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