Chapter 79: Thoughts Over Work
The brothel’s private room had fallen into a hushed stillness, the lullaby I’d been playing now silenced, leaving only the faint, muffled beats from the main dance hall seeping through the walls. The amber sconces cast a dim, golden glow across the red satin bed, now empty and crumpled.
I stood alone, my body heavy with exhaustion, the rustle of my clothes the only sound as I dressed. *Clack.* I fastened the buckle of my belt, the metal cold against my hips, tugging my jeans into place. Grabbing my black t-shirt from the floor, I pulled it over my head, the fabric clinging to my dried skin. Thank god AC in the brothel or else I would be sweaty as hell.
I looked at my reflection in the full-length mirror by the door, straightening my shoulders. *Ahem.* I cleared my throat, smoothing my hair with one hand, trying to shake off the weight of the night. My eyes looked tired, shadowed, I sling my bag over one shoulder—I pushed open the heavy door and stepped out and the growing pulse of music came from the main floor.
The hallway was darker, the music louder now, a pounding beat that vibrated through the polished wood floor. Men and women were tangled together along the walls, their hands roaming on each others body. Their laughter sharp and drunken. A few women glanced my way, their eyes lingering, their smiles suggestive, but I kept my gaze forward, ignoring them.
I was done with my clients—Raya and Kalina’s giggles still echoed in my head, but my job for the night was over, and all I wanted was to keep moving.
Near the railing overlooking the dance floor, Jonathan stood, his beach vibe shirt open, a beer in one hand, a cigar in the other, the smoke curling lazily around him.
The crowd below was a sea of motion, people dancing under flashing lights, the DJ’s beats shaking the air, bodies pressed close, lost in the music.
"Hello, Mister Handsome," Jonathan called, his voice loud and teasing, a grin spreading across his face as he spotted me.
"Hey," I said, exhaling heavily, leaning on the railing beside him. The cool metal felt good under my hands, grounding me as I let my shoulders slump, the weight of the night settling in.