Manipulate [h.s]

02

Stevie Coles

I tilted my head to the side and gave Theo a blank look. Whenever he asked for me to do something with that exact tone of voice and slimy smile it entailed something important. And that usually fucked my night over.

I cursed my bad timing and gave him a pissed smile, "Does it have to be tonight Theo?" I pressed, the grip on my arm squeezed slightly tighter.

A warning.

I was treading on a thin line. This obviously meant a lot to Theo; money was a big issue for the club, and it was no secret. Nobody knew where it all went but we all had our suspicions. Vegas was crawling with casinos; I wouldn't be surprised if Theo were a frequent at one of them. It was a topic nobody ever brought up though, we all just pretended like it didn't exist.

"Fine, give me twenty I need to change," I pulled my arm from his grip. I was fuming, Theo gave me a greedy smile – wide enough to show off his yellowing teeth.

He patted my ass as I walked by, "Thanks darling, he'll be waiting out the back for you." It took all my common sense to reign in my anger. I was used to his wandering hands, but it didn't make me like it anymore than usual. "Oh, and wear the knives, he'll love those." Followed by a sleezy wink and then he was gone, whistling as he went back into his office.

Red lace.

I changed into the red just to spite Theo, he preferred when I wore black. My socks clipped onto my garter and I strapped on my favourite knife. The handle was the head of a gold dragon – Cherry had gotten it for me as a birthday present. It was the only present I'd received since my childhood.

I pinched my cheeks hard enough to give the desired effect of a sweet blushing innocent. My lips the perfect shade of glossy red that made men's thoughts wonder to exactly where my lips could be. Always making them think until they lost their mind and handed over their wallets.

A whistle gained my attention, "Well don't you look spicy," Cherry whistled as she pranced off stage. I shot her an unamused glance and mumbled a curse under my breath.

"Theo has me entertaining a special guest tonight," I emphasized, and she rolled her eyes before her mouth dropped open. Her eyes going wide with excitement.

"What if it's Harr-" She shrieked, and I clasped my hand over her mouth before she could finish the question. I didn't need every single girl coming over to question me about the famous Harry Styles.

Pressing my finger to my lips she quickly went silent, nodding in understanding. I hadn't let my mind wander to exactly whom I would be dealing with tonight but suddenly my stomach felt uneven. Old men were easy enough to please and earn long sums of money from, they often even still wore wedding rings on their fingers.

I knocked on Theo's door twenty-one minutes later, just long enough to make him sweat a little. He called out for me to enter almost immediately, his eyes washing over me. I felt dirty beneath his eyes, especially when they lingered just long enough on my chest for me to cough pointedly. I would need three showers tonight to feel clean again.