Enzo (The Wolves Den: New #1)

20. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Deja was sitting in The Wolves' Den; the interviews were set to start at one, and now it was one-thirty. When Declyn heard about what she did, he looked at her then walked away, came back to look at her again, and then called Enzo to follow him. She could hear the loud voices and knew that Enzo was catching flack for what she did. That didn't stop her. Things needed to change for these males, and she was determined to help that change happen.

Maybe this wasn't the way. She checked her phone for the hundredth time before she decided that maybe it was time to admit defeat. It was two, and not one potential employee, male or female, had walked through that door. Declyn could be right; maybe Deja was one in a million, but she didn't feel that way. Closing her phone with her interview questions on it, she prepared to find Enzo.

"Hello?" The voice came from the doorway. There was a woman standing there looking uncertain of herself.

"Hi, welcome to The Wolves' Den." Deja caught the slight opening of the office door, which meant that Enzo and Declyn had come out but were both blending into the background so the female wouldn't see them.

"Come on over, take a seat. You're the first to show up. I'm Deja."

"I'm Jessie," the female walked over to shake her hand. Jessie stood about Deja's height with porcelain skin, black hair and blue eyes that knew pain. She also possessed an abundance of curves. If looks meant anything, she would do well here.

"Have a seat." Deja motioned to the chair with a small intimate table between them. "I have to tell you I was just about to give up."

"This may sound strange, but getting here was a problem. There were plenty of women standing on the street a couple of blocks away who said they were answering the same ad I was, but they didn't walk down the street. Most left thinking it was a joke. A few left because they didn't want to be singled out. They saw the street but were scared to walk down it. I need the job."

"I'm glad you came. What's your whole name? We don't have a formal application, so we will be doing things a little bit differently."

"That's fine by me. My name is Jessie S. Murphy, I'm twenty-five and live in Homewood, which isn't that far from here."

"Jessie, do you have experience being a waitress?"

"I've worked for several restaurants. I have references if you need them."

"Where did you last work?"

"Saul's. It's in the Waterfront."

"I've been there before; it's a good place to eat." Jessie smiled and nodded yes, briefly.

"How long were you there, Jessie?"

"I was there for a year. Fifteen months to be exact."

"Why did you leave?"

Jessie dropped her eyes and started playing with the arm of the chair. "I got pregnant and after a while, I couldn't work."

Deja felt her eyes go to Jessie's ring finger. It didn't matter if she was married, but it was an annoying habit she picked up from polite society.

"No ring," Jessie held up her hand. "Mia's dad was a hit it and quit it kind of guy. He took off, and I haven't seen him since. Not that you need to know all of that."

"I know a lot about men who aren't what they seemed like in the beginning. Jessie, the hours here are late. They run from eight pm to two am. Would you be able to work those hours?"

Jessie's teeth began to work her bottom lip as she thought over Deja's question. Who would watch Mia? Her mom had her right now, but that wouldn't work at night; her mom wasn't going to sit at home. Jessie knew that from growing up with her.

"Mia's one year old. The prettiest little girl you ever saw. She wouldn't be a problem because she'd be asleep. Maybe she could sleep in the back room; I could work, and after I get a paycheck or two, I could hire a sitter for her while I'm here..." Her voice trailed off because she knew businesses didn't work that way.

"Deja," Enzo called her from the office. "Jessie, will you give me a minute? One of the people that owns the club is calling me."

She nodded and sat back in the chair.

Deja went to the door on the side of the bar and pushed it open. Declyn was sitting at one of the desks while Enzo was watching the camera that showed the interior of the club.

"She has a baby," Deja said, walking into the room and closing the door behind her. "What are we supposed to do with that? She can't work here. What if the Thalians target her like they targeted me? What if they target Mia?"

"What if she starves to death and takes Mia with her?" Declyn asked.

"What are you talking about?"

"When you first came here, Deja, we missed the fact that you were hungry. Not just hungry, but starving. After the experience of dealing with you, we can tell when a human hasn't eaten, and she hasn't eaten in days." Enzo walked up to her and wrapped her in his arms, remembering how it felt when he realized she wasn't eating.

"We can't turn her away," Declyn frowned, going to the camera to look at her.

"It's not your job to rescue the world." That's what her boss told her when she tried to plead with her to see a patient who couldn't afford to pay but still needed to be treated by the best. "We're a business, Deja. If a patient can't pay, then they need to go somewhere that offers free services. When we treat a patient, we expect to be paid."

She got it; she didn't like it, but she got it. They were doing what they loved for the money, and it wasn't their job to be responsible for the world.

"Enzo." Was she pleading on behalf of or against Jessie? There were just so many possibilities. "All right, what do you want me to do?"

"You make the decision. It was your idea, but remember Jessie was able to cross the barrier, and she was the only one brave enough to cross it." Declyn gave her a smile and pointed towards the door.

"Sorry about that," Deja said as she walked back into the club.

"That's fine; I should be going. Thank you for the interview. If you have a job opening after I find a sitter, I would like a chance to apply for it."

"Jessie, is someone with Mia right now?"

"My mom will watch her for a couple more hours before she needs to go out."

"Then would you mind coming with me? The interview isn't over."

Jessie stood and waited for Deja to lead the way. They walked out of the club, and Jessie followed her down the street until they arrived at her apartment. She led her up the stairs and through the door.

"I live here. When I first got this job, I lived in an apartment that was an active construction site. The new owners wanted me out, but I had nowhere to go." Deja gestured to the male sitting on the couch. "That's Ven."

He stood up and smiled at her.

"He lives here with me. Come into the kitchen."

She led them both into the kitchen. "We're just having sandwiches and chips today. Jessie, would that be okay with you?"

Her blue eyes were wide, and her tongue was rubbing over her lips. Declyn and Enzo were right; Jessie was hungry, starving.

"I don't want to inconvenience you."

"No inconvenience. I hope you like hot sandwiches. Ven hates them cold, so we have a panini press that I'm finally learning how to use. Ven will be recommending the soda; he says different sodas go with different foods. I usually drink whatever he tells me to." Deja caught herself as she heard the joy in her voice. She was this happy because Declyn and Enzo took a chance on her.

She still had a thousand questions or more. The Thalians were still a threat, but her life was good, and she wouldn't walk away from it because tomorrow there may be trouble.

"How long have you been working here?"

"It feels like forever, but it hasn't been that long. A couple of weeks."

"Oh."

"I agree; you don't have to say it. I live here in this apartment close to my job. I have Ven and Enzo. You'll meet him soon; he's one of the co-owners of The Wolves' Den." She placed sandwiches and chips before them. Ven took out the soda, and they all got quiet as they ate.

When they finished, Deja told Jessie how much she would make an hour and went over the dress code with her.

"If you choose to take the job, you can bring Mia. We have a room in the back where she can sleep."

Jessie started blinking fast, making sure that she didn't let a tear fall in her happiness to have a job.

"When do I start?" Jessie said, holding her breath.

"Tomorrow at eight. Did you like the sandwiches?" Deja gave her a gentle smile, liking the young woman more the longer she was with her.

"Yes, they were good."

"Glad to hear it because I have too much meat and wasn't sure how I was going to get rid of it." Deja started packing food, making sure there was enough for little fingers to eat.

"Ven, walk Jessie home and carry this," she handed him the bag of food.

"I can't take that," Jessie protested.

"I insist. To work here, you have to eat. If you want to bring your child to work with you, she has to eat; neither of you can be hungry. I found that out on my first night. I'll see you tomorrow night, Jessie."

Deja dismissed her with a smile and started cleaning the kitchen.

"Deja," Ven said on the way out of the kitchen. "I'm staying at Cole's tonight; I already told Enzo." He disappeared out the door before she could say anything to him.

They were up to something. What could it be?

Who cares? You're finally going to be alone with him.

Think of what could happen tonight.

No, don't think of that; you'll make yourself panic.

Tonight's my night.

That part of her that she left out of the cage came into the light. All the other voices in her head backed up, giving her room. This Deja was feral, a throwback to when humans faced dinosaurs and won. This was the side of her she kept under wraps because polite society wouldn't accept her, but here with these males that turned into animals, she would fit in as their equal.

Her feral side was right; tonight belonged to them.