RUBYZ

It was hard not to notice him at first.

He sat at back of the club quietly, his finger tracing the rim of a over priced scotch as he looked around. It was an exclusive club that I'd later find out was a cover up for the darkest shit you couldn't even imagine.

I walked around with the same sweet smile in my red thigh high skirt and a half arsed buttoned shirt. Some would say I'm far to innocent and naive to work in a place like Rubyz but I need the money for university and this club is the last shot I've got at that.

My eyes connected with his as I finished serving a table of rowdy office working lads when he gestured me over with a cold look.

I tuck the shot tray id just served under my arm and made my way over to him with a calm and collected look. I can't see his eyes underneath his sunglasses but I know his eyes are following my every step, drinking in the sight of me. As I approach he leans back in his seat, a predatory gleam in his gaze.

"What can I get you Sir?" I ask casually as I bend over the table to retrieve the empty scattered glasses.

He reaches out and grabs my arm stopping me from taking the last glass, his grip firm as he looks up at me through his darkened shield.

"Same again" He says with a low demanding voice, a strong southern accent nearly catching me off guard "And then how much you charge"

I glance down at his grip with a small condescending smile before ripping my small arm free.

"How about we start this conversation again and this time you can have a little bit more respect yeah?"

"Respect is earned princess and right now you're in no position to demand it" He chuckles.

"Am I not?" I ask innocently, playing into his dominance ever so slightly "That's strange because you're sat in my club and I'm the one with every bit of authority right now"

He chuckles darkly - standing up to tower over me. Out the corner of my eye I could see several suited men follow the same movements, bringing themselves to their feet behind the unknown man in front me of.

"Authority? Oh you sweet naive thing"

He leans in closer to me I could feel his hot breath with a hint of tobacco and mint against my flushed cheeks. It was only then I got a better view of him - dressed in black from head to foot with a packet of cigarettes hanging out the front pocket of his jeans. His left arm was slated in a sleeve tattoo and his right fist covered in fresh bruises and cuts.

He was trouble.

"I could buy and sell this club a hundred times over" He continued.

I nod my head slowly not really caring for his words. I deal with egotistical men on the daily he was no one out the ordinary for me. He was just better looking then the others.

"Look I only asked for your drink order no funny business" I state with a straightened posture.

He pulls back looking me up and down like I'm the next meal he's about to have, a cruel smirk playing on his lips that put me on edge slightly.

"Alright okay I'll play by your rules for now..I'll have another scotch..neat"

He sits back down his eyes never leaving me as I reach over to a passing shot tray holding glasses of the scotch he'd requested on top. I pull out the card machine ready for him as he continues to pester me.

"And whilst you're at it you can tell me your name"

I smile again as I punch the price into the keypad before swivelling it around in my hand to face him "And why do you need to know that?"

He smirks again this time making me wonder his true intentions with me. I remain nonchalant though I couldn't let him see through the cracks of my persona that was slowly melting in front of him. He takes the card machine from me and presses a hefty tip into it before handing it back.

"Because I like to know the names of the people that interest me" He pauses waiting eagerly for my response "So?"

I hesitate for a second staring down at his relaxed position on the leather sofa. It was a regular occurrence customers asking for my name and only now did i feel cautious about giving it out.

"Sienna" I say.

He repeats the name as if he's testing how it sounds on the tip of his tongue - multitasking as he lights a cigarette between his lips dragging in the first breath rather harshly.

"A beautiful name I must say" He holds up his lit cigarette between his fingers inspecting it for a second "Tell me Sienna how long have you been working here"

I remain silent for a second trying to figure out if it was smart of me to engage in a conversation with this strange man and what the best answers would be to give to him. I'd become intimidated rather suddenly "A few years give or take..it's not the worse job in the world I suppose"

He nods slowly, his eyes locked onto every inch of me "A few years, huh?" He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "And what kind of things have you learned in those few years?"

I smirk down at him, it was like pouring sweet petrol onto a tiny little fire "A few..mainly how to deal with men like yourself"

His grin widens, clearly amused "Oh, really?"
A shiver runs down my spine as he leans back, spreading his arms wide across the back of the sofa.
"And how is it that you deal with men like me?" His eyes gleam with interest like they were daring me not to answer.

And I did anyway "Doing exactly what I am now..entertaining pointless conversations to make them feel good about themselves"

He glided his legs further apart adjusting himself in his seat, taking the scotch id retrieved him out my hand without any manners. My hands had become slightly moist and I knew he took notice to my nerves. The longer he made eye contact with me the more nervous I become.

"Well I can assure you there's nothing pointless about this conversation"

"I'll have to take your word for that" I nod with a small smile.

He studies me for a long moment, his expression inscrutable. He reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a thick wad of cash. He peels off a few bills, more than enough to cover his tab and my generous tip, and sets them down on the table. I wasn't surprised the man had money to throw around, he looked like old money to begin with.

I arch my brow at his movements "What's this for? You've already paid for your drink?"

He gestures to the money on the table "That's for you" He says "Consider it a... bonus for your excellent service"

My eyes fall to the table in front of him, without even counting the stack I knew there could've been a good five hundred dollars in there give or take. Enough to pay off my rent for the entire month - but I wanted to know the catch because there always is with a flash man's money and a vulnerable woman. Especially in a club like Rubyz.

"What's the catch?" I ask abruptly with a slight head tilt.

He grins, clearly amused by my directness "No catch consider it a thank you for entertaining this pointless conversation"

I laugh, trying to loosen myself up around the thick air that was slowly consuming me. I could physically feel my skirt sucking itself against my thighs like a leech.

"I can't accept that much money for just doing my job it wouldn't feel right plus I don't even know you"

His watches me stand dumbly in front of him, even when he was sitting down it only gave us a few inches in distance. I could smell his cologne vividly as it poisoned the entrance to my nostrils, it was sweet - not what I would've imagined.

"Oh but I insist" His voice takes on a harder edge "You wouldn't want to offend me by refusing now would you?"

"I wouldn't" I shook my head.

"Then be a good girl and just take the tip" He states, looking down at the untouched cash in front of us.

"At least tell me your name before I take your cash" I say rather directly. To direct that I stopped myself in fear I'd offended him somehow.

"Charles" He says simply, his lips twitch slightly with amusement.

"Charles.." I echo in return, like I'd not expected that name to come from such a broad looking business man. 

"And now that you know my name and we're no longer strangers, you can keep the money without feeling guilty" He leans forward, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous level "And Sienna?" He pauses, waiting for my full attention that was focused on the cash in front of me.

"Yeah?" I quickly rip my eyes up to his that was still covered by his shades. It was only then I'd questioned to myself why he was wearing them in a dark nightclub.

"Consider this our little secret, alright?" He gestures between us two "No need to share our... conversation with anyone else"

The cigarette he'd lit what felt like hours ago had returned to his purplish bruised lips as he inhaled another drag - making sure he blew the smoke away from my direction.

"You're a man of secrecy then" I say in slight humour, covering the fact the more he talked the more intimidating he was becoming for me.

"Indeed I am" His expression hardens "And I trust you can keep a secret, Sienna?" His tone is almost threatening, daring me to displease him.

"You sure can Charles" I reply boldly, not that I am feeling bold or anything close to the matter.

He nods, seemingly satisfied with my response. "Good" He stands up, his tall frame looming over me causing my breath to hitch in my throat
"Then our business is settled" He hands me the wad of cash once more, his fingers brushing against mine in the process.

I delicately take it allowing my finger tips to graze the side of his rough hand, up close I could see the cracks of blood where his knuckles had been freshly cut open. No doubt from beating someone's face in or worse.

"Will I see you again?" I ask quietly, unsure why I asked such an intriguing question to begin with. But Charles fascinated me slightly - he wasn't like the ordinary stuck up rich men that visited the club every weekend. He was mysterious, I knew he was hiding a lot more about himself under the surface and part of me really wanted an invitation to the dark side.

He looks down at me, his expression unreadable behind his shades "Perhaps" He turns to leave, but pauses at the door "And Sienna" He looks back over his shoulder at me "Keep my secret, and you might just find our paths crossing again"

But before I could even question his statement he'd left through the crowd of people dancing in the centre of the dance floor - several men following behind him. I decided to shake off the weird encounter and head back to collect another tray of shots to sell around the club, stuffing his hefty tip into the hook of my bra. I was faced with Mia at the head of the bar who looked flushed from the rising warm air circulating the tight enclosure around us, she swiped a loose brown lock of hair away from her face as she greeted me.

"What was that all about?" She asked, making me glance up at her for a second before tightening my lips into a line with a shrug.

"What are you on about?"

"The gorgeous man dressed in black you was serving,  he seemed to have kept you there for awhile" She smirked, multitasking with a cocktail glass in one hand and a cloth in the other.

I turned my head to the empty leather sofa where he was sat before turning back to face Mia "Oh you know the usual wealthy assholes that for some reason think every bartender in this place is a prostitute"

Mia knew exactly what I was on about. We both worked long enough at Rubyz to understand the lingo that goes on there. Good looking girls in tight skirts walking around with shot trays and loose ten's in there bra getting mistaken for being a slapper. It was a weekend ritual at this point.

"Ryan should really think about changing these uniforms I don't know how many more times I can be asked how much I charge before I pour someone's drink over there head" Mia sighs, placing down the now polished glass into a tray of clean glasses waiting to be put back correctly.

"I wouldn't bother asking him we both know he's not going to" I answered with a knowing sympathetic smile.

"Speaking of saying no to things" Mia started, leaning across the bar with a growing look of plead in her eyes.

"I don't like that look Mia" I respond, arching a brow. I'd worked with Mia for a few years now however she was more then just a work friend to me, we hung out almost every day outside of the club and have grown to be very close friends. Saying that with our friendship comes Mia's stupid ideas every so often.

"You promise you won't say no straight away you'll at least think about it" She says with a smirk.

"It depends on what it is"

"Just promise me Si"

Si was the nickname she'd given me from the day i met her. She'd never really told me the reason or backstory as to why she calls me it but nevertheless I found it sweet and it didn't bother me one bit.

"Fine" I sigh in defeat "Fine I promise"

She squeals with excitement clasping her hands that held a number of silver rings on all fingers around mine, the cool material bruised my warm hands ever so slightly from the grip she'd got them in.

"I've heard through the grapevine there's going to be a drag race tonight-"

"Absolutely not" I interrupt instantly.

"Oh come on Si don't be so boring" She glared at me playfully like that was going to convince me, my eyes go into slits to unmatch hers.

"Mia you know I don't like shit like that" I whine.

Call me boring but I never liked anything illegal or things remotely bad for you. I was a simple girl with a simple life and I was happy that way. Monaco suddenly became popular for illegal drag races when they started to pop up around the city at the start of the year - it was always the same group of people, same drivers, same music and the same drugs. However we never knew the ring leader to these shit gatherings, no one did even the police was known for turning a blind eye sometimes to the events happening during the late hours of the night.

"You don't like cars racing? Sienna you literally live in a city famous for racing" Mia continues, her eyes drugging me into giving in to her antics.

"Formula One isn't illegal for a starters" I snap back with a smile.

"Then just treat it like a Grand Prix" She states with a grin "Come on Si I don't want to go alone it'll be fun don't you think?" She whines with a added pout.

"No I don't think it'll be fun one bit" I state like it was fact.

"I'm not going to leave alone till you say yes" She folds her arms across her open bust with a glare as she stares me down. In Mia's world there wasn't a meaning of the word no and instead only the word yes was accepted into her vocabulary. I knew she would follow through with her threat so with a huff and an eye roll I caved in far to soon.

"Fine" I reply bluntly, placing my shot tray down onto the bar with a commanding thud "Fill me up"