by Nyx, Angel
“Fuck, you serious?”
I cut a look at Frankie. He'd said exactly what I was thinking.
“You thought he just didn't bother to ask for ID.? I've worked here six years. Some of the stories I could tell you.” Carly shook her head.
“At least that's not an issue anymore.” I needed to get the discussion back on track. “The guy behind the bar is Antonio.”
“You can call me Tony, Bella.”
I damn near growled at Antonio when he called her 'bella'.
“Tony and Frankie. Got it. If you're serious about letting me hire an assistant manager, do I really get to make that decision myself, or do I have to choose from suggestions you make?”
“As I said, you have free reign. You will have to work with them so it will be your decision. However, I will have final say should they not feel like the right fit.”
“I don't think that will be an issue. The person I have in mind is one of the other dancers. She's been here longer than I have and has two kids at home to support by herself since her asshole of an ex took off on her.”
“Then it's settled. Let me show you to your office. We should sit down and discuss any concerns you have. This way.” She'd probably been in the office before but I still motioned for her to follow me. “I took the liberty of cleaning out the office earlier. Harry was a bit of a slob.”
“Among other things. He was also a lech who couldn't keep his hands to himself, a greedy bastard, and an arrogant asshole.”
I chuckled. “You have a lot of insights on your coworkers, don't you?”
“Depends on the coworker. Some of the girls I don't know much about, especially the newer ones. But if you want to know anything about the rest of the employees, that I can share with you.”
“The only thing I need to know is if anyone else was part of Harry's little scheme.”
“No, It was just him, Nick, and Terry. I'm glad they're gone and I know the rest of the girls will be as well. Or, at least, most of them will be. I think a few of them liked the extra cash they got from letting themselves be whored out to the customers.”
“I'll leave you to get yourself settled in then. If any issues or concerns come up, don't hesitate to bring them to me.” I had to get out of that office before I pinned her against the desk and ravished her. At least she wouldn't be taking her clothes off in front of a room full of strangers anymore. I don't think I could have handled seeing the customers pawing at her. For just a moment, I regretted not getting that lap dance from her before I made her manager. But only for a moment. Something told me, the more I worked with her, the harder it was going to be for me to keep my personal and my professional lives separate.
Chapter Nine
Carly
As soon as the door closed behind him I sat in the chair and heaved a sigh. Being alone with him, even briefly, was torture because I was so fucking attracted to him. The temptation to offer him more than a lap dance was strong.
Looking around the office I grinned. Holy shit. I was manager. I could get Eli that game he wanted after all. Once I promoted Camille to assistant manager and coordinated the schedule with her, I wouldn't have to be here until the wee hours of the morning every fucking night I worked. I couldn't wait to tell Eli the news. He was going to be so excited.
I spent a little time organizing my office but fifteen minutes before the doors opened, I walked into the backstage area.
“Where you been, Lola? I was beginning to think you were going to be a no-show.”
“There have been a few changes, Chablis.” The puzzled look she gave me almost made me laugh. She and I didn’t always see eye to eye and I couldn’t wait to see her reaction to the news I was about to share. “Listen up, girls. By now you've all heard that Harry is gone, right? Well, so are Nick and Terry. We have a new bartender and a new bouncer, effective immediately. The bartender's name is Tony, the bouncer is Frankie. There won't be anymore fucking customers on company time. What you decide to do on your own time is your business.”
“What gives? Where'd you hear that?” Again, it was Chablis.
“I didn't hear it anywhere. The first part of it was a decision made by the new owner, Gio. The second part? Not fucking on company time? That's all me. I made an executive decision.” I could see them giving me confused looks. “You're looking at the new manager of Dangerous Curves.” I waited for all the 'holy shit's', 'no way's', and 'congratulations' to stop before I spoke again. “If any customer tries to force you, or puts his hands on you in any way that you don't want, I want to know about it, right away. Effective immediately, everyone who works here also got a pay raise. You will also have full medical coverage for anything that you need to get taken care of, and full benefits, including paid vacation and sick pay.”
“Holy shit, Lola. Is this for real?” I looked over at Camille and nodded. “Yeah, girl, it's for real. Also, I am no longer going by my stage name, since I won't be out there performing anymore. You can all call me Carly. I have been given free reign to hire an assistant manager. Camille, I want to offer it to you. You've been here longer than any of us and you have those two angels to take care of since Jack took off on you. It'll give us both the chance to be home more with our kids, because we can rotate the later nights between us. What do you say?”
“Oh my God. You're going to make me cry. Are you sure? I've never managed anything.”
I laughed at that. “And I have? We can figure this shit out together.”
“Count me in.”
I stood back while she was congratulated. I saw the dark look Chablis had and arched a brow. “If you've got a problem, Chablis, spit it out.”
“I'm just wondering what you did for him to get the position. I've got some manager experience, so you must have really gone all out to convince him to give you the job.”
I laughed. It wasn't the reaction she was expecting and she looked startled. “Chablis, I am only going to tell you this once. Get the chip off your shoulder or get the fuck out. You might be good up on that stage, but there's a reason you're here instead of still working as a manager. You couldn't stop pocketing money that wasn't yours. You do not want to piss me off. I grew up in the Lower 9th Ward. We ate snobby bitches like you for breakfast.” My voice was laced with mock sweetness. “Now, get your asses in gear. The doors are open.” I motioned to Camille. “Change and meet me in Harry's old office. It's ours, now.” With that, I turned and left. I had a feeling I was going to end up having to fire Chablis, but I would give her one chance to knock her shit off. If she didn't, then she was gone.
An hour after the doors opened, I sauntered across the floor to the bar. I got more than a few odd looks from some of the regulars who were used to seeing me in some skimpy little outfit instead of the snug fitting jeans and bustier I had on, but I ignored them. “How's it going, Tony?” I slid onto a bar stool and arched a brow at him.
“So far so good, Carly. What can I get you, boss lady?”
“Bourbon.” At the look he gave me I turned fully to face him. “Problem?”
“Not at all. Just a little surprised. I was expecting some fruity thing.”
“You must have me mixed up with Chablis. Miss Priss is the fruity drinker. If it doesn't burn going down, it's not worth drinking.”
“Woman after my own heart.”
I turned to find Gio standing just a little too close for comfort. “I'm not surprised you like bourbon, Gio.” I flashed him a grin. “I'd have been shocked if you asked for a Leg Spreader.” I winked in Tony's direction. If he was any kind of bartender he'd know what I was talking about.
“Do I even want to know what you're talking about, Bella?”
Tony's chuckle told me he knew. Before I could say anything Gio turned his glare at the other man.
“What's so funny, Tony?”
Tony chuckled again. “It's a drink. It has Captain Morgan, peach schnapps, and Malibu coconut rum in it with some pineapple juice. One of those fruity little drinks.”
I
watched Gio's face while Tony explained the drink to him. “You should see your face right now.” When he turned those dark eyes on me, it made my panties wet. Fuck.
Chapter Ten
Gio
I'd been leaning against the wall near the entrance, where I could see everything going on in the front of the club, when Carly came out of the back. The way her hips swayed as she'd walked to the bar had my cock standing at attention in my pants. Her curves begged for attention and my hands itched to trace them. Keeping my distance from her was going to be damn near impossible. I'd found myself wondering if she had a man waiting at home for her even as I'd made my way across the club to the bar.
The teasing note in her voice after Tony explained the Leg Spreader comment made me smirk. Leaning down close to her ear, I breathed in the scent of her skin. “I can think of a different kind of leg spreader, Bella.” My voice came out as a growl and I watched as a shiver made it's way down her spine.
“Now you're just being a tease.”
Fuck, this woman was going to be the death of me. “I never tease, Bella. I always follow through.” The way her breath caught and her cheeks pinked made me want to pin her against the bar. I had to force myself to take a step back. “How are you settling into the new position? Are there any issues I need to know about?” I watched her closely. Would she be honest if there was a problem?
“Nothing I can't handle.”
“That's not what I asked, Bella.”
“Yes, it is. You asked if there were any issues you needed to know about. If I can't handle an issue, I will bring it to you. Or is the position of manager in name only?”
Is it wrong that her bristling made my cock twitch? “No, it's not in name only.”
“Then I repeat, nothing I can't handle.”
I watched as she slid off the bar stool and stalked off, drink in hand.
“She's going to be quite the handful.”
Tony’s chuckle had me turning my attention back to him. “Tell me about it.” I decided to turn the discussion away from Carly. “Tomorrow I want you here early so we can go over the inventory. I want to be sure we have everything we need.”
“Sure thing, Gio. Feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but the way you keep looking at her, I gotta ask, are you thinking about changing your policy on not fucking an employee?”
I couldn't stop the growl that escaped me. “Why are you asking?” I watched as he held his hands up as if in his own defense.
“I'm not interested, if that's what you're thinking, Gio. She's a knockout, sure, but she's got too much fire for my tastes.”
I watched as his gaze tracked another dark-haired beauty. When she stepped next to Carly and leaned close to talk to her I cocked a brow. She'd been up on the stage the night before but now she was wearing a mini skirt that hugged her ass and showed off her long legs. Something told me this was the girl Carly talked about making her assistant manager and Tony was very interested in her. “You do tend to like them a little more docile.” His snort had me cutting my eyes to him.
“I prefer demure. Docile suggests a doormat and I want my woman to have a little spunk, just not so much that we're constantly butting heads.”
“You don't know what you're missing.” I smirked and took my drink back to where I'd started the night; near the front door.
The last customer was long gone, the lights were turned up, tables were cleaned, and the staff was trickling out one or two at a time when my eyes fell on Carly. She looked exhausted and upset. A fierce protectiveness filled me as I stalked over to where she sat looking at her phone. “What's wrong, Bella?” When she turned those dark eyes to me I had to stop myself from reaching out to pull her into my arms.
“It's nothing. I missed a phone call earlier.”
The tone in her voice belied her words and the way she shrugged her shoulders. “It was important to you. Don't lie to me, Bella, I can tell by your voice.”
A sigh escaped her. “It was but there's nothing I can do about it, now. He's already asleep.”
A spike of jealousy burned through me and I had to tamp it down. I had no right to feel jealous over this mysterious 'he'. “If it's important enough to upset you, I'd think he'd know your work schedule.” I watched as her eyes narrowed at me.
“He was expecting me to be home early tonight so I could tuck him into bed because this was supposed to be my early night but that changed when I got here and was offered the manager's position.”
I could feel myself frowning. Tucked into bed? “If you had a prior obligation, Bella, you should have said so.”
Her snort had my cock twitching, once again. “Right. Tell my boss 'Thanks for the better position, now I am going to up and leave to go tuck my son into bed'. I doubt that would have gone over well.”
“That is where you're wrong. Famiglia is important. You should have said something. It's late, Bella, let me walk you out to your car.”
“You're amusing, Gio. Car. I barely make enough to keep a roof over my head, you think I have a car? I walk to and from work.”
“It's too late for you to be walking. It's dangerous. I'll give you a ride home. Tony, finish locking up.” I didn't give her time to argue with me. I gently gripped her upper arm and guided her toward the exit.
“I have been walking wherever I needed to go since I was a teenager, I'll be fine.”
I couldn't stop the growl that escaped me. “This is non-negotiable, Bella.”
“I have a name, damn it. Why'd you ask for it if you don't plan on using it?”
The irritation in her voice made me chuckle. “It's a pet name, Carly, and it suits you.” After helping her into my car and getting in on the driver's side I wait for her to give me directions.
A huff leaves her as she shifts in the seat. Before long, she’s giving me directions to where she lives. The neighborhood isn't one of the best in New Orleans, but it wasn't the worst either. The building she lived in, though, was so rundown I didn't want to leave her there. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. “Let me walk you up.”
“There's no need. Thank you for the ride, Gio. I appreciate it, but this, whatever this is, isn't happening. You're my boss.”
“I get it, Bella, I do. You’re worried about how it would affect your job if, say, we dated and it didn’t work out. Your job will not be affected, regardless of what you choose. I am attracted to you, Carly, and I want to see where this thing between us might go. Don't decide now. Just think about it, Bella.” I got out and went around to open her door. She wouldn't let me walk her up to her apartment but that wasn't going to stop me from escorting her into the building itself. Once inside the door, I didn't give her the chance to escape. I dipped my head and captured her lips in a heated kiss. “Sleep well, Bella.” With that I left her standing next to the stairs with a startled look on her face.
Chapter Eleven
Carly
I was in a daze. Why in the hell did he have to go and do that? Kissing me like he wanted to devour me then leaving me wanting more was just evil. Okay, maybe not evil but it left me feeling things I hadn't in years.
With a shake of my head, I tried to push that aside as I made my way up to my apartment. I hated that I'd not made it home to my son before he went to bed, but I'd find a way to make it up to him. “Hey. I'm so sorry I didn't make it home earlier and I missed your call. How upset was he?” I whispered the question at Risa, who was curled up on the sofa.
“Eli knows sometimes you can't get to your phone. He was sad but he understands. You look beat.”
“That's because I am. Some things happened that kept me from leaving when I was supposed to.”
“Let me guess, that asshole you work for wouldn't let you leave on time?”
“No, actually, he isn't the boss anymore. I didn't get to tell you last night but the club was bought by someone else and they've made some serious changes. They got rid of Harry, Nick, and Terry and put new people in their place. Well
, Nick and Terry were replaced with new people.” I watched Risa's face while I gave her my news. “You're looking at the new manager for Dangerous Curves.”
“Oh. My. God. Carly. Are you serious? That is so awesome. Manager means you don't have to strip anymore, right?”
“That's exactly what it means. Things were just so crazy tonight, by the time I realized how late it was, Eli was already in bed asleep.”
“Hey, don't stress about it. You know he'll understand and when he finds out you got promoted he'll be happy for you. Does that mean you'll be home more or..?”
“Yeah, it does. I made Camille assistant manager. We will each work three full nights each week and split the seventh night, alternating it so we're there until closing four days a week, every other week. There will still be things like inventory and stock and paperwork, but I won't be killing myself at a job I hate anymore.”
“Eli is going to be super stoked when he finds out you'll get to spend more time with him. I'm going to head on up to my apartment and crash. I'll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as Risa was gone I locked the door, turned off the living room light, and headed to my bedroom. After a quick shower I collapsed into bed with thoughts of a very sexy Italian running rampant through my mind.
“Good morning, Vita Mia. I am so sorry I didn't make it home before you went to bed and I didn't get to my phone in time to talk to you.” I watched as my son slid onto the chair to watch me make breakfast. It was clear he was still very upset despite the way he shrugged.
'S'okay, Mama.”
“No, it's not, Amato. I wanted to be home with you, I really did, but I am going to make it up to you.”
“How?” There was a curious look on his face that suggested it got his attention.