Page 36 of Daniil
“Jesus fucking Christ—can’t anyone have fun anymore?I was just trying to get friendly.Why do all you dyke bitches want to ruin that?”
Dyke bitches?What does that even mean?Is that a slur because I mentioned that I was military or am I that unattractive?
“You can settle down or leave,” I repeat as calmly as I can, even though I want to throat punch him.“Choice is yours.”
“Listen, you stupid cunt?—”
Yeah, I’m not here to be insulted.
Before he can finish his thought, I have his arm behind his back, twisted at such a painful angle he can’t get away.
“Fuck!Ow!What the hell is wrong with you?”He cries out as I maneuver him to the door.Chris comes around the corner and grabs him by the shirt.
“What’d you do to piss her off?”he asks, laughing.“She knows 427 ways to kill you using just two fingers.”
The guy pales.
“You should go sleep it off somewhere, buddy.”Chris shoves him into the lobby where everyone has to check in.“Make sure this guy isn’t allowed back,” he calls to the attendant at the front.“And don’t let him drive!”
Everyone has to leave their license at the desk when they arrive and if you look like you might be too inebriated to drive, the license is kept until either someone comes to pick you up or an Uber arrives.
“Jerk,” I mutter as the hockey player continues to complain and make a fuss.
“Let us know if he’s a problem,” Chris calls over his shoulder.
“Sometimes I hate men,” I say, glancing at him.“Present company excluded.”
“Everything all right out there?”Chains talks into our earpieces.
“All good, boss,” Chris replies.“We ejected someone.”
“Thank you.”Emilie’s voice is soft, a little frustrated.“We’ll handle it from here.”
We make our way back to the dance floor where things appear to be less chaotic now.
“You okay?”Chris asks me.
“Yup.”
“You know you’re beautiful, right?”he asks softly.
I blink in surprise.“Er, what?”
“I heard what he said—don’t let him get in your head.I don’t know exactly how he was trying to insult you, but whatever it was, he’s wrong.You’re gorgeous.Don’t forget that.”He winks and saunters across the room.
How come I’m never interested in guys like Chris?He’s flirted with me before, and even though he’s good-looking, the attraction just isn’t there.I was still pregnant when he started flirting with me, in the Westfield offices, and I didn’t take him seriously.But he’s never stopped, and I wish I could find even an inkling of desire.
I pretend like I don’t care about dating when the truth is that I can’t be with the only man who’s captured my interest in years.A certain Eastern European prince.The same one who accidentally got me pregnant.
“Courtney, could you come up to the private rooms?”Emilie speaks in my ear.“I need to use the ladies’ room.”
“On my way.”I take the stairs and smile as we pass in the hall.
“There’s one scene going on in the viewing room over there.”She motions with her head.“Everything else is behind closed doors and quiet.”
“No worries.Take your time.”
I wander over to the viewing room.It’s basically a stage set up with a bed and a few chairs, and then there are seats in the audience for people to watch whatever’s happening on the stage.There’s a woman on a table that resembles a doctor’s examination room, stirrups and all.
