Chapter 45: A Plot
Claire had barely donned her underwear, her skirt still in hand, when the door was violently kicked open. She instinctively shielded her genitals. Thankfully, only girls trailed behind Emily, no men in sight.
“You’re still playing coy, are you? You really think you’re some innocent little thing? I haven’t even pushed you into the fray yet, serving our guests. Do you have any idea of your own worth here?”
“Emily, you were the most beautiful, with the best figure and performance since you arrived, yet you’ve never had such treatment,” another chimed in.
“Yeah, why does this little wench, inferior in every way, get to lounge around, doing nothing but trailing Hannah?”
“We all have to work. No one’s exempt. Even Emily, with her status, has to perform three shows a day. Why should you be idle?”
“That’s right. Performance is key in Eclipse Nightclub. Those who excel can enjoy freedom, but those who lag must do the dirty, tiring, and disgusting work. Isn’t that the truth, Emily?”
Before Emily could respond, her entourage began their taunts with venomous sarcasm.
“Claire, it’s not that I don’t support you. It’s just that my ability is limited. Despite not knowing your connection to Hannah, it’s clear she cares for you deeply. No one would dare bully you with her around, but now that she’s gone, I can’t control these employees. Here, strength speaks. I can’t just favor you, can I?” Emily said.
She ignored Claire as she sat down, crossing her legs. Her words were draped in a veneer of politeness, yet the underlying message was unmistakably clear: Claire was left with two choices—work or face the consequences.
Claire replied, “Of course, Emily. I’m new and inexperienced. I hope you’ll guide me. I don’t mind taking on any work you assign. I haven’t made any mark here yet; I’m likely at the bottom of the pile. It stands to reason that I should be the one taking on the grunt work, the tasks no one else wants.”
Claire had endured far worse within the confines of prison; these barbed remarks were but a light breeze compared to the storms she had weathered. Those dirty, wearisome chores paled into insignificance beside the darkness she had endured within the cold walls of her prison.
Taking on extra work could ensure a deep, restful slumber when night fell.
“Fine, since you’ve volunteered, don’t blame us. When Hannah returns, you can discuss it with her,” Emily argued. She was ready to unleash her fury but was taken aback by Claire’s unexpected meekness. Naturally, she avoided complicating matters for Claire, knowing well that any other choice would make for a tough explanation upon Hannah’s return. Yet, public leniency didn’t preclude private torment.
From the moment Emily stepped into Eclipse Nightclub, she captured the spotlight, becoming the one to watch and the unrivaled darling of the scene. She had climbed to her position through sheer talent and tenacity. But what did this newcomer rely on? Claire, offering nothing and enjoying her days in leisure, was an affront to Emily.
“Understood. I’ll follow your orders this month. If I fail, I’ll still heed your commands next month.” Claire bowed and remained humble. She stood apart from the others. Regardless of whether they were coerced into this life or had chosen it freely, these women could survive. A moment’s lapse in caution could very well lead Claire to her demise or, perhaps worse, a return to the confines of her cell. Should she find herself back behind those bars, there was no doubt she would meet her end within those grim walls.
Elizabeth risked her very life to rescue Claire from prison, but if Claire ever stepped afoul of the law or if any shred of evidence surfaced against her, Frederick and Harrison would relentlessly pursue her, showing no mercy. Thus, Claire could only live cautiously, as if she were walking on the thinnest of ice. She endeavored to lose herself within the throngs, hoping that everyone might forget she ever existed.
“Alright, you’ll handle the cleaning and other chores this month,” Emily decreed. She examined her freshly painted nails before departing.
“I see. Goodbye, Emily,” Claire said, bowing respectfully.
Following the exit of Emily and her companions from Claire’s room, the resonance of their conversation lingered.
“I didn’t expect Claire to be so meek,” one remarked.
“The more so, the more it proves she’s cunning. Without Hannah, she’s just a humble servant,” another retorted.
“Perhaps she fawned over Hannah when Hannah was around. How else would Hannah be so kind to her?”
The women’s chatter filled the air.
“Enough. She’s agreed to work. Let her be. No more trouble!” Emily snapped, her patience thinning. Emily sensed that her endeavors today were akin to grasping at air, utterly fruitless, and the relentless prattle of the surrounding women only served to fan the flames of her frustration.
“Yes. Emily is right. There’s plenty of work here. She won’t last long alone.”
“Let’s just wait and watch. I’m curious to see how long she can keep this up.”
As Emily made her exit, the room buzzed with fleeting whispers before the women soon followed her out.
From that day forward, Claire threw herself into her work. Given her lackluster performance, it was no surprise she was relegated to the task of cleaning the most unkempt and chaotic rooms. The rooms where the floors were slick with vomit or stained with a cocktail of spilled drinks, bodily fluids, and even blood from the guests’ wild escapades were the ones assigned to Claire. Yet, these were mere trifles to Claire. Her previous job in Eclipse Nightclub had been cleaning. Before, she had single-handedly managed the workload meant for dozens at the Halfmoon Manor, tasked with keeping the entire estate pristine. Thus, these chores, however grim, posed no real challenge for her. Not only did she clean meticulously, but she also provided exceptional service, earning a surprising amount in tips within just a week. Her performance soared ten places, a feat that stirred excitement among the underground staff of Eclipse Nightclub. A cleaner jumping ten places in a week, while others hadn’t even begun, was unheard of. And yet, cleaning remained the most formidable of tasks to tackle. If all the prime rooms and the best clientele were handed over to Claire, wouldn’t this establishment swiftly turn into her domain?
“Emily, this woman is not to be underestimated,” some women whispered to Emily.
“Yes. Emily, you must find a way to deal with her.”
“I remember now. Isn’t that old pervert Neil Robertson coming over on the 10th of every month? Send Claire his way!”
A cluster of women encircled Emily, each one whispering their vicious plot against Claire.
“What if something happens to her?”
Emily hesitated at the mention of Neil Robertson. She still recalled the first time she witnessed a bloody scene in Eclipse Nightclub’s underground, in Neil’s very box. She didn’t know the details, only the aftermath of blood on the floor and the girl’s subsequent suicide by slitting her wrists.
Chapter 46: A Self