Verena maintained an innocent expression as she faced the man.
"I don't understand, sir. I was just trying to clean up the mess I made," she said smoothly,
He released her, his gaze cold and threatening. She stepped back cautiously, knowing he could squash her like an insect under his Tom Ford loafers. Her boss, Dave approached, trying to placate the situation. "Don't mind her, she's just a bit clumsy," he said, gripping Verena's arms too tightly. "Apologize, girl."
"I am so sorry sir" she said bowing her head. Suddenly, Dave recoiled in pain as the man grabbed his wrist.
"I didn't ask for your interference. Is this how you treat your employees?" the man asked, releasing Dave.
Dave stuttered, silenced by the man's glare."of course not sir".
Verena raised her eyebrows, she had never known Dave could be so scared of a glare. He always acted so high and mighty.
The man handed Verena a card before leaving. She shouldn't have taken the card but if the tattoo was what she saw she had to run some background checks so she pocketed it. The black complimentary card, had the name 'Cassio Salvatore' scrawled beautifully in gold across it.
Cassio Salvatore?
She had never heard of that name before maybe she saw the tattoo wrongly.
Dave gave her the stink eye, before apologizing to the other customers.
No other 'accident' happened and after hours of serving bitching customers, Verena finished her shift by four and was ready for her night part-time job at a club.
"Bye Chloe" she said,after changing into her clothes and grabbing her bag.
"Bye, I hope you've got your pepper spray because I think that man was pretending not to remember you."
"Relax, he doesn't" she replied, dialing Emma's number as she walked into the carpark, after the fifth ring she picked up sending relief through Verena's body. She was always wound up whenever Emma didn't pick up after the first ring, worried that something may have happened to her.
She could hear sniffling through the phone and she gripped it tightly
"Emma? Are you okay?"
More sniffling
She shouldn't be leaving her alone all by herself but her paycheck couldn't afford a nanny.
"Come on darling? What's wrong?"
"I don't want to stay home alone, V"
She heaved a sigh of relief, "I am almost home, just hang on a little bit" She cut the call and practically ran to the subway. She got home and found Emma curled up on the sofa asleep. Tucking stray dark strands behind her ear, Verena smiled at the sweet tiny innocent figure.
She should really get a nanny, there has to be some cheap ones around. She called her neighbor to ask if she could drop Emma with her later in the evening, then she carried Emma to her room and decided to get a little nap before her night shift by nine. By the time her alarm rang Emma was awake so she dropped her off Mrs Goody'.
"Good evening, Mrs Goody. I am sorry for the inconvenience again."
"Oh not at all, Poodle and I are so glad to have Emma here" She said, smiling sunnily at Poodle who jumping up and down at the sight of Emma. He yapped happily as she bent to pick him up, licking her face and swinging his tail so fast.Verena smiled, at least she could be rest assured that Emma is safe for now.
Verena tightened her coat around herself as she flagged down a taxi. She entered the dark street with booze and cigarettes smelling everywhere.
She went into the club through the back door, changing into the short skirt and fish net tights, not her favorite outfit. But her boss wasn't going to allow her make adjustments.
She was about to go into the club, her co-worker Vanessa stopped her and said she was serving in the VIP room, before she could ask why Vanessa walked away swinging her hips in an expert way.
She shrugged and turned to the corridor leading to the VIP room. It just means more tips. She entered the dimly lit VIP room, where plush sofas surrounded poles and expensive girls danced sensually. A customer signaled, and she took his order for sparkling wine.
"Hey, Sam. A sparkling wine for Table two" she said reclining on the counter to the strawberry blonde guy
He handed her a bucket of ice with the wine inside.
"You wanna hang out after your shift?" He asked leaning close to her.
"No Sam, not in your dreams"
"You don't want to know what happens in my dreams" He replied, wiggling his eyes suggestively.
She rolled her eyes at him but there was a smile on her face as she did so. He was so cute but she wasn't ready for any relationship yet. She had a lot of secrets to hide but there was nothing wrong with a little harmless flirting right? She returned and set the wine glasses on the table, she poured the wine as the man wrapped his hands on the waists of the girls seated on each side of him, laughing wildly as one of the girls put a grape in his mouth, he grabbed her close and kissed her as she giggled. After serving the wine, she straightened up to leave when he cut her wrist.
"Why are you in a hurry to leave beauty?"
Beauty?
She knew she shouldn't have worn makeup, she got herself into this mess, she would get herself out, so she turned and gave him grimly smile.
"Sir, if you need any services these girls are ready to serve you. I am just here to serve the drinks" she said as politely as she could.
"I want you to serve me" he slurred
Why does this always happen to the server girls. This was worse than the catcalls they receive in the club.
She gave him a bright smile and tried to remove her hand from his grip but he held on tight.
"Release her Damien" a voice said from behind. Verena whipped her face to the voice, it sounded familiar. A man was sitting opposite them and a girl was rocking him, she could feel his intense gaze even as he was shrouded in the shadows. His groans were loud but his gaze roamed her body and she could guess what he was thinking. Who the hell was this man?
"Come on Cassio, I just want to play" the man named Damien said.
Cassio? Cassio Salvatore? Was he truly stalking her? Did he remember?
A shot rang out and the man screamed simultaneously, holding his bleeding hands and Verena stepped back from him with blood splattered on her white shirt. The man was on his feet and she could now see his blond hair bathed in the red light and his hazel eyes were on her.
"Hello Verena"
"What the f....."