Chapter 1
I feel numb, like I’ve entered a circle, and I keep spinning without moving at all...same faces, same businesses, same habits. I want something new. I have the resources to have something new, to do something new... and yet, it’s like I took a break ... Is that what my life started to be about? I’ve been on a break for a while.
What could a man who has everything do? What could a man who has everything occupy himself with, so as not to stand out? I have a hunger for something, a need, a scratch. I feel an empty space making its way somewhere inside me. The fear I see in the eyes of others calms me down a bit, but that empty space still doesn’t stop from growing.
Why is it growing now? Why do I feel that what I have now is no longer enough for me? Want I what? What am I missing?
Nothing! That’s the problem! I have everything a man can want from life and extra! I want ... I know what I want! I want someone to provoke me!... And yet who the hell can challenge me when everyone knows me and knows who I am?!
I’m bad and I’m good at it! A wolf in sheep’s clothing! I will always fight because the end of a fight is the beginning of another…this is what life is all about, and only the winners succeed. I know what pain is and I don’t run from it. I embraced it and made a team.
People think I’m antisocial because I barely socialize. What they fail to understand is I just have zero tolerance for drama, stupidity and fake people. Shits got nothing to do with me being antisocial.
I’m a golden child.
As I entered the hallway that led to the club, I realized that indeed the noise from the casino faded away once you walked down the hall, Max was right. At the end of the hallway is the entrance to the lounge, which to my surprise bore no distinguishing marks as after it, you entered another world...a world without any inhibitions…my kind of world!
At the door I was greeted by a well-built guy, bald and with a mustache like you only see in bad movies.
“Good evening, I’m looking for Max”.
“Good evening, Mr. Thamir, Max will be right out. Please come if you’d like.
I nodded in understanding and headed for the door. Before they open the back door to the club, my eyes are drawn to the pictures on the walls of the available staff inside, both boys and girls, and the small lights of the security cameras.
The whole building belongs to me, but the Club is “rented” to a childhood friend, Noah Robinson, a bad boy, who has become a family man in recent years.
Although the club is in my casino, it’s the second time I have set foot here.
Inside there’s a relaxed atmosphere although the music is a bit too loud for my taste.
To the right is the bar so I headed towards the bartender.
“Good evening, sir...would you like a menu?
“No thanks, I’ll have a bourbon”, I say as I take a seat.
Waiting for my drink and Max, I turn to admire the club. It’s crowded considering it’s only the beginning of the week. The middle of the space is taken up by the T-shaped stage, which in addition to it has some rather odd-looking chaise lounge chairs, as far as I can tell because half of them are covered by a material that comes next to the stage - how odd, I say to myself as I take my glass from the counter. I shift my gaze to the left where there are tables for 2 or 4 people and some sofas in the far corners. Among the tables walk both girls and boys, dressed, it’s too much to say, with trays in their hands.
I wonder why everyone here has fluorescent bracelets on their hands of different colors...is this a new fad or another specific quirk?
The walls are covered with a red color, I think, but because of the light they seem multicolored...hmm, interesting play of lights that doesn’t tire the eyes.
After about 5 minutes the light dims even more and the music also changes, becoming more sensual and of course a dancer appears on stage. Uninterested, I turned to the bartender and signaled for another drink.
In less than 5 seconds Max shows up and as soon as he sees me, he grins like a kid eating ice cream.
The friend’s list is very short when everyone is on your payroll. Still, I can’t say that about Max. Max is the kind of all-around good person; and he knows how to keep his mouth shut. He is 12 years younger than us, yet he has earned a place in our hearts. I don’t know where Noah found him, but it was good that he kept him close. Loyal people are hard to find.
“I thought you weren’t coming, asshole”, I tell him, holding out my hand.
“You can think such a thing of me, Mr. Thamir”, he says shaking my hand. “Let’s not talk at the bar”, he kept talking, winking at me.
We got up and headed to the nearest bar table next to the door I came in.
“I thought you forgot to stop by”.
“You know I can’t forget you when it comes to that...and I’ve even already thought about it and we can even arrange in a week when you’re free to take care of the guests, how about that”?
“Perfect, you read my mind”!
During our conversation, at one point, the lights went out again, and the room filled with smoke and a bright Shadow advertisement appeared behind the stage. I glance around the room and notice the atmosphere has changed in that no one is talking, and all eyes are on the stage ... whatever..., another dancer. I turn my gaze back to Max urging him to continue the conversation. The asshole is still with the same smirk on his lips and looks like he’s expecting something from me.
“Am I really paying you so terrible that you need a second job?”
“Just this week. One of the guys is missing in action and Noah called me”.
“Ok, then we’ll have to meet on Friday or early Monday to work out the details and the list, ok”? I tell him watching his face carefully.
Before he gets a chance to answer me from the loudspeakers start to play...
I saw in June,
Please come to me,
Don’t bury thoughts,
That you really want.
I fill you up,
Drink from my cup,
Whitin me lies what,
You really want.
Come, lay me down,
’Cause you know this,
’Cause you know this love,
In the middle of the night,
In the middle of the night,
Just call my name,
I’m yours to tame,
In the middle of the night,
In the middle of the night...
I’m wide awake
I grave your taste, all night long,
’Til morning comes,
I’m getting what is mine,
You gon’ get yours, oh no, ooh...in the middle of the night...
...these lyrics reach somewhere in a hidden corner of my mind and force me to turn my eyes back to the stage and stay there.
From behind me, the asshole starts laughing and leaning close to my ear whispers:
“Enjoy the show, T”.
