Chapter 99: Work

I clicked down the steps of the stairs past the garage all the way to the hall behind the bar. I could hear the music thrumming through the walls. Tonight it was more like rave music. I guess bars had to change it up to draw different clientele every night.
I slipped past the bathroom to the other end. The hall opened up next to the bar counter. Cherry turned and gave me a nod when she saw me. I smiled and waved. Everything inside of me wanted to duck my head and hide in a booth, but I couldn't do that. I had to be the face of the faction. I had to be the new face of the Ardor Brothers. I had to fight a grimace. This was a lot of responsibility.
It was only eight, but the bar already had an excellent turnout. Not too many of them were brothers or at least not many of them were wearing their jackets. It was going to take me forever to learn all of their names and faces.
The bodies jumped up and down on the dancefloor to the electronic rave-like music. I didn't recognize anyone just yet. I took a few tentative steps forward into the bar. I needed to appear brave, even though I wanted to hide. A few heads turned my direction. I felt eyes lingering on me. That was what I wanted, right? To attract attention... no... to command attention, that was it.
Cherry poured me a drink. It looked like a vodka cranberry. She pushed it towards me with a wink, then nodded out to the bar itself. I wrinkled my nose at her. She pointed sharply and raised her eyebrows. I gave her a salute. She rolled her eyes at me and went back to serving patrons. I took a long sip of the drink and started wandering through the bar.
A lot of eyes turned my way, but no one interacted with me. I got a lot of nods and a few winks, but not from anyone I knew. After a pass around the edge of the dancefloor, I headed up the stairs. I felt like I was luring people up to my lair. Hell, I probably was. I was like a walking billboard for an orgasm. That was my power, after all. As Cherry explained to me, I was their highest income.
I took the stairs to the upper level one at a time. I made eye contact with the people coming down. A few of them hesitated on the steps as I walked by. I finally made it to the top. I passed booths of people. I walked slowly, giving them a little smile then continuing. Hopefully, it was enough to get their attention.
I stood in front of the black curtains. Two Ardor Brothers stood outside. I think their names were Frazer and Amaan, a giant and a part human. They smiled at me as they opened the curtains. I touched each of their hands as I walked by, pulling just a little bit of energy. Their faces went slack with pleasure. I slipped into the room. The weird chaise-like bed-chair was made up with pillows. The table held numerous bottles of alcohol with clean glasses and an ice bucket. There were a few bowls of chips, candies, and a nice steaming basket of tater tots.
I sat on the chaise. I didn't want the tater tots to go to waste, so I started popping them into my mouth with gobs of ketchup on them. It was like Cherry could read my mind. I paused mid tater tot. Maybe she could. Hell. I continued chewing. I'm glad she was on my side.
My first client walked in. I don't think he was a brother. Amaan directed him to an armchair across the table from me. He pointed to his hand and then to the table. The man complied by setting his hand on the table. I reached out with my free hand while the other kept popping tots into my mouth. He gave me a funny look but as soon as I pulled energy from him, his eyes closed.
See, this wasn't such a bad gig. I ate junk food and made money. It was way better than that stupid grocery store job. If what Cherry was saying was right, I'd be making more money in a week here than I did in a month there, maybe more in just one night. I didn't need all that money, though. I'd have to make sure what I was getting paid was fair so that bar would still stay in business, and the Ardor Brothers still could provide protection to the territory. I realized I was like a queen. They certainly treated me like one. I just needed to live up to the task.
The man finished. I released my hold on him.
"Next," I called.
No one responded. I wondered if they couldn't hear me over the music. I went to stand up, but my toe hit a basket at my feet. It was full of crystals. None of them glowed. I could totally dump energy into those. I could probably even sell it, too. Whoa. No wonder Matei had so much money. I should have let him pay for my college when he offered.
I managed to stand up. I pulled the curtain aside and came face to face with a solid chest. My eyes rose to see Liam staring down at me. He didn't say anything. He just blocked the entrance and stared. After a long moment, I pressed my hand against his chest. I could feel it cold beneath his tight shirt. My hand slid across his pectorals until I reached his bare arm. He still didn't move or say anything. I pulled a little energy from him and watched his face.
He remained stoic. I narrowed my eyes at him and pulled more energy. I could see him fighting against the pleasure. I pulled just a little more. His eyes finally flickered close. My hand ran down his arm to his hand. I stopped the pull and led him to the chaise. He followed me, sitting easily when I directed him.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked.
He grumbled something I couldn't make out.
Two men and a woman entered my lair. Amaan directed them to sit. They picked a love seat, but all three of them sat in it. They chatted among themselves excitedly, but I couldn't make out their words. I smiled halfheartedly at them. I leaned across the table and touched their hands.
This time when I pulled, the men started kissing the woman. She grabbed my hand, so I was touching all three of them at once. Oh. Oh! I saw where this was going. Oh my. I well... hmm. Do I look away? Do I watch? I certainly wasn't going to join them.
I looked back over my shoulder at Liam. He looked at me askance then looked off at the dance floor. I guess this was why he was here, to make sure the clients didn't drag me into their threesome. They were pulling at me. I leaned across the table a bit more. I'm sure my butt was a nice view for Liam.
I looked back at him again. He was still staring off in the distance. He really must be pissed at me. It was probably for getting those orc women off. I really didn't have much of a choice. Or having sex with a human made him look weak in the eyes of orcs. I was probably messing up his credibility as a leader. I should probably just leave him alone.
The three hands tugged at me. I think they wanted me to join in, but I held firm to the table. I kept my eyes glued to a spot on the table. I could hear plenty of noises from them. I just needed to make them finish so I could get out of this very awkward situation. How many more of these was I going to have tonight?
Their moaning grew to a climax. I pulled a huge amount of energy at once, setting them off. I disentangled my hand and slowly retreated back across the table. Liam handed me an empty crystal, but he didn't look at me. I filled the crystal with their energy.
I snacked on some chips while I waited for them to come back down to Earth. They were escorted out by Frazer, who almost dragged them away, but in a very diplomatic bouncer-like way. One of the men smiled at me lecherously. His eyes snapped to Liam and then straight ahead.
I looked over at Liam with my eyebrow raised. He frowned then looked off in the distance. The next two clients came through, two women this time. They sat on the loveseat and started making out. I gave them a tight smile. This was going to be a long night.