Dulcie inquired.
Dulcie glanced at the time displayed on her phone screen-it read half past eight.
Thirty minutes?
âOkay, Iâll head over right away,â Dulcie affirmed.
She hastily concluded the call before racing toward Central Street, guided by the address on the card.
Amidst the cacophony of the bustling street, she located the entrance to the high-end establishment known as Fire Bar.
As she stepped inside, the pulsating music and flashing neon lights assaulted her senses, creating an atmosphere of vibrant revelry that felt alien to Dulcieâs sensibilities.
Nonetheless, with determination coursing through her veins, she steeled herself to follow the manager into the heart of the bustling bar.
âThey all call me Baxter.
Feel free to do the same.
â The manager flashed a congenial smile as he welcomed Dulcie into the bustling bar.
Politely acknowledging his gesture, Dulcie nodded and replied, âHello, Baxter.
â
Baxter continued, explaining, âWeâre not short-staffed tonight, but since Miss Perez is a VIP, Iâll make an exception for you.
â
Despite Baxterâs hospitality, the raucous music pounding in the background left Dulcie feeling somewhat out of place.
She offered a slight bow and expressed her gratitude, saying, âThank you very much.
â
As Baxter led the way through the lively crowd, his eyes appraised Dulcie thoughtfully.
âYou have an exotic look.
You should catch some attention here, but your attireâ¦â He trailed off, gesturing subtly toward her clothes.
Dulcie glanced down at her jeans and white shirt, puzzled by Baxterâs comment.
However, as she observed the other women in the bar, clad in revealing outfits of miniskirts and black stockings, she couldnât help but feel a sense of unease.
The atmosphere exuded allure and sensuality, contrasting sharply with her own modest attire.
Dulcie couldnât shake the feeling that her attire was glaringly out of place amidst the sultry ambiance of the bar.
âWould it be possible for me to go back and change my clothes?â she asked tentatively.
Given Phillisâ prior communication with Baxter about Dulcieâs arrival, it seemed improbable that Baxter would allow Dulcie to leave just like that.
âNo need for that.
Weâll figure something out.
Perhaps some of our patrons are looking for a change of pace,â he reassured her with a cryptic smile.
Although his words struck her as odd, Dulcie chose not to dwell on them.
âThank you, Baxter,â she replied politely.
With a cigarette dangling from his fingers, Baxter smiled and said, âDonât mention it.
â
Baxter led Dulcie through the corridors, upstairs to a luxurious private suite.
Along the way, he offered instructions for her duties ahead.
âYour main focus is customer satisfaction.
Sing, dance, indulge in a drink, or engage in games to ensure they have a good time.
Youâll keep all your tips, regardless of the amount.
Your shift ends at two in the morning, and youâll receive payment for your services then.
â