5

Chapter Five

•BRIANNA•

Evening came around quicker than expected, and Cherry was at my house in no time. She arrived with a big shopping bag, and I gasped upon seeing her.

“That is a big bag you’ve got there,” I commented as she walked deeper into the bedroom. I thought you said you’d buy me two dresses and shoes, but there seems to be more than that.”

“Yes, that’s what I said. But I changed my mind when I got to the mall,” Cherry replied with a relaxed tone, and I smiled.

“Why would you do that? Spending all your money on me," I muttered.

I didn’t spend all my money; even if I had, it would have been for a good cause. "Also, I needed to get more than two dresses. I want you to dress like a sexy professional. People should have to look at you twice before they can look away," she replied.

“You’re the best friend a girl like me can ever ask for. Have I told you that you’re my sister from another mother?” I cried out in appreciation.

"You don't have to tell me. You are my sister from another mother," she replied. I hugged her so tightly I almost knocked the wind out of her.

"Can't... breathe..." she choked out while gently hitting my back. I immediately released her from my chokehold, which I called a hug. She started gasping for air afterwards.

“I’m so sorry about that. "I didn’t mean to block your windpipe," I apologised, my voice trembling with urgency.

“It’s not your fault. I guess you got too excited.” She replied with a short smile.

The room was quiet before I decided to break the silence.

“What about Aunt Doris and the others?” I asked, referring to her aunt and her family. Cherry lived with her mother’s sister because she was an orphan. r parents died in a car accident while they were returning from a vacation, and Cherry was the only survivor. Her aunt and her family took her in after her parents’ death, and she has been living with them ever since.

“They are very fine. Aunt Doris sends her regards, too.” She replied.

“Okay, that’s good,” I uttered. "Let's rest a little before we go to the club tonight,” I said, already moving closer to my bed for a nap.

“Yeah, we should. I'm so stressed from my shift at the restaurant. It was packed with customers today," Cherry agreed, mounting my sister's bed.

We discussed how our day went before we drifted off to sleep, one after another.

Cherry and I woke up around 8:30 p.m. and freshened up to prepare for the club. We showered and put on our red and white bartender uniforms. It stopped just above our knees. We went down the stairs to the living room, which was empty. We heard noises from the kitchen. We entered to find Marie making dinner and Mom watching her.

“Hey, guys… We're heading to the club now!” I hollered.

“Alright… Will you guys wait for dinner?" Mom suggested. It would be ready within a few minutes, but Cherry and I shook our heads in unison as if we had planned it.

“That won’t be necessary, Mom. We have to go now so we won’t be late,” I said, and she bobbed her head.

"Okay, then... You should take care of yourselves. Please don't come back late," she said sternly. A smile appeared on my face. She was such a Mama Bear, but I loved her like that.

“We won’t come back late, Aunt. We will be back in no time," Cherry responded, beating me to replying to her.

“Good… Hurry along now, don’t waste time.” She said as if shooing us.

“Okay, bye!” Cherry and I called out, already moving toward the front door and out of the house.

The club was about four blocks away from my house, so we walked as we usually did every other night. It was about a ten- to fifteen-minute walk.

We got to the club in no time, and the place was already bubbling with life. Loud music played in the background, and different activities went on. But we had gotten used to it. We went to the back room, dropped our bags, and went to our various posts.

There were many customers tonight, which meant the pay would be a little higher than usual. It would be great if we got fat tips. The club had different types of customers. Some were mentally stable, and some weren't. Some came to drink, some to flirt, and some to dance. They all had one thing in common: they all came to have fun in their own little ways.

A few minutes into my shift, my boss, Mr. Cole, came out of his office. He stood in front of the bar, appearing ready to order a drink, but I knew he wasn’t.

“How are you doing today, beautiful Brianna?” he drawled, trying to seem seductive, but I found his act disgusting and irritating. He didn’t fit into the category of men I would like.

He was handsome in his way, though. He was five feet and eight inches tall, with tan skin, dark hair, and brown eyes. Any other lady might find him attractive, but I didn’t.

“But Mr. Adrian would fit into the category of men you like, wouldn’t he? He’s gorgeous!” A voice sounded in my head, and I shook my head, trying to get rid of the thought.

“Hey, are you there?” Mr. Cole asked, snapping his fingers in front of my face, and I immediately returned to the present.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t listening. What were you saying?” I asked him in a respectful manner.

He looked annoyed before replying. “Have you thought about my offer?” he quizzed me, and I felt a wave of frustration.

Not long after I started working in the club, Cole began bothering me to be friends with benefits. I always replied, "I'll think about it," though it was obvious I was ignoring his offers.

He promised to increase my pay and other things. But I declined. I wanted to make clean money and set an example for my younger sister.

“You know, boss… I can’t and will never accept this offer of yours. It cannot work. "You're married with kids and 20 years older than me. Also, I won't sell my body for a raise. I have no reason to," I replied, finally finding the guts to speak my mind.

“Bullshit! We can do this and keep it a secret. Nobody will know about it.” He uttered, looking very desperate.

“I said no! We’re talking about my dignity and my body. Doing this will go against everything I stand for. "My answer is final," I snapped, disregarding the risk to my job as a bartender.

After I lashed out at him, his face twisted with anger. He looked scary as hell, but I held my stance. I wanted to show him he didn’t scare me.

“Well, Brianna… we will see about that. I promise you will come back crawling on your knees, begging me to fuck you and give you money for it.” He spat with intense anger. With one harsh glare, he turned away from the bar stand and returned to his office.

I was so shaken by that encounter that I didn’t notice the line of people waiting to order their drinks.