Chapter 2 Caught in between 2

VALERIA'S POV

A few minutes after we clocked in and stepped into the vibrant atmosphere of the club, the energy was charged. The place was already buzzing with people, and orders were being shouted out left and right. To my surprise, the VIP section was almost filled to capacity, with patrons laughing and sipping on their drinks. I made my way to the dispenser to grab a cup of water, checking my watch as I did so. It was already 8:15 pm, and I wondered how the club had gotten so packed so quickly.

I took a sip of my water and turned to the barman with a curious expression. "Martinez, is anything special happening here today?" I asked, trying to gauge the reason behind the crowd. Martinez's face lit up with a smile as he leaned in, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Brace yourself, girl, we are in for a big night. Lots of sales and tips, if you know what I mean". He winked at me with a full smile. "Mr. Luis is celebrating his birthday, and he is treating his friends here tonight. I'm so glad". He giggled like a happy child. "Oh, come on, grow up, Matinez", I teased as I sipped more of my water.

His happiness was pretty obvious but the name he mentioned didn't ring a bell, so I shrugged my shoulders, unfazed. "Hmm, I see, well, as long as there will be lots of tips, I have no objections," I said, taking another sip of my water. Martinez gazed at me in surprise, his eyebrows raised in amusement. "Come on, Val, you sound like you don't know Mr. Luis. Am I mistaken, or are you pretending?" I met his gaze, my expression serious. "Come on, Martinez, am I supposed to know him?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Martinez chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. "You really don't remember, do you?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement. I shook my head, intrigued. "Who is Mr. Luis?" I asked, my curiosity still getting the better of me. Martinez leaned in closer, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Let's just say he is someone people don't want to mess with. I heard he had been out of the country for two months. He just returned yesterday. He is a big deal around here. You remember him now, right?" I wondered, many big men came around here, and I don't know anyone by that name. So I shrugged negatively.

Martinez's words caught me off guard. "Come on, girl, how could you forget? He always has his eyes on you and will say that you are his Val," he said with a knowing smile. With the last sentence, I nearly choked on the water, my eyes widening in surprise as a loud "What!" escaped my lips. Composing myself quickly, I lowered my voice and asked, "You mean Mr. Sanchez?" Martinez nodded, his expression confirming my worst fears.

My mind racing, I thought to myself, "Damn it, I wish I was off duty today. I pray he won't make a special request today." The thought of serving Mr. Sanchez's table filled me with dread. He had a reputation for being overly familiar, and I always felt uncomfortable around him. Martinez, who seemed to sense my uneasiness, chuckled and offered some words of reassurance. "Come on, girl, if he asked for you to serve him, just do it and collect your money, okay? He won't force himself on you here. Just relax and enjoy your night. If he messes around, the manager will handle it."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. Martinez's words were reassuring, but I knew that serving Mr. Sanchez's table would be a challenge. I nodded, trying to appear more confident than I felt. "You are right, I will be fine," I said, forcing a smile. Martinez patted me on the back, his expression sympathetic. "That's the spirit, Val. Just do your job and collect your tips. Don't let him get to you."

I felt a surge of encouragement as I put on a bright smile and made my way to one of the new tables to take their orders. The atmosphere was lively, with patrons chatting and laughing. Just as I approached the table, a loud voice boomed, "Where are the stage girls? I wanna see them!" Another voice chimed in, nearly screaming, "Yeah, what are they waiting for?" A third person joked, "Manager, get up on that stage and dance if your girls are not coming." The crowd erupted into laughter, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the man's words as I headed to the bar to place my order.

I went to the counter, picked up the bucket, and moved to the ice machine. As I scooped ice into the bucket, I heard someone call the name – "Hey Leonardo". I turned instantly, and indeed, it was him. My heart skipped a beat with a feeling hard to explain enveloping me. I stared as he stood tall and confident. My earlier suspicion was confirmed; he had returned from abroad. People around were hailing and welcoming him back. In anger, I muttered under my breath, "Of all the clubs, why did he have to come here?".

Yet my eyes refused to pull away from him. He seemed very happy being around. He was now as handsome as ever. I stared as he stood out. His chiseled physique and athletic build showed he was still dedicated to martial arts. His facial features are chiseled with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. His hair is perfectly styled, and damn, those smiles of his can light up a room.

As he walked around shaking people's hands, he was full of confidence and charisma. He knew how to work his angles, showcasing his best features with ease. His presence was captivating, drawing attention and admiration from those around him.

My thoughts kept running wild as I muttered inaudibly, "Oh my, look at how those shirts hugged his strong body". I guessed he still has a keen sense of style, effortlessly pulling off high-end fashion and editorial looks. His ability to convey emotion and tell a story made him look like a sought-after model. I got carried away staring and admiring him over and over.

Unexpectedly, he looked up towards the bar. His piercing green eyes hit straight on mine and I froze for a bit, my heart beating to my hearing.