Cursed: Chapter 6 - Dancing for Carmen: Part 2
Tiffany's Story Continues
It was barely nine o'clock, when the bartender said, "Ashley and Tiffany, Carmen wants to have a little meeting with you ASAP."
As we walked towards the owner's office, Ashley said, "I have a bad feeling about this little meeting. It would just be like Alberto to come up with some excuse to discipline us."
I paused outside of Carmen's office to check my makeup in the one-way mirror. I was well aware that my fat froglike boss could see me standing there in the skimpy, semitransparent baby doll pajamas that were the official uniform of The Dollhouse. I had to brace myself with a hand on the wall to counteract vertigo caused by the scintillating reflections from the mirror ball spinning overhead.
Ashley said, "Damn, girl, your pupils are still the size of an extra-large pizza. I'd hoped the drugs Carmen slipped in your drink would start to wear off by now. How are you feeling?"
During my so-called job interview, the bastard had opened a bottle of water for me while I watched. It looked legitimate, but Ashley informed me that Carmen was skillful at pretending to open a bottle that he had previously dosed with ecstasy and amphetamines.
"I'm pretty fucked up, but I feel like I'm on top of the world. The tequila shots I did with the college boys took the edge off the speed. Come on. Let's find out what has Carmen's panties in a knot."
For a moment, I wondered how I would feel tomorrow. So far, this evening had been a shit show. I'd been fingered by a burly crew chief until I came and then raped by two virgin college nerds who almost asphyxiated me because of their inexperience. Two weeks ago, I could honestly claim I was a good girl who had been betrayed by her fiancee. Then everything changed. After I danced nude for the first time, Tony had raped me in The Pink Pussycat dressing room. The next night Tony had taken me again and then sold my body to my best friend's husband, Frankie. That nightmare night had concluded with my being raped by a renegade payday lender. Even though I had been well paid by Tony, I could at least claim none of it was consensual. I doubted my feeble claims of innocence meant anything to anyone. After all, it was my choice to put myself in situation after situation where men would assume my body was for sale. I felt numb.
Carmen sat behind his desk and smiled at us. "We have some important Japanese guests tonight. The president of Yamanami Heavy Industries is visiting his local operation for the first time. Mr. Masahiro is here with his personal assistant Hisayo and the local managers. I am sure you know how important Yamanami is to Rivervale after all the mills headed south. Even more important to me is how much the Japanese spend at The Dollhouse every week. Normally, I would have a couple of my regular girls take care of someone as important as Mr. Masahiro, but his managers saw you two dancing last week at The Pink Pussycat and asked that you attend their little party."
Ashley said, "What do you want us to do?"
"I want the two of you to wait on their table and take care of their every need. Give our guests the same care you would give the President of the United States. These gentlemen are big spenders and tip like crazy. I want them to be happy, so they'll continue as regulars. When in doubt, give them a smile and bow. Capisci?"
Ashley said, "What about our turn dancing on stage?"
Carmen thought a moment. "We're swamped tonight, so I need Ashley to do her performances. Tiffany will have to cover Mr. Masahiro's party solo while you dance."
Ashley said, "OK."
Carmen said, "Ashley, just one thing before you go. How is Tiffany doing? Is she smiling at the customers?"
Ashley looked at me and grinned. I forced a smile in return.
Ashley said, "She's doing really great and smiling all the time. The tables I covered with her all loved her. She's a professional and left the guys wanting more."
"I am glad to hear she is doing well. Just so you know, Tiffany, the Asian rooms follow the same rules as the party room. You don't have to split your tips with the other workers. Whatever you make in tips is between you and Ashley."
I nodded. I hoped the Japanese would tip well. Maybe it was worth the extra effort. I was beyond desperate for every dollar I could get to help my sick daughter.
"Now, go to the bar and get a couple of bottles of sake for Mr. Masahiro."
Ashley and I went back to the wait station at the bar. Mike came over with two wine bottle size containers of what he said was premium sake. He set one on a wooden tray with eight ceramic cups and handed the other one to me. The large green bottles were decorated with cherry blossoms. Besides the Japanese script, there was an English inscription that read 'Soul of the Sensei."
Mike said, "We have a couple of cases, so pour the sake liberally."
I was puzzled at the large size of the sake bottles as well as the big cups. The bottle I was holding was surprisingly cool to the touch.
I said, "Mike, we can't serve it like this. You need to heat the sake. Also, I thought it was supposed to be served in a small flask and little cups."
Mike laughed and said, "This is premium sake. Only cheap sake is served hot. Very special brew sake is served at the same temperature as wine. We leave the bottle sealed, so they know we didn't substitute cheap shit. Show them the bottle before you open it. You will be expected to overfill the cups when you pour. It's a demonstration of wealth to waste some. Just don't drop a bottle, or you'll be crying when you learn the price."
Ashley said, "Thanks, Mike."
I followed Ashley across the room. I hadn't noticed the two alcoves across from one of the stages before. One was dark and closed off by sliding bamboo screens. The room next to it was open and lit. A couple of steps led up to a raised floor. Four men and a woman were sitting on cushions around a low table. An enormous and very dark-skinned Afro American was standing in the back of the room facing the door. He stared at me for a moment before dismissing me as a harmless.
Three of the men were dressed in business suits. The fourth man was older and wearing an elaborately painted silk gown. His robe was short and open at the neck. The fancy garment left the bottom of his muscular thighs exposed. The men were all smiling and chatting animatedly. The men in suits were very deferential to the man in the kimono. All of them had a good view of the stage where one of the club dancers was spinning around the pole wearing nothing more than a smile.
A young Japanese woman was kneeling on a cushion at the end of the table. She was wearing a short robe with a large bow on the back of her waist. The colorful silk robe was too short to be a kimono. Her jet black hair was done up with a sprig of flowers. I thought the long flowing sleeves were impractical. She smiled as Ashley, and I climbed the steps. She rose and guided us to a pair of cushions across the narrow table from the men. Ashley very carefully set down the tray. I knelt down and set my bottle next to the first one.
The woman spoke excellent English but with an accent. She said, "I am Hisayo. I am Mr. Masahiro's personal assistant. I am sure we will have a very fortuitous evening. I am sorry, but Mr. Masahiro does not speak English. I will translate his wishes for you."
My friend said, "I am Ashley, and this is Tiffany. We are eager to make you happy."
Hisayo introduced the other men. I only remember that Mr. Jiro was the general manager of the Rivervale branch. She said something about security when she motioned toward the man standing behind Mr. Masahiro. I assumed the muscular black man was the president's bodyguard.