Chapter Three
Larissa's POV
Eight months later
I alighted from the taxi as soon as I got to Alicia's department, gave him his fee, and watched as he drove off. I walked to the door with three bags on me and knocked on the door. Alicia is someone that's always very careful and cautious; she locks the door every time.
"Who is at the door?" she inquired.
"It's Larissa," I answered. I could hear her footsteps coming to open the door. She opened the door and welcomed me with a hug.
"Arriba? Where have you been?" she said.
"I went to get some fruit at the market, but before I got the fruit, I saw a vacancy at a place, and boom! I was employed and told to start working tomorrow," I said.
"Really?" she said as we both settled down on the couch. "So what's the job about?"
I took a deep breath, "I will be working as a bartender at Imperio Real Club."
"Really? Why would you apply for a job in a place like that?" Alicia said in an annoyed tone. This is the first time she would be using that tone. I could understand what she meant. It took her about five months to clean me up from cocaine. I used to be so addicted to it, but thanks to her, I'm not.
Even though a club is the least place I should apply for work, it seems to be the best for me at the moment. I don't have a certificate to apply for a corporate job.
"I understand your care about me. I promise I won't do those things again. I don't have any urge for coke or drinking again. Don't worry, I will be fine."
"No, girl. I can't accept that. You know what I went through before you overcame this. I can't let that happen, Larissa. Find another place to work."
"I understand your concern about me, but I don't have a certificate to get a good job. These are the places I could work. I can't sit down and watch you take care of the bills."
"But I'm not complaining," she hollered at me.
"I know you're not, but let me do something also. I saw the quick notice the landlord sent, and I can't allow that to happen. Please let me help," I said in a sincere and genuine voice.
She sank on the couch and took a deep breath, holding the arm of the couch firmly. "Imagine I allow you to work there, and you start living your past life again. Then what's the difference between me and Ramon?"
"You need to trust me, Alicia. I won't go back to it, and you're not like Ramon. Please trust me," I pleaded.
"You know something about love and knowledge? Love would expect the best, but knowledge knows. I will decide based on love."
"Thank you, Alicia. I promise to be on my best behavior," I said with a smile and gave her a hug.
"I'm done with dinner. Let's go and eat," she said as we broke the hug.
I followed her to the kitchen to serve dinner at the dining table. We both sat down and enjoyed dinner.
It's my first day at work, and I want to give a good impression. It's 3:18 pm, and my shift starts at 4 pm. I entered the bathroom and took a nice shower. Even though I want to be under the water for hours, I can't; it's almost time for my shift. I ran out of the bathroom and got into a nice white shirt and trousers. I combed my hair and glommed at my reflection in the mirror, making sure everything was perfect.
I walked out of the apartment, stopped a taxi, and hopped inside.
"Imperio Real," I said to the taxi driver.
The taxi driver turned his back to me and looked at me again. I could understand what he meant by the gaze. I looked at him with an insulting gaze before he could face front. He ignited the engine and drove off.
I dropped down at the front of the club and gave the taxi driver five dollars. He collected it from me and said, "Do you also do home service?"
"Really? I'm not here for that. I'm a bartender here." I removed two euros from his money, gave him the rest, and walked inside the club.
He kept hollering, "Hey girl, return my money." As I walked inside the club, I was welcomed by the pulsation of the music, with lights of different colors shining on my face. I walked to the bar at the VIP section, where the young man I met yesterday was.
"Hey girl, come over here. You're just in time," he said. I opened the door and walked inside.
"Take this," he said as he handed me an apron, and I put it on. "Okay, you said you're good at mixing, right?"
I nodded in agreement, "Yes, I am."
"Okay, start selling," he said and left the bar. He seemed to be the bar manager.
I adjusted the apron, drew a chair close by, and I sat on it, waiting for customers to order. As I sank into the chair, two young boys approached me. They were not up to eighteen.
"Give us two cups of tequila, please," one of them said.
"Okay." I was about to get it for them when the bar manager approached me. "Hey, what're you guys doing here? Let me see your ID card. You guys don't seem to be of age."
"We're not, but—"
"But what? How the hell did you enter here? Get out now," he said to them in a commanding tone and tilted his head at me. "Do you really want to sell to them? Are you sure you can do this perfectly?"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware," I apologized. It seems I'm still not open to the world yet. I never knew there's an age range for people to be in a club. If the government really made that rule, where were they when Ramon was tormenting me?