The moment they left, I finally let out the breath I had been holding.
I hadn't even realized how tense my shoulders were until they relaxed.
Alex walked past me without a glance, his usual smirk absent. He didn't say a word.
Julian followed after him, his expression unreadable as ever.
The air in the room felt lighter now, like a storm had passed.
I stood frozen for a moment, still processing what had just happened. The power dynamic in that room had been suffocating. It wasn't just about serving drinks—it felt like I had been tested. And I had no idea whether I had passed or failed.
Before I could dwell on it further, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the VIP section.
I turned just in time to see the club owner rushing in.
Her eyes scanned the room until they landed on me, and the instant she saw me standing there, fully intact, she let out a dramatic sigh of relief.
"Oh, thank God," she gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "I thought I'd find you unconscious… or worse."
I frowned. Was that really a possibility?
She didn't wait for my response. Instead, she grinned.
"You handled yourself well," she said, eyes gleaming with something close to admiration. "I don't know what you did, but Julian and Alex walked out of here without a fuss. That alone is impressive."
I swallowed hard, unsure what to say.
I didn't do anything.
I just stood my ground.
And yet, the way she was looking at me—like I had just done something extraordinary—made it clear that this wasn't normal.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Because of that, I'm doubling your pay for the week."
I blinked, shocked. "What?"
She nodded. "You earned it. And if you can keep this up, there's more where that came from."
A part of me wanted to refuse. It felt wrong to be rewarded for simply surviving a conversation.
But at the same time…
I needed the money.
So instead of protesting, I smiled and gave her a grateful nod.
At least now, I had more reason to stay.
For now.
---
As the night continued, the club buzzed with energy. The owner moved back to her office, satisfied that Rose had made it through her shift unscathed.
Then, her phone rang.
She picked it up without hesitation.
Before she could even greet the caller, a deep, steady voice spoke from the other end.
Julian.
"I'm pleased with the waitress that served us," he said, his tone calm yet firm. "From now on, I want her to serve us. No one else."
The owner's eyes widened slightly, though she quickly masked her surprise.
It wasn't unusual for VIP guests to request specific staff members, but for Julian to do so… That was rare.
And that meant only one thing.
Rose wasn't just some waitress to him anymore.
She was now part of his world—whether she realized it or not.