Antonia stood up straight, panicking. And in her panic, she looked straight into his eyes.
For a moment, Brett didn’t recognize her. He just stared at her eyes for a long moment.
That’s when Antonia snapped out of her trance. Jumping, she turned away quickly and headed towards the bar. In one mirror, she looked back and noticed that he was still standing there, exactly as she’d left him.
Antonia stood at the bar shaking. Had he recognized her? What was he doing? There wasn’t a way to turn around and find out. So she stood at the bar, gripping the wood of the counter as her knuckles turned white.
She almost jumped out of her skin when he sidled up beside her. “You have great legs,” he said softly.
Antonia, not sure if he recognized her, just stood there, her face staring down at the bar counter.
“Have I mentioned how lovely your breasts are?” he said next, tossing a nut into his mouth.
At first, she felt a wave of jealously come over her. How dare he talk to her one night about how they were going to see a lot more of each other, then the next night flirt with an unknown woman in a bar. Then another thought struck her. A much worse thought. And her face drained of color. She gasped, turning to face him. He knew! He had to know.
“I’m going to walk downstairs to the front and wait in my car. I’m leaving this coat here for you. If you’re not down there in three minutes, covered with this coat, I’m going to come back and get you,” he said softly.
Still looking at the mirror behind the bar, he waited a moment for effect before saying, “Antonia, please don’t make me come back up here and get you,” he said, more softly.
Antonia could only nod her head. She couldn’t say anything else. She could barely swallow but that didn’t matter because her throat was bone dry from fear.
Brett laid the trench coat on the bar counter, then turned and walked away.
As soon as he left, Monica and Georgette came up and stood on opposite sides of her. “What happened?” Monica asked, worried.
Antonia took a moment to speak. “I’ve been found out. He’s expecting me downstairs. I have to go,” she said.
“Don’t be silly,” Georgette said. “He can’t control you. What’s he going to do? Get you fired? I don’t think so.”
Antonia nodded her head, fighting back the tears. “Remember the last time you took my station?” she asked Georgette.
The other woman nodded. “Well, it was because my brother was sitting at one of my tables. My real name is Antonia Attracelli.”
There was a pregnant pause before Monica exclaimed, “You’re kidding, right?”
Antonia shook her head, wishing it wasn’t true.
Monica’s stunned expression spoke volumes. “You’re related to the Attracelli family?” Her tone indicated that she was hurt.
Antonia nodded. She was ashamed that she’d lied to her friends for so long. Well, she hadn’t exactly lied, but she’d omitted a great deal.
“So, if my brothers want me fired, I’m fired,” she explained.
She pushed away from the bar and took the coat. “I have to go now. He’s waiting for me.”
“Honey, you don’t have to go. Just stand up to them,” Monica said.
Antonia shook her head, wiping a tear away. “I can’t. That would just make everything worse. I’ll call Mike tomorrow,” Antonia said, her voice shaking. She pulled the coat over her shoulders and went to her locker to get her purse. She left her bag of clothes there, she didn’t want to take the time. Her three minutes were over so she had to hurry.
The elevator opened and Antonia stepped out into the white, marble lobby of the building. It was strange to leave the club from this exit. She was so used to the back of the building that she’d never thought about the splendor of the lobby. She didn’t give the white marble décor much thought tonight though because right in front of the revolving doors was Brent, leaning against his car, arms crossed over his chest.
When she came through the brass-lined, revolving doors, he stood up and opened the passenger door for her, then waited, watching her walk towards him.
Antonia stepped into the car, then flinched when he slammed the door once she was seated inside.
Brett pulled away from the curb and merged into the traffic easily. He drove to her apartment without saying a word.
Antonia didn’t say anything when he followed her up to her apartment. Thankfully, the elevators had been repaired that day, so she didn’t have the five flights of stairs to deal with tonight. She unlocked the door and walked inside.
“How long?” he asked as soon as the door was closed.
“Four years,” she said, not pretending that she didn’t understand the question.
Brett nodded. “I suppose your brothers don’t know anything about this?” he asked.
Antonia turned away from him and stared out the balcony door. “No.”
“Why not? You don’t think they’ll approve?” he asked angrily.
She didn’t answer him. “Antonia, what were you thinking?”
Turning to him, she said, “I was thinking that I wanted to make a living. I was thinking that this was the only job that I could make enough money off of and still invest more than I live on. I was thinking that I was a grown woman, able to make my own choices,” she said, her voice rising as she started becoming angry herself.
“So you parade around in a cat suit?” he said, her anger fueling his.
“I didn’t see you complaining about the other women. In fact, I think you enjoyed the sight of Monica parading in front of you, bending over to serve your drinks. I think you enjoyed it a lot.”
“Take it off!” he said through gritted teeth.
“What?!” she exclaimed. “I’m not taking anything off!”
“Antonia, take off that ridiculous costume or else!” he said taking a step towards her.
“Or else what?” she challenged.
“Or else I’ll take it off for you,” he said, taking another step towards her.
“No way. Stay away from me,” she said and tied the sash on his trench coat.
Brett shook his head, then shrugged his shoulders and moved forward. With barely any effort at all, he had his trench coat off her and threw it to the floor. He then twirled her around and unzipped the back of her costume.