Pretty Eyes

Noise, constant noise, servers dancing around one another to get to their tables. Restaurants can be on the hectic side, especially the lunch rush. That is where you can make the best tips next to the dinner rush. Near the large window, popular seat amongst the people. I stand at the end of the booth, trying to mask my disgust with the men at the table who have not stopped eyeing my uniform. They really seem to appreciate the fitted white top that gives just a peek of my cleavage. I resist the urge to pull the hem of the black fitted skirt, it reaches to about mid-thigh, but I hate how one of the men keep staring at my legs.

“Hello gentlemen, welcome to The Hideout. My name is Chloe; I’ll be your server this afternoon. How does some drinks and appetizers to get you started sound while you look over the menu?” I keep what I hope to be a soft smile on my face, awaiting their answers.

The men, in their business attire grin at one another before pretending to ponder over the menu. Just breathe, you need the money. Remember? Money, college and culinary school, owning your own restaurant.

After an uncomfortable minute, I began to write down their drink orders and a couple of appetizers; all while laughing at the same tired jokes any young female server tends to hear from the older men that come in from the local firms and banks.

“Huh I don’t see you on the menu.”

“You could give us a sample baby girl.”

“Would you be our dessert?”

Giving one last forced laugh, I walk away to the bar to put the ticket in for the drinks and appetizers. Shaking off the feeling of my skin crawling from those men, who are old enough to be my father! A scowl replaced my forced smile as I pulled my blonde hair up into a ponytail. Looking in to the mirror plastered on the wall behind the bar as I pull out a few pieces to help frame my face. My blue eyes look dull and tired, I had pulled a double just yesterday here.

I let out an audible whine at the thought of working my second job tonight, I’d rather just be in bed sleeping for eternity. I felt my lower lip go in to a pout as I walk back to the front of the bar, where a gorgeous red head with curves I’d die for came up to me looking over my ticket.

“Lay it on me, how much did you win?” The beautiful bartender asked me with a dramatic sigh. I couldn’t help but grin.

“Fifteen dollars my friend. I heard ’I don’t see you on the menu, how ’bout a sample, and am I the dessert? All from one lovely and charming table” I give a fake smile when using the words lovely and charming.

I hold my hand out awaiting my winnings for the table from the ongoing game we play. She gave me a whine, a bit like the one I let out just moments ago.

“Seriously how do you win every time?” The woman opened the bottles of beers and placed them on the serving tray.

“Seriously Rebecca? How do you always lose? You get hit on at least a dozen times each shift?” I retorted.

Rebecca laughed and rolled her eyes, “Alright well here are the drinks, apps are- ”

“Right here! Cut the chatter, Chloe your biggest fan was just sat in your section.” Our dear manager Ryan interrupted while placing the tray of appetizers next to the tray of beers.

Jumping slightly at the surprise interruption, I gave him a nervous smile. Sneaking to the end of the bar and peaking my head around the corner to take a quick scan of my section, and yup there he was. Owen Mathews – not anunattractiveman. He is on the taller side, I would say about 6′0 maybe 6′2? I think he is 24 years old. Dirty blonde hair that he tends to slick back for work. Which he clearly just came from in his suit. Clean shaven too, like I said, he notunattractivebut he is a creepy asshole.

You see; Owen used to be good friends with my brother, like best friends throughout high school. At the end of senior year, they had a falling out when Chase, my older brother, joined the army. The falling out isn’t what makes Owen such a creepy asshole. Oh no. What makes him that is the fact that out of any,ANYONEin the small town in nowhere California, he had to be the one to waltz into my second job that is well over an hour away into Los Angeles just as I was dancing on stage.

Yes dancing, stage, I’m a stripper. Or as Rebecca tries to correct me,exotic dancer. Anyway, I didn’t realize Owen was there, not until after a week of him showing up and finally buying a private dance with me. It was during that dance he showed me three different videos and a few pictures of me stripping. He threatened to send them to my older brother and my not-so-caring father. Since then, I kind of have been under his thumb, he shows up everyday here at the restaurant and nearly every weekend at the club.

Sighing and tossing my head back, I return to the bar, grabbing the beers and apps for my other table of creeps. Pouting, I look over to Rebecca as Ryan walks away.

“Want me to poison his drink?” Rebecca deadpans, straight face and all making me give a small smile and a halfhearted giggle.

Rolling my head, I took a deep breath and placed that same sweet smile on my lips as I juggled the items for the first table. Forcing myself to laugh at the men as I hand them their drinks and apps. I ignored the feeling of eyes on me as I took the men’s order, unwilling, I turned around and walked to the new table that was sat a few minutes ago.

“Now there’s my favorite girl. Heard from that brother of yours lately?” Owen grins up at me, eyes drinking in every inch of my body, as I walk up to him and his friends. Two other guys who seem to hang out with Owen regularly.

“Is it going to be the usual today?” I ask, unmasking my irritation with them. Not caring about making conversation, for I just wanted to get away from this table as fast as I could.

Owen’s grin never leaves his face as he shakes his head at me with atsk tsk. “Now, now we are loyal, paying customers, aren’t we boys?” Owen asks his two friends who just chuckle at him. “I got money to spend; you got money to spend?” One asks the other, who holds up his wallet, waving it at me, all I do is roll my eyes and cross my arms.

“See, paying customers. Now let’s try that again, from the top – or I’m sure your manager is going to want to know if you need to be re-trained.” Owen taunts, relaxing back in his chair, confident that he won.

He did win; healwayswins and gets what he wants. I can’t really risk getting another complaint, from Owen, to Ryan about my attitude towards customers.

Glaring, I put on a forced smile, “Hi welcome to the Hideout, as you very well know, my name’s Chloe. I’ll be your server this afternoon.” I made sure to have an overly sweet tone to hide the irritation I feel.

“Much better Chloe, we will take a round of long islands, got out of the office early today, so we don’t have anywhere to be.” Owen smiles as he lets his hand slowly run up the back of my thigh, inching higher up under my skirt. I immediately hit his hand away.

Shaking my head I storm away from the table of men laughing. Going to the bar, I sit on the stool and just let my head fall with a thud on the bar. “I hate it here. 3 long islands.” My voice muttered from the bar.

“Seriously, poison. No one will know.” Rebecca said as she rubbed my hand in sympathy.

“How is it, out of anyone in this small forsaken town, he had to be the one to walk in my club that is over an hour away. Like there are at least a half a dozen other clubs much closer to this damn place.” I whined.

I’m not complaining of my other job, hell I think I may enjoy it more than this restaurant. The money is better and the customers are usually nicer. I took up dancing to help pay for my classes and culinary school. Waitressing can only pay so much, and since my dad drinks away any money he earns, I usually cover the bills and my own education.

“Girl your nineteen, you should be partying at clubs, not working them” Rebecca joked, and then laughed as I held up one hand to flip her off as my head stayed faced down on the bar.

“I’m kidding, I know the money is good and your classes are paid for this semester. Now here are the dickheads drinks, I’ll be here to plot their unforeseen accident when you get back.” I mumbled something about just killing me as I stood up and grabbed the three drinks.

“That was fast, you must have missed your man.” Owen teased before sipping his long island. I bit my tongue, better not to argue with him while on the clock. Ryan warned me that he didn’t want another complaint about me for another month.

“You work tonight?” Owen asked as he shamelessly scans over my body again.

“I don’t disclose my personal schedule with customers, sorry- “I couldn’t help but sneer as I went to walk away. Owen was quick to grab my wrist pulling me back to the table, squeezing my wrist so I stayed in place, my nose scrunched at the discomfort.

“Don’t get smart with me, or did you want me to show the holier than thou big brother of yours the videos? Or I’ll just stop by and show daddy dearest?” Owen threatens, leaning closer towards me, keeping his voice low.

I kept my face calm no reaction, as I pry his hand off my wrist with my free hand. “I get it, I play nice, you get free dances, and you don’t show anyone those damn videos or pictures. Everyone is happy and I stay miserable” I snapped back.

“No, you don’t get it, Iownyou, Chloe Daniels.” Owen smirked as he released her wrist and licked his lips.

Taking another sip, he waved me off, dismissing me from his table, to emphasize the power he believes he has over me. His buddies just laughing at the scene.

Assholes

-

The rest of my shift was pretty much me running on auto pilot. With serving my section with a smile, trying not to murder Owen in his seat every time he touched me, and Rebecca offering to be an accomplice any chance she could. Rebecca truly hated Owen as much as I did.

Now I’m driving outside of town, Dead Omens blasting through my speakers as loud as my car could handle. Drowning out the never-ending noise inside my head. The noise, my thoughts, my dad, his drinking, my brother, him being gone for the last four years.

Army. My brother, Chase, joined right out of high school. Escaping our dad and leaving me. Not behind, he writes, emails, calls, and text any chance he gets. His contract is actually ending soon; he promises that he’s coming back at the end of it.

That promise runs a never-ending marathon in my head, I want to believe in it. Yet life has taught me many things; People lie, they let you down, and no one ask the scary questions when you keep a pretty smile on your face.

Pulling behind a building that sits in the city of Los Angeles, dressed in beautiful red lights. With the Neon sign readingDevil’s Den. I checked the time on my phone as I turned the car off. 8:30pm, The club will open in about two hours, which gives me time to eat and get ready for my shift tonight.

I only work at the club on the weekends, sometimes a day or two during the week if I pick up extra shifts, but the good money is always happening during the weekends. Owen won’t show up until about 1am. He likes to be one of the last customers of the night, I do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. Such as if someone pays for a private show or dance. Then Owen can’t hold our so-called deal over my head.

Tonight, there is an auction. They have these nights about once a month. Auction night is where dancers who volunteer are to be auction off to the highest bidder. The winner of said dancer gets the dancer for the entire night until closing, including private show, private dances, open bar, and the big-ticket item, a free cup with the Devil’s Den logo. Yeah, the girls’ roll their eyes at that too. The dancer, however, gets to pocket the highest bid plus any additional tips, the club pockets the entrance fee, and the normal drinks and food for the other customers. The girls that volunteer for the auction don’t have to worry about tipping out or paying the house fee, for this night only.

There is usually a buy in, which the club gets to keep, and bidding typically starts at about a thousand dollars. Guaranteeing the dancers at least double their average earning for a Friday night.

Grabbing my dance bag, I headed into the club, locking my car as I walked to the back door of the building. Smiling I saw a few of the other girls already there and they all smiled and waved as I came down the stairs to the dressing room. They were filling their plates with the chipotle catering the owner, Victor provided. He always provides catering when it’s an auction night, for the place will normally be packed and even if you’re not working in the auction, your still busy with the customer who didn’t participate or win a dancer for the night. Good money either way.

I set my bag down at my ‘station’, really it’s just a small vanity from Ikea, and walked over, making myself a veggie bowl because I really don’t want to risk bloating tonight. Bloating, gas, and stripping is not a combination anyone wants. Sitting back at my station, another girl hopped up on the vanity seconds after I had just sat down.

“Hey V” I greeted the petite Hispanic girl with a smile before engulfing a large bite of my bowl. I hadn’t ate much today at the restaurant with Owen making my skin crawl majority of my shift.

“Hey Clo, how’s the only other short shit here.” Veronica, or as I have come to call her V, greeted back. Both V and I were the shorter girls here. I stand taller at 5′3 but Veronica is only reaching 5′1. Something I love to remind her of. That and the fact she is the baby of the club, just turning eighteen herself.

“Well, I’m here, counting down the hours until I can be in my sweet, sweet bed. God, do I miss her,” I say on the dramatic side with a sigh as I look up at the sky as if the bed itself has passed away. V laughed and shook her head.

“Are you participating in the auction tonight?” I asked already knowing the answer, as I took another bite of my food and looked at my phone to see if I had anything from my brother or any text from friends. Just one from my dad asking for money.Again. He must be at the bar and either ran up his tab too high or they’re not letting him have a tab and he ran out of money.

“Absolutely, last time I made enough money to cover my rent for like 3 months. What about you, are you finally going to grace everyone and get your ass up there” V said excitedly before asking a pointless question.

All I can do is laugh and shake my head with a teasing smile. “Nope, no thank you, I rather not have a mid-life crisis dad have me call him daddy for the night.” I tease and look up at V, giving her a wink and V laughed.

“That happen to me once and you still use it as an excuse. I’m serious you should do it; Victor needs another girl for the auction.” V said snagging my water and taking a sip.

I smack her hand away, “Why does he need another girl? Normally that roster fills up fast.” I take a sip myself, I was curious. Just like I said the dancers raced to get on the sign up. Normally the slots fill up fast with the girls bargaining one another to guarantee them a slot.

“Sammie can’t make it in tonight, kid sick or something like that” V shrugged her shoulders. The woman hopped off the vanity and turned to look at herself in the mirror before casting her gaze down at me.

“You should really think about it, it maybe a great way to escape the creep for the night.” The Hispanic woman wasn’t wrong, most of the girls knew of my situation with Owen and try to help keep me away from him. Even getting Victor to in force a no phones policy. V gave me a smile before walking off to grab some more food for herself, leaving me to ponder her suggestion.

Another ding from my phone, and groaned slip through my lips before grabbing it off the vanity, discarding the salad bowl I was eating. Dad again pinching the bridge of my nose I took a deep breath. I don’t like to enable him, but it would be worse if I just ignored him. Giving in, I sent the money he was asking for to his account.

-

V and I got ready together as we normally do. V has been venting about her boyfriend and honestly, I don’t really know what else because I kept spacing out. I couldn’t stop thinking about what V suggested to get away from Owen for the night, I was off from the restaurant tomorrow so I would have a good break from him. He was more handsy than usual today, he’s never forced himself on me, but that doesn’t make the touching any less mortifying.

“I’ll do it” I stated, my voice full of uncertainty as I stood up from my station, V mid-sentence, paused after I abruptly stood up and walked away. I could see her looking back at me with confusion as she watches me walk out of the dressing room towards the stairs to Victor’s office.

“Oh my god, yes get that money girl!” V shouts after realizing what I had just agreed to, with a wild grin on her face.

I stop short of Victor’s office door, tossing my head from side to side as I try to work up the courage to just volunteer to be auctioned off like a piece of meat or something.

Girl really, you’re a stripper, you basically auction yourself off with every dance.

The noise in my head was coming back. Finally, I tighten my robe and knock on the door.

“Yeah?” Victor called out from the other side, deep breath, just take a deep breath and walk in with a smile.

“Hey Victor, I’m sorry to interrupt.” I apologized as I walk into his office, leaving the door open.

Victor is an older man. Looking up from his laptop, glasses fall lower onto his round nose. He smiled seeing it was me. Victor honestly wasn’t a scum bag, yes, he owned a strip club. He bought it from his brother who everyone else says was the real scum bag. I never met his brother, I only started dancing almost a year ago, months after I graduated and turned eighteen. Victor bought the club with the intention of turning it into something else, but guilt rid him of the dancers and other employees here losing out on money. Instead, Victor kept the club open and turned into more of a high-end club, bringing the dancers and in turn other employees’ better money and much nicer clientele.

Victor never judges the ladies that work here, in fact he’s always showing us respect. Takes care of us whenever he can. If it wasn’t for Owen holding videos of me stripping, I would have had Victor ban him a long time ago.

“Chloe, you alright? What can I do for you? “Victor asked, taking his glasses off and rubbing his face with his other hand, he’s stressed.

“The girls mentioned you need another dancer for the auction tonight. I – I can step in if you still need someone.” I offered, my tone soft, as uncertainty fills it.

Victor is one of the few who see the nervous side of me, he will always be one of them, he hired me after witnessing an unsettling argument between me and my dad. He was the one who broke it up, and offered me an a cold can of soda to put against my cheek. Offered me a job working at his laundry mat, but the club pays more. Since then, Victor always treated me with warmth and kindness.

“You’re an angel, straight from heaven you are!” Victor praised me with a large smile on his face, causing me to laugh. “I would owe you big time if you could fill in that slot, other wise the buy in for the auction would have to be lowered and the girls get so upset at that and I- I” I laughed again shaking my head, stopping him from rambling.

“I don’t mind; I could use the extra money anyway.” I half lied as I offered a smile, Victor immediately went right to the laptop, adding me into the script for the DJ when the auction begins.

I left his office with a wave and closed the door before going back down to the dressing room, where V stood patiently or rather impatiently waiting for me to come down.

“Place your bids!” I jokingly called out while doing a pose on the steps. V began to jump up and down while clapping her hands, clearly excited.

“Okay so how do I get ready for this?” I laughed as she pulled me back to my station to go over my options for outfits.

V immediately picked out my least favorite set – a set that is fully covered in rhinestone, with small delicate chains on the side of the hips and across the torso. The bra makes my breast look amazing. Truly it is the most sexiest thing I own for the club, it is also the most uncomfortable set that I own, the rhinestones scratch my skin all night whenever I wear it.

Now the shoes, I must appreciate her choice. Stripper heels obviously, but they are the clear ones, with the straps bedazzled in rhinestones, and a heart on each heel made of rhinestones. Simple but they go nicely with the set she picked out and they are one of my shorter more comfortable ones, only being six inches tall, compared to the average eight inches.

“Now keep the hair easy, thinking just a blow out? Smoke out the eyes, really play up the whole blonde hair blue eyed babe.” V suggested while playing with my hair.

“Honestly sounds like a dream if I can keep it easy,” I confessed. Giving her a hug as thanks before she sat at her station next to me to get ready herself. She began to explain what I could expect tonight.

What did I just get myself into...