Wednesday evening, Lisa walked into Chris's office at the club, her gaze skimming the walls lined with dark wood and framed photographs. The room always smelled faintly of leather and whiskey, just like Chris.
"Hey Chris, Daphne said you wanted to see me."
"Yes, Sugar." Chris motioned toward the chair opposite his desk. "Come sit. I've got something to tell you."
Lisa lowered herself into the chair, waiting.
"We have important guests coming in tonight," Chris said, his tone carrying the weight of expectation. "VIP Room Two. It's a bachelor party. The groom is an old friend. I want you at your very best."
"Noted." Lisa nodded, though unease tugged at her chest. She wondered who they were and what made them so important to Chris.
She stood to leave, her hand on the door handle, when his voice stopped her.
"Sugar, are you good? About the other night... I'm sorry."
Lisa turned back, meeting his concerned gaze. "Thank you, Chris. I'm fine."
"I'm always here for you."
She left the office feeling heavy. Serving VIPs always set her on edge. She disliked their stares, their comments and the way some of them treated her like she was part of the entertainment.
Last Friday, a VIP client had tried to harass her. He asked her to drink with him and refused to let her leave. The situation escalated quickly and she ended up pushing him. The client made threats and told Chris to fire her but he had defended her, saying he didn't tolerate anyone intimidating or harassing his employees.
When she first started working at Paradise Club, she thought she would blend into the background, a regular server lost in the crowd. But that illusion broke the night a client became infatuated with her. He had spent an obscene amount of money, tipping far beyond reason and calling her a red-haired beauty. From then on, Chris started sending her to VIP rooms, even calling her his favouriteemployee.
As she passed the bar, she met Daphne balancing a tray of drinks.
"Everything okay? It wasn't about that jerk from Friday, was it?" Daphne asked, her brows knitting.
"Not at all. VIPs tonight. Some bachelor party."
"I hate it there," Daphne muttered.
"Not as much as I do. I've prayed for the ground to open up and swallow me whole in there."
Daphne chuckled. "The ground should've opened Friday and swallowed that creep instead." She walked off towards her waiting couple, her smile playful and unbothered.
Lisa leaned against the bar, watching her work. Daphne's interactions always seemed lighter and easier. No leers, no unease.
"Lisa."
She turned. "Max. Hello there."
Max worked security at the club and he had a two-year-old daughter whose mum had abandoned them, leaving Max to care for their daughter all alone.
He smiled, warmth lighting his face. "How's it going?"
Lisa sighed softly. "I'm surviving. You're done with your shift already?"
"Yeah. Thought I'd stop by before heading home."
"I'm jealous."
"I could take your place if you want me to," Max teased. "Though I'd need... well, a lot of things." His laugh was easy, his eyes soft with something close to admiration.
Lisa opened her mouth to reply, but another voice cut through.
"Max, isn't your shift over? Shouldn't you be heading home by now?"
Vanessa appeared, heels clicking against the floor as she stopped beside him. Her hand slid onto his arm, lingering as if she meant to claim him. Her eyes sparkled with an admiration as she looked at him.
"Sure. I just wanted to see Lisa first," Max said, his smile tightening under her touch.
"I also have to get off now. Urgent situation at home. Will you give me a ride?" Her voice dripped with sweetness.
Lisa bit back a laugh.
"No problem. I'll be out in a minute. You can wait by my car," Max said, shifting his shoulders slightly.
"I'll wait here. It's chilly outside." Vanessa's gaze flicked to Lisa, sharp with disdain.
"Thanks again, Lisa. I'll see you tomorrow." Max's eyes softened as he looked at her one last time before turning away. Vanessa followed, lips curling soundlessly around an insult Lisa didn't need to hear to understand.
She had gotten used to Vanessa's passive-aggressive jabs and subtle digs. According to Daphne, Vanessa's behavior stemmed from envy, and Lisa had been advised to ignore it. She had noticed the way Vanessa seemed to enjoy getting under her skin, and Lisa was determined not to give her the satisfaction.
The door opened then, and a group of men swept inside, heading upstairs toward the VIP rooms. Their suits, stride and presence radiated importance.
Lisa's chest tightened.
Chris's guests.
She waited until they disappeared, then followed. Each step up the staircase felt heavier than the last. She reminded herself she wouldn't let Friday repeat itself.
The moment she entered VIP Room Two, laughter and cologne enveloped her. The men sat around a low table, jackets tossed aside. From their easy camaraderie, they could've been at a business retreat instead of a club.
"Good evening, gentlemen. Welcome to Paradise Club." Lisa smiled, professional.
"Thank you, uh..." One of them leaned forward, eyes dropping to her nametag. "Lisa." His gaze stayed polite, not wandering the way others often did. He smiled and turned back to his friends.
"Jeff, what are we drinking tonight? I need to get shit-faced before I get cold feet," the one who read her nametag asked, loosening his tie even further.
"I'm with Theo. I've barely touched alcohol this month," Jeff said.
Caleb scoffed. "You want to get wrecked the night before your wedding? Tomorrow you'll be standing at the altar, not staggering into it."
Theo rolled his eyes. "Relax, Caleb. It's tradition. What do you think Kayla's doing at her bachelorette? Sipping tea?"
"Anything but this," Caleb muttered.
Theo turned to Lisa with a grin. "Lisa, back me up. Bachelor parties are for drinking, right? Even the girls get wild."
Lisa laughed lightly, caught off guard by their energy. "I wouldn't advise it."
"You're no fun." Theo wagged a finger, then looked toward the man who hadn't spoken. "Leonard. What's your vote?"
Lisa's gaze followed.
Leonard sat slightly apart, posture composed, his jacket still perfectly in place. The Rolex at his wrist gleamed softly. His gaze lifted to hers, eyes dark and intense.
"You can drink what you want," Leonard said evenly, his voice smooth but carrying weight. "I'll stay sober. Someone needs to drive."
"Fair enough." Theo shrugged. "Lisa, bring us some Macallan 25. And for Leonard—sparkling water."
"I'll be right back." Lisa nodded, the unease she carried into the room easing as she slipped out.
When she returned with their drinks, the table had shifted into playful argument.
"What do women actually do at bachelorette parties?" Theo asked as she set down the bottles. "I say Kayla's already drunk. Twenty grand."
"Forty on shopping," Jeff countered.
"Fifty grand says she's having a tea party," Caleb added with mock seriousness.
Lisa blinked. They tossed around sums that could have paid her rent for years as though it were spare change.
"What about you, Leonard?" Jeff asked.
Leonard slid his jacket off with unhurried precision, the crisp white shirt beneath hinting at the strength of his build. He raised one brow but said nothing, pouring water into his glass.
"Alright, alright," Jeff laughed. "Not interested."
"You're our witness, Lisa," Theo announced, phone already in hand. "No backing out later."
"Me?" she said, startled.
"Yes, you. Sit tight."
Reluctantly, Lisa perched on a chair a safe distance away.
After a few rings, Kayla's voice burst through, cheerful and slurred. "Hello? Theo?"
"Baby, how's it going?"
"We're having fun! Michelle and Lauren are really drunk—you should see them." A crash and laughter echoed in the background.
Theo grinned at his friends. "Told you."
Caleb groaned. "Lauren too? Fantastic."
"Theo, I have to go now. Love you, babe." The woman's voice bubbled on the line.
"Love you too," he replied, softly and then laughed when someone shouted in the background. "Alright, bye. See you tomorrow."
He set the phone down with a triumphant grin. "And that's why bachelor parties need drinking."
Jeff laughed. "You and Kayla... match made in heaven."
"Your wife-to-be should've left my girlfriend out of her drunk slumber party," Caleb muttered with mock annoyance.
Lisa shook her head in disbelief, a smile tugging at her lips. They weren't the kind of men she was used to serving. She found herself drifting in and out of their conversation as they kept talking, their laughter rising and falling in waves. Sometimes Theo or Jeff pulled her in, asking for her take on some ridiculous claim, and she shook her head, smiling.
Their banter had a warmth she wasn't used to in this room.
Her gaze drifted again to Leonard. He was typing into his phone, his expression unreadable. Then he raised his glass, taking a slow sip of water, his eyes flicking up to hers. She stilled, caught for a second.
Leonard glanced at the Rolex on his wrist. "We should get going," he said, his voice deep and steady.
Theo pushed his empty glass away. "Leonard's right. As much as I'd like another round, the groom needs at least a few hours of beauty sleep."
They rose, the room left humming with the scent of scotch and expensive cologne. Caleb handled the bill with a tap, sliding her a tip so generous it made her blink.
"Thank you," Lisa said, masking her shock with a smile.
Theo grinned at her like an old friend. "Take care, Lisa."
One by one they filed out, Leonard last. He slipped his phone into his jacket, and when his gaze brushed hers again, she felt pinned in place.