Club Thrive: Compulsion (The Club Thrive Series Book 1) Read online

  Skyler: Have a good night, can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

  Logan: Don’t work too hard. You’re going to need your energy for tomorrow.

  Skyler: Tell that to my boss at Dugan’s. It’s a Saturday night it will be packed with guys watching sports to escape their wives.

  Logan: Maybe I should hire you to tend bar at my club.

  Skyler: Lol you're funny, you know what I mean.

  Logan: Yup, those lonely bastards get to stare at my sexy woman all night and yes I’m jealous. I want to stare at you all night.

  Skyler: You can tomorrow night and Monday night.

  Logan: and Tuesday night?

  Skyler: Lol. we’ll see. I got to go, Sadie’s here and I need to figure out what we’re doing about her apartment. I think she’s moving in with Jonah.

  Logan: Okay, talk to you later and please think about working for me I’m going to need a new bartender soon.

  I want to send Skyler some flowers to work tonight. I pick up the phone and call a local florist and ask if they can get me two dozen red roses delivered to Dugan’s this evening. She tells me it will cost extra because she’s closing in thirty minutes.

  “That’s fine, my girl is worth it.” I ask her to put a note on a card for me and dictate it to her:

  Missing you and your beautiful smile.

  Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

  xoxo Logan

  The florist promises to have a vase of roses delivered by seven-thirty. I smile, hoping this will put an end to the constant apologies and move my thoughts back to work.

  I’m thinking about promoting Shane after he has had to endure all of Troy’s crap, but first I want to make sure I can nab Troy for the thefts. I have checked the camera several times to make sure it’s working and that no one can tell it’s there. The staff will start to arrive soon and Troy knows he’s a runner tonight, so I’ll be spending a lot of my night keeping an eye on these cameras and working on the contracts for singles night.

  I found a caterer to do the food portion of the night, and their price is quite reasonable. I want to rotate entertainment for that night so I have hired a DJ to play fun but lighter music.

  The club is going to open in about twenty minutes and my staff is busy getting everything ready. The club looks great, the DJ is in his booth, and bouncers are hooking up their ear wigs so they can call for backup if they need it. After walking the floor I call my bartenders over.

  “Okay guys. Shane and Kelly are on the main bar and Josh and Kendra are working the second bar with Troy as a runner.” I let them know that I’m impressed with how hard everyone is working and remind them Troy will be available if they need back up at their bar or if they are low on any supplies they are to call him.

  Jonah comes over the ear wig to let everyone know there is a line down the block outside and he’s ready to open when we are. My team is ready. I tell them to get back to their bars, and I give Jonah the all clear to open the doors. I whistle up to my DJ, give him a thumbs up, and the music kicks on.

  In no time my club is filling up and I’m pumped. I love seeing people flow through that door excited to chill with their friends and have a great night. My club is clean and has already built a reputation. I’m strict on my dress code and my bouncers take no crap. I want my club to feel comfortable and be a safe place for people to have a good time. I’m happy with what’s going on out on the floor and head back to my office.

  When I get to my office I have one ear wig set up on my desk that has everyone’s conversations flowing and I have one that I’m talking only with Jonah on. He’s now on the floor as a roamer so he can back up any of his bouncers but also meet me at the back room if I need him. I have the camera in there running on one screen and a few other cameras on the others. I purposely picked cameras I thought would catch Troy going from the back room to wherever he’s stashing his stolen merchandise.

  When Shane requests a bottle of Grey Goose over the ear wig, Troy responds that he’s on it and heads to the back. I give Jonah a heads up that he’s going to the back room but to stay discreet. I see Troy walk into the back room, he grabs the Grey Goose, signs it out, and returns to the bar with it.

  I start working on some promotional signs for singles night because I want to get them to the printer so we can run live with it the week after school starts. I’m promoting it with a variety of entertainment, but some signs will have Sky’s name on it as a live singer. There will be postcards handed out at the door in two weeks as people are leaving and a huge sign will be in the window outside the club. Additionally, I’m running a radio ad on the popular radio stations around here. I have learned promotions are the most important part of this business.

  “Logan, you there?” Jonah asks in my ear.

  “Yeah, what’s up?”

  “Did you hear anyone call for liquor on your other radio?”

  “No, nobody has called for liquor.”

  “Troy is heading to the back.”

  “Okay, hang tight a second.”

  I watch the camera and I see Troy appear. He takes two bottles, writes something in the log book, and heads back out. “He’s leaving. Which way is he going?”

  “He’s heading to the second bar but walked past it to the employee area.”

  “Okay, follow him at a distance. I want to know where the fuck he’s stashing it.”

  “I’m right behind him.”

  “I’m heading to the back. I want to see what he wrote.”

  I walk out to the floor in almost a jog. I go to bar two first. “Do you guys need anything?” Both bartenders shake their heads and I continue on to bar one. “Shane! Are you guys all set?” He nods and I head to the back. I unlock the door and sure enough there are two bottles signed out as broken. This guy is a fucking idiot if he didn’t think I would catch on. I press the button on my ear wig. “Jonah, where are you?”

  “I’m watching Troy. He’s drinking in the employee area straight from the bottle. He stashed the other one in his locker. I even recorded it with my phone.”

  “I’m on my way. He’s out of here.”

  I run to the back, and sure as shit Troy is sitting on the floor drinking vodka straight from the bottle. “Those are ‘broken.’ Are you sure you should be drinking from them?” I say, scaring the shit out of him.

  “I can explain,” Troy says, standing up hastily. “It wasn’t me the other times. I needed a pick me up tonight.”

  “A pick me up? You stole from me. If you needed a pick me up, you should have bought a drink and brought it to the back, although that would have gotten you fired too because there’s no drinking on the clock and you’re wasted.”

  “I swear this is the first time I drank on the clock, Logan.”

  “I don’t care. Every time a bottle is signed out broken it’s your writing, and any night you’re not here there aren’t any broken bottles. I have video of you going into the back room, removing the bottles, signing them out as broken, then sneaking back here to drink them. I’ve already called the cops and asked them to come to the employee entrance of the club. Consider yourself terminated, and I’ll be deducting all the alcohol you stole from your final paycheck.”

  There is a bang on the back door, and Jonah heads over to open it. Sure enough there are two cops standing there and I know one of them.

  “Hey, Mr. Michaels, how’s it going?” He shakes my hand.

  “Good, John. Listen, I need you guys to take this piece of shit out of my club. He’s been stealing from me and he’s wasted right now.”

  John shakes his head at Troy. “Do you have proof?” he asks me.

  “I do and I’ll be happy to get it for you. Do you want it right now?”

  “Nah, I’ll come by tomorrow and check out what you have while the bar is closed. He’ll be in a cell all weekend anyway so we have until Monday.”

  “Cool. Here’s my card. Give me a shout tomorrow and I’ll meet you here whatever time you want, but do me a solid and try to make it
after 11:00 please. I’ll be here until 2:00am.”

  “Yeah sure, no problem. See you tomorrow.”

  The cops leave and I turn to Jonah. “That was awesome! You kicked some serious ass tonight.”

  “It was your plan, Logan. I just stuck to it. I have the entire thing recorded on my cell.”

  I shake his hand and nod. “Yeah, well that earned you a promotion to head bouncer. You, my friend, are now in charge of our bouncing crew and will be responsible for hiring your own people.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Dead serious. It’s time I start to build a team that will let me back off a little, and I want you to be a part of it. Don’t say anything yet. I’ll announce it tonight after closing.”

  “No problem! Thanks, Logan. I promise I won’t let you down.”

  “Alright, get back to work.”

  ***

  Skyler

  I walk into Dugan’s and I can’t stop thinking about Logan’s offer to come work for him. While I know I could handle the crowd, and that has always been more of the scene I want to work in, I would have to prove myself so that the others won’t think I got the job because I’m dating Logan. Part of me doesn’t give a shit because I know I can hold my own. I’m going to sing there periodically anyway so it would be nice to do everything in one club. And I wouldn’t have to wear this stupid ass shirt anymore.

  I walk behind the bar and talk to Megan about what we need for the night and how it has been so far. She gets here at 6:00, but I don’t have to be here until 7:00. She gives me a list of what we need from the back so I head off to get it. I also notice we are low on some of the fruits we need for the bar, so I restock that too. We mainly use lemons and limes because we don’t make too many fruity drinks in here, but I get to work on washing them and cutting them so we are set for the night.

  A woman appears in front of me with a bouquet of roses, and I look up.

  “Excuse me,” she says, “I’m looking for Skyler.”

  “I’m Skyler.”

  “Well, Skyler, you have yourself a very sweet boyfriend. These are for you.” I sign for them and pull out the card.

  Meghan comes over. “What’s it say?”

  I show her the card, and she reads it out loud: ‘Missing you and your beautiful smile. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. xoxo Logan.’

  “Ooh, somebody has it bad. I mean come on, you just spent Friday night with him, right?”

  I nod, smiling ear to ear. “He’s so sweet to me and we have so much fun together. I have it pretty bad for him too.”

  “Hey, Sky, I’m glad your love life is going well and all, but can I get a beer?”

  I roll my eyes and head to my end of the bar to get Sammy his beer.

  When I return with it, he laughs and says, “Thanks, sweet thang.”

  I hate that they have nicknamed me that in this bar, and that gives me one more reason to leave. The only person who can give me a pet name is Logan and he calls me by my full name. Funny thing is, I hate my full name coming from anybody else, but for some reason I don’t mind when he says it. Actually, I kind of like it.

  Thinking of Logan, I send him a quick text.

  Skyler: Thank you for the roses. They are beautiful and yes you made me blush when they were delivered. Meg says you got it bad ya know.

  I tuck my phone in my back pocket and get back to wiping down the bar. Meg and I try to keep everything as clean as possible as the night goes on so we won’t have too much to do at the end of the night. The last thing I want to do at two am is clean a bunch of cups and bar tops. My phone vibrates in my back pocket. I have to ignore it for a moment because a few more guys walked in to watch the game and I want to serve them first. I get them their drinks and set them up on the tab they requested before I check my phone.

  Logan: I think she’s right. Have you thought about what I said earlier?

  Skyler: Yes I have and yes I want in. I’m done with this place.

  I put my phone away because if my boss sees me he may send me home. Although I could go work for Logan next week, that isn’t how I want to leave. I’m talking with patrons and making drinks, and as the night goes on the place has become standing room only. I have no time to stop or breathe. I tell Meg I’m running to the back for some stuff and that I’ll be right back. On my way to the back some drunken guy grabs my ass.

  I stop and turn around. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

  “Oh come on, sweet thang, you have a great ass.”

  “I don’t care how great my ass is. Keep your hands to yourself or I’ll break your fingers.”

  “Aren’t you feisty tonight?”

  “No, I’m not feisty. I’m also not your grope toy to put your hands on whenever you want. I’m a lady and I damn well deserve to be treated that way.”

  He’s hammered and I can tell he’s getting pissed, so I walk away before it gets any further out of control. When I get to the liquor room, I text Logan.

  Skyler: Are you serious about giving me a job?

  I get an instant response.

  Logan: Yes.

  Skyler: I’m over this place. These guys are pigs. I’m giving my notice tonight.

  Logan: Do you need me to come down there?

  Skyler: No it’s fine, I’m going to stay behind the bar and have Meg do the chasing the rest of the night.

  Logan: Call me if you need me.

  Skyler: Will do xoxo.

  I get back to the bar and let Meg know I’m done running for the night because if one more guy puts their hands on my ass I’m going to quit and she’ll be on her own. She tells me not to sweat it, that she has my back.

  The rest of the night went pretty smoothly. Megan had to do a few runs to the back and things started to quiet down around midnight, so we were able to get almost everything cleaned up. I tell Meg that I have to go see Mitch and I’ll be back in a few minutes to help her finish cleaning up.

  I knock on my boss’s office door.

  “Enter!” he shouts, like he always does.

  “Hey, Mitch, I need a minute.”

  “What’s up, Sky? I have to finish this report for the owner tomorrow.”

  “I’m giving you my two weeks’ notice.”

  He looks up. “Are you serious?”

  “I am. I have been given an offer to work a bar in a club setting, and I’m going to take it.”

  “I heard about your rich club boyfriend. Does this have to do with him?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “I guess not. You’ll be missed around here.”

  “Mitch, the only thing these guys are going to miss is putting their hands on my ass, and I’m tired of it. I’m not some plaything for these guys to get off on. I’ll finish the two weeks unless you find a replacement for me sooner. Thanks for the two years here.”

  I walk out and head back to the bar to let Meg know that I gave my notice and that I’m done in two weeks unless Mitch hires someone sooner. I told her I was going to work the club with Logan. We have everything cleaned up and Meg lets Mitch know we were leaving. I meet her at the back and tell her to go ahead, that I’m hitting the ladies room and then heading home.

  “I’ll see you next weekend, Meg.”

  “See ya, Sky. Congrats on the club gig. It’ll definitely be better than here.”

  I walk into the bathroom, do my thing, wash my hands, and step outside. I dial Logan’s number and he answers as I’m shoved from behind. I drop my phone and scream.

  “What’s up, Sky? What, all of a sudden you have a boyfriend and so we have to keep our hands to ourselves?”

  “Fuck you!” It’s the guy from earlier, and I don’t even know this asshole’s name. I go to pick up my phone and he shoves me again. “What is your problem? You’re drunk. Go home.”

  He picks me up and slams me against the wall. He grips me by the face. “My problem is you. I see guys grabbing that fine ass of yours all the time, telling you how hot you are, and you flirt with them. Then when I do it you
make me look like a fool in front of my boys.”

  “You are a fool!” I scream, trying to get away from him. He backhands me, and the pain brings instant tears to my eyes. I’m a fool. Why did I tell Meg to leave? We both know we should never walk out alone.

  He picks me back up again and says, “You’re going to learn what happens when you make Billy look like a fool in front of his friends.” He hits me again. At this point all I can do is pray that either Logan can hear what’s going on or Mitch comes walking out to save me. My face is swelling from his attack. I start to fall forward and he slams me to the wall again, knocking the wind out of me. When I start to cough, he laughs.

  “Oh I got something you can choke on, you bitch.” He lets go of me to undo his pants, and I lift my knee, ramming it into his balls.

  “Choke on that, you fucker!” I run to snatch up my phone but I’m not quick enough. He grabs my ankle and I fall to the ground, screaming for help.

  A car comes screeching to a halt, two men jump out of it, and Billy goes flying backward.

  I’m sitting on the ground crying with one eye swollen shut. I can’t see what’s going on through my tears. I hear grunting, and then Logan is at my side.

  “It’s okay, baby, I got you.” I hear sirens and can see the blue lights flashing. “She needs an ambulance!” Logan shouts to them.

  “There’s one on the way,” an officer replies. “Should be right behind us.”

  The officers run over to Billy, who is on the ground pretty messed up. Jonah is standing with Logan. The cop looks at us. “Ma’am, did you do this to him?”

  “I rammed my knee into his balls and then couldn’t stop kicking,” I say through tears. I know it was Jonah who beat him up, but I don’t want him getting in trouble after he came to my rescue. “I got away and fell here when I found my phone.”