She smiles knowingly. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Vivienne. I am so happy you came.” She leads me by the hand through the men, and down the large stairs. I can feel the men’s eyes on me as we pass through them, but I keep my eyes focused on her back as she walks in front of me. Hell, this makes me feel sick.
We get to the bottom and walk over to the large, black door where I saw the girls disappearing into earlier. Eliza swipes her security card and we walk in.
My eyes widen. Holy shit.
This looks like backstage of a Victoria Secret show. Small dressing tables line the large space and girls all have hot rollers in their hair and robes on their backs. A few are doing each other’s makeup, while others are doing each other’s hair.
“Girls, this is Vivienne,” Eliza announces proudly.
“Their eyes all flicker to me and they smile. “Hi, Viv,” they all chant cheekily. There is a playful air about them, and I can’t help but smile.
“I’m hoping Vivienne is going to be starting in the Escape Club.” Eliza smiles warmly at me. “I’m just showing her around.”
I see a few of the girl’s eyes flash to me, as if shocked. What? Isn’t that normal? Anyway, it doesn’t matter because I’m only working behind the bar.
My nerves start to flutter as she pulls me to the other side and through a large archway. “This is our closet.”
My mouth drops open. Cream leather suits and skirts all lined up on racks, just like in a shop. There are huge baskets filled with cream and caramel colored lingerie, and expensive, gold high heels lined up in pairs. “This is our uniform wardrobe. Everything is dry cleaned daily and hung back up here.”
Her eyes fall back to me. “The girls don’t have to worry about laundering their own uniforms. Leather can be tricky.”
I fake a smile. I bet.
She walks to the end and a long rack of cream, sheer, loose tank tops all hang in neat rows.
Unable to help myself, I reach up and touch the fabric.
“Organza,” Eliza purrs.
My eyebrows rise. “Oh.” Jeez.
“These are the tops our dancers wear with these bottoms.” She pulls out the bottom drawer and it is filled with coffee-colored, short, leather hot pants.
I hate to admit it, but with the cream and caramel color palettes mixed with the leather and lace, it really gives off an expensive, sexy feel.
“They don’t wear the skirts?” I frown.
“No, it’s hard to straddle a seated man, lap dance in a tight leather skirt, and still maintain your dignity.”
Not the answer I was expecting, but okay. She leads me through into another room where there is a beauty salon and two European male hairdressers.
“Franco and Merrin, meet Vivienne.”
They both look me up and down and smile.
I nervously pull my woolen dress down. This is all just so… weird.
“You get all of your beauty and hair needs looked after free of charge when you work here.” Eliza’s eyes flicker to me. “And the laser hair removal is on the house.”
Shit. Well, blow me down. That’s a service I never expected to get for free.
“What position are you starting, Vivienne?” Franco asks.
“Oh.” I smile awkwardly. “I’m interested in the bar position.”
His eyes flash to Eliza and she smiles. “Sweet Vivienne, you will waste away behind the bar. You are way to gorgeous for that.”
I shake my head. “Oh, I don’t think-”
She cuts me off. “We will talk about that later, dear. Come. I have lots to show you.”
“Bye.” I wave to the two people I have just met as she drags me by the hand.
We walk out into another large room and I stop on the spot. Rows and rows of designer evening gowns are lined up on racks, and girls are starting to look through the garments. Sequins and feathers are everywhere. Wow, this is something else.
“Hi, Elli,” they all call as they keep going through the racks. I frown. What the hell are they doing?
As if reading my mind, Eliza answers me. “They’re picking what they want to wear tonight.”
Huh?
“Every night, we have a fashion parade displaying new designers.”
“I don’t understand…”
“Young and upcoming designers bring in their evening wear and the girls do a catwalk show before the cocktail party.”
“Cocktail party?” I ask.
She smiles knowingly. Jeez, I should shut my mouth. I look like I am interested in this shit. “I mean… it doesn’t matter.”
“Do you want to know about the Escape Lounge?”
My eyes hold hers. I do, but only because I want to know what kind of place this is.
“I suppose,” I whisper.
She walks off to the left over to two large double doors. “Come, let me show you.”
We go through the double doors and it opens onto another bar area private from the rest of the club, and way more exotic. A large water feature is in the middle and the lighting is moody and sexy. Waiters are behind the bar making cocktails. I frown again. The bar staff are all male out here.
Eliza watches me intently, knowing full well that my mind is abuzz with questions.
“Every night, out in the club, we have a fashion parade with twenty-four of the most beautiful woman we have.”
I frown.
“Every night, we have twenty-four men who have reserved their Escape night.”
My skin prickles.
“At the end of the fashion parade the Escape girls have a private cocktail party out here where they choose their partner for the night.”
Goosebumps scatter up my spine.
“Ch-choose?” I stammer, wide eyed.
“Being an Escape girl doesn’t mean that you automatically have to sleep with anyone, but you are required to spend the night in one of our suites with the one of your choosing.”
The look on my face must be a sight because Eliza laughs out loud. “Don’t look so horrified, Vivienne.”
I stare at her, dumfounded.
“Would you like to see a suite?”
I nod, because all words have escaped me and I feel like an idiot. She walks over to the large, smoke-mirrored elevator doors and pushes the button. The doors immediately open and we hop in.
“We have twenty-four apartments,” she continues.
As the elevator door opens on the first floor, she glides out into a luxury corridor, opening the door to one of the apartments.
“Each Escape girl has an apartment for the night. It’s a twelve-hour shift.” She holds her arm out to gesture for me.
I gaze at the amazing space. “So, this is the position you get paid five-thousand a night for?” I whisper.
She smiles. “Yes. That’s right.”
I walk past her into the room as I feel my heart rate quicken. The room is beautiful and exudes luxury. Leather lounges surround a fireplace, and huge bouquets of fresh flowers in crystal vases are scattered throughout the apartment. Champagne and chocolate-coated strawberries are in the glass door refrigerator. I continue into the bedroom and see the most amazing bed I have ever seen, dressed in huge white linen, inviting with big, fancy cushions. The black marble bathroom has a sunken spa bath and a triple headed shower nozzle.
Holy hell. This place is something else. I walk around in awe. I’ve never been in such a beautiful space in all of my life.
Eliza turns to me.
“You have something special, Vivienne.”
I force a nervous smile.
She folds her arms in front of her and leans her behind back against the leather lounge. “Every girl in this club wants this position, but I’m not interested in them. I want you, Vivienne. I want you as an Escape girl.” She smiles as she brushes the hair back from my forehead to look at my face.
My breath catches in my throat.
“You can start tonight.”
I release a nervous giggle and shake my head. “No, sorry. I’m not.” I pause as I look around the room in front of me. “I could never be this person.”
Her eyes hold mine and I desperately hope she can’t read my mind, because deep down this just may be the most exciting damn escape plan I’ve ever seen. Five grand a night to get dressed up in designer evening wear, drink cocktails, and then seduce a hot, rich guy in a luxurious penthouse without the fear of anyone ever finding out. No judgement, no boundaries.
I can definitely think of worse ways to go.
“I would like to take the bar position, please,” I announce.
Without replying, her eyes stay fixed firmly on mine.
She knows I’m tempted to give it a try.
What if Owen ever found out?
With renewed purpose, I walk toward the door. “Thank you for the offer, though. It was very kind. When would you like me to start on the bar?” I ask confidently.
She hesitates before answering. “Wednesday night?” she finally concedes.
I smile broadly and turn to shake her hand. “You got yourself a deal.”
I wake to feel small warm arms around my ribs from behind. My bed partner has stuck to his usual routine. Every night, Owen crawls into bed with me. I never know exactly how or when he comes in. I just know that some time between night and morning I will feel his little arms cuddling my back and he stays there until I wake.
He kisses my back through my pajamas and I smile with my eyes still closed. “Morning, Owie,” I whisper sleepily.
“Hi, Mom,” his husky little voice replies.
I roll onto my back and put my arm underneath his head, my eyes are still closed. “I thought we were going to try and sleep in your bed all night. Remember, we were going to buy you a new truck if you did?” I murmur. I’ve stooped to bribery, but at this point I will do whatever it takes.
“I just don’t like it in there,” he announces.
“Hmm.” I sigh with my eyes still closed. I lean and kiss his forehead. “What’s on today, buddy?”
“Cornflakes?”
“Yeah. Okay.” I doze for a moment. “Momma’s tired today?”
“Rise and shine,” Jenna’s perky voice echoes through the room. She opens the drapes and the sun comes blazing through. “Oh, go away,” I moan as I cover my eyes. “What time is it?”
“Wake up time.” She smiles as she stands at the end of the bed with her hands on her hips. “This time tomorrow you would have been at the hospital for an hour by now.”
I frown. “Don’t remind me. I’m trying to forget.” I instantly feel my nerves rise in the pit of my stomach.
Owen hops out of bed and disappears up the hall. Jenna lies down next to me on top of the covers. “We have to go shopping and buy you some new work clothes.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So?” She leans up onto her elbow to look down at me.