Chapter 32

Despite being called a lounge, it was more of a high-end restaurant that offered a mix of dining and entertainment. The food was expensive, prepared by retired state banquet chefs. The first floor was an open dining area while the second floor had private dining rooms, each with a window overlooking the performance stage. "Ms. Sutton, I'm so glad you're here!" The manager, Lucas Harrington, greeted me warmly. "I watched your storytelling and folk music performance the other day and immediately thought you'd be a perfect fit for our lounge." He was enthusiastic but careful not to overstep, perhaps due to being a man. "Thank you. May I ask about the compensation?" "Two days a week, two thousand dollars per month. How does that sound?" I nodded. "That works. I can start immediately." Lucas seemed surprised at how readily I agreed, but his face lit up with joy as he led me to complete the onboarding process. The bank card I used now was a new one I had applied for after Benjamin an