“I want you off the floor for a while.”
She dropped her eyes, looking at the hands that were clenched in her lap. Shit. This is what happened when she forgot herself, when she allowed her own selfish thoughts to take over, even for a few minutes. And to what end? It hadn’t even been real.
Oh, she had thought it was at the time, but now that some of the fog had left her mind she could see it for what it was. Sean had sought her out, waved that bill knowing she wouldn’t pass it up. And she’d taken the bait hook, line and sinker. It was nothing but payback for her little “handshake” in the garage. It was no less than she deserved, she figured. Mess with a man like that and there were bound to be consequences.
Now she had to try and salvage what she could. There was too much at stake to bail out now, no matter how much she might want to. She was too damn close. “It won’t happen again.”
“No,” Jason agreed, “it won’t.”
Nicki had a choice to make. Stand up and walk the hell out of his office or swallow some of her pride and stay. If she walked out now – without having achieved what she came for – then the past few weeks of PDH – public displays of humiliation – were for naught. It chafed, but there really was no other choice.
“I need this job, Mr. Michaels.”
His eyes widened slightly as if surprised. She was kind of surprised, too. Her voice hadn’t held even an inkling of the defiant tone she was trying so hard to squelch.
“I’m not firing you,” he said finally. “Yet.”
“But you just said - ”
Jason held up his hand. “I said I don’t want you on the floor for a while. In the meantime, perhaps there is something else you could do.”
Nicki’s eyes widened further, then narrowed angrily as his words registered. She stood up so quickly it startled him. There were limits, and then there were hard limits.
“Shove it up your ass, Mr. Michaels. I’ll scrape gum off the sidewalks before I whore for anyone.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” She turned and was almost at the door before he stood as quickly as she did and took three long strides across the room.
“Hold it right there.” His voice was deeper, angrier than she’d ever heard it, not that she had much to go by as a frame of reference. His arm shoved the door closed before she had a chance to slip through it and he looked down into her face. She glared right back up at him, giving him her fiercest fuck-off-and-die stare.
“Don’t make me hurt you,” she warned in a low growl. Her mind was already playing through the series of moves that would most efficiently take him down.
“I strongly suggest you don’t try.”
Her eyes flashed, but she made no attempt to make the first move to try to inflict any damage.
“Pull that righteous stick out of your ass and just listen for a moment, will you? I’m not asking you to do any such thing. That part of the business is strictly mutual consent, understand?”
She blinked. “Then what are you talking about?”
“I was thinking maybe you could work the bar. Can you tend?”
“Oh. Um, not very well,” she stumbled, taken aback by his offer. “I mean, I worked in a small town bar for a couple of months once, but it was nothing like this.”
“We can train you.”
Nicki thought about it. It could work. Bartenders heard more gossip than pole dancers. And while she would still probably be expected to wear ridiculous, skimpy clothes, at least she’d be behind the bar and out of immediate groping reach. She had to play her part, though.
“How does the pay compare?” she sniffed, crossing her arms.
“The base pay is significantly lower, but the potential for tips is much higher based on increased customer interaction.”
“Can I have a day to think about it? My mind is a little fried right now.”
“Sure,” he said. “I wouldn’t want you to start on a Saturday anyway, too busy. If you’re interested, come by Monday, around four.”
She nodded. “Thanks.” Then she breathed a sigh of relief as she walked back to the dressing room.
*
“Satisfied?” Jason twisted the lock on his office door and turned around as Sean slipped silently from the private washroom.
“Yeah,” he grinned. “You did good, Jacie.”
Jason sighed. He should have known the minute Sean Callaghan showed interest in her she was trouble. Hell. He’d learned a long time ago that it was a good idea to stay far away from anything the Callaghans showed a particular interest in, but especially women. And his little tête-à-tête with Nicki Milligan only reinforced that little gem of wisdom.
He walked back over to his desk and poured another brandy for himself. Generally, Jason allowed himself one drink at the end of a stressful night. Tonight he was making an exception. He didn’t bother pouring one for Sean.