Chapter 2 Working for A Sinner

"First day of work, first day of work!" Squealed Rosette, desperatly trying to think of what to wear. It took ten minutes of desperate scrambling for clothes before she remembered Chrono's words two nights before. He had smiled at her question about clothes. 'What to wear?' As opposed to 'I have nothing to wear.' Which she refused to admit. "Don't worry about it. Other than very special occasions, we have lots of dresses, and I'm sure you'll find a few you like." She had vowed to find at least one dress she liked, since she couldn't afford a new one. So, dressing in a simple dress the same shade as her eyes, Rosette tucked her hair beneath her favourite hat, a paperboy cap, and took off. It was late afternoon, she had decided to arrive a little early to get a scope of things. As she was almost always late, that seemed smart. She didn't know if she would get to sing on her first night, in fact she doubted it, but didn't mind. Getting used to her new working conditions was the first priority. Her second was finding out about the other women in the club, and what they honestly thought of their boss. From Chrono's view, they seemed extremely pleased with him. And there was another thing nagging her, that she would be able to ask the ladies.

The main door was closed, but a staff door that Chrono had shown her was unlocked when she tried it. That didn't seem like a worry, it was much too shabby to look like the staff door to a fancy club, and Rosette didn't get even the slightest notice from passers by when she slipped through the black door. Closing it behind her, Rosette turned, to be confronted by the black haired woman who she had seen two days before. The woman looked over the new girl seemingly critically, hands on hips, then nodded. Her expression turned kind.

"So, what's yooouuurrrr name?" She asked. Rosette stared at her before answering.

"Rosette Christopher." Replied the blonde, then frowned. "Didn't Chrono mention me?" She asked. "Or my name at least. That's a bit..." The woman shook her head.

"Acually, he diiiiidddddd." Replied the woman. "But I thought it would be more polite to ask you. I'm Saaaallllly, by the way."

"Oh, hello Sally. Sorry about that." The woman shook her head.

"Naaahhhh. Not important. Let me show you aarrrooouuunnnnd. We can taallk." Rosette nodded, slightly freaked out. The woman saw the look and eased up. "So, this is your first day, honey?"

"Yeah." Said Rosette, nervousness sounding in her voice. Sally nodded easily.

"Well, then we'll go easy on you. What do you do?"

"Sing. Dance too, but I love singing." She smiled proudly.

Sally smiled back. "Me too. Ever performed?"

Rosette nodded, but slightly guiltily. "Yeah, I've performed before."

Sally chuckled understandingly. "I was in a strip club before I was here. Just because I liked singing, doesn't mean I ever sang a note. Chrono was the first person to ask me to perform with a top." The matter of fact voice mixed strangly with the words themselves. "Ever acually sung?" Rosette nodded again. They had both taken seats by the bar and were talking easily.

"Yeah, but I don't think the audience was sober."

"You sound scared of that."

"I've never sung with an audience who was listening to me and not looking at parts of me. But I drew the line at topless. Did you really perform like that?"

Sally nodded. "That's how I met Chrono."

"What!"

"I saw him at the club, then he came back stage and offered me a job fully dressed. It took it without hesitation. He was so polite. And sweeeeeet, for that matter."

"He just walked backstage?" Said Rosette, thinking of her own encounter with the buisnessman.

Sally nodded. "Of course, after we asked him, he admitted that he personally hired everyone of us."

"Us? I mean, you?"

"You're part of Us, if you want to be. We're his Girls. Sinner Girls." Rosette wrinkled her nose.

"How can you use that title? It's so, so, subversive." She shook her head. "You sound like he owns you." Five women appeared from the stage.

"So that's where you are, Sally!" Gasped one, already stripped down to a robe and stockings. "And you must be Rosette! Chrono said you had real talent. And I heard what you said before." She frowned and put her hands on her hips. "I'm sorry, but if you're going to insult us and our dear Chrono, then we might not get along." Rosette apologised, sort of, and was introduced to the other women.

"The others are all backstage. Come on, we'll show you the clothes."

"Alright, but I have one more question."

"Is it about Chrono? Because I won't take any more slander of my employer." Rosette denied insults, but said it was about the violet haired man.

"What's with the name?"

"What do you mean?"

"Does he have a first name?"

"Yes." They laughed. "Chrono!" Rosette frowned.

"Then does he have a last name?" The mood turned uncomfortable. Sally bit her lip and answered.

"No." She shook her head softly. "He stopped using his last name a few years back."

"Why?"

"Come on. We'll show you the ropes." No-one would go into it, so Rosette didn't push the subject. She was distracted by the amount of both women and clothes on offer. She found tens of dresses she liked well enough, but they seemed to miss a certain Rosette flair. She ignored it, there were more clothes than she had ever seen in her life. She was changing into a breezy red dress, like that worn by any of the girls who were serving, not singing. She was new, so not called apon to sing yet. She was just pulling it on when she heard a series of knocks. The other women looked up briefly then went back to their outfits, so Rosette paid it no mind, assuming it was just another woman. When the door opened and Chrono walked in, with her in a bra and stockings, she shrieked and toppled backwards into a clothes rack. A few ladies and Chrono ran forward and he knelt down.

"Rosette?" He asked, his tone worried. "Rosette, are you alright?" She replied by punching him in the face from her position on the ground. Three other women gasped, looking from Chrono, who was fighting laughter, to Rosette, who looked strangly furious. "Rosette." He said slowly, rubbing his cheek and still half kneeling beside her. "I am not trying to get you to sleep with me. I thought we had worked past that. What was that for?"

"For walking in unannounced!" She gasped.

"I knocked." He replied reasonably. "And waited a few seconds."

"But... You... Grrr, alright, I'm sorry, but you surprised me." She said grudgingly. Chrono chuckled.

"Don't be sorry, I don't mind. Though a little warning might be nice next time." He paused, smiling. "From both of us." He turned around, holding out his hand from behind. As she took it, she saw the other women, who hadn't seen anything, looking on curiously. The woman who had were frowning at her.

"Just checking how new girl is settling in, Darlings." He smiled at them all. "Obviously, I'm an extremely unsettling sight." Acually, he was, to Rosette. The strangest sort of face, both manly and childish, with sparkling red eyes and that long, deep violet hair held back in a messy ponytail. But that wasn't what he meant, and Rosette wouldn't mention it. "As we all seem fine, I'll go, and I might drop down, but everyone is here, including Felix, so I'm not needed." The room was filled with 'awwwwws' from the women, and implorations that he come down. "I'll drop in, like I said, but I have work to do."

"You always have work to do!" Called a woman with dark chocolatly skin and short ringlets.

"Even so!" He replied, leaving the room. The women laughed, and went back to their own work, which was mainly makeup.

"Who's Felix?" Asked Rosette, trying to distract the three women who had seen her hit Chrono. It didn't work. All three glared at her.

"Felix is our male singer. We don't have a whole lot, so Chrono fills in sometimes. Great voice, that Chrono. But Felix, or Guy, aren't often away." The three looked darkly at her while she pulled on the waitressing dress. "Why did you hit him?" They asked together, sounding as if she had mugged a priest.

"He surprised me." She replied. They glared.

"At what was that 'sleeping' remark?" The woman sounded more curious than angry about that.

"Ummm, when we first met, when he was first going to hire me, I thought he was coming on to me and hit him."

"You hit him twice!" and "And he still hired you!" and "He was coming onto you and you hit him? Not hit on him?" The two women chuckled at the third woman's comment. She just shrugged as if it were normal. "Anyway, we'll be watching you. And if you try to hurt our Chrono, you won't like the result."

"Like a miniature, club-contained, mafia." Said Rosette dryly. She blinked when they nodded. It was meant to be a sarcastic, slightly insulting comment. They seemed to agree with it completely, though. The woman who had called to Chrono before he left walked over to Rosette with a supermodel's catwalk. Though tall, Rosette was slightly intimidated by the presence of the dark woman.

"I'm Dixie." She smiled, putting a hand around Rosette's shoulder. "And I'll be your guide waitress today." She flashed a brilliant smile before steering the blonde towards the door.

Day one was more complicated than she'd guessed. A proper club was livlier, faster, noisier, and had specific, silly sounding rules that she discovered were extremly useful. Like placing business men at the front, anyone who looked like trouble at the back, but making it discreet enough it looks like you don't know what you're doing. Or holding certain tables for certain people. Or, her favourite, colour co-ordinating guests with different clothes. It was exhausting, but exhilarating, and Rosette was loving minute of it. But, one moment made her stop. The lights dimmed, and the music stopped. Conversation stopped as the patrons looked at a spotlight directed at the stage. The curtains were drawn back, but the stage was dark, the light hovering above anything visible. Rosette, who had been heading back to collect more drinks, stopped, taking a seat by the back to watch. It was a sudden, loud burst of light, the woman who had reached the stage belting out a dazzling rendition of 'All That Jazz'.

As Rosette hadn't seen a proper jazz performance since when her family was together, it was wonderful, though a little poignant.

She could remember how she and her brother had jumped for joy when their parents had announced a trip to a club. Rosette had been thirteen. He had been ten. They had both oooed and aahhed at the singers, and it had been that evening, while getting tucked into bed by her mother, that Rosette had announced her wish to be a singer. Three days later, her parents were dead. A car accident, possibly caught in a miniature mob war. They left their home for an orphanage two days after, and stayed there for three years when it happened. Rosette lost another family member. Joshua just left the house one day and disappeared. She never saw him again, but swore to find him. She was trying desperatly not to break either promises. To sing, and to find her beloved brother. Those memories, all contained within All That Jazz, brought tears to her eyes as she stood, blancing an empty tray.

"Rosette, honey, are you okay?" Asked Dixie, who was at the bar. Rosette nodded, shaking and wiping salt water from her eyes.

"I haven't been to a real club since I was little." She half-whispered. Dixie smiled and nodded understandingly. "It brings back memories."

"Funny, isn't it, hon?" Dixie nodded at the stage. "Silly little songs bring out the strongest emotions." She winked conspiratorily. "There's a song my husband likes to play. I feel like jumpin' in a bed with someone whenever I hear it. At home, I usually do." Rosette giggled with Dixie, drying her eyes on her apron and heading back around the tables.

It was later that night. Well, earlier the next morning, acually, when the club emptied and all the girls headed back to the dressing room. Rosette, shameless when with other girls, was talking to Sally about her performance. It was Sally who had sung All That Jazz, almost reducing Rosette to tears. The shameless part was that she was in underwear. Then, she heard a series of knocks that she smartly assumed was Chrono, and slipped into a robe. He poped a head in through the door, and on spotting her, stepped in.

"How was the night?" He asked them all. "I hope we enjoyed ourselves. And I'm sorry I couldn't come down to check on you." The women laughed together and all said they enjoyed the night, and regretted not seeing him. Despite her earlier thoughts, Rosette began to think they really did care for Chrono. He turned to smile at her. "And did you enjoy your first day?" Asked sincerly.

She smiled and nodded. "Yes." She said simply. "I loved it. And... I'd really like to keep working here."

His smile grew to a grin. "That's fantastic. Now, I know it's late, I mean early, but since you've decided to stay, could we go over a rule or two?" She nodded. He pulled out two chairs, arranging them quickly side by side. They each took a seat. The other women watched absently. "One." He said, putting up a finger. "There's no maximum time to spend here, ask Sally." She laughed from the table she sat at. "But a minimum is three days a week. Other than that, unless we arrange something, come anyday you like, before dark, later if you have a real excuse." Rosette nodded. That would be easy. And since it was evening, she might acually get somewhere on time. Chrono held up a second finger. "Two. No boyfriends in here, if possible. It just gets wierd." Rosette nodded.

"Not a problem." She said simply.

He eyed her. "I'll believe that when I see it. Or rather, when I don't see it." Rosette blushed scarlet as the others laughed. But one held her hand up.

"Wait." She announced. "That's not quiet true." The other women looked at her. "If, somehow, you manage to seduce Chrono, he's allowed in." The room erupted with laughter at that, and Chrono glared goodnaturedly at them.

"This is not a matchmaking service!" He called out. "And even if it was, there will be no setting up your boss!" They just kept laughing, Rosette shyly, as she wasn't used to such an easy setting. Chrono held up a third finger. "Three, and this is important, don't bother treating me with respect. I'm just a guy who happens to own the club you working." He winked at her and lowered his voice. "By the way, you aren't the first to punch me, and I'd be disappointed if you were the last." Rosette blushed again, laughing at the way he spoke. Then he held up a forth finger looking slightly more serious. "Now this one acually is important. Cops aren't allowed in here."

"What?"

"No police. I don't trust them. Half are crooked, and the other half are just brutal. Clear?" The sober way he said it made Rosette nod. And before she could help it, she blurted something. The damn man just seemed so damn trust worthy.

"Uh, Chrono?" She asked hesitantly. He looked at her compassionatly. "Have you ever heard, or seen, a blonde boy, with blue eyes and light blonde hair, called Joshua?" He bit his lip and shook his head.

"I'm afraid not. Ex-boyfriend you realised you still love?" He chuckled. She managed a weak, but see-through smile.

"I still love him, yeah. And I can't find him. So if you hear about a Joshua Christopher, could you tell me?"

"I promise. And you aren't used to vampire's hours. Go to bed, Rosette." She nodded. He sounded light enough, so Rosette had no idea he had realised and catalogued the fact they had the same last name. He leaned foreward and, wihtout warning, kissed her on the cheek. She gasped and moved back, making him smile. "Sorry, force of habit. I won't do that again." She shook her head, blushing. It was amazing the blood rush to her head hadn't made her pass out.

"I-i don't mind." She stuttered. "Just a surprise."

"Uh-huh. Goodnight Rosette."

"Are you always this pushy?"

"Always." That was Chrono and three women who had heard the conversation, one of which called Florida. She was the one who continued. "He gets a power rush from being able to kick people out." Chrono just laughed and waved Rosette goodbye. She smiled and said the same to all the ladies she had met, promising to be back tomorrow. With that she left, out to her apartment in the Chicago junk district.

A boyfriend? Or maybe it was a family member. But she said she still loved him. And they had the same last name. Maybe she was married to that Joshua Christopher. That must be it. And she needed help to find a husband who... Jilted her? Or disappeared without a trace? That couldn't be it. Who in their right mind would leave that beautiful girl? He wouldn't have in his wrong mind. Why was he even thinking all this? Maybe he had a job he had to reach somewhere else. Or he was cheating and his other wife had caught him. That could be it. Or... He had been cheating on her, and she had left him, then realised she still loved him, and wanted him back. But did the blonde seem that impulsive? And why would any man cheat on her! Cheat with her, maybe. But without her knowledge. She was too sweet to ever cheat on someone. But hhe was so young. A runaway marriage? Of course, he had been married at nineteen, the day after him girlfriend was old enough to marry.

The thought sent a painful jolt through Chrono. One, because he was thinking so hard about a girl he didn't know. Two, because thinking about marriage hurt, fullstop. He rolled onto his side in his bed. He was on the top floor, and it was cold. Chrono didn't often think this much about any of his Girls, unless he was worried about them. And he could usually come up with a thought that let him drift to sleep, not keep him tossing and turning all morning. A skill was to sleep even when it was light, but it was a little harder than honest night time, not the artificial version he created with curtains and blinds.