Page 14 of When She Unravels
What do I have to lose? I don’t have much to offer, but I’m willing to learn.
There’s another problem though. “I don’t know if I’m legally allowed to work here.”
Astrid tsks. “You’ll find a way around it.”
“I had a friend from Argentina who worked here three summers in a row under the table,” Vilde says. “It’s not uncommon here.”
Working illegally in Ibiza—wow, life sure does take sharp turns. But if I can get a job without documents, I’ll be practically untraceable.
“It’s worth a try,” I say.
Astrid gives me an encouraging grin. “Get there around one,” she says before laughing at my puzzled expression. “The party goes all night and all morning here.”
Sounds like I’m about to become a creature of the night. It could be a good thing.
After all, in the dark there are more places to hide.
CHAPTER5
VALENTINA
There aretimes in life when one becomes untethered. The things we take for granted are ripped away from us. Conditions we assume to be permanent reveal themselves to be as temporary as a beautiful sunset. The familiar disappears, and we are forced to confront the unknown.
When I open my eyes, I don’t recognize anything around me. The walls are yellow, while I’m used to them being blue. The spring bed is lumpy and makes squeaking sounds every time I move. The bathroom smells like lemons.
“You’re in Spain,” I mumble quietly. “You got away.”
It doesn’t feel real. Maybe if I keep talking to myself, it will eventually click.
It’s dark outside. The cheap clock hanging on the wall says it’s twelve am, which means I need to start getting ready for Revolvr.
I shower and pull on the microscopic dress I bought after saying goodbye to Vilde and Astrid. They recommended I wear something showy to fit in. It has a deep V cut at the front, an even deeper one at the back, and the hem just barely covers my butt.
I’ve never worn anything like this in my entire life. I’m so uncomfortable in it, I can’t help but constantly tug it in place as I wait for a cab. When the taxi arrives, I maneuver my body inside the car and somehow manage to avoid a nip slip.
The girls told me earlier that I should just ask one of the servers if a manager is around when I arrive. It’s not much of a plan, especially since I don’t know what I’m going to say even if I’m able to find someone to talk to. All I know is that I’m ready to beg for a job if I have to.
“We’re here,” the driver announces as we pull to a stop.
When he tells me the amount, I groan inwardly. I didn’t trust myself to figure out the bus schedule in the middle of the night, but it looks like I’ll have to on my way home.
I pay the driver and get out to look around. The beach is nearby. I can’t see it, but I smell the salt in the air. There are a few apartment buildings, nothing too attention grabbing, except for a giant neon sign on top of a boxy structure that says Revolvr.
When I step inside the property, my jaw drops.
It’s way bigger than what it looked like from the outside. I’m lost immediately. I pass by at least three bars before entering the main area where a DJ is playing bass-heavy dance music. It’s a cavernous space with balconies, multiple levels, and a massive dance floor. You could fit thousands of people here, easy.
My head spins, and not just because of the strobe lights or the fast-paced Japanese cartoon playing on a big screen. They’ll never find me here, I realize with relief. If I get a job at the club, no one will notice me working in these masses of gyrating bodies and blinking lights.
I approach a small bar tucked against one of the walls and try to catch the attention of a server. “Excuse me!”
He doesn’t hear me. The music coming through the sound system is too loud.
I try again, and it feels uncomfortable. I’ve always been told to be soft spoken and demure, but I can’t afford to be like that anymore.Literally. If I want to survive on my own, I need to step way outside my comfort zone.
The server finally notices me. “Hola,” he says, eyeing me up and down. “Dime.”
“I’m sorry, I’m looking for a manager. Is there one here tonight?”
