thick forearms flex.
“You taking it all in so far?” Angel asks.
I nod as he continues with a few more standard interview questions I answer with ease before he hands over the paperwork and I start filling it out.
As I go through the questions, trying to keep them as truthful as possible, downstairs, the music plays a steady beat that hums quietly through the room. With my focus now on the paper in front of me, my nerves have calmed, until the shrill ringing of the phone assaults my ears.
I almost jump out of my seat. The pen falls to the floor and I press my hand to my chest, willing my heart to slow down. When I lift my head, my hair—placed so precariously over the side of my face—has fallen back over my shoulder, leaving my scars exposed. The worst of them now on full display as both Angel and I freeze.
Angel’s face changes so quickly I almost miss the pity that quickly morphs into something akin to confusion—or maybe it’s disgust.
Of course it’s disgust, Oakley. How could it not be? Angel is the epitome of flawless perfection, and here I am, looking like I was dropped in a frying pan.
Angel averts his gaze and talks quietly on the phone, his hushed voice barely audible. I finish filling out the paperwork, wondering why I’m even bothering. I should leave. This isn’t the type of place I should be working at.
“All done?” he asks, his tone softens.
I hesitate, the paper in one hand and my other hand on the arm of the chair. I’m ready to stand and make a run for it. His eyes narrow and he tilts his head, studying me. Before he can say anything, I force my voice to work.
“I know I don’t exactly fit in here…” Or anywhere. “But I really need this job. If… if you don’t want me working around customers I can clean, or work in the kitchen—”
The words tumble out while my lip quivers and anxiety builds in my chest, and when Angel raises his hand to stop me, I’m positive he’s about to tell me to leave.
“Oakley, I’ll be the first one to say that you can’t measure a person by what you see on the outside.” He lets out a heavy sigh and runs his hands through his hair as though this somehow affects him on a personal level. As if, Adonis. He’ll never understand how it feels to be judged solely on your appearance.
Angel slumps into his chair. “You know, some of the ugliest souls are wrapped in gold encrusted shells. But on the inside, they’re as black and toxic as tar. You’ll find we come from all different walks of life here.”
For a moment he looks almost wistful.
“The one thing I’m firm on is that there is no judgement. Everyone has a battle to fight, and we owe it to them—and ourselves—to keep an open mind.”
Done with his speech, Angel glances at the paperwork, giving me a not so subtle cue to hand it over. “You ready to give that to me now?”
I hand it over, all the while I’m wiggling my toes and nervously wringing my hands as he flips through the pages. His eyes skim before stopping and zeroing in on something.
He raises his eyes to meet mine. “You’re staying at Angel’s Cove?”
My stomach drops and shame fills my belly. “Is that a problem? I’m looking for somewhere more permanent. it’s actually why I need the job so badly,” I rush to admit.
Angel shakes his head. “It’s not a problem at all. We have a good partnership going with Clarise. A lot of her girls have come through here, then moved on to bigger and better things. Some, like Shelly, have stayed on longer. I think you’ll find you fit in here better than you’re expecting.” There’s understanding in his blue eyes and knowing that Clarise is friends—or at least acquaintances—with Angel, settles my nerves.
“Has Shelly shown you the dressing rooms? While you’re not dancing, I’d still like you to meet everyone.”
“That would be great,” I say, proud of myself for putting those four basic words together.
Angel walks past me toward the door, sending the irresistible scent of his cologne my way. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
He holds the door open for me and there’s Shelly, sitting on the stairs still waiting as she promised. She pockets her phone and looks up at me with a huge smile. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”