Chapter One
Miami
Finally, I'd gotten the act to Miami. The Xquisite club was now officially gonna enter the big league. Big city, big ladies, big cash. Oh, yeah. I drove my new sedan through town, going to check on the club. It was still only 11 AM and there were 8 hours left for our opening act in Miami, but I couldn't wait. I felt like a kid with a brand new toy-all mine to play with. The house I'd rented was just a couple of blocks away from the club, so I could pop in and out whenever I wanted. I pulled up against the curb and screeched the car to a halt. A couple o' Miami hookers who probably didn't have much luck last night were hanging around the pavement. They eyed me with their heavily made-up eyes as I got outta my convertible. "Mornin' ladies!" I said, doffing my baseball cap at them. I heard a giggle and got a wink, which I returned as I pushed open the doors to the club. Ol' Marty was scrubbin' the floors, makin' 'em all nice and shiny for tonight's gig. "Hey Marty!" I called as I entered, leaning down to examine the smooth wooden floor, fully aware that the two hooker chicks were checkin' out my ass through the glass doors. "Mornin' boss. Didn' think you'd be here so early." returned Marty, his voice gruff through his white whiskers. The old man could be my grandfather, but ever since I employed him last week, he's been callin' me 'boss'. I like these Miami folks.
"I like checkin' out my workplace every once in a while. Quality of a dedicated businessman." I said. I winked at Marty, slapping him on the shoulder as I made my way backstage. The light boys were done there, screwin' in the lamps, and I had a couple of the wannabes fixin' up the mirrors, movin' in some tables and bringin' in some emergency weights for the boys to use just before a show. "H'lo boss." they said when they saw me saunter in. Those sweaty faced teenagers were fresh outta high school and lookin' fo something to do before they got swept into the whole college business in a year or two. They wanted to have some fun. Well, they were gonna have to earn it. I propped my foot up on one of the chairs they'd just wiped down. "You all prepped for tonight's show?" I asked. They nodded vigorously, obviously tring to please me. I leaned back. "Well boys, you gonna hafta earn it. This is Miami. You need to work hard to make any kinda money. Even easy money. So get wipin'." I said, turning and walking out. Man, I loved bein' an asshole.
"Yo Marty, I'm jus' steppin' out for a beer. Be back in a while." I called over my shoulder as I pushed my way outta the glass front doors. "Sure thing, boss!" he called back. As I was headin' to the curb I happened to bump into someone real hard. "Hey! Watch where-" I began when I looked down at the little thing I'd bumped into. She was a kid, really. Maybe about 21? She looked up at me with big chestnut-brown eyes. Her black hair was wild, unruly. It tumbled about halfway down her back. Her bold black eyebrows raised slightly when she took in my full height. "Well hello there, missy." I said, lowering my voice. Her smooth caramel skin darkened slightly around the cheeks. She was blushin'. "You from around here?" I asked. She raised one eyebrow a little higher than the other. "Do I know you?" she asked, tossing her hair and walking away. "Well, well, well," I mumbled to myself as I watched her walk down the street, "That little miss got attitude."
