The man behind her, apparently unsatisfied with her wandering attention, roughly pulled her back into the utility closet.


    A long whileter, the man, finally satisfied, zipped up his pants and leisurely lit a cigarette.


    After straightening her own clothes, Lillian Laurent reminded him to send the money.


    As if his mood had been soured, the man kicked her, his face a mask of annoyance. "Damn it, did I say I wasn''t going to pay you?"


    "Then pay up!"


    Muttering under his breath, the man sent the payment and turned to leave.


    Lillian grabbed his arm. "We agreed on three hundred! You only sent two hundred!"


    "That''s because you''re only worth two hundred, bitch!" he snarled, violently shaking her hand off.


    The force sent Lillian stumbling back against the wall, the impact making her head spin.


    Even so, the man showed no mercy. "I''d take what you can get if I were you. Otherwise, I''ll go tell the manager of The Half-Light Club you''re turning tricks in the back. Let''s see who gets fired then!"


    Faced with his threat, Lillian had no choice but to let go.


    She could only watch helplessly as he swaggered off, unable to do a thing.


    After he was gone, she muttered a few curses under her breath just as her phone started to ring.


    Her expression darkened when she saw it was Jay. She didn''t want to answer, but she knew she had to.


    "What?"


    "Where''s the money?" Jay demanded.


    "Are you a fucking vulture? He just sent it, and you''re already swooping in for your cut!" Lillian seethed.


    But there was nothing she could do about Jay. Reluctantly, she sent him a hundred. Jay immediately shot back, asking why it was only a hundred.


    Lillian exined that the guy had only given her two hundred, and she hadn''t dared to push it for fear he''d make a scene and report her to the club manager.


    Her exnation only earned her a tirade from Jay. "You''re useless! Can''t even do your one job right!"


    Taking heat from all sides, Lillian could only vent her frustration by kicking a nearby trash can.


    Back in the main area of The


    Half-Light Club, she saw the floor manager scrambling to find staff to deliver drinks to a VIP suite. The tart wasden with the club''s finest liquors, with bottles easily starting at ten thousand dors apiece.


    Sensing a ''big fish''-a wealthy client-she immediately volunteered to help.


    Short-staffed, the manager quickly agreed.


    A few momentster, she was part of a group of five, personally led by the manager, carrying trays of drinks and appetizers into the VIP suite in an orderly procession.


    Just before entering, Lillian deliberately tugged down the neckline of her uniform, hoping to entuate her cleavage.


    But the moment she stepped inside, she froze. Sitting right in the center of the suite was Noreen.


    Lillian''s head snapped down, and she nearly stumbled.


    The sudden movement didn''t go unnoticed. The manager shot her a sharp, warning re over his shoulder.


    He then turned back to the guests, his professional smile instantly back in ce as he addressed them.


    Seeing the array of expensive bottles Noreen had ordered, Jennifer remarked, "You''re really spoiling us."


    ire waved a dismissive hand. "Don''t be so formal, Jennifer! We''re practically bing sisters tonight!"


    Noreen could tell something was off with ire''s mood tonight, though she couldn''t guess what had set her off With Jennifer present, however she couldn''t very well ask.


    Jennifer was a straightforward person herself, so seeing ire''s generosity, she didn''t stand on


    ceremony. She waved the manager Over Bring us


    "Bring us some of your house.


    Specialties.


    The manager''s eyes lit up. "Right away," he said, bowing slightly.


    Once the staff had departed, ire asked Jennifer curiously, "What are these ''specialties''?"


    Jennifer just grinned. "You''ll see."


    Noreen couldn''t help but press her fingers to her temple. Tonight... how was she going to get them out of this?


    Meanwhile...


    The manager ryed what was happening in the VIP suite to Jude.


    Jude was so excited he shot to his feet, his voice climbing an octave. "They want male escorts?"


    Only after the words were out did he notice the temperature in the room drop as Seth''s expression grew several degrees colder.