Shadows In Durango

Chapter 5

*****Sofia's POV*****

I wandered around town after school, scoping out the different stores to find anywhere that could potentially be hiring.

The bustling streets were filled with a mix of trendy boutiques, cozy cafes, and the occasional dive bar as my stomach tightened with anxiety after each rejection.

The first place I tried was a quaint coffee shop with a warm, inviting atmosphere that unfortunately would have been the perfect fit for me. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filled the air as I stepped inside, hopeful at first. I approached the counter, where a barista with a friendly smile greeted me, only before my prayers were quickly crushed.

"Hi, are you hiring by any chance?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady and positive.

"Sorry, we're fully staffed at the moment we just hired two new girls," she replied kindly, though her words felt like another punch to my gut. "You can leave your resume though, and we'll keep it on file just in case anything changes." She suggested, as I nodded and forced out yet another disappointed smile.

I thanked her quickly and left, feeling a bit defeated but determined to keep going knowing that I had no choice but to find something - anything at this rate.

I continued on down the street, checking out every store window for 'Help Wanted' signs that didn't exist and even proceeding to ask a few more shop owners directly.

But the results were all the same no one was hiring.

As the evening approached, I found myself on a less busy street, one I hadn't explored before. The neon lights of a bar called "Intensity" caught my eye almost immediately as I swallowed hard and huffed out a breath.

It was a stark contrast to the serene coffee shop and cute stores I had tried earlier on that was for certain... but maybe this place was my last hope?

The sign flickered, giving off a slightly seedy vibe, but I was desperate at this point. Perhaps I would be too young to work in there... or perhaps they would overlook it and give me something small like a cleaning job at least? There was only one way to find out...

took a deep breath and crossed the road towards the bright light, pushing open the heavy door with

my eyes adjusted, I noticed the bar area

hollered over at me as I quickened my

reached the bar, where the man with a shaved head and a tight black t-shirt eyed me intensely,

he asked, his voice deep and gravelly as I swallowed the thick lump which was quickly forming in the

if you were hiring anybody? I really need a job, and I'm new to town so it's pretty hard finding something." I asked gently, my voice almost drowned out by the soft music due to how quiet I was speaking. He studied me for a moment, his expression

questioning brow, as

the bar gets in to serious trouble? Maybe I'm better

out of desperation, as he shocks me with a deep

continue our conversation out of boredom, as I shuffle from foot to foot and watch him wipe down the bar countertops

you be looking for?" I rush out, feeling the weight of desperation in my words as I was grateful for the man even giving me a chance to speak with him. "When young and pretty girls come in here it's usually to dance for dollars." He shrugs

Dance?

large room around me for the first time - instantly spotting a

Oh...

could maybe make it work?" I wet my drying lips, my mind racing to comprehend what I had

pole dancer? Would I have to remove clothes like

seeming amused with my pleading, as he

are too young to dance. I could maybe have you behind the VIP bar upstairs, if you don't tell anybody your real age, that way you won't be serving the majority of freaks that come in here either. I'll pay you in cash to keep it on the low though, yeah?" He rushes

It may not be

and Saturday and I'll pay you weekly... we open at 8pm and close at 2am and I'll pay you three hundred dollars every week

you even know! Uh... sorry what is your name?

I smile - appreciating that one of the scarier guys in town turned out to be the one to offer me a job.