Chapter 7 Boss

• It has been a week since Bree became a dancer at Babes. The girls love her, Jojo hasn't complained and Rocco said she's learning fast. But the boss man, Gage, was not at all pleased with her progress, he still couldn't quite shake off the feelings he had deep in his gut towards his new dancer.
• That early morning it was pouring hard after closing time when Gage heard a curse from the entrance of the club. It was Bree, and she was talking to Elvis about her car that won't start. Gage knows he should not get involved but he couldn't help himself and offered her a lift back to her place.
• Elvis looked a bit stunned, his boss had never done that before. And Gage was fully aware that he shouldn't have offered her. He could easily tell Rocco to drop her off but he was on vacation with his girlfriend, Dee.
• Gage didn't trust the younger bartender and all the other girls had gone home because she was held up by Jojo for administrative purposes. Bree looked real frustrated with her car, even Elvis appeared nervous around her and the bouncer still had another two hours until his shift ended. Lately, the guy has been taking on double shifts to gain more income.
• So, there Gage was, waiting for Bree as she gets her stuff from the passenger seat and into Gage's car. "Are you sure I'm not troubling you? I can always call a taxi."
• "It's five in the morning, just the in the car Bree. I'm taking you home, leave your key with Elvis he get someone to fix your car."
• "But I..." Bree hesitated, she hates the idea that she needs to spend money on the car. She had just started paying a couple of her bills. But she needed time to fix her car, she knows she needs to, but Bree was hoping the car can endure at least another month before she takes it to the garage and put her credit card in use again.
• "Just get in, Jojo will set you up with a house loan. We have them for all of our employees." Bree had heard about it from Jade, but she was hoping she won't be needing it. Stubborn as she was she wanted to be debt-free as soon as possible.
• But when her boss looked at her like he was about to get angry with her, she quickly gets into his car. It was warm, spacious, and looked very clean. Bree felt self-conscious about herself, she felt her new poor self was not suitable to be in the car. But she didn't say so, instead, she complimented the car. Cause it was the kind of car that Everett's friends and himself would drive and she knows how much it cost thanks to all their women who can't stop bragging about their money.
• "Nice car."
• "Yeah, thanks. Are you warm enough?" Gage asked when he saw her shuddered from her almost soaked hoodie jacket. "You should bring a coat, it's going to rain a lot in the next few weeks."
• "I'm a bit cold but your car is warm, so I'm good." She smiled at her boss, politely. Bree didn't mention that all her coats, her branded designer clothes had been sold on eBay. She needed the cash, she even sold her bag, shoes, jewelry, basically anything she could sell.
• "Your teeth are chattering, take the hoodie off, come on, you'll get sick," Gage said as he took off his sporty leather jacket and gave it to her. Bree did as he asked and put on his jacket, the warmth from his body left on the jacket seeped into her skin and she thanked him immediately.
• "Thank you."
• "No worries. You don't have a coat?" he asked casually as he put the car in gear and started driving.
• "I'll buy one after I fix the car." Bree started to get annoyed, she didn't like people poking around her financial side. Cause she didn't have any. She took a breather as her chest would become heavy every time she thought about money, then automatically about Hazel.
• She had only been dancing for a week, and all the money she gets flies through the next bill. And it'll be a while before she could afford a coat, maybe she can go to one of those thrift stores and find a really cheap one.
• Bree told Gage to take a left after the next traffic light and they arrived at the shady part of the block, where her rundown apartment still stands and it frustrated the hell out of Gage when she pointed at her building.
• He didn't want to be the condescending jackass that criticize her home. But Gage made a mental note to talk to Jojo and give Bree a chance at the VIP tables, he was going to tell Jojo about her living condition. He knows she can keep a secret, and he knows his office manager has always been good with the girls.
• "Thank you for the lift, I'll see you tomorrow."
• "Welcome, and make sure you talk to Jojo. No, keep it until you buy a coat. I have another." Gage said as she was about to take off his jacket.
• "I can't, my kid will see it and she'll ask questions. I... I just need to focus on work and provide for her." She took off his jacket, put her damp hoodie back on, and carry all of her stuff before she closes the passenger door behind her.
• A daughter, he remembered reading it in her file. To her words, Gage nodded and said his goodbye.
• Bree walked up the stairs to the apartment and was greeted by Mrs. Mancini. Bree had taken Hazel to Jade's but her little sunshine was having difficulties sleeping in other people's homes. So for the time being she was scheduling playdates for Hazel, hoping once she gets to know them better she can be left alone with the sitter and the kids.
• "She's still asleep, she has a little fever, nothing to worry about. I gave her half a spoon of cough syrup and she's sleeping." I smiled at her and she gave me her warm motherly hug.
• Bree was having such a day, first was the car, now her little Hazel. But at least she will have money to pay for some of it. She still needs to use her credit cards, the young mom put that thought aside and walked to her daughter's room.
• She gets under the cover and holds her daughter, reminding herself that she was going to spoil her all day today. Warm soup, and soft baked potato while watching her cartoons all day.
• "Mommy, you're home."
• "I'm home, sweetheart. And I'll stay with you until you wake up." She kissed her temple. Hazel felt a bit warm, she will need another dose of the cough syrup after her breakfast.
• Three hours later Hazel woke up, snuggling closer to Bree until they both giggled. She was glad that her kid was not too sick, that she was still in the mood to snuggle.
• "How about I make you breakfast in bed then we can watch cartoons all day?"
• "But I want to see Leia, and Harley, and Chase." The four-year-old whined.
• "How about you get better today, and tomorrow you can play with them again? And if you finish your breakfast, I'll see if I can set up a video call with Leia and you can have her read you in bed?"
• Leia, Ivy's seven-year-old daughter had grown to like Hazel, and the little girl treated her like she was her big sister and followed her everywhere when they were on their playdate at Jade's.
• Hazel took her teddy into her arms, she thought about Bree's words then nodded her head in agreement. She left the little girl in her bed to make breakfast, then she called Ivy and told her about Hazel's condition.
• "Oh honey, sure and Leia will be so happy. You know I think in her mind, my kid is already adopting your kid as her baby sister." She laughed at her words and Bree was glad that she was so easygoing with her.
• At least the single mom can still be thankful that she has new friends, she just needs to work harder for her money.