But Laura and Garik were sad to see that our time was nearly up and had convinced me to go out with them. I’d tried to get out of going by telling them I didn’t have anything to wear to a club, but Garik had rectified that by sending me a dress and heels. Knowing I couldn’t avoid going without seeming rude after seeing how beautiful the dress was, I got ready and met them downstairs.

Garik’s wolfish whistle as I exited the elevator echoed through the entire lobby, causing heads to turn left and right. Laughing, I crossed to where he and Laura were already waiting with Park Min Gi and his translator, not in the least little bit sad that Rossi wasn’t with the group.

Honestly, I was surprised Emmie hadn’t already slit Rossi’s throat and tossed him in a dumpster as she’d threatened that first morning I’d met everyone. I doubted she would be continuing as his manager after all the shit he’d put her through all week, though. No amount of money in the world could possibly be worth the aggravation that came with that asshole, in my opinion.

“Krasivaya,” Garik called out as I reached them. “She is much beautiful, yes?” he said to Park Min Gi.

Pink filled my cheeks. I’d been teaching Garik and Laura English all week, and Park Min Gi had been steadily teaching me a little Korean. Other than being tired from all the work I’d been doing, and having to deal with Rossi, I’d had a lot of fun with these rockers.

“Much,” Laura agreed, taking my hand as we walked outside. It was freezing out, but I hadn’t thought to grab my coat, assuming it would be like everywhere else we’d gone all week. Straight into whatever vehicle was transporting us from Point A to Point B and then being shuffled into the warm building where either an interview took place or one of my charges did a live performance.

The limo was right outside the hotel entrance, so I barely felt the brisk wind as we climbed in. Garik, Park Min Gi, and his translator followed us in. It didn’t surprise me when Garik started handing out drinks from the minibar. I took the glass from him but didn’t even sip at the contents. The others were all over the legal age to drink, but I was only seventeen, and I didn’t want to get anyone in trouble, myself included.

Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up in front of the club Garik had been saying he’d promised his friend he would stop in at all week, and I realized I stupidly hadn’t thought to ask which club his friend worked at.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I groaned, tipping my drink back and downing it as I tried to think of some excuse to get out of this particularly sticky situation.

The sting of the alcohol quickly calmed some of my anxiety, and I reminded myself that Anya rarely worked at Iron Hand these days. She’d turned the day-to-day running over to a manager. A manager I, thankfully, had never met, so it wasn’t like the woman would recognize me.