Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Since I still have a little over an hour left of my shift, I change my outfit and help out on the floor until the club closes. I give two lap dances, which I’m grateful for, since I’m sure that asshole who wanted more will be pissed I wouldn’t cave to his request and will likely take it out on my tip.
When the place is empty, I change back into my street clothes—a hoodie and sweats—and remove my makeup, not wanting to risk drawing attention to anyone in our neighborhood.
Once I’m ready to go, I say good night to the other women and wake up Ellie. As she staggers down the hall, half-asleep and mumbling about her bed, Lincoln comes out of his office and hands me an envelope.
“Thanks,” I say with a laugh. “I was so busy trying to get miss sleepyhead over here out the door, I forgot to collect my tips.” The manager on duty is the one who counts and gives us our tips, and usually that’s Damon since he’s the weekend manager. But since he recently got married and is on his honeymoon, Lincoln’s been here more than usual—at least compared to how little I saw him when I first started a little over a month ago.
“Hey, Lincoln,” Ellie says sweetly, a stark contrast to her grouchy demeanor only a few seconds ago. “How’s the restaurant coming along?” I roll my eyes at her obvious crush on him. I told her once it’s not happening, that he’s a good decade older than her and she should focus her energy on the boys her age, but she just scoffed and said those boys were immature and she’d never date them.
“Hey Ellie,” Lincoln says with a smile, ruffling her hair playfully. “It’s coming along nicely. Working on the menu. How’s school? You get that essay written?”
They discuss her writing assignment while Lincoln walks us to my car. Ellie loves dance and ballet, and she works hard to get good grades because her dream is to get into one of the top schools for the arts in the country, but she does struggle academically. And since I’m a math person, English is not my strong suit. Last week, she was struggling with an essay she had to write, and he spent hours helping her, which led to her newfound crush.
“I know you’re all independent and shit,” Lincoln says once Ellie is in the passenger seat. “And this is a good area. But please have one of the security guys walk you out when I’m not here. If something happened to either of you, I’d be forced to kill whoever touched you, and I would not do well in prison. I’m too pretty for that place.” He smirks, ending his statement with a joke, but that doesn’t stop my heart from warming at the sentiment, unaccustomed to someone caring without a hidden agenda.
“Will do. And… thanks again for letting Ellie hang out while I work.”
“Sienna,” Lincoln says with a laugh. “You thank me every time you see me. It’s not a big deal. She’s a great kid, and you’re a damn good employee.”
“Well, still…thank you,” I say again, unable to help myself as he opens the door and I slide in. “See you tomorrow night.”
We get home and Ellie heads straight to bed. I shower and then sort my tips to figure out how much more I’ll need to get caught up on the bills.
Only when I count the cash, my heart damn near stops. This can’t be right. There’s no way I made this much in tips. I think back to tonight. I did a private performance for that business meeting and a couple of lap dances. And then after my second performance I had… No. No way. There’s no way he tipped that much after I told him no.
I grab my phone and send a text to Lincoln, telling him I think he messed up on my tips. All the girls have his number in case of an emergency. I assume since it’s late, he won’t see it and respond until tomorrow, but almost immediately, a text from him comes in:
Lincoln
Too little or too much?
I type back:
Sienna
Too much…way too much.
Not that I’m complaining, but we’re talking thousands too much. And if he turns around and says he messed up and I need to pay it back, I’ll be screwed if I have to return money that has already been spent.
Lincoln
It’s the right amount. Apparently, you made a big impression on someone tonight. Get some sleep.
Sienna
Thanks. You, too.
I set my phone down and stare at the money. I want to refuse it, tell that guy that he can’t buy me. That I’m not for sale. But at the same time, did he buy me if I refused him? I danced for him like I do for many guys. I didn’t suck him or fuck him. I didn’t give him my body in exchange for money. I gave him my time, just like I always do.