Vikki

Ihad just enough petrol in my tank to make it to the city center. The person on the end of the phone who hired me on the spot said there was a staff car park, which means I don't have to pay for parking. (Not that I could have done anyway). It's cash in hand for tonight, so I'll be able to put fuel in my car to get home at least.

The car park is well lit in the mid November darkness, and I make my way over to what is clearly market as the staff entrance where, as soon as I buzz the intercom, I'm let in.

Inside the door is dark and I wipe my sweating hands on my pants.

"Hello, hello, hello!" A bright pixie, complete with glittering wings, greets me at a hundred miles an hour. "You are…?" She flicks over a page on a clipboard.

"Victoria Graham…Vikki," I reply, doing my best not to look at the paperwork.

"Ah, yes. New tonight." She gives me a megawatt smile. "I'm Alyssia." She must see, or maybe sense, my nerves. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Come with me and we'll get you your uniform."

She turns with a tinkle, and I follow her through the dimly lit passageway, up a set of steps, and through a set of double swing doors.

"Okay, here you go," Alyssia says as we enter a room filled with lockers. "You are…number six." She points with her pen down the rows. "Your uniform is inside, so if you want to get changed and then come meet me back outside when you're done."

I do as she says, finding my "uniform," which consists of a little black dress so figure hugging it basically shows what I had for breakfast (not much) and a pair of super high heels.

I don't wear heels as a rule. I'm five nine in bare feet and for most men, me in heels is intimidating, so I got out of the habit of wearing them.

But for the money I'm going to make tonight, I'd walk on broken glass. I totter out to find Alyssia, who is, fortunately, waiting for me.

"I've got you down as working in the snug tonight, if that's okay?" she says, leading me through a maze of corridors I've no chance of navigating on my own.

"Sure," I reply. "Whatever you want. Like I said on the phone, I'm happy with bar work or waiting, whichever you prefer. I can even do silver service if you need me to." I add helpfully.

"I'll get Nevvik to run through with you what you can and can't pour, once you're established, we'd like it if you could prepare drinks as well as server. Gives more of a personal touch with our clientele. They're a mix of human and monster," she says, unnecessarily.

This club is clearly very expensive, and it's well-known most monsters are well heeled. The Fae for instance are all royalty of some kind and have wealth beyond the imagination of most humans.

"You don't have a problem with serving monsters, do you?" Alyssia asks, her little pixie teeth suddenly sharp.

"Me? No, not at all," I respond quickly. "My day job is at a Magik Cafe." I reference the chain, as it's one which caters to all species.

"Oh? Oh!" Alyssia's teeth have returned to normal. "That's fantastic. We could do with someone to work our espresso machine. No one here is any good with it at all." Her smile is brighter than ever, and her wings wave in a non-existent breeze, spreading sparkling dust everywhere.

"I can certainly have a look." I smile hesitantly back.

Alyssia pushes open a door, and I follow her through into an comfortable round room. It's lit with subtle, easy lighting, and the plush leather furniture is set out discreetly around columns holding up a glass dome high above. On the far side is a bar, made to blend in to the wall behind it. The carpet underfoot is luxuriously soft.

"Hi! Nevvik!" Alyssia waves. "This is your new bar staff for tonight—Vikki. She knows how to work the espresso machine," she calls out before turning to me. "Nevvik will see you right. I don't recommend you wander outside of the snug until I've been able to give you the full tour and you get your bearings. I'll be back to collect you at the end of your shift."

She gives me a little shove, and I find myself face to abdomen with the most enormous orc I've ever seen.

"Hi," he rumbles. "I'm Nevvik. Did Alyssia say you know how to work the espresso machine?"