Chapter 17: See You Next Time, Sir

"Bicuici, are you sure you want to go out with this kid? Are you sure? If you feel threatened in any way, just tell me, and I can handle it for you. That's what the club hired us to do," a bodyguard approached the backstage dressing room and asked the already changed Melanie.

The part-time dancer, having just arrived, had spent only fifteen minutes in the champagne room with that kid and then came out indicating she was ready to call it a night and leave, which bewildered everyone at the club.

For part-time dancers like Melanie, the club didn't actually impose any strict requirements. Only the strippers who signed an official performance contract had specific performance time commitments, so the club theoretically had no right to stop Melanie from finishing early, nor would it interfere, but there was concern that Melanie might have encountered some trouble.

After all, it wasn't yet the busiest time of the night when a woman with Melanie's looks could possibly earn a couple of hundred dollars in the private curtain rooms or champagne rooms after dusk fell.

But now, after the fifty dollars from the champagne room, deducting the club's share and tips for the backstage staff, Melanie personally only ended up with fifteen dollars.

Preparing to leave with just a fifteen-dollar earning suggested that something might have gone wrong during the fifteen-minute performance in the champagne room.

The most likely scenario was that the overly young-looking white kid, having learned Bicuici was new and lacking experience in dealing with customers, had frightened or deceived her into going to a motel to book a room?

"No, Big Pete, thank you, I'm fine, and I haven't been threatened," Melanie removed her vulgar high heels, put on her own flats, rose from her seat, and said to the club's bodyguard.

Seeing Melanie insisting on leaving, the bodyguard could do nothing but shrug and step away from the door: "The guests come to the club for entertainment, and there are many rules, just as the girls in the club have rules, and that is, never believe the sweet talk from those guys. Making money is the top priority."

"I will," Melanie stepped out of the dressing room.

Meanwhile, Will Kendrick, with a stunned expression, interrogated Tommy Hawk: "Kid, did you fucking slip that blonde some kind of drug? She agreed to leave with you after just fifteen minutes? You know drugging her is unethical, right?"

"I know," Tommy stood at the bar and gestured to the bartender with a finger, signaling for two drinks.

After Tommy's response, Will Kendrick nodded in satisfaction and then continued, "What I'm saying is, it's even more unethical if you don't share the method with a friend."

Tommy turned, took two glasses of whiskey handed over by the bartender, gave one to Will Kendrick, and said with a smile, "If I had a method, I would of course share it with you, just like this drink."

"Alright then, I'm forced to accept the least likely reason, that your charm is simply outstanding," Will Kendrick took the glass with a laugh: "Seeing you all geared up to leave with a woman reminds me of my own youth."

"To those years," Tommy lifted his drink in a toast.

Will Kendrick clinked glasses with Tommy, a hint of wistfulness in his voice: "To youth."

"Would it be convenient for you to leave me a contact detail, Mr. Kendrick? I'm thinking of buying some cheap goods from your factory," Tommy downed his drink and spoke up.

"Oh~" Will Kendrick gave Tommy a despondent glance: "Kid, you're the most boring guy I've ever met. I was just deeply immersed in nostalgia, and you shattered my mood with a single sentence. I've already told you, that's not a retail convenience store, one hundred boxes minimum order; I'm just a maintenance engineer, not the factory manager, and I can't just sell you a few cheap cigarettes because we've shared a few drinks at the strip club."

"I'm planning to buy a hundred boxes."

"Tommy, I..." Will Kendrick started to express his impatience to end this meaningless conversation, when he suddenly froze and looked at Tommy, "Sorry, kid, what did you just say?"

Tommy looked at Will Kendrick and nodded affirmatively, "I'm planning to purchase a hundred boxes."

After a long pause of a dozen seconds, Will Kendrick spoke again, "If you're not joking with me, I think I now understand why you can take a girl out for fun, and it's not with personal charm, but with cash."

"In my mind, personal charm includes personal cash," Tommy said with a smile.

Will Kendrick asked the bartender for pen and paper, then wrote down a series of numbers, "This is the processing plant's maritime satellite phone number. Call it and say you were referred by Will from Miami, and although there's no discount, at least you shouldn't have to wait too long to get loaded."

"Thank you, Mr. Kendrick." Taking the number handed over by the other party, Tommy Hawk expressed his gratitude.

"But you better think twice. It's okay for you to buy cigarettes, but if you want to sell them without paying taxes or having a license, just wait to get caught. I heard the tax department has already nabbed a lot of cigarette traffickers in New York and Boston," Will Kendrick warned with a serious expression, "The processing plant doesn't care how many cigarettes the traffickers get confiscated, since they've already been paid for."

"I'll heed your advice, Mr. Kendrick," Tommy put away the paper and thanked him again sincerely, "Thank you, I won't do anything that violates United States law, my mom taught me that."

By this time, Melanie had already changed into her casual clothes and come out. Will Kendrick saw Melanie, then let out a despondent sigh, lowering his voice to a murmur in Tommy's ear, "This woman is a bit too mature for you, but she's just perfect for me. I wish it was she who went to my booth earlier. Kid, she's beautiful, you're lucky."

"My biggest stroke of luck was walking into this club this afternoon and meeting you, Mr. Kendrick," Tommy Hawk said to Will Kendrick, "If you have enough time off, I welcome you to visit Warwick City. Though there's no strip club there, I can introduce you to my aunt. Maybe we could have a barbecue together or take a boat out for a sea breeze."

"I'm not interested in country old ladies, and the sea here will never compare to my hometown Miami in my heart. Kid, if I have time, I'd still choose to stay around here in the bars, showing off my charms to the ladies," Will Kendrick waved his hand, dismissing Tommy's words as a tease about his amorous nature.

Tommy Hawk nodded in understanding, "OK, see you next time, sir. I hope rejecting my offer doesn't make you regretful."

"Never will, see you next time," said Will Kendrick.

Tommy Hawk walked towards Melanie, who was waiting at the door. As he walked, he said in a voice just loud enough for Will Kendrick to hear, "Auntie, let's go."

That sentence left Will Kendrick petrified on the spot.

By the time he came to his senses and chased out of the club, Tommy and Melanie were no longer in sight on the street. He dejectedly turned around, intending to head back to the club.

The club's muscular bouncer stood in front of the front desk, looking at him expressionlessly, "Sir, please pay the entrance fee of three US Dollars."