‘Can’t say I remember too much about it.’ Tony shrugged. ‘It must have been boring.’
‘Those things often are,’ Leonard agreed disloyally. ‘So, I, um, guess you won’t be going to his Poloquet party next week?’
Repulsed by the smarmy conspiratorial grin, Tony said, ‘Whatever the fuck that means – no, I won’t be going.’
Excusing herself just then, Brenda Thompson got up and squeezed her way out from behind the table.
‘Do you mind?’ Leonard indicated her vacated seat.
‘Free country, last I heard,’ Tony grunted. ‘Wouldn’t be here otherwise.’
Leonard laughed, but quickly stopped when Tony flicked him an irritated glance. Okay, keep it cool, he told himself, squeezing onto the chair. Don’t get carried away and make a fool of yourself when everything’s going so well.
Over at the bar, Kalli was casting disapproving glances in Leonard’s direction as she washed a pile of glasses. She’d seen the leering way he’d followed Austin with his eyes when Austin had taken him a drink a short while ago, and she hadn’t liked it one little bit.
Austin would say she’d imagined it, but she hadn’t – and she knew better than most about men and their disgusting ways, having been forced to cater to all manner of filthy pigs when her father had sold her to the brothel owner in Hong Kong. Just like that fat man, those men had smiled like angels while making their deals with the Devil. And Austin, with his cute dimples, bleached-blond hair and baby-blue eyes, was prime meat for that kind of man.
Austin bounded over just then with a fresh order. Waving a hand in front of her face, he said, ‘Oi, quit staring at the stars and get on with your job.’
Snatching the order slip from him, Kalli gave it to the other waitress and grabbed his hand.
‘Ooer, get off!’ he protested, jerking back and looking at the soapsuds in disgust. ‘Now look what you’ve done. I’m all wet.’
‘Never mind that,’ Kalli said impatiently. ‘What were you and that man talking about?’
‘Man?’ Austin repeated bemusedly. ‘Honey, in case it’s slipped your distracted attention, there’s about a zillion men in here tonight, and I’ve been talking to them all, like the good little waiter I am.’
‘Him.’ Kalli jabbed a finger in Leonard’s direction.
‘I wasn’t talking to him about anything,’ Austin told her innocently. ‘Oh, except to tell him that he didn’t have to pay for his drinks.’
‘So, what did he give you?’ Kalli persisted. ‘And don’t lie, because I saw you put something in your pocket.’
‘Check you, Miss Marple!’ Austin teased. ‘But for your nosy information, it wasn’t his number, so you can drop the slapped-bum mush.’ Pulling the ten-pound note from his pocket, he dangled it in front of her face for a second, then stashed it away again before the other waitress saw it and expected him to put it in the tips jar. ‘Keep quiet, and I’ll split it with you later.’
Sighing, Kalli shook her head. ‘No, it’s yours. Just be careful, yeah?’
‘Okay, Mum.’ Grinning cheekily, Austin took his newly loaded tray off the other waitress and winked at Kalli. ‘See ya later, Dominator.’
Kalli pursed her pretty lips as she watched him skip away through the crowd. He was very perky tonight. Too perky, and she suspected that it had something to do with his boyfriend Xavier’s visit to their flat earlier this afternoon. If she found out he’d been taking Es again, she’d be having very strong words with him. And Xavier would get a good telling–off next time she saw him, too.
It was almost four in the morning when Jenna dragged herself back up to the VIP lounge. She was exhausted, and her feet were screaming for release from her high, strappy shoes. But they would just have to wait, because nobody looked in any hurry to leave any time soon. God, how she wished she’d settled for a three o’clock licence instead of an all-nighter.
Making her way to a quiet corner of the bar, she smiled when Kalli came over. ‘Hi, sweetheart. How’s it going?’
‘Fine.’ Kalli peered at Jenna with concern. ‘But you look tired.’
‘I am. But don’t tell anyone. It’s not the best impression to give the customers, is it? The hostess who can’t stick the pace.’
‘Don’t worry, nobody will notice.’
‘You did.’
‘Yes, but I see more than most.’
‘I’m sure you do.’ Jenna laughed softly. ‘Could you get me a cranberry juice, please?’ Yawning when Kalli went to get her drink, she jumped when Tony Allen suddenly appeared at her side. Throwing a hand over her mouth, she rolled her eyes apologetically. ‘Sorry about that. I guess I’m not used to such late nights.’
‘Not so hot on staying up all night myself, these days,’ Tony drawled, giving her a lopsided grin. ‘Mind if I sit down?’ He patted the stool beside hers.
‘Not at all.’ She moved her knees to give him room. ‘I’m just getting a drink. Can I get you anything?’
Settling on the stool, he said, ‘Yeah, that’d be good. JD on ice. Ed?’
Sitting on the other side of him, Eddie nodded.
When Kalli had brought their drinks, Tony took a sip of his and exhaled loudly.
‘Hope you don’t mind me invading your space like this, but I needed to escape before I lost my mind.’ He jerked his head in the direction of his table, where Leonard was sitting alone now, everyone else having drifted away. ‘Kind of boring, having people agree with every word you say – especially when you know you’re talking shit. But one man’s idiot is another man’s pain in the ass – and all that.’ Reaching into his pocket, he took out a pack of cigars. ‘Mind?’
‘Not at all,’ Jenna told him. ‘Go ahead.’
Lighting up, Tony exhaled a thick plume of noxious smoke, then swivelled in his seat to gaze around.
‘You know, this is quite some place you got here. I wasn’t too sure at first, but it’s pretty cool once you get used to it.’
‘Glad you like it.’ Jenna smiled, resisting the urge to waft the smoke away. She despised the smell of cigar smoke, but he was a guest.
‘Oh, I like it.’ He nodded slowly. ‘A lot, as it goes.’
Jenna raised an eyebrow when he gave her a disarming smile. For a squat man who wasn’t overly blessed in the looks department, he was almost handsome when he wasn’t scowling.
‘So, you inherited this place off of your old man?’Tony asked suddenly, catching her off guard.
Wondering how he knew, she said, ‘Yes. He died a few months ago.’
‘So I hear. How you coping?’
‘Okay, I suppose. You just have to get on with it, don’t you?’
‘Guess so,’ Tony agreed, leaning an elbow on the bar now and crossing his legs, as if settling in for the night. ‘Mom doing all right?’
‘She died a while back,’ Jenna told him. ‘Not long after . . .’ Pausing, she flapped her hand in a subconscious brush the pain aside gesture. ‘My younger brother was killed, you see, and I don’t think she ever really got over it.’
‘Jeez, that’s rough.’ Tony squinted at her through the smoke. ‘Died of a broken heart, did she?’
‘No, Alzheimer’s. It was a mixed blessing, though, because it affects the memory, so she seemed to forget all about Damian once it kicked in. She didn’t recognise any of us by the end.’
‘Man, you’ve had it bad,’ Tony commented sympathetically. ‘So, now you got no one?’
‘A sister,’ Jenna told him. ‘But I don’t really see too much of her, because she married when I was quite young and moved to Australia.’ Frowning now, she reached for her drink, wondering why she was revealing so much personal stuff to this stranger.
‘You’re doing good, considering you’ve had to go it alone,’ Tony said admiringly. ‘You can’t knock yourself for that.’
‘I’m managing,’ she murmured.
‘Better than managing,’ Tony persisted. ‘Like I said, this is a great place – and I should know, I’ve had one of my own.’
‘Really?’ Jenna was surprised. She hadn’t actually considered what he might do for a living, but running a nightclub wouldn’t have been her first guess.
‘Yeah, but it wasn’t really my bag, so I sold up and shipped out to “good old Blighty”.’
Groaning at his affected English accent, Jenna shook her head. ‘That was terrible.’
‘Sounded better than half the clowns I’ve been listening to tonight,’ he chuckled. ‘Some of ’em sound like they’re munching on their own bazoomas.’
‘Ah, the actors.’ Jenna gave him a conspiratorial smile. ‘Don’t let them hear you saying that. They spend good money learning how to speak like that.’
‘Yeah? Well, maybe they should put their dough in the bank and save us the pain of having to listen to it.’ Blowing out yet more smoke, Tony brought the subject back to her. ‘So, what’s your plans for this place? You got partners . . . shareholders?’
‘No, it’s just me,’ Jenna said, irritated that she couldn’t bring herself to tell him to mind his own business. None of the other guests had gone beyond congratulating her and wishing her luck for the future, but Tony Allen seemed to be probing, and she wasn’t sure that she liked it.
Gazing around thoughtfully, Tony said, ‘You know, anybody else messing with this much chrome would have had it looking like a slot machine, or something. But you’ve got it real classy. And I like the way you’ve got the kids dressed to match. That’s a nice touch.’
Accepting the compliment with a modest smile, Jenna said, ‘You’ve quite an eye for detail, Mr Allen.’
‘Hey, come on . . .’ Drawing his head back, he frowned at her. ‘I thought I told you to call me Tony? Only ass-lickers and dick-wipes have to call me Mister – like that fat fuck back there. No offence,’ he added quickly. ‘I know he’s your guest, an’ all, but there’s something not right about him. He gives me the creeps – know what I mean?’
‘Mmmm.’ Jenna struggled to keep from laughing out loud at the look of revulsion on his face. Leonard Drake had obviously made quite an impression, and she wondered if he and Tony had shaken hands.
‘Who is he, anyway?’
‘A politician,’ Jenna said, jumping when Tony slapped his hand down hard on the bar.
‘Ha! Shoulda known! That’s why he’s so fucking creepy. Always on the make, those guys. Goddamn liars, too, promising shit they ain’t got no intention of delivering. And greedy – don’t even get me started. Ain’t one of ’em not on someone’s payroll!’
‘It’s the same for every political system the world over, isn’t it?’Jenna commented bemusedly. ‘Greed and deception are just part of the job description.’
‘Hey, whaddya know . . .’ Sitting back, Tony gazed at her with open admiration. ‘A broad with a brain – never thought I’d see the day. Most of the women I know can’t talk about nothing but clothes and make-up. And those that do have more interesting things to say generally turn you off when they start combing their crew-cuts.’
Smiling, Jenna said, ‘I’m sure I’m not the only heterosexual woman you’ve ever met who’s got a mind of her own.’
‘Maybe not,’ he conceded. ‘But you’re sure as hell the prettiest.’
Jenna’s smile faltered. Oh, God! She hoped he wasn’t hitting on her. Apart from the fact that she wasn’t attracted to him in the slightest, he was Melody Fisher’s boyfriend.
Fortunately, an actress friend of Brenda Thompson decided to come and introduce herself to Tony just then, so Jenna was spared having to find out if he was trying his hand. Promising that they’d talk again soon, she made her escape.
Avril had been back from the toilet a long time when Leonard finally gave up on Tony Allen and slithered back to their table. Seeing the look of dejection on his face, she smiled tightly.
‘What’s the matter, dear? Did your new friend chase you away?’
‘No, he did not,’ Leonard grunted. ‘For your information, it was me who left him.’
‘Of course it was,’ Avril murmured, fanning her face with her hand as a hot flush came over her.
‘You’re sweating like a pig,’ Leonard muttered nastily. ‘Haven’t you any powder in your bag of tricks to soak it up?’
‘Didn’t think I’d need any.’
‘Well, you do. It’s very unflattering.’
‘Don’t take it out on me because you’ve been rejected,’ Avril snarled.
‘If you were watching, you know that he didn’t just leave me, he left everybody,’ Leonard informed her, feeling a little better as he said it, because he realised that it was actually true. ‘He needed to discuss something with Jenny in private. But, as you’re so interested,’ he added, blatantly lying now, ‘he asked if I’d be here again tomorrow, because he’d rather like to talk some more.’
‘Oh, would he now?’
‘Yes. And I said I’d be delighted, so there we go.’
‘I see. Well, perhaps you’d better go back and tell him that you won’t be able to make it because we’ll be at the Buckleys’ – or had you forgotten?’
‘No, of course I hadn’t,’ Leonard blustered. ‘I just thought we could come straight from there.’
‘It’s too far. We’d be too late to get in by the time we got here.’
‘Not if we left early.’
‘What, earlier than everyone else?’ Avril gave her husband a disbelieving look. ‘You who always stay till the bitter end in case they talk about you when you’re gone?’
‘I’m sure they’ll manage without us,’ Leonard muttered, wishing that she’d shut her sarcastic mouth. ‘Anyway, you’re always complaining that you don’t get out enough, so you ought to be grateful.’
Raising an eyebrow, Avril peered at him incredulously. Grateful? Did he think she was a dog desperate to be walked, or something?
‘It’s late. Let’s go,’ Leonard said suddenly, snatching up his glass and downing what was left of his drink. ‘I just want to have a quick word with Jenny first.’
‘Why?’
‘To thank her for inviting us tonight, of course.’ Getting up, Leonard peered down at his wife. ‘You really should lay off the drink if it makes you forget your manners.’
‘Don’t concern yourself with my manners,’ Avril retorted indignantly. ‘And I’ve only had three drinks all night, as you well know, so don’t insinuate that I’m some kind of alcoholic. I might just have another, in fact,’ she added defiantly.
‘I’ve a busy day tomorrow,’ Leonard informed her, as if that were the end of the matter. ‘And you’re going to need all the beauty sleep you can get.’
Glaring after him when he walked away in search of Jenna, Avril snatched up her handbag. She didn’t want to stay, but it galled her that he just assumed command as and when it suited him. She’d been asking to leave for hours and he hadn’t budged, but they could go now that he was ready.
And she had no choice but to comply, because he’d think nothing of leaving her to make her own way home if she didn’t. And he’d probably lock the gates, too, forcing her to ring through to the house to get him to open them.
Jenna was nowhere to be seen when Leonard reached the bar. Looking around, he spotted Fabian hovering in the shadows and made a beeline for him instead.
‘Ah, hello there . . . I was looking for Jenny. You wouldn’t happen to know where she is, would you?’
‘Jenna’s busy at the moment,’ Fabian told him, emphasising the pronunciation of her name. ‘Will I do?’
‘Well, I suppose you’ll have to,’ Leonard grumbled disappointedly. He had really wanted to talk to the girl in person – to let her know that, as a trusted friend of her late father, he was always available should she ever need any advice or guidance, or even just a fatherly chat. But it would have to wait, he supposed. Remembering his manners now, he said, ‘I wanted to thank her – and yourself, of course – for inviting my wife and me tonight. We’ve had a lovely time.’
‘Glad you enjoyed it.’
‘Oh, we did.
Everything was wonderful. The food, the drinks, the service – couldn’t fault a thing.’
‘Very pleased to hear it,’ Fabian murmured distractedly, his gaze fixed firmly over Leonard’s shoulder on the Allen table, where he could see Melody being touchy-feely with Tony. She’d obviously forgiven the ugly lout for neglecting her, but Fabian hoped she didn’t get too relaxed and let anything slip.
‘Are you open tomorrow?’
‘Sorry?’ Snapping his attention back to Leonard, Fabian frowned. ‘Tomorrow? Oh, right – yes. And every night thereafter. Shall we expect to see you?’
‘Absolutely!’ Leonard beamed, taking it as an actual invitation.
It was six before the club was totally cleared of guests, and by half past most of the staff had gone, too.
Bumping into Fabian on her way to the lower bar, Jenna gave him a tired smile. ‘Good night, wasn’t it?’
‘Fantastic,’ he agreed. ‘Bet you’re wondering what you were so worried about?’
‘I wasn’t worried,’ she lied, her eyes twinkling because they both knew how panicked she’d been. ‘You were great, by the way. I was watching you with Melody Fisher.’
Fabian blanched. Oh, shit! What had she seen?
‘It was really nice of you to dance with her,’ Jenna went on, oblivious to the wariness in his eyes. ‘Not that it could have been all that hard, considering how lovely she is, but I know you only did it to help Tony out. So, well done.’
‘Thanks,’ Fabian muttered, more relieved than she could ever know. ‘All in a day’s work.’
‘A very good one, in your case,’ Jenna said. ‘Staying for a drink?’
Fabian was tempted, but when he saw Vibes, Kalli and Austin loitering by the bar he decided against it. Much as he’d have liked another one-to-one with Jenna, there was no way he was wasting his time on the hired help. Anyway, he was still on edge about the whole Melody situation and needed to get home to relax.
‘Actually, I’m a bit knackered,’ he said, yawning to emphasise the point. ‘And I’ve got to come in first thing to wait for the delivery, so I’ll give it a miss, if you don’t mind?’
The Club Page 7