April stared at the strange man in the dark corner of the club.
"If I serve you food, will you buy some of my merchandise?"
April boldly asked this demanding man with her equally demanding tone. If he kept insisting on her serving him, April would only give in if she was going to profit from it.
The mysterious man remained silent as if he didn't hear her question.
And so, she walked towards the strange man's table, to make sure he heard her words better.
"So, Mister, what would you like to eat?"
She asked with so much practiced politeness she could ever muster.
This time she was close enough to focus on the mysterious man's features.
April thought she would get a heart attack when she recognized who the man really was.
It was Vincent! She couldn't believe her eyes. What was Vincent doing here in Washington? Of all places, in this very nightclub, why did she have to cross paths with this heartless man!
Despite her panic, April maintained a poker face.
Meanwhile, Vincent had a wild smile on his face.
April was about to turn around and leave when Vincent spoke.
"I would like to have some dumplings to go with my tea."
He spoke as if he didn't recognize April.
With that kind of behavior from Vincent, April gathered a bit of courage to play along with his charades.
"Okay then, Mister. Wait for a while and I will get your order from the staff."
She responded and took a step away. However, Vincent pointed to his teapot with a finger.
"Oh, just for a minute, you have to pour my tea first. Also, you can get me a fresh pot. It's not as hot as before."
Vincent still had that wild smile on his face.
April took a deep breath before she replied.
"May I remind you Mister that I am not a professional service staff here. But as long as you will take care of my business, I will pour your tea for you."
April was astonished at her own strength to talk back to this man, after all that happened in the past.
This was Vincent, the Mafia Billionaire who made her life miserable. She felt a bit of anger spark in her heart. But she guessed that the eight years that had gone by must have made her stronger and detached from what happened in her past.
April poured tea without another word. Then, she left Vincent's table to get a fresh pot of tea and the dumplings he ordered.
When she returned with the dumplings and tea, she opened her bag. Afterward, April introduced her sex toys, as professionally as she could manage.
But then, instead of paying attention to what she was saying, Vincent was looking at April's body movements. He was intently following all her moves with a captivated look.
"So, I hope you'll purchase some of my merchandise in exchange for my services for you like I was a staff here."
April ended her presentation.
The other guests in the Box were also fascinated by April's presentation. In the process, they also noticed how Vincent was staring at April.
"You need to be more convincing than that."
Vincent said, despite his obvious interest, as he hummed coldly, acting bored.
"Anyone with your figure can make any guy easily fall asleep. I didn't even get any elation from your presentation."
He added in jest.
April's face was filled with shock over how Vincent had insulted her. However, she reigned over her anger and just gave him a venomous smile.
"You know what? I think I have wasted a lot of my time here. You obviously didn't have any intention to buy any of my merchandise."
April exclaimed as she started packing up her stuff.
April didn't care if the other people in the club were looking at them. She had enough of the sexual games of this man.
She knew that her business couldn't go on, with Vincent behaving this way. Just the same, she didn't want anything from him. So, she finished packing up her sex toys and prepared to leave.
"You know what here's something for you."
Before leaving, she gave Vincent a box of the smallest condoms.
"I am pretty sure that fits you perfectly."
She added, mocking Vincent.
April turned her back on Vincent, without even waiting for a single response from him. She would rather walk out, feeling victorious.
Therefore, she didn't see Vincent staring after her in amazement. She played him well enough.
As she stepped out of the Box nightclub, she felt relieved to have survived seeing Vincent again.
After all this time, she couldn't believe that leaving Atlantic City and going here was not far enough for her.
Why did she have to see him again? She was okay already starting over. Right now, Vincent was like a terrible ghost from her past that relived her fears and traumas of what she ran away from.
April took several deep breaths to regain her composure and calm. She needed to focus on her job. She needed to sell her sex toys outside.
The Box had been too stressful for her this evening. So, she hoped she'd be able to sell more out here than in there.
April started walking around with her merchandise and tried to push aside what happened in the Box.
She was not the April of the past now. She had years behind her that gave her a better perspective on what matters to her.
This was her second chance to start over. She would not let anyone put her down ever again.
"Hey lady, can I check out some of your stuff?"
April heard a group of young men call to her.
She smiled their way and walked over.
It's time for business now. It's time to earn a living.
The night was young, more customers came her way.
April breathed some air of confidence once again. She could do this. She didn't need anybody's help.