Page 1 of Daddy's Little Charmer
Chapter One
Christian walked through the door of one of his more popular businesses and nodded at Tommy, the bouncer he employed for the front door. The strip joint wasn’t one of the businesses he was most proud of, but it had fallen into his lap and was one of the most profitable he owned.
“Hey, Mr. Sharp.”
“How’s it going, Tommy?”
“Good, sir. We’ve got a good crowd tonight.”
“That’s always good to hear,” Christian commented with a smile.
After coming through the door, Christian stepped off to the side to let his eyes adjust to the dim, hazy light of the room. His gaze scanned the area, looking for changes or repairs that needed to be made. Like always, Roberto, his manager, and the bartender had everything in top condition.
When he acquired the place, he had updated just about everything. Now he had the stage in the middle where the girls danced. He’d placed chairs with small tables around the stage, so more men had a chance at front-row views of the pretty women. Scattered around the room were over twenty other tables, somefit two people, others could fit eight. The tables were sturdy maple, and the chairs were all cushioned, brown leather.
Christian figured the more comfortable the seating, the longer they would stay, and so far, it had worked.
The bar that ran along the back of the room was new. He’d had a friend of his carve the bar top out of one long piece of maple. Christian always admired the craftsmanship of the wood and the intricate details along the edge.
Christian had the artist create several pieces for his private home and display them in a few of his other businesses.
Tall, comfortable stools sat in front of it. A long mirror with glass shelves ran along the back wall behind the bar, which held both inexpensive and expensive liqueurs and whiskeys.
The place had been the run-of-the-mill strip joint, but he knew how to make money on it, and he had a knack for turning a business around. He needed the place to be comfortable but classy.
He’d learned a lot at college, but it was the friends he made, like Darian and Gabe, who had taught him the most. He knew he had to bring in people who could afford the luxury. But he’d also made it accessible to the average person with on-tap beers and a low cover charge to get in.
As far as the girls he employed to strip, they had to stay drug-free, and there was absolutely no sex on his property. He couldn’t tell them what to do off the clock, but he was very strict when they were in his business. He had too many what he thought of as “legitimate businesses,” which would be affected if he were charged with prostitution.
Christian took a seat at the end of the bar and waited. He caught his bartender’s eye and lifted his hand.
“Hey, Mr. Sharp. How are you doing tonight?”
“Hello, Roberto. I was on this side of town and thought I’d check in with you. You emailed me about a possible problem?”
Roberto absently wiped the already clean bar top in front of his boss. Christian noticed Roberto always had a towel within reach, and he usually carried around a white cloth he tucked into his front jeans pocket when he wasn’t using it to wipe anything down. He was very particular about the cleanliness of the bar area, and he expected his employees to share the same standards, which Christian appreciated.
“Yes, sir. One of the strippers was caught having sex outside the back door. Tommy found her and warned her that next time she’d be out of work, and last night, he caught her again.”
Christian gritted his teeth as a spike of anger hit him.
“Then fire her,” he growled tersely.
Roberto nodded. “I would have, but she’s one of the women who make us the most money. A lot of men come to see her. She’s also a single mom. So, I wanted to check with you before I made a decision.”
Christian pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “What’s her name?” he asked.
“Candy.”
Christian snorted at the name. “Is she here tonight?”
“Yes, she just got off the stage.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
“I was hoping you would. Candy’s a nice girl and a great stripper, but we’re all aware of your policies. I really think she’d straighten up if you talked to her. You scare the hell out of most people.”
Christian looked taken aback. He didn’t try to be like that, but he’d always had a dark personality that made most people uncomfortable, though that was not his intention.
