The Vampire's Assistant

Chapter Seven

I didn't fully understand why, but a visit from a Ms. Sophie Anne LeClerq was apparently a very big deal. Mr. Northman had informed me a week ago that this vampire would be stopping in to the bar for a meeting and I was to help Pam make sure everything was perfect before her arrival. The simple fact that Pam had taken a week away from her duties in Baton Rouge to help prepare spoke volumes about the mysterious Ms. LeClerq.

The week had been absolutely hellish. Pam was like a slave driver and I tried very hard not to let my resentment of this show. I had grown accustomed to running things myself around Fangtasia. Since whatever vampire business had gone down a few months ago, Mr. Northman had been preoccupied with other things and had left much of the running of the bar to me. Pam apparently had not been given that memo though, as I seemed to be barely a notch above Ginger in her eyes.

She had run me ragged but in the end, I could survey my work around the bar proudly. The place was spotless and looked better than it had since I began working there. In addition to the top to bottom scrubbing the place had gotten, all the draperies and linens had been dry cleaned, new waitress uniforms ordered, and the decor slightly updated. Fangtasia was on its way to being much more than a campy tourist draw.

Pam had hired a special guest DJ for the night and one of the booths was filled with beautiful blonde donors, clad in their sluttiest. The bar was gearing up for a huge party, it seemed. From what I had gathered from snippets of conversation I shouldn't have overheard, Ms. LeClerq was somehow a deciding factor in the potential Fangtasia, New Orleans location. What her role was exactly, I didn't know. I doubted seriously that she was on the city zoning board or anything like that, but apparently her decision would make or break this new venture.

A New Orleans Fangtasia would mean so much for the business, not only in revenue, but reputation as well. New Orleans, cliche though it was, was a mecca for the undead and all those who flocked to them. It was the big time.

Mr. Northman had honored me by sharing some of his plans for the new club, should it pass approval. He'd even consulted me on a few of the details, as one of the rare humans whose opinion he apparently valued. If it was indeed built, it would be one of the biggest, hottest clubs in the city, a far cry from the humble little bar in Shreveport.

So all the fuss was understandable, but I was certainly glad it was over with, at least for me. I'd been given leave to take the night off once I'd finished with my duties. I was a little disappointed I wouldn't get the chance to lay eyes on the important visitor, but a long hot bath and a few hours of Game of Thrones held an equal, if not greater appeal.

I mentally ran through my list of responsibilities for the evening as the customers began to filter in. I had double checked that the shelves behind the bar were dusted and all the bottles were lined up neatly, with their labels facing forward. The donors all had drinks and theirs cabs were already ordered for the end of the night. I had picked Mr. Northman's suit up from the dry cleaner's and hung it in his office. My obligations seemed to be fulfilled but for one last detail.

Ginger passed me with a tray a drinks and I asked, "Have you seen Pam?"

"In Mr. Northman's office," she called as she weaved her way through the tables.

I headed toward the back hall and stopped by my little office to grab my things. I wanted to waste no time getting out of there and off of my feet. I was still shrugging into my coat when I stopped at Mr. Northman's office door and tapped softly. Pam whipped it open a second later.

She was dressed impeccably, as always, in an expensive looking black dress and red pumps. "Speak of the devil."

I ignored her comment. "Here's the check for the DJ service." I held the envelope out to her. "He's probably expecting a tip too, so there's some cash in there as well."