Cavalier (Crimson Elite 1)

“No and yes. He’s one of them.” I look up, dark tinted windows are all I can see. Johnny stands next to me. “Those are their offices. You won’t see too much of them. Maybe Echo who runs security and sometimes Darby who runs almost everything else.”

“What does Creed do?”

“Recruits all the beautiful women. He’s the prettiest, wouldn’t you say?” He wiggles his eyebrows. “All those dark and stormy features.” Johnny starts fanning himself and I can’t help but laugh.

“So, I was just recruited?” I can’t help but wonder out loud. His hand falls on my shoulder.

“Sorry to say, pretty lady, but yes.”

I suck in a breath and let it out. Johnny doesn’t have to show me much, I know how to bartend and I know how to serve. The girls come up throughout the night, all nicer than the next. None seem to have any troubles, and the guys don’t even notice me which is great, they’re too preoccupied with who’s waiting for them. I could get used to this. Very used to it.

The end of the night comes around fast, and soon it’s just us packing up and closing the bar. Creed walks down as we sit on the counter having a drink. Johnny jumps down and walks away, leaving me there by myself.

Getting down as well, I offer a smile. “Thank you, I enjoyed tonight. If you need me again—”

“You want the job?” he asks.

My head nods faster than I anticipated. He slides a white envelope over to me. “Read it before you leave. Sign before you leave.” I nod like that’s all I know how to do as he disappears back up the stairs which lead to his office.

Johnny walks back out as I start to read the contract.You shall not, under any circumstances, tell another living person what happens behind the doors of Crimson Elite.I keep reading and reading—it’s all about the privacy of this place. I look up at Johnny. “What do you tell people you do?”

He laughs, looking down at the contract. “Oh, don’t worry, it says what you should say.” He flicks to the last page where it states: My employment is a privately owned bar.

I start to sign—what other choice do I have right now?

“I have to head out to get some rest. You fine by yourself? Creed should walk you out.”

“Yes, of course. Thanks for tonight.” He waves me off as he leaves. Taking the contract, I go up the stairs where I saw him retreat earlier. Reaching the top, there are offices one after the other, but only one has its door open. Walking to it, I notice Creed sitting behind a large dark wooden desk. He looks up as I enter, then nods his head to the seat opposite him. Not sitting, I pass the contract over to him, and he passes me another white envelope. Opening this one I expect another contract but instead, I find cash, lots of cash. The same amount I would earn after more than two weeks at my previous job.

“It’s too much,” I say putting it down on his desk. He stands, and his presence takes up all the space. All I can see and feel is him. I chant in my head, ‘You aren’t special. He recruits the girls. You are a girl,’ as he picks up the envelope, handing it back to me.

“Take the money. It’s standard. It’s what we pay our bartenders.”

“Thank you.” Turning to leave, he stops me with his words, just as I get to his door. “How are you getting home?”

Turning my head back to look at him, careful not to move too close to him again, I say, “Walk.” Then I leave. Grabbing my bag, I finally find the door, which was covered in a thick red curtain which matches the wall decor.

Creed comes after me. “I’m walking you home.”

Words fail me. Instead, I get stuck nodding my head again.

Why does he do that to me?5CreedI watched her for most of the night. You can’t help but stare at something, or someone, as beautiful as she is. And I know a beautiful woman, it’s my job to find a beautiful broken woman who needs money and can be loyal all at the same time. Women are a specialty of mine, they always have been. I can read them like the back of my hand. The only problem is, I can’t read her. And that alone puts me a step back.

She rubs her arms as we step outside, looks around at everything except for me. She did a good job tonight, I knew she would. The girls expressed how impressed they were with her, and that they didn’t have to go back to correct any orders. Johnny also said she was the one for the job.

“Are you cold?”