You better go find Mr. Regan.”

Abigail nodded and knew her friend was right. She needed answers. Worse, she was prepared to grovel for her job back if she had to. As she made her way through the front, she looked around for Mr. Regan. Typically if he wasn’t out chatting, then he was in his office. His door was cracked and she could hear him talking with someone. She tapped on the door lightly.

“Come in,” Mr. Regan called.

Pushing the door open, she entered. Across from Mr. Regan sat Josh. What was he doing here again?

“I can come back when you’re free.” She started to leave.

“Nonsense. I’ve been waiting on you. Have a seat.” He pointed to the empty chair next to Josh. “I’m assuming the girls told you that you no longer work here. They love to gossip.”

“Yeah.” Discussing her job in front of Josh was awkward and embarrassing. Why was Mr. Regan doing this? “Why have I been let go?”

With a smirk on his face, Mr. Regan said, “I don’t want you to go personally. You’re one of my best acts here. However, Mr. Carter here has demanded that I let you go or he’ll close this place down. So, as much as I love you and your act, I’ve got to let you go.”

Had she heard him right? Josh was the reason she was being fired? Tears built up in her eyes and anger flared. “How could you do this? I have a child to feed and bills to pay. Who the hell are you to come in here and demand for him to fire me?”

“We can discuss this in private.” His tone was calm.

Abigail stood. “No, we won’t. I want nothing to do with you, so stay away from me and butt out of my life.” She marched out of the room and didn’t stop until she was safely back in the dressing room. Grabbing her things, she left without a word to anyone.

She tossed her bag onto the passenger seat of her car and put the keys into the ignition. She turned the key...nothing happened. Turned again…same results, nothing. This was not the time for her car to die. Taking in a deep breath, she tried again.

“Damn it!” she cried out as she hit the steering wheel. She’d lost her job and now something was wrong with her car. What had she done to deserve this?

Abigail took a few moments to compose herself and get her anger under control before she climbed out. Maybe someone from the club could give her a ride home or maybe Mr. Regan could call her a cab. She walked around to the front of the building and went through the front doors. It had been awhile since she’d come in this way.

“Abigail, you’re still here.” Josh rounded the corner and approached her. “I’m glad you came back. Let’s talk.”

She held her hand up to him. “If you’ll excuse me, I just need a phone book.” She pushed by him, but he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“What’s wrong?”

She huffed. “Since you seem to care about me so much, it just so happens my car won’t start. And now that I’m jobless, I hope I can afford to have it fixed.”

“Let me have a look.”

Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “Do you know anything about cars?”

“I grew up in an automotive garage, so I know a thing or two.”

As much as she hated the idea of being anywhere near Josh right now, she supposed she could use his help. After all, he was the one who had ruined her evening. “Okay, follow me.”

As they made it around the building, he stayed close. She tried to walk well in front of him, but he stuck to her like glue. “What’s going on with the vehicle?”

“Like I said, it won’t start.”

“Is it making any noise when you turn it?”