Chapter 2
Her jet black tresses were pinned up to keep the curls in place as she dressed in the nightclub locker room. She didn't need much; thanks to quality DNA, she had a flawless complexion with no signs of acne scars or blemishes. Sapphire blue eyes she inherited from her mother stood out against her creamy ivory toned skin. Everyone complimented on her eyes, they were her best feature. Her body structure came from her father's side of the family, that lean and toned athletic physique was something that all the James' siblings acquired.
As she pulled off her yoga pants, in traffic cone orange, she thought of her family. When was the last time she contacted them? Eddy really couldn't keep up. With Grayson dominating the business world, monopolizing it from the time he was 23. Now ten years later he traveled a lot, wheeling and dealing in the boardroom. There were days that he was too busy to answer her calls.
Kyle, the second oldest, was a U.S Army solider. She wrote to him, sent him paintings and sketches from time to time. She counted the days when he would return home. And Catilyn, 'Ms. Super Model', she couldn't catch her if she tried.
All of her siblings were somebodies. And then her; sweet, beautiful, but simple Edlynia James. She was the oddball, having the ability to see into the future or parts of the past by simple human contact. Her brothers teased her about how she could predict things that would happen days or weeks later. Her parents would laugh it off but she knew she was different. The visions and premonitions became more frequent as she grew older, more vivid to a point where she couldn't decipher what was reality and what was a prediction.
Because of her talent, she blew through school; always knowing what was on text or quizzes. She always knew the question before the teacher spoke it. She stayed away from people, never getting close, at least not close enough to touch. When she made contact, a glimpse of their future would flash in front of her. Just a small detail; sometimes it was nothing, other times it was significant. She learned to bypass the courtesy handshake, avoid the bumping in the hallways, but she never got away for long without touching someone.
Her junior year was hell. She had bumped into the Vice Principal. Against her better judgment, she told her that she needed to be at her mother's side immediately. The news took the V.P by surprise. Eddy didn't know that she had heeded her advice nor did she know that they had been estranged for years. When her mother died suddenly a week later, news had spread like wildfire. Everyone started talking about it, even the teachers. The it had gotten out of hand; Freak was spray painted on her lockers, her desk was sabotaged and rigged. People taunted her in the hallways. She couldn't take the bullying any longer. Her parents pulled her out and she finished the rest of high school at home.
"Hey girl!" A screech rang in her ear and a sharp pain ran through her bottom.
"Ow!" Her hand quickly replaced where the girl had smacked her.
"That's what you get for standing bare ass." The woman, Donna, laughed as she dropped her duffle bag on the vanity table.
"I have underwear on." In her defense, it was a thong. The redhead laughed, shedding her street clothes.
"Woah!" Eddy exclaimed, oogling at Donna's bare chest.
"You like em?!" She shook her chest; her newly enlarged breast swayed. "They finally healed completely and the swelling has gone down."
"So that's why you took time off." She forced herself not to stare, but they were huge compared to the ones she had weeks before.
"Bigger tits, bigger tips. Isn't that what Mitch always says?" She sat on the bench, lacing up her black boots. Donna was one of the forty lounge dancers at the Yellow Bow-Tie, where Eddy was one of the VIP servers. They looked out for one another and she appreciated their work friendship.
"Have I ever told you that I hate you don't have to put on makeup?" She heard Donna comment. It was true; blush and lipstick was all she used. Her lashed were thick and full so she didn't' need mascara and she skipped foundation and powder all together.
"Not recently." Eddy tugged on her tight black shorts that left hardly anything to the imagination. At 26 years old, this was not the job she desired, but tips were amazing most nights and it paid the bills and rent. Since she got fired from her nanny job; being accused of sleeping with the husband, she was left with few options. Her boyfriend, at the time, got her an interview with the manager, Mitch, a pervert if she ever saw one. But he gave her chance six months ago. So instead of taking care of children, which she loved, she took care of adults and their fantasies.
"Those are nice." Donna pointed at the gift Jordan bought her. She extended her long legs, giving her a better look. "Hmmmm. That's some good retail therapy since that sleaze cheated and had the nerve to dump you."
Eddy didn't say anything. That was the consequence for dating in the work place. Her ex was the DJ for Y.B.T for over three years. When things broke off, everyone was bound to hear about it sooner or later.
"So what table are you serving tonight?" As Donna spoke, she waved the laces of her cream colored corset for assistance.
"82, I think." Eddy laced her up, tugging hard on them to adjust to Donna's bigger assets.
She heard the redhead click her tongue in distain. "Why would Mitch put you a level below? You clearly deserve to be at the High Roller Level with me! At my table no less!" She rolled her eyes in the mirror. "'Cause when were together, we make money!"
"I can't trade with anyone, so I'm stuck."
"Ugh! Well if you're below, who's with me?"
"Meghan."
"Get the fuck outa here!" She slammed her fist on the table. The other girls looked behind to see the commotion. "I gota be with Cruella de Vil?!" Some girls giggled at the unfavorable nickname.
"That's what happens when you screw the manager of the club."
"She has such a shitty attitude. It gives everyone a buzz kill, really." She shook her head, tapping a stiletto red nail.
"Well there's nothing that can be done." Eddy finished her corset with a neat bow. Turning to the mirror, she began to undo her hair allowing the tight curls to fall past her shoulders.
"Not unless the customer wants to change servers." Eddy added, brushing out her hair, leaving soft body waves. "Which rarely happens." She left it at that. Somehow, Donna would find a way if Meghan wasn't bringing in the tips she needed.
She just hoped it didn't end in a fight like she envisioned.
The Yellow Bow-Tie was one, if not the best, nightclub in the Texan city. It was designed to replicate a stadium. With four levels of fun, a bar and a dance floor on each, the club goers had the free range of exploring the huge venue and had their own choice of music whether it was Jazz, R-n-B, Rock, or House.
Just off the mirrored floors were the lounge sections, specifically designed for VIPs. There were two levels, ten lounge sections in each row, had an unobstructed view of the dance floor. The second tier lounges were for the High Rollers, whom were given their own dancer, topless if preferred, for entertainment as well as their own server. The severs, majority women, were of all shapes, size, and color dressed in mini black shorts, ivory colored corsets, and a yellow bow-tie around their necks to complete their work "uniforms."
Broderick hadn't been to this club the last time he had visited but was exceptionally please, especially with his red head dancer moving and swaying rhythmically to the music. He drowned out most of the noise, the women that sat between him and Apollo, as they dined on high quality food. Everything was going well expect for their server and her distasteful attitude as if she had better things to do. She barely smiled and it seemed she didn't know what she was doing.
He watched with concern as she scrambled to make a simple martini for the women. He had been to enough bars to know that she was doing it wrong. But he didn't correct her. When the drink came out cloudy, Rachel scrunched up her nose.
"I'm not drinking that." She raised her voice over the music.
Meghan moved her hair away from her face. Almond shaped eyes of midnight black, short dark hair that framed her oval face and wide mouth that she couldn't seem to bring to a smile. She had an exotic look from her mixed race of Asian and something else that Broderick couldn't pinpoint. She was gorgeous but her attitude made her ugly.
"Well, is there something else I can get you?"
"Yeah, a new girl because you don't know what you're doing." One of Apollo's girl's shouted.
"I'm the girl for this lounge tonight." Meghan said hotly as if they had the nerve to request someone else.
"Well maybe that means we need to move." The dark hair girl reached for her drink but the wet glass slipped out of her hand, spilling on Meghan's serving tray. She had moved back abruptly, only to crash into another girl coming back with water glasses.
She screeched as water and glass showered her. The other girl managed not to tumble to the ground, holding on to the railing. Donna stopped dancing to help Meghan, only to have her snatch her arm away, storming off. It wasn't long before two men, dressed in black slacks and creamed colored vest, swept the broken glass down the trash shoots on the floors while the other mopped up the liquids.
As the guys cleaned, Donna grabbed her opportunity. Patting the sweat off with one of her towels, she sashayed over to the table.
"I'm so sorry for that." She started off.
"Are you allowed to be off your stage?" Apollo smirked at her.
"No, but when my customers are unhappy, I have to step in."
"So…"
"Donna."
"Donna. How do you think you can solve this?"
"Well, I know this amazing, ah-mazing, server that will give you the ultimate best experience there is at Y.B.T. Guaranteed."
"Anyone is better than that last girl." The blonde wrapped around Apollo's arm spoke.
"I couldn't agree with you more."
"You sound pretty sure of yourself." Apollo was definitely liking this one.
"You bet your ass! I'll bet my tips on it."
"Well, then. Bring her up here." Donna tried not to scream with excitement. She tapped one guy on the shoulder, giving him instructions. He nodded and left.
"I'm telling you, you won't be disappointed.
Eddy giggled with the girl the man was trying to impress. He couldn't have been no older than herself. She'd seen many of him; taking their dates to the biggest nightclub in town. It was alright to just by drinks and dance on the floor, maybe sample the food from the kitchen. But if you got a lounge with your own server, you were saying something. But being on a lower level, you were only buying the lounge for $750 dollars. That figure might be a lot for someone that really didn't have it.
It took a while for him to be comfortable. He had shelled out big bucks in his opinion just for the lounge; that wasn't including the food and alcohol. Eddy could tell that he was already counting the coins in his head.
His date, young, fresh faced, and doe eyed, didn't know that to look at first. The girls, the dancer , the crowd, the strode and flashing lights. She could read the fascination all over her face.
And with that, Eddy chalked up this day as a loss. She wasn't going to get any money tonight, but that wasn't going to stop her from giving them the best experience possible. Offering them the best food on the menu and fun drinks that stayed within his price range, he finally loosened up as she made him feel like one of the millionaires that sat a few feet above him.
"Oh! That's pretty!" His date squealed as their server finished layering the liquids, creating a rainbow in a glass.
"And it's easy. You can do it too." Eddy waved her hand, gesturing the girl to come over. She taught her, guiding her hand over the bottles and tools. She loved teaching, giving her knowledge and passing it onto others to enjoy.
"I did it!" She clapped, taking both drinks to the table. Eddy quickly placed the empty glasses and plates on her tray.
"I'll be right back." She called out but they weren't paying her any attention. The girl was blushing madly as her guy praised her for making an "expert" drink. Before she knew it, they were making out, forgetting the world around them.
Her job was done. That what mattered to her; no matter how big or small their wallets were, Eddy made sure that they were all treated like VIPs and gave them a memorable experience.
As she made her way to the main bar, she couldn't help but feel eyes on the back of her head. Looking over her shoulders, she saw her ex, Swift, or Liam as she called him by his given name, at the far end of the club. His booth was high off the ground and flashed to the beat of whatever music was currently playing. She could see his headphones around his neck, his head bobbing as he moved around the keyboard. If he wanted to, he could make his booth go from different levels from the elevator shaft contraption it was on. He loved being the center of attention. She caught his gaze and frowned. She couldn't help but feel like she wasted her time with him.
Turning, she set her tray down on the corner belt that led to the kitchen. It churned her stomach when she saw the girl he dumped her for was in the booth beside him. It shouldn't bother her…but it did.
"Yo, Eddy!" Placing her tray behind the bar, she turned to see one of the Y.B.T workers approached her.
"Hey Tommy." She remembered the new kid once he got closer to her.
"You've been requested at table 30." She furrowed her brows in puzzlement. "Hey!" Tommy threw up his hands. "I don't know nothing. All Donna said was to get you and to bring fresh glasses and martinis."
Donna. She should have known the cheeky woman would do something. She wasn't complaining.
Maybe her night would be better than expected.
Until next time, FFN peeps!
SMOOCHES!
