Lev: a Shot Callers novel(84)

There had to be an alternative.

Sasha sat at his desk glaring at me. I was starting to think he had no other way of looking at me. “Burlesque,” he repeated, and I nodded.

“Yeah. I mean, you wouldn’t have to change much. The girls already know how to dance. The only difference would be that they’d keep some of their clothes on, but be a little flirty with the patrons, tease them. They want to keep their jobs, so even the ones who might not be on board will come around…I think.”

His glare had not evaporated. I didn’t know what his problem was. It was clear things were not going well.

I thought it was a good idea.

I stepped forward. “Listen, I’ve been online. Burlesque is so in right now. And it’s not just men who love it. Men find it sexy, and women don’t find it seedy. I found that a lot of women won’t go into a gentleman’s club, but they would a burlesque joint.” I paused to let that sink in. “You could double your audience.”

“Mina, we’re a gentleman’s club—” he started with that I-know-more-than-you-do tone of his.

I cut him off with a calmly said, “A gentleman’s club that is failing.” His jaw ticked. I added quietly, “We can change this. We don’t have to let Bleeding Hearts fall.”

Sasha picked up a pen, tapping it against his hardwood desk. “What do you care if we go bust?”

I didn’t need to explain anything to him. He was baiting me. He knew why I was invested. I loved his brother more than life itself. I simply stated, “I care.”

My heartbeat increased and I waited patiently to be told to go away. You could say I almost shit myself when Sasha opened his desk drawer and flicked a credit card over the table at me. “You’ve got a month to show me this could work. Otherwise, I’ll be doing it my way.”

“What’s my budget?” I asked as I took the shiny black credit card.

“There is no budget,” he muttered, but added on a smirk, “but know this. Whatever you buy that doesn’t get used is coming out of your pay. So spend wisely.”

Did he know whom he was speaking to? I was the queen of thrifty spending! I had this in the bag. Failure was not an option.

After the club closed that night, Sasha called everyone over to the bar to tell them there would be some changes being made. The dancing girls came forward, faces drawn. I wasn’t sure, but it was kind of obvious they thought the club was closing.

Sasha spoke. “I think it’s time we talked about where this club is heading.”

One of the girls’ shoulders slumped. She looked about ready to cry.

Sasha went on. “Things aren’t working the way they’re going. Aphrodite’s Kiss has stolen our customers. They took a chance and it paid off.” He paused before he added, “It’s time we did the same.”

He leaned back against the bar and asked, “What do you know about burlesque?”

Birdie chimed in, “I know about burlesque. I danced burlesque before I moved here. I tried to find an act to join when I first came down, but I couldn’t find anything.” She looked to the girls. “It was popular in Chicago. It’s more of a show than a strip joint.”

“Right,” Sasha nodded in agreement. He looked to his dancing girls. “You want to keep your jobs?”

A collective murmur went around. What a stupid question. Of course they wanted to keep their jobs.

Sasha nodded. “We shut down Monday through Thursday this week. I need to get some shit done. When you come back on Friday, I want to see what you can do.”

My face fell, along with my heart. “Sasha, that’s not enough time.”

He turned his hard stare at me and repeated, “Friday. I expect you here early. No later than five p.m. Show me what you got.”

My stomach dipped. It wasn’t enough time. I felt Lev’s eyes on me. I turned to my left and looked up into his warm honey eyes. “It’s not enough time,” I muttered.

He searched my face before calling out, “Birdie,” and when she approached, he stated, “You want to earn some overtime?”

Birdie grinned. “Hell yeah, baby. I got two little mouths to feed at home.”

His eyes softened at her enthusiasm. “Mina is going to need your help with the girls. Can you show them how it’s done, how to dance?”

She placed her hands on her hips and puffed out a long breath. “My guess is most of these girls started by doing some form of dance.” She stepped forward and hollered, “Yo, chicas. Who here has a background in dance?”

To my surprise, almost all the girls raised their hands. Birdie grinned. “Well, all right. We’re gonna need to buckle down and come up with some choreography before Friday. Who’s with me?”

The smiles on the girls’ faces were priceless. They were excited, which in turn excited me, taming the fluttering butterflies in my belly. I turned to Anika and Nas. “I’m going to need help with handouts and advertising.” I looked over my shoulder at Sasha. “Free drink with flyer?”

He nodded. “Okay.” Then he frowned then added, “One per customer though. You better write that shit down.”

Lev’s hand enclosed around mine and I smiled. “I will. I promise.”

A hand squeezed my shoulder. Birdie spoke quietly, “Mina, I don’t know if this can be done, but I’m going to try my hardest.”