Page 49 of The Royal in Room 3

I glanced down at the outfit Jude and I had selected when we went shopping. Like the rest of the floor staff, I wore Club Halo’s standard black and gold, though the decision was left to us how to wear those colors. The fitted black button-down hugged my shoulders and tapered neatly at my waist, with the sleeves rolled to my elbows. Slim black trousers skimmed my legs without being too tight, though Jude had made a comment about how snug they looked against my ass. But to be fair, most of my pants fit me that way.

The only jewelry I wore was a thin gold chain Jude had given me earlier to celebrate the progress I’d made. He’d been puzzled at my reaction when I clung to him, barely containing my tears, but he had no idea how much it meant to me to have a piece of jewelry again after losing mine.

“Jude helped me choose the outfit,” I said.

“Then I’ll have to call him later to thank him for doing such an excellent job.” Phoenix shifted his attention to Aaron, color filling his cheeks.

There was definitely something up with those two.

“Thanks for bringing him in, Aaron. I’ll show Soren his station, and then we can have a drink?”

“I’d like that,” Aaron said with a nod, then winked at me. “Good luck.”

Once Aaron left, Phoenix led me deeper into the club. The music grew louder with every step. Lights moved across the ceiling in slow waves while staff hurried between service stations. The bouncers were just letting people onto the main floor.

Phoenix walked quickly, and I struggled to keep up and take everything in at once. I’d never worked before, and my stomach was tied up in knots. I was equally excited to be a part of something and terrified that I would be the downfall of that very thing.

“You’ll be upstairs tonight working the VIP floor,” he said.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” My stomach tightened.

“Yes.” He tapped the screen of his tablet. “You’ll be assigned to one table. Only two guests. I thought that would be best.”

“I guess that’s not bad.”

“It’s a very important table,” he said. “This client is one of Halo House’s top sponsors and has been for years. You have to give them the best treatment possible.”

I stopped walking, and Phoenix took several more steps before realizing I wasn’t beside him.

“Is there a problem?”

“If they’re very important, perhaps someone else should do it.” I wrung my hands. “This is my first night. What if I spill something?”

He shrugged. “Then you clean it up.”

“And if I forget an order?”

“You ask again.”

I groaned. “You’re being alarmingly calm about all these possibilities.”

Phoenix walked back toward me. “Soren, listen. You’re not being sent upstairs because I expect perfection. I specifically chose this client for you because he is kind, patient, and almost impossible to offend. He’s a Daddy, so he’s very understanding.”

“If you say so.”

Phoenix rested a hand lightly on my shoulder. “You’re going to do fine. Jude has told me all about your progress. All you have to do is be polite, listen carefully, and if you don’t know something, ask. Nobody expects you to know everything on your first night, and I’d like to think I hire decent people who would offer to help.”

I inhaled deeply and let the breath out. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

17

SOREN

The main bar stretched along the far wall beneath shelves of illuminated bottles, their different colors glowing beneath strips of warm gold light. The bartenders moved with an ease that made the work look rehearsed. One filled a row of glasses without glancing down, while another spun around to catch a bottle from the shelf behind him before pouring from it.

Phoenix pointed to a tall man with a shaved head and a neatly trimmed beard.

“This is Roger. He’s tonight’s lead bartender. If you don’t recognize a drink order, bring it directly to him. Don’t guess.”