“Here’s your order Sir.” I said as I placed their orders and went back to my station.

“Rebecca, can you bring this to table number seven? Mr. Parker just called in his office, probably canceling my contract because of what happened last week.” Ida said. Ida was a nice girl when I started my shift last Monday, she is the first who talked to me. She mentions that before I started my duty here, she encountered a junkie man, ordered a high price of a meal then did not pay and caused a commotion instead.

The junkie tried to harass her but she fought over him when Mr. Parker arrived. It's’ too late, she already did something bad to the junkie man, the police arrived and the junkie started a drama and she wants Ida to get out of the restaurant. Its’ turn out that junkie is the son of one of the police chiefs here in Greenville.

“No, problem I am sure Mr. Parker will understand what happened last week besides that’s not enough reason to cancel your contract. Go fight for your rights girl.” I replied.

“thanks.” She said and walked out.

“Is these all the order for table number seven, Mr. Henry?” I asked our cook. “Silly you Rebecca you can call Henry, you don’t have to add Mr. on it”. I smiled at him and said “Are you sure? But you’re older than me, right?” “That doesn’t matter, besides you are the only one who called me with Mr. In my name, have you already met Ian? That kid always makes fun of me but I’ve never got mad at him. Because here, we treat each other like a family.” He replied with a smile on his face.

“Thank you for accepting me and becoming part of your family Henry.” I said. “So, is this all?” he laughed before saying yes.

“I must serve these or else the customer will complain to Mr. Parker.” I said to him and put the food on the tray and proceeded to table number seven.

I saw two familiar faces while walking to table number seven. I place their orders one by one. I look at Hailey before I bid my good to them.

Hailey’s POV

“Hailey Mr. Schakowsky is looking for you.” Hannah broadcasts when she enters the makeup room. I let out a deep breath before standing up. I saw Hannah smile at me and said “you can do it.” I gave her a faintly smiled and mouthed “thank you.”

“Mr. Schakowsky.” I said when I entered the room. “Are you ready? You know that you can back out once you change your mind.” He said in a worried eye. I know that Mr. Schakowsky has a good heart. When I said that I want to work here he said I don’t need to and he is willing to lend me money.

“It’s my choice sir. Thank you for letting me work here.” I replied.

“If I cannot change your mind then, you can go to the first floor and assist some customers, you will just serve a drink. I already noticed the bosses and other employees that you will not work as a prostitute.” He stated.

After some talk and advice from Mr. Schakowsky l left the room and goes to first floor, there is two floor of this room first is for the non-VIP’s or common customer like thug, ex-convict, and name all kind of criminal in the Greenville and second floor is for the bosses and VIP’s some of them are sons and daughters of officials here in Greenville. And some of them are businessman, the second contains different types of room. The silver door room is for only first-class VIP’s the mayor’s son is one of the first class, and some of the first-class VIP’s are sons of political here in Greenville they are not allowed to bring any person in that room unless it’s has a membership card. Gold is for the businessman and other high payers here name all the celebrities who have scandals and are involved in drugs you will find them behind that golden door. They can also take the prostitutes out of here for sex but they cannot buy them.

Lastly, the dark room only the seven bosses can access that room and also Mr. Schakowsky. The owners of the dark room can access each room of course they are the boss here. Wherever they go it’s okay, whatever they do is still okay, their black card can access all kinds of doors, they can also bring whoever they want, they can kick out of here whether it’s a silver or gold card holder. Lastly, they can buy the prostitutes here to make them slaves or to become their queen. I heard the two bosses of this place found their loved ones here. The wives of those two are probably living a happy life by now, and I don’t want to get hope that it will happen to me.

I came back to my senses when someone touched my butt while placing the drinks on the table. I looked at whose hands they were and I saw the guy sitting at the end of the sofa. I just removed his hands and said I am a waitress here, not a prostitute. But after a while I felt his hands again. I let out a deep breath and faced the guy. I need to handle this without causing any trouble. I don’t want to leave a bad impression with Mr. Schakowsky.

“I am sorry but can you remove your hands?”

“Why? You want them down there?” he said and looked at my private part and gave a horny look.

“Again, I am not one of the prostitutes here. If you want, I can call someone to give you a head but it’s not me.”

“Even I gave you this?” he said then showed his money in front of me.

“I can call someone for you, and you can give them that.” I replied.

“But I want you… you look delicious.” He said and grabbed my hands and tried to make me sit on his lap. I started to tremble in fear but I need to fight it.

“I said I am not a prostitute, let me go or else I will call the bouncers.” I said while trying to remove his hands from mine. He tried to kiss me and his other hand loosen the grip so I am able to grab the tray using my left hand and bang it to his head.

Because of that he let go of me and hold his head and keep cursing at me. I stand up to leave as soon as possible because we caught the attention of the other customers. I was about to take my leave but he grabbed my hair and pulled it and made me turn to face him “you mother fucker slut… you think you are clean? You think you can turn down everyone you little piece of shit shall I remind you that I’m a customer here and you’re just a pathetic prostitute who works here for the sake of money. Here take all of my money and let my dick enter your filthy vagina.” He said and got all his money and started to hit me with that. I did not move; I did not bother to defend myself because it’s all true. I am a pathetic human being. I saw someone talking to Mr. Schakowsky while looking at my direction the guy is giving me a creepy stares but; I cannot avoid his stares, no scratch that I did not avoid his stares, I feel like the world stop when he look at the guy who’s hitting me after he talked to Mr. Schakowsky.

I didn’t know what happen next, I just found myself standing behind of Mr. Schakowsky and heard him saying sorry to customer for the inconvenient and offer a prostitute that he can fuck anytime. And explain that I am not here as a prostitute but I am here to serve them drinks. Actually, the uniform I am wearing right now says it all that guys is just an idiot sex maniac.

Mr. Schakowsky guided me and entered his office. “I’m deeply sorry sir, I didn’t intend to make a mess on my first day but that guy kept touching me and I lost my composure, I promise it will never happen again.” I said without a pause.

“First, make yourself presentable again” he said and handed me a pair of clothes but it’s different from my uniform and the other uniform. It is black back dress with a red linen to each end. He pointed where the bathroom is. I removed my uniform. I didn’t notice that two buttons of my uniform are missing while my hair is like a bird nest. I made sure that I was presentable before I got out of the bathroom. I found Mr. Schakowsky at his table reading some papers. I cleared my throat and slowly walked in front of me.

He stared at me for a minute before he stood up and walked to my direction, “your father must be proud of you.” He said and gave me a smile. Mr. Schakowsky is a man in his forties who has one lovely wife and two kids. We met when I was thirteen when my family moved here, he became my father's friend , also my mother and his wife got along together. We always spend Christmas and New Year’s with them even when we take a vacation and my family is always together. After we spent those happy years the storm came out and left a scar in my family.

Every time I remember that I cannot help it but to become emotional. Every day, every night it’s always playing in my mind, the scream of my mother and father shouting that I should ran, the liquid that kept flowing on our tiled floor, the kitchen knife, my dog Teddy that kept barking but later on our house became quite, the leaves that kept scratching the door of my veranda, the thunder and rain that kept pouring that day, my door that kept banging and me watching the red liquid no, the blood of my parents flowing on my room until it reached my foot.

“Hailey? Hailey are you alright?” I heard Mr. Schakowsky's worried voice. “You’re shaking honey.”

“I’m okay sir, I j- just…” I stuttered.

“It’s okay. It’s okay… let out a deep breath first honey… are you having another episode?” he asked me and I shook my head as an answer. I heard him sighed and said “you know that I treat you like my own kid, right? you can lean on me or your Auntie Claire.”

“No, I cannot, no… no… I cannot let that happen to you, I- I will not let that happen to you.” I started to panic.

“Hailey listen, it will not happen to us, that person is already dead, he cannot harm us anymore, he cannot harm you anymore.”

“No, y-you don’t know… she might find me… what if she finds me? uncl-e I don’t wanna die… no… no… I must kill her first.”

“Yes, that’s right I will kill her first before she finds me.” I said while holding my head.

“Hailey listen to uncle okay.”

“Yes, that’s right, I know I can find her, I will find her first, ye-s, yes Hailey you need to find her firs—”

“HAILEY”. I looked at my uncle when he shouted, I just stared at him with fear in my eyes. “You listen to me, drink this first.” He said and I handed me my pill and a glass of water. I didn't even notice that he gets my pills in my uniform’s pocket. I took it from his hand and put it in my mouth and drank the water. He said I should take a deep breath so I did. After ten minutes of trying to calm myself I look at Mr. Schakowsky. He is now reading a paper again and signing them and putting it beside him. I smiled, he really is a hard-working person. I treat him like my second father and the same goes for his wife and even his kids. He always makes sure that I am okay since that day. When I took all the sessions, he was always there for me, calming me when I started to have an episode.

I was hospitalized when my parents died, and diagnosed as a PTSD patient. The first night when I left the hospital and decided to come home at our own house, I found myself knocking on Mr. Schakowsky door. Since then I did not stay in our house and stayed on Mr. Schakowsky house instead, after one year, I found out that my father sold our house and I want to get it back, I decided to work in different shops but it’s not enough, I heard one night Mr. Schakowsky and his wife talking in the kitchen, I am just going to drink milk that night because I cannot sleep thinking how can I get my parents’ house.

“No way in hell that I will let Hailey to work in that place.” Mrs. Schakowsky said in an angry voice.

“She will just work there as a waitress. And also, I can protect her there, honey.”

“Even though, what if someone tries to harass her and you are not around? I did not let her stay here without reason.”

“Hailey is like my own daughter; I promised to George that I will protect her no matter what happens. She wants to get back their house and we don’t have enough money to help her. Maybe we can help her by offering this work.” Mr. Schakowsky stated.

“But I am afraid that something bad will happen to her while she’s there.” I heard Mrs. Schakowsky's worried voice.

I came out after hearing that and Mr. Schakowsky saw me. “May I know what you are talking about?”. I saw Mrs. Schakowsky's head turned and looked at me with a worried eye. “I am sorry I was about to get milk but I heard you talking about me working ‘there’ and it will probably solve how I can get our own house back.” I said.

Mrs. Schakowsky sighed and said “Your uncle suggested that working in his workplace can help you but I don’t agree with that. It’s a dangerous place honey.”

“What work?” I asked while looking at Mr. Schakowsky.

“Hailey.” I heard Mrs. Schakowsky's worried voice.

"I'll be the one who will assigned you there as a waitress. You can earn fifty to seventy thousand dollar a month. It is much higher than your current salary. You can save enough money while working there.”

“I’m in.” I said without hesitation. I saw Mrs. Schakowsky protests face to face but I smiled at her and said “I will be fine, beside Mr. Schakowsky is there, I believe he can protect me from danger while I am working there.” Mrs. Schakowsky just sighed and walked towards me and gave me a worried smile before hugging me. “You really like your mother.” I just answered “yeah” and hugged her back.

“Can I join?” Mr. Schakowsky said. I just smiled at him and opened my arms wide. That night, we did not sleep, we just kept talking about our vacations those past few years. This family is my second home, and I will not let someone harm them, I will protect them at all cost.

Someone knocks on Mr. Schakowsky's office; it was his secretary who whispered to Mr. Schakowsky's ears and left. Mr. Schakowsky eyed me and said “did you calm yourself down?” I said yes and stood up. He motions me to the mirror and I walk where it is. I saw my own reflection there wearing the dress he handed me earlier.

“I’m sorry honey, I need you to wear it, I know you’re not comfortable with that but I cannot say no to that person.” He said.

“No, it’s okay sir, I like it by the way.” I replied while still looking in my own reflection.

“Someone ask for you, and I cannot say not to him, I know that I promised to you that I will protect you no matter what. But I cannot lose my job, you do know that, right?”

“You don’t have to worry about me sir, besides you helped me earlier and just think that this is just my way to express my gratitude for helping me to get this job.”

“Thank you, Hailey. You really like an angel.” He said.

“By the way who will I serve for tonight and you let me wear this kind of dress.” I said while touching the linen.

“He is the one who paid with the highest sum of money here. I cannot say no to him or else my job will be in danger.”

“You do know I will not let that happen right?” I said and smiled at him. “Shall we go Uncle?”. We smiled at each other before leaving his office.

We entered in one of the gold rooms on the second floor. I am now with three girls and Mr. Schakowsky itself. I saw five men and one woman. I saw the guy from earlier sitting at the end of the sofa and drinking his alcohol. I just keep my eyes on him even though he cannot see me. I heard Mr. Schakowsky said something before leaving us four here, he tapped my shoulder and smiled before walking towards the door. I saw his back when I turned around.

I turn my gaze back to where the guy is, I noticed the girls with me are already on their target and only the guy who I was looking for doesn't have a partner so I walk to sit beside him. But I made sure there’s a space between us.

They kept talking and laughing about something but I just kept my head low, I was too nervous to look at them and to talk to him, my heart kept pounding. I felt someone staring at me and I thought it’s the guy from earlier but when I looked at who it was, I saw the woman who was sitting beside the guy who had a clean cut and looked like a model because of his body. The woman's face resembles someone I know, someone that I miss so much, but there’s a difference in her eyes. It looks like she’s hiding something inside her and the familiar feeling started to spread to my body. I just pretended that I did not see that she was staring at me.

“Relax.” I heard someone say, “no one will eat you alive here.” I looked around and I saw this guy beside me looking at me. I blinked twice and started to feel awkward. He just talked to me after two hours of sitting right beside him. Also, the first time I heard his voice.

I felt him whisper to my ears “What do you call that a pig does karate? It’s a pork chop.” Why did the picture go to jail? He asked me. Because it was framed.” I giggled at those jokes. I did not know that he could say that kind of joke. It doesn’t suit him; he keeps whispering corny jokes in my ear and my giggle turns into laughter. I did not notice that the space between us is gone.

I felt I needed to take a pee maybe because of his silly jokes, I asked for his permission before leaving the room and walking around to find the restroom. I even asked my co-worker because I am still not familiar with this place. I found where the restroom is. No one is there so I make my way at the first cubicle and did my things. When I was about to fix my mascara, I saw the woman who is staring for the whole time leaning on the door. She said I am in her favorite part of the restroom and just wait for me to do my things before she enters to the first cubicle, I saw her walked towards in the hand dryer and I was about to opened the door when she said something.

“You should stay away from him.”

“He is hiding something.”

“You don’t need to get close to him if you want to live long.”

“I know I am being to creepy but I know my instinct.” She said while looking at me through the mirror. I just creased my forehead and stared at her, she just kept staring at me without saying anything and it really creeped me the hell out of me. I immediately close the door and walk away from the restroom.

“What the hell is she talking about?” I asked myself before entering the room.