Farah almost drove over in the other lane when she noticed the billboard. She was on it. It was her in that mint green dress standing in front of the microphone. Roman had never been shy about telling her it was his favorite dress of the bunch he had bought. She wasn't a fan of it though. It showed too much.
"COME HEAR FARAH SING AT REIGNS HOTEL"
It had been written in bright pink letters. The billboard disappeared as she kept driving. He hadn't told her he would do this. She supposed he had the right although she would have liked for him to ask before putting her on display like that.
She had been singing almost everyday for three weeks now. He gave her Monday nights off but that was it. She didn't mind working every night if she had to. She loved singing. However, only three weeks in and she was already getting tired of singing the same songs every night. The set list never changed. It was a short list in a duration of an hour and then they started over again. She couldn't picture herself singing there forever.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone. She had the headset in her ears and reached blindly for her phone in the passenger seat to answer it without taking her eyes off the road. She couldn't help but smile at the voice that came through.
"Hello?" She asked.
"I just drove past you in the sky," he said.
"Me too," she said.
"You looked beautiful up there but not nearly as beautiful as you are in real life," he said.
"Such a prince charming you are," she giggled.
"You didn't tell me you would get your name in neon lights," he said.
"I had no idea. I almost crashed my car minutes ago when I saw it," she said. "I'm on my way to work but if you're not busy, we can talk until I get there."
"I'm never too busy for you," he said.
Roman stood waiting in the open back door when she drove in on the parking lot. She stepped out in a raspberry dress. The color was gorgeous on her but it didn't show enough of her breasts. It had a square neckline with lots of sparkling sequins on it. At least it had a slid that went up high like he preferred. His eyes wandered up her legs and up to her face. She was on the phone with someone. She smiled at him as she walked up to him, pointing to her phone to let him know she was almost done.
"That sounds like fun. You're on," she said. "Anyway, I'm at work now. I'll see you."
She hung up and looked at Roman.
"Hi, boss," she said.
"Fandango?" He asked.
"No, Bray," she answered.
"Bray?" He frowned. "Why the fuck does he even have your number?"
"I gave it to him," she said.
"When? Why?" He asked.
"The day I met both of you," she said. "What's the big deal?"
He couldn't believe it. After he had taken her shopping and bought her expensive dresses, she had gone straight home and given her phone number to another man. And not just any man. Bray fucking Wyatt. She had been talking to Bray behind Roman's back for three weeks and it angered him.
"He just wants you to strip for him," he said.
"No job offer has been on the table," she said.
"How can you be so calm about this?" He asked.
"He's just my friend, Roman. I don't know many people here yet. And why does it matter who I hang out with when I'm not at work?" She asked.
"It matters because I care about you. I don't wanna see you get hurt. What did he want?" He asked.
"Fine, if it'll ease your mind to know," she sighed. "There's a movie theater doing a marathon of the Hostel movies next week. He asked if I wanted to go see it."
He tried picturing her and Bray in a dark movie theater together. The things Bray could do to her in darkness. Things he undoubtedly would do or at least try to. He had to choose his words wisely to not come across like a jealous boyfriend.
"Hostel?" He asked.
"I love my gore," she winked. "Should we get inside? It's almost 7."
"Right," he nodded. "You look good, by the way. It's a great color on you."
"Thank you," she said.
He walked into the restaurant and watched as the band got ready and started. She closed her eyes and sang. He enjoyed a few lines before walking out of there and into his office. He had almost lost it outside with her. He had been too close to become angry and that sure as hell wouldn't land her in his bed. That would make her run the other way. He still needed to do something about the Bray problem though.
He opened google and searched for Hostel marathon. The name of the movie theater came up pretty quickly. They were doing the marathon each night next week. That could only mean Monday which was her day off. That would be an easy fix. He called his replacement singer first thing to tell her she wasn't needed the upcoming Monday.
He was back in the restaurant for the final song as always. Only two single guys stayed behind that night to watch the entire show. They left her a good tip and then walked out of there. As always he locked the door and sat down with her with a drink. A cola for her and a beer for him. It had become their little, personal ritual to end every evening like this.
"I need you Monday," he said.
"Why?" She asked.
"Lilian Garcia called. Apparently her father has gotten sick and she needs to go home to take care of him for a week. Maybe longer. But for now, I just need you next Monday. Is that gonna be a problem?" He asked.
"No, not at all," she answered.
"Great," he smiled.
That was an easy victory. She hadn't even argued with him. She knew her place. Her place wasn't with Bray or anyone else. This job and him came first. He had won another war over Bray despite Bray not even knowing it yet.
"You should wear that mint green dress more often," he said.
"Why?" She asked.
"It's the one on the billboard. People wanna see the woman up there," he said.
"About that," she said. "Why did you put me up there?"
"I thought you wanted to see your name in neon. I did it for you. I didn't think you would mind," he said.
"I don't mind," she said. "I just wish you had asked first."
He reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
"You belong up there. You're a star, baby girl," he said.
"Every star fades," she said.
"Not you. Never you," he smirked. "I'll make sure you'll always be the main attraction of my hotels."