Beautifully Broken

“Not exactly...but he told me to drop by if I ever wanted to check the place out.”

He presses a finger to his earpiece. “Boss Man, there’s a hot little Latina here to see you.” He pauses a moment; I assume to listen to Boss Man’s reply. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“Kat.”

Mr. Clean relays my name and dutifully waits for instructions. “He wants me to bring you to his office. It’s this way.”

I take in my surroundings as I follow him toward the back of the building. The place is much bigger on the inside than you’d expect. And classier, I have to admit. Sure, the occasional platform with stripper poles gives away what you’re really here for, but otherwise, it just looks like an upscale bar.

The bouncer knocks on a door marked, Private. A moment later, it opens and a young blonde saunters out with smudged lipstick.

“Excuse me,” she says as she walks past us.

What the hell? I look around the room and find a lazily smiling Marcus sitting behind a large black desk.

“Katherine, it’s so good to see you! What brings you by?”

Badass Bouncer steps into the hall and closes the door behind him. I lean against the wall, suddenly feeling very strange being alone with Marcus.

“Um…”

Marcus stands and walks over to me. There’s no mistaking the chub he’s sporting, clearly indicating my arrival interrupted something. Pig. No wonder he’s not concerned about Cybil taking clients.

“Tell me, Katherine. Did you decide to take me up on my offer?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit weakly. “If Cybil still plans on moving out, I don’t think I have a choice.”

He smiles. “Of course she does. But you’re also welcome to come along.”

I shake my head. “No…taking my clothes off for money is definitely the better option there.”

He barks in laughter. “I really like your fire. So will my clientele.”

I shift uncomfortably. “So, how does this work? Do I need to fill out a job application or something?”

“No, it’s not quite that involved.” He looks me over hungrily. “You definitely have the assets; now I need to see if you have the stage presence. What are you? A 36D-cup?”

I flinch. “That’s disturbingly accurate.”

“I’m a man of many talents.”

I move to the side as Marcus reaches for the doorknob.

“C’mon, Katherine. I’ll show you to the costume room and you can pick out something to wear for your audition.”

“Audition? Like now?”

“Is there a better time that works for you?” he asks. “I assumed you’d want to start as soon as possible if you took the initiative to show up. Was I wrong?”

“Nope. My bank account certainly isn’t getting any bigger just standing here.”

“Let’s go then.”

He leads me to another private room at the end of the hall with four doors in between.

“What are those other rooms for?” I ask.

We walk inside a large dressing room with racks of clothing on one side and a large vanity on the other.