Chapter 2 I'm not an escort

C

Celia's POV

"Table five needs a waitress," Sam said

"But I am covering more than half of the entire pub, could you assign table five to someone else?" I pleaded

"If you do not like working you can as well quit, I could get someone willing to take a minimum wage for the job" Sam replied

"Fine, I'm on it" I strode off reluctantly

This was my life, I worked the hardest at Brad's Pub yet I was receiving a misery of $20 per hour. Sam was being extremely mean because I had refused to grace his bed as he asked, I didn't care though, at least I am lucky he hadn't fired me, if I were fired how would I afford to pay my bills?

At 15, I dropped out of school to support my family, if only I had a responsible father, maybe I wouldn't have had to drop out. But my father being the drunk and gambler he was kept gambling with my tuition fee until we couldn't afford to replace it anymore, I had to stop and start helping my mother with the responsibility, I was solely taking care of my two younger siblings at 24 years, catering for my drunk of a father who owed people money at different places not minding the interests and my mother whose cleaning job was barely enough to feed one mouth.

I am currently working four jobs and I barely get four hours worth of sleep. I take on side gigs on weekends just to make extra.

I did my morning shifts at the community library from 7 am to 11 am where I made $60, I did my afternoon shifts at a Cafe from 12 noon to 4 pm and made $75.

My evening shift starts at 5 pm and till 9 pm at Brad's pub where I make $80, then finally my last shift at the A Department Store from 10 pm till 3 am and make $60

Generally, I work from 7 am till 2 am which is approximately 18 hours making over $250 per day yet I couldn't afford nice clothes. After rent, electricity, water and phone bills, school fees, Mortgage, and feeding, I barely had enough to transport me to work buy more clothes

I was running around the pub attending to all tables as if I was the only waitress on duty when I bumped into a man and the glasses in my trey fell and broke

"I am so sorry sir, I didn't see you coming"

"What did you just do? My glasses!! I will surely deduct these from your pay, do you think I run a charity organization or something, what were you doing running around like that" Sam emerged from behind screaming at me

"Please, I have family counting on my pay to survive please don't do this, it was a mistake, I promise it won't happen again" I begged to fall on my knee not minding the broken pieces on the floor

"Hey, young lady that's not necessary!" the man I bumped into held me up and started inspecting my knee before standing erect and facing Sam

"Sam put the cost on my tab, and I will pay, it was my fault anyways, I wasn't paying attention" the man pleaded on my behalf to which Sam nodded and left

"Are you okay, young lady?"

"Yes sir, I am fine, thank you so much for your help"

I bent down to pick up the pieces and throw them into my tray for disposal but he touched my shoulder.

"Get a broom instead, you might pierce your fingers," the man said friendly

"Okay sir, sorry sir"

I walked to the back with my head down, got a broom, and fixed up the place, I resumed my service gently and in a few minutes Sam came up to me

"I have assigned your tables to Maurice and Jenna, go to table 5 and sit with the customer, you are going to serve him till he leaves," he said about to walk out

"but I am not an escort Sam, I'm just a waitress, he can contact the escorts in the house for such," I said confused

"Either that or you are fired," he said and walked out

I stood fixated with my imagination running wild, I hadn't done this before, what do I do now? I can't afford to lose this job. After some seconds of thought, I gradually removed my apron and walked into the bar VIP section, I glanced around and my eyes stopped at table five, it was the gentleman I had bumped into, he sounded nice so I felt he would understand and chose another escort or waitress so I walked up to him

"Hello sir, do you need anything else?"

"I need a bottle of your finest champagne and get two glasses for us"

"I can get you your champagne sir but I'm not an escort, I can't join you, please don't turn me into one"

"Relax my dear lady, I just need company, I am not looking for an escort," he said throwing me a sincere smile

"Okay, that I can do sir. Let me get the drink and glasses"

I brought the drink and listened to him tell me his problems amidst being drunk, apparently his wife and mother were the architects of his problems, he drank until it was my closing time and I insisted on getting him a cab that would take him home before heading for my next Place of work, as I didn't trust Sam not to extort from the man since he was drunk and looked rich

I made sure I locked his car which he packed at our parking space, checked him out from the register, he asked me to put in a tip of $100 for myself which I didn't do because he was drunk and didn't know what he was doing, I asked him for his address and he gave me a hotel address.

I was sceptical about taking a drunk man to a hotel but something in me kept pushing me to trust him. I called a cab that took us there, I didn't have enough but I still paid with my money as I didn't want to search for him.

The Cab driver dropped us at this beautiful Five Star Hotel, I led him into the lobby, I thought the outside looked exquisite the interior was Superb. I spotted reception and we walked up to the desk with him staggering beside me despite my support, I was 5ft8 and 68kg by weight but he was taller and bigger, about 6ft1 and 80kg by weight or thereabout, so I couldn't completely support his weight.

"Good Evening Mr Johnson" the receptionist greeted me immediately we reached her, I could see her giving me this dirty look to which I gave her an awkward smile and greeted her.

"My key please!" he managed to slur his words out

She handed him a card which he took and staggered towards the elevator as I continued helping him, we got into the elevator and pressed the penthouse button.

"He must be filthy rich, a night here would cost a fortune and the penthouse would be more expensive to stay in," I thought to myself

The door dinged indicating we had arrived at the penthouse, we walked to the door and he placed the card to the sensor on the doorknob and it automatically opened letting us into the beautiful sitting room.

I couldn't help but admire, the interior was nothing like I had ever seen before, I didn't want to go further in so I dropped him on the couch

"Here we are sir, I have to go, I am running late for my appointment," I said only to get a snore in response indicating he was fast asleep. I couldn't help but smile, a moment ago he was venting and getting drunk now he is sleeping soundly like nothing happened. I saw a tiny notepad on the table and a pen, I tore out a sheet and scribbled a short message for him before I left

Getting downstairs the receptionist was still giving me the same dirty look, I couldn't care any longer so I ignored her and walked out, glancing at my watch I had barely 45 minutes to get to my next workplace which meant returning to my town. I rushed out into the busy streets of New York.