Ruthless Revenge

Chapter 1

"I'm still waiting, Max," I yelled to the chef as I hurried into the kitchen at A Gentlemen's Palace; a busy strip club/sports bar, to grab my next orders.

"You're still waiting, she's still waiting, he's still waiting." Max stood at the grill behind the order pickup counter flipping burgers, tossing spice into his fast-boiling saucepot, mumbling his complaints with a filthy towel flapped over his broad shoulder. "Everybody's waiting. Everybody wanted it yesterday. I only got two hands here!"

"For real?" I said, "And here I was thinking you couldn't possibly be a human. Just send it out, please. My shift finished ten minutes ago!" I need to go home. I can't stay here any minute longer.

"Hey, chica," Rosa, an illegal Mexican immigrant said to me as she hurried into the kitchen with her tray in hand, too. "Estás lento esta noche, Max," she yelled with a grin, knowing he hated to be rushed.

"Oh, cállate. Estoy haciendo lo mejor que puedo," Max cursed in Spanish. Max was also an illegal Mexican immigrant and he barely spoke any English even though he's been in America for over five years. He was bulky and big enough to be a bouncer but his lack of the English Language would be too much of a problem and draw too much attention. After all, Andrew Fry, the owner, only hired Illegal immigrants or in my case, blacklisted outcasts.

Rose looked at me. "What are you still doing here? I thought you were off at eleven."

I thought so too.

"I was. I am." I sighed. "The place is packed because apparently, some famous R&B singer is passing through."

Rosa nodded, "Si. I heard about that but I love it when it's busy." Of course, she did, we tend to make more tips when the place was packed, and that way she could send more money back to her children in Mexico. I also like it when it's busy but not when It's so packed that it's impossible for me to go home to my baby.

"I hate it," I responded. "I have to go home to my son. My neighbour is a bit old and she likes to go to bed earlier. I hate waking her from her sleep." Ms. Johnson was nice enough to babysit for free while I work but I'm sure it drove her crazy when I came knocking at her door at midnight.

Rosa sighed. "Entiendo. She is a good woman to help you like that. I'm sure she'll understand. Buy her a pack of cigarettes and you'll see her change in attitude."

I chuckled and shook my head. "I've been trying to get her to stop smoking but she says she's been doing it for over sixty years and it hasn't killed her yet."

Rosa chuckled then looked at me with sad eyes, "At least you get to see your baby. I miss my children but I can't leave because life is so hard in Mexico." she paused. "Who am I kidding? It's hard here too but at least the money is better. I hate having strange men grab my ass every time I turn around but there's no better."

I nodded. "I know. I hate it too." Three years ago I had a great job and was earning good money. I had a man who loved me and whom I loved but I had to give it all up and this was the consequence of my actions. "It's funny how this place is called 'The Gentlemen's Palace' but the men who come here treat women like shit. They think everybody working in a strip club has to be a stripper, too, even us, the serving staff." Not that there was anything wrong with being a stripper but come on!

"¡Ridículo!" Rosa muttered.

"Sí, I agree." I turned back to Max who was moving from countertop to countertop. It was obvious he needed help in the kitchen but Andrew didn't give a damn. He was a selfish prick who took advantage of people who can't help themselves. Not only were we underpaid but we were also understaffed and overworked.

"Max, date prisa. Ana necesita ir a casa con su bebé". Rosa shouted at Max when she saw me looking at him.

"Ya voy." he shouted back and a few seconds later he walked towards me with a tray that held my orders.