Chapter 3: The Meeting (Taylor’s P.O.V.)

I really needed some sleep. I had only managed to get a few hours after I had gone back home from making up our money from last night. I was glad that I had remembered to take another change of clothes so when I got back Ann didn’t know what I had been doing. I didn’t want her to know that I had been picking up the slack so she didn’t need to do as much.

But I had a bad feeling that all of that was about to change. There was really no other reason for Carson to want us to come in off schedule and we were scheduled next week for money drop-off. I had a funny suspicion that I knew what he wanted to talk to us about, but I was hoping that I was wrong.

“Hey girls,” a guy said as he slid to the side of the front door of the building. The building was on the east side of Orlando and blended into the area with no suspicion. It looked like your average club, but hardly anyone knew what really happened.

“Welcome to Club Royale,” a girl in a black miniskirt and pink tank top greeted us. “Enjoy your time here.”

Ann and I moved passed her and into the club. The lights were down and there were some strobes on the floor as everywhere else had a red glow to it. We wormed our way through the crowd, sticking close to each other. After a minor struggle around the dance floor we have reached the stairs the door that lead up to the special V.I.P. sections.

I reached for the knob, but a hand grabbed my wrist to stop me. I looked up to see one of Carson’s thugs standing there, glaring at me.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I glared at him as I pulled my arm back, “To see Carson.”

The door opened to reveal a skinny little worm, “That’s Mr. Carson to you.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled. “Just move your ass out of our way, Melvin.”

He leaned closed to me, “I think someone needs to teach you some manners.”

I leaned forward a little more and squinted at him, “And it isn’t going to be you, jackass.”

I put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him out of the way so that Ann and I could walk up the stairs. I could feel Melvin’s eyes still on me as we reached the top. That guys really gave me the creeps, but I couldn’t worry about him right now.

“Hello girls.”

I had bigger things to worry about.

“I’m glad to see that you made it,” Carson said as set his drink down on the table. His large booth was tinted red with the lighting and the music poured in from the balcony he had that overlooked the club. This was his domain and I hated it.

“You wanted to see us,” I asked dully. I wanted him to know just how much I didn’t want to be here without totally getting on his bad side.

“Yes,” he started as he leaned back, “I was wanting to discuss your working terms.”

I felt a lump forming in my throat. This has been what I was scared of. Our working terms were that our clothes stayed on and we pleased our clients our ways.

“I need you girls to become a little more… free,” he stretched an arm out on the top of the booth and laid his right leg over his left. “There have been requests from certain clients to have a little more free-reign with you girls. And I have complied with them.”

I could feel myself getting mad, “And I guess we’re supposed to go along with this, no questions asked?”

Carson chuckled a little, “Yes. You are.” Leaning forward he continued, “Or I can always give you girls other assignments and duties.”

He was talking about switching us over to his drug trade. I knew he was hoping that we would. He had plans to have us go into that and become addicts, and then once we were addicts he could control us better. There was no way that he was going to make me someone’s bitch.

“We’ll stay put,” I growled.

He smirked, “Good.” He leaned back and stretched out again. He looked at me, then Ann, “You may leave.”

The two of us turned to go, so happy to be leaving this hellhole. This place always made me mad and it was always creepy.

“Not you Taylor,” Carson’s voice sounded, “I want you to stay for a moment.”

I felt a growl form in my throat as Ann stopped and looked at me. I nodded at her to tell her that I would be okay and to on without me. I waited until she was gone before turning back to face Carson. I stood there in silence, not wanting to talk with him.

“I have heard good things about your work, Taylor,” he started, “And I wanted to show you how much I appreciate your effort in protecting your friend.” He lifted his index finger and motioned for me to come over him.

“Well it isn’t for you.”

He glared at me a little, “Well why don’t you come over here and-“

I cut him off, “No, Carson.”

“I said for you to-“

“I don’t care what you said,” I interrupted. “I don’t work for you Carson. I work through you so Ann can pay you back. You need to get that straight.” I leaned forward with my hands on my hips as I said the last part.

I could tell that he wasn’t happy with my words. I regretted my words, what if they got Ann in trouble? But I didn’t show it. I wouldn’t show this dick any satisfaction.

“Is that all?” I asked with sarcasm dripping as I turned to leave. “Goodbye.”

“I won’t forget that Taylor.”

That was what I was afraid of.

Notes

Here you guys go. Sorry for the long way. Hoping to have more up soon. Enjoy! Later, Kiki