“Why is it so hard?” I slump against the wall and bring my feet up onto the lip of the counter. “This is the fourth interview today. Is it really that impossible to find a job in Vegas that isn’t stripping?”
Anna stops putting on her mascara to meet my gaze in the mirror. “Quit knocking the only thing paying our bills. You should just do it. I can get you in tonight.”
“I can’t. Who would watch Maeve?” I’m just getting used to being here, but don’t know any babysitters.
She finishes and switches to a bright red lipstick. “Brittney told me there’s quite a few twenty-four-hour daycares here, since there’s so many night gigs in town. I’ll text her and find out where she takes hers.”
“Wait, I didn’t say that was the hold up…” I chew on the inside of my cheek, weighing my options.
There aren’t many choices.
Anna snaps her clutch closed and fluffs her buoyant blonde hair before turning to me. “You need to shit or get off the pot. We’ve been here almost a month. I can’t afford to take care of you by myself.”
All I can do is nod.
I’ve exhausted every possible lead I can find.
But I have to feed my little girl.
I’ll do anything to make sure she’s taken care of.
She’s my world. The thought of her going without the things she needs makes my chest ache.
“Okay. Set it up.”
Anna squeals and wraps me in a hug. “It’s going to be so much fun getting to work together!”
In less than two hours, Maeve is dropped off at a very nice-looking facility, and Anna is helping me prepare for my audition.
Except, I hate this outfit. It shows too much and pinches in all the wrong places. The silver sequin bra does make my boobs look great, though.
“You’ll be fine, Sofia. Just flip your gorgeous maroon hair and bat those big green eyes. Gil would be crazy not to hire you.” Anna slips on a ridiculously high-heeled pair of thigh-high boots and zips them up.
Tassels hang from her nipples. It’s hard not to glance at them every time she moves.
I never thought I’d have a job wearing pasties.
My phone background picture has my adorable baby with a big toothless smile.
I’m doing this for her.
One last look at it before I toss it on top of my bag and shut the door on my locker.
Gil’s office is every bit the dingy room I’d expect in a strip joint.
Pin ups of naked girls cover the walls surrounding a desk piled heavily with papers and a broad open area of worn carpet that highlights a bronze-colored pole attached to the ceiling.
I guess that’s my dance floor tonight.
“You’re every bit as hot as Anna said you’d be.” Gil rubs his thick hands together over his desk before reaching over and pushing a button on an old cassette player.
Scratchy music with a deep bass line fills the suffocating space.
He leans back and pushes his thick glasses up on his nose. “Make me horny.”
This isn’t what I expected.
I should have.
Swaying my hips to the music, I do my best to stick out my tits and shake my ass. Bending over and then tossing in some exaggerated hair flips.
I’m halfway into the song when he hits the button and silence fills the room.
“Half-chub. Maybe three quarters. You have potential, but you’re starting on the bar line running drinks. Keep practicing and you’ll clear four figures a night. Talk to Christine about scheduling. You’re on B rotation.” He digs a cigarette out of his sweaty polo shirt pocket. Pointing the smoking ember in my direction, he waves me towards the door. “I dig the hair.”
“Thank you.” This has to be one of my most embarrassing moments.
Well, nothing beats leaving Brody at the wedding reception, but this is a close second.
