Good Vibes

Chapter 7

The inside of the office building was anything but office themed. It had a shady downstairs; rusting walls, if that was possible, and ratty tile. Paranoia slightly took over as I contemplated the rust as possibly blood but I shoved that thought away as I followed Sebastian to a red door that the Rolling Stones would have loved to paint black. He paused in front of the door and turned around to face me, the anticipation on his face probably mirroring mine. The reasons for the anticipation could have been different, but I focused on the moment rather than my incoherent notions and opened the door before there would be any second thoughts. The room was huge inside, but rather darkly lit. Cruddy wallpaper that was peeling off encircled the walls where five or so men stood. The majority of men were probably there for the same reason I was; to be recruited by this drug ring as their puppet dealer.

"Hands up!" a buff man said, appearing on the right and holding out a metal detector as he Sebastian and I. I held my breath when he scanned my sides, hoping the lighter wouldn't make it go off which luckily it didn't. Sebastian had warned me about the body search-that's why he'd taken my keys just in case and watching the security, I didn't blame him.

The five men, all of different races, stood in a harmonious line, where another man walked in front with a notepad in his hand. The tribal tattoo on his bicep caught my attention as I stood at the end of the line with Sebastian.

"I don't know what kind of first impression you're tryin' to give, but bringing your little sister here isn't close to giving a good impression," the tribal inked man remarked as he reached us, his eyes solely focused on Sebastian as he spoke to him. Before Sebastian could reply, I straightened my posture and puffed out my chest as I purposely positioned myself in between the sexist jerk and Sebastian.

"Well, good thing he's my bodyguard and not my big brother or else he'd shit his brains by the way you're talking to me," I looked more related to the man in front of me than Sebastian, who stood silently behind me. His hair was a light brown shade like mine and skin color was a sun kissed tone like mine. He reminded me of Jack a little bit with the thick eyelashes and big brown eyes, but in sexist asshole form. "Phoebus Fort, but you can just call me Phoebe. Nice to meet you," I gracefully extended my hand towards him to shake.

"Nate," he shook my hand uncertainly and squinted at me. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-two," I automatically said, adding three years to my real age just in case. He didn't seem to believe it but at the glance of his watch, he obviously had no time to waste with interrogating me. "Alright, here's the plan everyone. You'll be each given a pound of weed and be expected to make five grand by the end of tonight. I will give you the club to meet me at and I'll give your pot there. Don't even think about stealing it, the club might be cop free but I swear to fucking god I'll make you wish you were behind the bars instead of getting your ass whooped by me," he threatened with a don't-fuck-with-me tone. All I could think about was how a pound of weed meant sixteen ounces which unless I didn't sell it by the ounce I'd get about four thousand dollars. I was going over the math in my head until a piece of paper was handed to me and I saw the scribble of an address. "See you there," and before he could remind me anymore of Jack, Nate smirked and left with the group of men in front of him that hurriedly filed out.

"You handled him good," Sebastian said encouragingly as I followed them outside and got in the front seat.

I sighed when I got in and put my seat belt. "I could have the best handling skills but if I don't make five grand by the end of tonight, then I won't be able to get us closer to meeting Santoni," I admitted anxiously as I handed him the address and we headed to our next destination.

"Don't worry Phoebe, I wouldn't have chosen you if I didn't think you'd be able to through the trials," he said, his voice full of certainty and pride that made my heart squeeze with appreciation that I wasn't alone doing this. The 'club' which looked more like a strip bar wasn't far and we got out of the car at the same time my competition were walking to the front of a one story building that had a large purple sign with block letters that spelled Welcome Gentleman. Sebastian handed me my fake ID and I was impressed by how authentic it looked, which said something since I'd spent my entire high school years getting fake IDs for my fraudulent escapades in the SAT business.

Nate was the last to meet us with the buff security guard behind him holding six backpacks. He handed each of us one and I couldn't help but take a peek inside even though I knew what it was before opening it by just the skunk stench it had from the outside.

"Don't get caught," Nate warned us with a smile, looking at me in particular before he turned around and headed into the strip club, his guard trotting behind him. Some men quickly followed behind as others stayed and checked out the merchandise themselves. I didn't, whipping out my ID to the sumo-wrestler looking man at the entrance and walked into a cloud of cigar smoke. Music and neon lights glowed in the distance, but what caught my attention was the same thing that had everyone else's eyes glued on-the women. Brunettes, blondes, redheads, they were all up on a large runway-looking stand topless with heels as they danced fluidly to the music. I was mesmerized to say the least, as this was actually my first time at a strip club. I went straight for the bar, brainstorming on what to do as I watched my competitors already getting it in with the customers at circular tables near the runway or the standing groups of men that were talking with each other while puffing on Cuban cigars. I came to the conclusion of what I'd have to do, but the plan was going to need

"Shot of any tequila you got, please," I said as I took a seat on one of the crimson cushioned stools.

"Should you really be drinking on the job?" Sebastian questioned, acting as my conscious as I took the shot from the bartender and downed the burning yet refreshing liquid and bit onto the slice of lime the bartender had given me with the shot.

"I'm going to need more than a shot after tonight," I said, contemplating whether I should include Sebastian on my plan. I was too cowardly to get his OK on it, so I stood up from the stool and grabbed the backpack from him that he'd nicely held for me. "Stay here, I'm going to get us five grand," and before I could hear his reply, I squeezed through the crowd towards the entrance of the runaway. I had no clue how else to get in the back, so I just followed one of the strippers until I reached an entrance to the dressing rooms. Racks of costumes and clothes filled the hall and I decided this would be the first part of the plan. Choosing an outfit and empty dressing room, I embarked on my impulsive plan.