Chapter 5 Farah

Holding the piece of paper Amer had given me, I stood in front of the club he directed me to. Almost all the buildings here in La Fera Dos were massive compared to those in La Fera Uno, but out of all of them, the structure right before my eyes was by far the largest. Its exterior was lavish, giving off the impression that only the wealthy elite of Isla Fera could ever set foot inside.

I wasn't picky about the kind of job I took, as long as it was honest and honorable. What mattered most was bringing home money for my two children. Amer assured me he got me a position as a waitress, not as someone paid to entertain men. That was more than fine with me; my sole priority was buying my kids what they wanted.

I didn't want Zav, Zoe, or Amer shouldering the expenses for my children anymore. Nor did I want to ask for financial support from anyone else, least of all their father. When I spotted Rihav at the mall last week, an overwhelming sense of inadequacy washed over me. 

He was rich, and I was poor, struggling just to survive. I was terrified that one day, my kids might leave me to go with their father. They were still so young and naive; a few shiny gifts might be all it took to draw them away.

“Miss, are you applying, too?”

The voice snapped my spirit right back into my body. Clasping a hand over my chest, I turned to face the speaker.

“My friend gave me something to turn in. He said I just need to hand it to the owner, and then I can start working,” I told her.

She nodded thoughtfully, placing a finger on her chin. “Ah, so you have a backer. Lucky you! I had a tough time getting in here. Club Highden is one of the biggest establishments here in La Fera Dos, so their hiring process is pretty strict. But don’t worry, I know you can handle it. You’re really pretty, anyway; you’ll easily snag yourself a hot, wealthy dog!” she gushed, practically swooning.

“A dog?” I asked innocently.

She burst out laughing and pulled me toward the building's entrance. “A handsome rich guy, not a dog!” she clarified, ushering me into a room.

I was about to step back out when she shut the door, leaving only a tiny crack. She whispered a quick "Good luck!" before closing it completely.

Taking a deep breath, I scanned the interior of the room. A woman sat right in front of me, looking my way. She smiled, and I returned the gesture before walking toward her to offer a polite greeting.

“You must be Amer’s friend, am I correct?” she began.

I nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. I am Amer’s friend,” I replied with a warm smile.

Having managed to attend some college, I was fairly fluent in English. It was also the language commonly spoken in the Madreal household, so I had grown quite accustomed to it.

“Amer is right, you are pretty. Are you only looking to be a waitress here at Highden Club? Or would you prefer another position with better earnings?” she asked, gesturing for me to take a nearby seat.

I immediately shook my head at her suggestion. I knew exactly what kind of job she was hinting at, and Amer had explicitly warned me to decline it. “I just want to be a waitress here, Ma’am. Amer mentioned that was the position available, so that’s the job I’d like to take.”

Moistening her lips, she looked me up and down before speaking again. “Sure, you can start later tonight. Don’t be late; three tardies and you’ll be fired immediately. Your uniform is already in your locker. You’ll receive your salary at the end of the month. The owner of this club visits during the first week of every month, so it would be best for you to meet him soon.”

Since it was currently the first week of the month, that meant the owner was in the building. I had no idea who he was, but perhaps I’d run into him later.

Remembering the document Amer gave me, I handed it over to the woman, whose nameplate on the desk read "Tessa." She took it, signed off on it, and offered me a smile.

“Your shift starts at 6:00 PM and ends around 12:00 midnight. I know you live quite far from La Fera Dos, so we provide free room accommodations upstairs. Your only day off is Sunday. Farah will guide you to your room…”

“Who’s Farah, Ma’am?” I asked politely.

“The girl who pushed you in here, she’s waiting outside.” She pointed toward the door.

I nodded and took my leave, as she clearly had nothing more to add. She extended her hand in a dismissive gesture, signaling that I was free to exit her office. I bowed slightly out of respect before stepping out. True to Tessa's word, Farahline was right there waiting.

“Hi!” she greeted me with a bright smile.

It seemed like her smile never faded; even earlier outside, she hadn't stopped beaming.

I wasn't sure if Farah and I would hit it off, but she seemed genuinely nice. I just wasn't used to being around new people besides the twins and Amer. She was gorgeous, fair-skinned, and her toned physique was accentuated by a cropped top and tight skirts.

“You live pretty far from La Fera Dos. What made you decide to work here?” she inquired as we walked together.

We stepped into the elevator, and she pressed the button for our floor. I was completely unfamiliar with the place, so I figured Farah would be a great help in showing me the ropes.

“The pay back in La Meyanda wasn't great, so I decided to move over to La Fera Dos,” I replied.

“Fair point. I actually came all the way from Los Dias myself. Life was tough back home, so I moved here to LFD, too.”

“By the way... do you happen to know who owns this place?” I asked shyly.

I didn't know anything about the owner, and the thought of them being intimidating worried me. I really didn't want to mess up and get reprimanded in front of everyone.

“Sir Haiden owns this building and the club downstairs. He isn't strict or mean, unless you mess up your job.”

I nodded in understanding. A wave of anxiety washed over me, but I prayed I wouldn't make any mistakes on the job. I really wanted to keep this position so I could buy my children the things they wanted.

Our conversation lulled as Farah became absorbed in her phone. Thinking of her phone instantly brought Hacov to mind, it was the one thing he wanted most. I let out a soft sigh. 

Don't worry, my sweet boy. Mommy will buy you one as soon as I get my third paycheck here. You won't have to watch from afar anymore.