“Start what? Telling you again that Ivan has a huge thing for you and you’re absolutely insane to not at least explore that. At least for one date? He’d probably take you to the most elite restaurant in the city. The man is all class.”
“Caroline, we work in the most elite club in the city, if not the country. Why would I want to go to some boring restaurant?” Itry to play off her words. “And besides, he’s the boss. It would be all kinds of wrong.”
“One date?”
“Any date. He’s my boss. I don’t date people I work with. It’s my own personal rule.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, you’ve mentioned before. But this is Ivan Volkov we’re talking about. If you could see the way he looks at you when you’re not paying attention, you’d probably change your mind.”
“Well, that’s just another reason not to give in. Why would he be looking at me in any sort of way? I’m his employee. And he could get any woman in the world he wants.”
He could snap his fingers, and women would fall to their knees for him. While I wouldn’t blame them, I can’t be one of them.
“You’re purposely delusional.” She sighs. “He doesn’t seem to want any other woman. While Kaz walks through here with a new woman draped over his arm every night, Ivan doesn’t.”
“But I thought you wanted Kaz.” I tease.
“A girl can dream, right? And one of us should keep their options open when it comes to the Volkov brothers. Alexander’s off the market now, so that just leaves Kaz for me. Because Ivan is all about you.”
I ignore her last comment. There’s no talking reason to her on the subject.
“You’d be okay with just one night? Because with Kaz, that’s all you’d get,” I ask.
“Yeah. Maybe the fantasy is better than the reality.” She sighs just before a twinkle hits her eye. “But you know what? I’m willing to risk it.”
And with a wink, she’s gone, heading to the private suites.
There are three other waitresses working with me in the main lounge, and I’m a little surprised at how easily we’re ableto keep up. My feet ache, even in my short sensible heels, but the tips are flowing heavily enough to take the weight off just enough for me to keep my smile plastered across my face.
Halfway through my shift, one of the bartenders, Dominik, places the drinks I’ve ordered on my tray.
“Vee. When are you going to give me your phone number?” He leans his forearms against the bar.
“Not gonna happen.” Darren, the head bartender, reaches around Dominik for a glass with a smirk. “Vee here doesn’t date anyone she works with.”
I don’t date anyone, for that matter, but telling a guy that only seems to give them the impression it’s a challenge. They all seem to think they’ll be the one to win me over.
“Then I’ll quit.” Dominik flashes a grin with all teeth and a deep dimple on his right cheek that would make any woman melt.
I pull a face like I’ve just eaten a lemon wedge. “Ooh, I don’t date unemployed men either.”
“You’re killing me.” He feigns pain in his chest.
“Well, if you wouldn’t mind, die over there where you’re supposed to be changing out the kegs.”
Darren gives Dominik a little shove.
“He’s harmless, you know,” I say to Darren once Dominik’s out of ear shot.
“I know that, and you know that, but if Ivan heard him talking to you like that, I’m not sure he’d know that.” Darren eyes me. “I’m saving the man’s life.”
“Oh, not you, too.” I roll my eyes. “Just because Ivan has been slightly attentive to me when he’s around me doesn’t mean anything. He’s the owner of the club, and he’s most hands on down here, so it makes sense that he would know more about the staff than say…Alexander.”
“Hmm.” Darren’s attention gets pulled to the dance cages along the west wall of the lounge.
“Serenity’s looking good tonight.” I gesture toward the woman climbing into one of the dancer cages in the corner of the lounge.
She’s wearing a flowing dress that hits just where her thighs meet her ass. When she starts swaying and dancing, the hem rides up, showing off her curves. She’ll probably spend an hour in the cage dancing before accepting a bid to spend some private time with one of the members.
