Chapter 1: Change Of Plans
Liana
Thud
I jump awake, my eyes opening on their own accord.
"Ana is that you?" I call out expecting it to be my best friend and roommate but I hear nothing in response.
I stifle a yawn and get to my feet, only then seeing the large anatomy textbook I was reading on the floor. A sound of realization left my lips and I reach down for it.
Who was I kidding when I thought I would actually be able to get any work done after the kind of day I had.
I stretch my cramped muscles with a groan, my phone started ringing almost immediately.
The envelope sitting on the table mocks me with the blue light from my phone reflecting it, showing my name boldly written on top.
"Hey mum," I mutter the moment I pick, rubbing the paper between two of my fingers.
"Sweetheart, I didn't wake you right?" I mumble what I hope sounded like a no because I couldn't be sure, my brain isn't functioning fully well right now because I'm still not awake.
"No, I'm not even sleeping." Not a complete lie, I've only closed my eyes for five or ten minutes at most so that doesn't classify as sleeping, also she meant getting ready for bed and I'm anything but ready.
It is not even ten pm yet, in other words, I have only a few minutes before I leave for my shift at the club.
I would want nothing more than to sleep for two days straight but rent doesn't pay itself I wouldn't do that do Stefan, he did his best to get me a job at his father's club though it is part-time.
He knows I won't accept money from him, his father is more than loaded, and being the good friend that he is, he got me a job instead, to help in his own way.
I appreciate him a lot for it.
"Liana, are you still there?"
"Yes mum," I yawn, closing my mouth with my palm but from the sound of disapproval my mother made, I can tell it didn't help and she is about to give me a lecture on the proper way a lady should act because in her head, she raised a high classed woman.
I am anything but, of course I can't tell her that because it would start another argument and I'm already tired from the day I had, I don't want my mother's judgment adding to that.
"You should swallow that pride of yours Liana and let me help you. You're going to run yourself to an early grave, or worse you'll give yourself wrinkles and ruin your body before you're even twent—"
I tune her complaints out, regretting even picking her call in the first place.
I flex my hand moving the phone from my ear when she started talking about my stepfather and how worried he is about me, how he feels like I don't like him because I'm not accepting his help.
"Mum please, I have to get ready for my shift at the club. I've had a long day really." My voice sounds as tired as I feel.
My mistake became apparent when she started another bout of lectures, how I shouldn't be working in a club because it is not ladylike. I should be more like Catherine, my stepfather and her husband number four's daughter, a model who also has a fashion line.
"Okay mum, have a good night. Bye." The beep after the call ended is heaven to my ears, a breath leaves my lips.
On wobbly feet, I manage to make it to my room after keeping the offensive paperback where I saw it, reminding myself why it is important to keep this job and my other two jobs because they raised the rent by twenty percent without warning and I'm already behind.
I don't want to let Ana pay for us when I know she isn't doing any better than me.
The shower I take is a quick one, I fill Bright, my cat's food bowl knowing I would be back late.
"Good night baby," He purrs when I rub between his eyes.
With a smile on my tired face, I pick up my worn jacket on the couch and then walk out of our old apartment building pulling the jacket tighter around me when the night air hit me.
The bar is ten blocks away but to save money I decide to walk, not the smartest decision when it is this late and I don't exactly live in the best part of town but hey, this is New York and I'm sure worse has been done.
The October wind isn't the most forgiving and I regret not wearing something thicker.
I search around my pocket and pull out my earbuds before putting them on and playing music on my phone, I wrap my arms wrapped around me hoping to lessen the chill.
The back entrance of the club is open when I get there. I'd taken Stefan's advice when I started working because won't have to run into a lot of people when zoning in or going out.
The guard always situated there sends me a smile as he opened the door to let me in.
"Hey, Lia." His gruff voice greets.
"James." I return his smile, letting him side hug me.
James is a man in his late forties with a built body and kind eyes, though times without number been told I was the only one that saw it, I still stand my ground. I've known him for about a year now even before I started working here, we used to come to the club on the last Saturday of every month on Stefan's insistence to wind down as he calls it.
"It's quite cold tonight, isn't that too light?" James asks, pointing to my light sweater over faded jeans and a t-shirt, I nod rubbing my hands together to get some feeling back in them.
"I realized too late that it was a bad decision to walk here with this, but I survived at least." James shook his head at my reply.
He acts like a father figure and I appreciate him for it, I've never had something like that since my father walked out on my mum and me when I was seven.
"It's packed tonight, good luck in there." He waved, already moving back to his post.
"Thank you, I need it." His smile is the last thing I see before he leaves my view.
Keeping my head down, I walk past the few people littering the way to the back door, I do wonder what they are doing here but seeing as I'm almost late for my shift, it is none of my business.
I make it to the bar in one piece aka no one tried to grope me.
This might be a high-class club but even men in expensive suits get too touchy when they've had a drink or two.
"Didn't think you would make it?" Alex asks, throwing me a smile over his shoulder before going back to a redhead that just sat at the bar.
"Yes, I started sleeping so I needed the walk to fully wake up." He nodded while he got her order.
"How was the test?" He places a hand on my shoulder, then reaches for something over my shoulder.
Who said being short is fun?
"Sucks, just like school, and I have another one in a few days. I really wish I was a cat." He chuckles shaking his head.
"You're doing great though love, and I have news but not exactly good news." I groan and cross my fingers against my chest. Waiting for him to deliver the news that would make this horrible day worse.
"Hit me." I sigh dramatically, my eyes closed halfway.
I feel both his hands on my shoulder this time, he has finished with the woman's drink and since no one is waiting for him, he faces me.
"You got an upgrade tonight," I don't celebrate early because he didn't say it was good news.
"Does this upgrade come with more pay?" It wouldn't be all that bad if the pay is very good and I wouldn't have to wait another week working double shifts at the store to make rent.
Caving and calling my mum is looking extremely good right about now.
"Sadly no but the tips are fire, I'm talking hundred dollar bills flying around." He makes a cha-ching sound rubbing his fingers together.
It sounds too good to be true, the only place that gives that many tips is the last place I would ever want to be in, I made that clear the first time I started working in this club.
Private rooms, where perverted old men hold their billionaire meetings which also means disrespect and a lot of groping, a whole lot of it.
I shake my head but the look on Alex's face tells me what I don't want to believe.
"No, who the hell did this?"
"I did." My spine stiffens when I hear the cold voice from behind me.
There is the biggest douche on earth, aka the manager and Stefan's older brother.
He hates me and the feeling is more than mutual.
"You either do it or walk out the door." I glare at him but that is all I can do.
I glare at his retreating back.
It is going to be a long night.
