The Betrayed Read Online Free
Author: Kate Kray
going to get the money for the mortgage and Ruby’s trip. She knew it would break her daughter’s heart if she couldn’t go. Rosie stared over at Roberto, deep in thought.
‘Okay then,’ she said, finally.
‘What?’ Roberto eyes grew visibly wider.
‘Okay… just for tonight.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Just to help you out. But you’ll have to show me what’s what… you know, the ropes.’
‘Oh! You won’t regret it,’ he cried. ‘And it’s nothing . Just act. You’re an actress, aren’t you? All you have to do is make out you’re “Luscious Lena the Hoochie Momma”.’
Rosie smiled, and shook her head. ‘Okay, Luscious Lena I am.’
Roberto clapped his hands together and jumped up and down, just like an excited child. ‘Follow me,’ he exclaimed, with a wave of his hand.
He led her downstairs to the dimly-lit bar and through to the dressing room reserved for the hostess girls. Kristina, wearing a transparent body stocking, her modesty barely preserved by a smattering of sequins, looked up quizzically as she saw her friend enter. She gave Rosie a reassuring smile as Roberto explained, then gave Rosie a hug, and her costume for the night.
Although she felt undeniably uncomfortable in her new role, Rosie shelved her morals for a few hours and got down to work. She kept reminding herself what Roberto had told her – that it was just like acting. Before she knew it, it was midnight, the club was packed, and the shows were already under way. Within the space of just three hours, even though she had consciously held back, she was surprised to see that she had earned almost £200 in tips.
And the money kept coming: by the end of the night, Rosie sat in the dressing room with £600 in front of her. She tucked it away in her bag and went to find Roberto. He was by the bar, submerged in darkness.
‘Is it that time already?’ he said, checking his watch. ‘How time flies when you are enjoying yourself. Well, you’ve done a great job, my darling. It’s just a pity you’re not topping the bill every night.’
‘Every night?’ said Rosie, cocking her head and giving him a look. ‘I told you, Roberto, this was a one-off. That’s it. Done. One night only.’ Inside, she felt a growing sense of shame.
‘You sure?’ said Roberto, raising his eyebrows. ‘Oh, okay, I know… one night. I can see I’m wasting my breath.’ Then, with an exaggerated look of disappointment, added ‘Off you go, then. See you tomorrow.’
‘See you.’
‘And Rosie, thanks again for helping me out, okay? I really appreciate it.’
Sitting in the mini-cab on the way home Rosie stared blankly out at the passing streets. It was dark and dank, drizzling with that fine rain she hated so much. Although what happened at the club wasn’t as bad as she had feared, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she’d let herself down. She felt cold inside, tainted by some of the things she had just witnessed. She hoped that most of the events of the evening would soon fade from her memory… especially the awkward 20 minutes or so when that businessman had tried to persuade her to ‘accompany’ him to his hotel. Has it come to this ? she asked herself. She consoled herself by switching her thoughts to Ruby – and how she was going to break the news that she could afford the trip, after all. They could even go shopping on Saturday, with all that money. But, try as she might, Rosie couldn’t get rid of the grimy, cold feeling in the depths of her stomach. And she knew what that feeling was: she was ashamed of herself.
Once she was home, she ran a bath to help her relax. Those exotic oils that Aunt Madge had given her for Christmas, she thought, might make her feel clean again. Sitting on the edge of the bath, wrapped in a white fluffy towel, she watching the red oil swirl around in the steaming water. Eyes heavy with fatigue, heart heavy with shame, Rosie put her head in her hands and wept.
three
L ate the
‘Okay then,’ she said, finally.
‘What?’ Roberto eyes grew visibly wider.
‘Okay… just for tonight.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Just to help you out. But you’ll have to show me what’s what… you know, the ropes.’
‘Oh! You won’t regret it,’ he cried. ‘And it’s nothing . Just act. You’re an actress, aren’t you? All you have to do is make out you’re “Luscious Lena the Hoochie Momma”.’
Rosie smiled, and shook her head. ‘Okay, Luscious Lena I am.’
Roberto clapped his hands together and jumped up and down, just like an excited child. ‘Follow me,’ he exclaimed, with a wave of his hand.
He led her downstairs to the dimly-lit bar and through to the dressing room reserved for the hostess girls. Kristina, wearing a transparent body stocking, her modesty barely preserved by a smattering of sequins, looked up quizzically as she saw her friend enter. She gave Rosie a reassuring smile as Roberto explained, then gave Rosie a hug, and her costume for the night.
Although she felt undeniably uncomfortable in her new role, Rosie shelved her morals for a few hours and got down to work. She kept reminding herself what Roberto had told her – that it was just like acting. Before she knew it, it was midnight, the club was packed, and the shows were already under way. Within the space of just three hours, even though she had consciously held back, she was surprised to see that she had earned almost £200 in tips.
And the money kept coming: by the end of the night, Rosie sat in the dressing room with £600 in front of her. She tucked it away in her bag and went to find Roberto. He was by the bar, submerged in darkness.
‘Is it that time already?’ he said, checking his watch. ‘How time flies when you are enjoying yourself. Well, you’ve done a great job, my darling. It’s just a pity you’re not topping the bill every night.’
‘Every night?’ said Rosie, cocking her head and giving him a look. ‘I told you, Roberto, this was a one-off. That’s it. Done. One night only.’ Inside, she felt a growing sense of shame.
‘You sure?’ said Roberto, raising his eyebrows. ‘Oh, okay, I know… one night. I can see I’m wasting my breath.’ Then, with an exaggerated look of disappointment, added ‘Off you go, then. See you tomorrow.’
‘See you.’
‘And Rosie, thanks again for helping me out, okay? I really appreciate it.’
Sitting in the mini-cab on the way home Rosie stared blankly out at the passing streets. It was dark and dank, drizzling with that fine rain she hated so much. Although what happened at the club wasn’t as bad as she had feared, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that she’d let herself down. She felt cold inside, tainted by some of the things she had just witnessed. She hoped that most of the events of the evening would soon fade from her memory… especially the awkward 20 minutes or so when that businessman had tried to persuade her to ‘accompany’ him to his hotel. Has it come to this ? she asked herself. She consoled herself by switching her thoughts to Ruby – and how she was going to break the news that she could afford the trip, after all. They could even go shopping on Saturday, with all that money. But, try as she might, Rosie couldn’t get rid of the grimy, cold feeling in the depths of her stomach. And she knew what that feeling was: she was ashamed of herself.
Once she was home, she ran a bath to help her relax. Those exotic oils that Aunt Madge had given her for Christmas, she thought, might make her feel clean again. Sitting on the edge of the bath, wrapped in a white fluffy towel, she watching the red oil swirl around in the steaming water. Eyes heavy with fatigue, heart heavy with shame, Rosie put her head in her hands and wept.
three
L ate the
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