Chapter 7

Ria walks out of the dressing room in her waitress uniform, which turns out to be too short for her liking. She tugs on the hem of the pleated black skirt and tries to hold the collar of the blouse which is too tight and nearly has her boobs popping out. “What kind of uniform is this?” she questions herself. “Hey, you have to stop holding onto your uniform like that if you’re going to be serving customers,” Shantelle says from behind Ria. “But they’re just too short,” Ria complains. “Madam likes it that way, short, smart, and sexy”, Shantelle says, and Ria sighs. “Shantelle is right, I can't keep holding onto my uniform like this if I am serving customers,” Ria thinks to herself. Ria leaves the hem of her skirt and the collar of her blouse and walks towards the first table confidently as she smiles at the well-dressed man sitting in front of her. “Good day, may I take your order?” she asks the man “Two bottles of Champagne, a plate of barbecued chicken and and a bowl of your best peppered snails,” the man says smoothly, not taking his eyes off Ria.

She scribbles quickly in her notepad, ignoring the way his gaze lingers on her chest a moment too long. “Got it. I’ll have that sent right out, sir.”

She turns to walk away, keeping her head high, trying to ignore the clicking of heels behind her.

“You’re new,” the man calls after her. She pauses but doesn’t turn. “Interesting hire.”

Ria clenches her jaw and continues walking, her heels clicking rapidly on the polished floor until she reaches the bar counter. Shantelle gives her a knowing look.

“Welcome to the lion’s den,” Shantelle mutters with a chuckle.

Ria sighs. “I just need to get through this night without losing my mind.”

But the night was only just beginning.

Ria finally brings the order to the customer’s table. “What’s your name beautiful?” he asks while eye raping her. Ria ignores his question before opening the bottle of champagne and bending over to pour a glass of champagne for the man. The man ogles at Ria’s breasts and Ria quickly stands back up before turning to leave and then that’s when she feels it, a loud and painful smack on her bum which has her gasping in shock. She finally regains her composure, turns around and gives the well dressed man a loud resounding slap leaving her palm printed on his right cheek. Shantelle is shocked “uh oh” Shantelle says before heading to Ria who is heaving with anger and rage. Ria tries to pounce on the man before she’s stopped by Shantelle “Ria!” Shantelle says. “That’s enough” Shantelle tells Ria, yanking her off the man before dragging her to the changing room.

Changing room

“What was that Ria?” Shantelle asks Ria, “didn’t you see what that pervert did to me?” Ria asks trying to calm her anger down. “Look Ria, i know that what he did to you wasn’t nice but you should have tried to calm down. Things like this happen everyday with customers” Shantelle says and Ria gives her an “are you kidding me look” before looking away angrily. “Look girl, i understand your anger but you need to be careful with the men that come here” Shantelle tells Ria and Ria rolls her eyes before looking away. “These men are dangerous men most of the time so getting in trouble with them or making yourself a target for them may not be wise. They could actually ruin your life” Shantelle says before Ria looks at her with a bit of fear. “Look, i never wanted trouble. I just wanted to do my job, get some money, save up and pay up my mother’s hospital bills… is that too much?” Ria asks as she sighs in frustration trying not to scream. Shantelle sighs in defeat as she gives Ria a look of pity. “Okay, i understand you Ria” Shantelle says “look i’ll advise you to go back out there and apologise to that man you slapped” Shantelle says. Ria gives her a defiant look “What?” she says to Shantelle “Yeah, apologise to him, avoid trouble and get paid”, Shantelle advises Ria. “No, I won’t”, Ria says, and Shantelle gives Ria a tired look “Do you love your mom? And do you want to pay up her bills?” Shantelle asks Ria, and Ria’s heart skips when Shantelle mentions her mother. “Look, think about your mother, your bills and the things you need to do. Swallow your pride because of your mom, if not for anything else,” Shantelle tells Ria. “Fine, I will apologise. Only because of my mom, because of her, I would apologise to the customer,” Ria says “That’s the spirit, you need a lot of patience and self-control for this job, girl”, she tells Ria “Obviously”, Ria says exasperatedly. “Come on, let’s go”, Shantelle says, and they both head back to the club floor, only to see police officers and people gathered around the bar floor. “What’s going on here” Madam Vina says as she walks into the scene Shantelle gasps and Ria looks confused “oh no” Shantelle says “that’s her” the well dressed man says to one of the police officers who turns to Ria “Miss Choudhary, you’re under arrest for assaulting Mr Angelo Garcia. You have a right to a lawyer and have the right to remain silent as anything you say now may be used against you in the court of law,” the police officer says as he handcuffs Ria, who looks shocked, and Mr Angelo smirks evilly, looking at Ria. Shantelle looks sorry for Ria. Madam Vina leaves the scene back to her office. Ria is pushed into the police car as Mr Garcia gets into his car, and his driver follows the police car to the station.

Liam’s penthouse

Liam’s sitting room

“Hello,” Liam says as the other person on the phone speaks and Liam listens quietly before he responds “Don’t worry about it Vina, you don’t have to do anything. This is my business. Just focus on your job” Liam says “Okay sir” Madam Vina says before Liam hangs up the call.

Liam taps on the armrest of his couch while watching the entire scene unfold with a satisfied smirk “bingo” i got you where i need you little rabbit” he says with an evil grin.