Page 101 of Tainted

“Y’all are crazy,” I smirked because the camaraderie in the room felt like a warm hug.

“It’s going to be so much money in the building tonight,” Diamond bragged.

“I hope you and your homegirl have some new routines. The others are old andtied!” Rajah clowned.

“Please. I haven’t seen you bust out any new moves,” Phoenix rebutted because she always had something to say.

“It ain’t for you to see, but Nova choreographed me some real fly shit for Aire, so y’all better step your cookies up!” Rajah bragged, winking at me.

After doing my make-up and changing, I stepped out of the dressing room, but it hit differently when I walked onto the floor. The lights were blinding, flashing across the room in waves, and the crowd was massive. I’d never seen Utopia this packed, not even on the busiest nights.

“Hey can I get a whiskey sour?” I asked, easing onto the stool at the bar.

“I got you, girl,” Tambra smiled.

“It’s crazy in here tonight.”

“Shit, you’re telling me. This is the first moment I had to breathe,” she replied, carefully measuring out the ingredients for my drink, “Whiskey SourLite. I don’t need you fucking up in front of company.” Tambra slid the glass toward me.

“Thanks, Tam.” I quickly gulped it down, making her laugh.

“Damn girl, are you nervous or what?”

Just as Phoenix brushed by, her elbow swung with perfect timing and spilled her glass all over me.

“Oops,” she cooed, not even pretending to be apologetic as she glanced over her shoulder.

I lunged forward, almost shoving Phoenix to the floor, but Diamond caught her.

“You bitch!” She ran toward me with her fist flying, but I ducked just in time for solid arms to wrap around my waist, pulling me back.

“Enough,” Kross commanded, his voice carrying an edge that silenced the bubbling crowd.

Daris was holding Phoenix, her eyes shooting daggers at both of us.

“That bitch hit me!” She yelled.

“Afteryou spilled your drink on me! Stupid ass bitch!”

Kross didn’t loosen his grip. Instead, he looked directly into my eyes, his expression softer than I'd ever seen before directing Daris to take Phoenix in the back. I was stunned, not just by his intervention but also by his change in demeanor. Gone was the cold, aloof boss I had grown accustomed to. In Kross’s place was someone who seemed genuinely concerned about the conflict.

He finally put me down and escorted me to his office.

“Club or not, this is your job! Fighting on one of the biggest nights is the fastest way to find yourself without one,” Kross scolded.

“I’m sorry, but she’s been fucking with me since I started. She purposely spilled that drink on me. You can even ask Tambra,” Iexplained because he was still my boss and had the power to fire me despite the change in Kross's demeanor.

“Sit tight and calm down until I come back,” he replied, sounding too much like Kenyon, as he left and shut the door behind him.

Kenyon

Kross: Your girl is showing her ass. What do you want me to do?

Me: I’m on my way.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel, and I pressed the gas harder, weaving through the late-night traffic. Turning into the parking lot didn’t take long, but parking was nonexistent. Thankfully I had a designated spot because, without it, I might’ve been fucked.

“Damn, you wasted no time, huh?” Kross joked when I walked in the door.

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