Beyond the Velvet Rope Read Online Free

behind her. Two of her assistants, Len Harris and Amanda Karl, were working the front door, checking in VIP and special guests. They both waved at Thandie frantically.
    “Wow, I’m glad to see you!” Amanda shouted over the crowd. “Working the door is crazy business. It’s not ever midnight yet, and we’re already close to capacity. Craig keeps threatening to shut the door, but I have thirty people on the list who haven’t shown yet.”
    There was a time when Thandie would have had a meltdown over such news, but after five years in the business and many clients later she had dealt with bigger problems. Amanda had only worked for her for a year, and though she was very attentive and detail-oriented she often panicked during showtime.
    “Let me see the list.” Thandie scanned the sheet. Amanda was right. If these people showed up, they had to be let in. She checked her watch. “Keep a sharp eye out. I want them escorted in immediately. Leave Craig to me.”
    “Good,” Len said, “because he told me he wants you to come see him as soon as you arrive.”
    Fighting back the urge to groan, Thandie nodded her head.
    Recognizing her, the bouncer waved her towards the entrance, causing the long line of people to watch her curiously. When it came to New York’s nightlife, Thandie Shaw held the master key to almost every VIP room in the city. And that made her a hot commodity. She was currently marketing several clubs at once, and she was doing it with great flair. Celebrities loved her and the cameras adored her. But she couldn’t do it alone. Between sending press releases, creating VIP lists, and making sure the right people were at the right place, having assistants was a must.
    Turning her attention to her guests, Thandie ushered her group inside the club.
    A woman in line recognized the man standing beside Thandie and started screaming. This created a wave of screams as word soon spread that actor Ruark Randall from the hit cop show, LA Homicide, was there.
    Thandie ushered Ruark and the rest of his party through the door. As soon as they cleared the threshold, Thandie spied another one of her employees, Raja Travis, across the room. Tall and exquitsite, Raja was doing an excellent job of working the room, making sure everyone was having a good time. This was a must in their line of business. Getting people to the club was only a fraction of her job; the next step was keeping them there.
    Thandie guided her group toward the back of the building. The VIP hostess welcomed her with air kisses before unhooking the velvet rope that gave entry to a secluded room where only the most exclusive of guests were welcomed. Thandie had purposely arrived just before one o’clock. This was when the crowd was usually in full swing. Tonight was no exception. Neon lights lit the darkened room, and everyone except for herself seemed to be quite drunk.
    Ruark Randall and his group of rowdy friends were among the most obnoxious clients she had ever escorted. Ruark wasn’t necessarily cute, but he had a certain charisma about him that made people watch him. Perceived by the press to be relatively reserved, Thandie was surprised to discover that Ruark was very affectionate when he had been drinking. Right now, he was making a scene by practically humping her. She tolerated him as long as she could before disappearing to look for Craig, the manager.
    As she made her way through the dancing crowd, she told herself that although she was getting paid very well, it simply was not enough to be pawed at by a drunk idiot. It didn’t matter how famous they were, a drunk idiot was still a drunk idiot. She swore if Ruark asked her go home with him again she would punch his perfecty capped teeth out of his mouth
    “Thandie, baby, you did good.” She turned just as Craig Sanders strepped out of the crowd. “The Pussy Cats were spectacular,” he grinned.
    Thandie smiled tightly at the compliment. Craig was referring to the troupe of exotic