Here is the thing about job interviews in the cabaret world.

When you come in, you are expected to be able to provide a snippet of your talent. Give them a reason to hire you instead of the long line of other people clamoring for this job. Whether it be a short live performance or a tape of a pre-filmed one.

Jennie has no tapes.

So, she packs her favourite outfit (for good measure and maybe she'll seem more professional that way) and she rehearses her best dance until her feet are sore.

The benefits her mother listed sound amazing.

And in this world ㅡ in this field of work ㅡ benefits like this are rare, if non-existent.

So, despite her fear of the owner, she wants to get this job.

When she's outside of the club, her heart races.

The place is ㅡ for lack of any other better word ㅡ massive. The building is five stories and Jennie knows the club occupies the first three floors. From the outside, it looks like a building that would better fit an Embassy or something of the sort. Jennie had heard that the place is supposed to be classy. Very high quality.

What is she even doing here, again?

When she arrives at the grand entrance door, she's greeted by two burly men dressed in black suits, with earpieces.

"Uhmㅡ Hi. I'm here for a job interview?" It comes out as a question, not as a statement, and Jennie wonders if they can see how out of place she is.

"Name."

Jennie blanches.

Did her mother even give her name to the Snake Charmer?

Is she actually penciled in for an interview?

Or did the Snake Charmer just say it to get Jennie's mother off her back?

How did she even get in, if there are guards who ask for your name before you are allowed to come in?

"J-Jennie Kim."

The man looks down at the clipboard in his hands. Traces his finger down the board, eyes following his own finger.

"Ah, yes. Here you are." Jennie is surprised her name is actually in there. The man opens the door for her. "You may enter."

Jennie swallows and moves to step inside.

"You have an interview with Ms. Manoban?"

Jennie stops. Looks up at the large guard.

"Yes."

The guards exchanged surprised glances, then nod. Composed.

"Her office is on the fifth floor. Can't miss it."

Jennie nods and, with that, goes inside.

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

When Jennie is inside, she cannot keep her awed expression off her face.

The club is... Red.

Crimson red lights illuminate the entire space. She feels like she's stepped into a world of red.

The carpet underneath her feet is red and expensive. The sofas are red; high quality and plush. The floor of the grand stage in the very middle of the space is red and the curtains enveloping it are red velvet.

When she lifts her head, she's surprised to see how high the ceiling is, but the surprise fades off as she remembers that the entire club is made on three levels, with a large staircase leading to the second floor, then the third and so on, so on.

Right now, the club is empty, only a bartender cleaning the counter and a few sound technicians working by the expensive equipment.

Everything looks so expensive and luxurious, that Jennie finds herself shifting on her feet, pulling her little duffel bag closer to her side and feeling utterly out of her element.

"Hey, kid, are you lost?"

Jennie's head whips to the bartender, who's cleaning the glass counter and regarding her with a soft smile. Way softer than Jennie thinks is appropriate for a stranger to be regarding her with.

"Uhhㅡ no, I'mㅡ I'm here for a job interview?"

The bartender raises a brow.

"Who's conducting it?"

Jennie gulps.

"Theㅡ The owner?"

The bartender raises his brows, clearly not expecting that answer.

"Boss never conducts the job interviews. What position are you applying for?"

Jennie gulps, again. Her fingers shake on the strap of her bag.

"A dancer."

The bartender tilts his head, but after a few seconds of staring at Jennie,

"Oh. Okay. Well, she's in her office right now. Take the elevator, it's faster that way."

Jennie gulps and nods.

"Uhm, when I get up, where exactly do I go?"

The bartender smiles then. Friendly.

"Trust me, you won't miss it."

⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆

When the elevator doors open and Jennie steps out, her breath catches in her throat.

There, right opposite the elevator, is the Snake Charmer's office. It's plain obvious, when you take into consideration the massive, red marble snake seemingly eating up the double doors. It's weaved through to make it look like the snake is curled around the door. Guarding it.

Jennie gulps the ever-rising panic and takes the few necessary steps to the door. She can't back out now, she's gotten so far. She raises her hand for a knock, but then lowers it.

Her hands are shaking too bad for her to knock.

It's okay, it's okay, it's okay. You're gonna be fine. Mom wouldn't send you into a snake's den without being sure it's safe.

With that, Jennie knocks.

There's a pause between her knock and the permission to enter.

"Come in." The voice is deep. It sends shivers down Jennie's spine and makes her fingers clench tight into the strap of her bag. Rather than being terrifying, the voice makes warmth surge through Jennie's body.

It's... Pleasant. Sensual. Not at all what Jennie was expecting.

She opens the door without much thought, and the first thing she takes notice of, is how red the office is.

A red carpet, plush underneath her feet, just like the one in the club. A red sofa and red curtains framing a rather impressive glass wall. Red accessories all around and all over the room.

Jennie begins wondering if red is the Snake Charmer's favourite colour.

The black leather swivel chair is facing the dark-tinted, glass wall with the back facing Jennie, so she can't see the Snake Charmer just yet, but it's the only thing in the room that seems to be in a different colour other than red, and it leaves Jennie a bit baffled.

"Uhm. H-hello. I'm here for theㅡ"

"Job interview."

With that, the chair turns, and Jennie almost stumbles to her knees.

The woman sitting in the chair is ethereal.

Not at all what Jennie was expecting to see. She was expecting to see someone... ugly, for some reason. Someone who's face would match the atrocities that the Snake Charmer has been known to have done.

Instead, she's met with, quite possibly, the most beautiful woman she's ever seen in her life. Strong facial features, pointed nose, plump lips, dark eyes that bore into hers with a startling intensity. Pitch black-hair, bangs perfectly placed and styled. Crimson red lips slightly pursed in what appears to be interest.

A crimson red snake curled around the top of the chair, right above the woman's head.

The said snake raises its head and hisses. Jennie almost stumbles back.

The Snake Charmer hisses something; low and soothing. The snake immediately lowers its head, curling back into a more relaxed position than the tense strike it had been readying itself to launch into.

"You must be Jennie Kim."

Jennie gulps, again. She nods her head because it seems now that words will definitely fail her.

"Please, come in. Severus doesn't like when the door is open for too long."

Jennie almost trips in her haste to come in and close the door. When it is securely shut, the Snake Charmer speaks again.

"Take a seat, please."

Jennie's knees shake as she walks over to the large desk seperating her from the Snake Charmer. The dancer does her best to not look the mobster in the eye as she slowly lowers herself into the comfortable leather armchair, her bag coming to rest by her feet.

Lalisa Manoban is almost hauntingly beautiful.

"Your mother is a rather persistent woman." At that, Jennie's head whips up to look at the woman. A wicked smile graces Lisa's features. "She wouldn't go away until I said yes to the interview. I must admit, I admire such bravery."

Jennie's ears are burning with the heat of a blush, and she already knows her face is red. She lowers her eyes.

"I- I'm sorry about my mom. I didn't a-ask her to do that."

Jennie's gaze is focused on the desk in front of her as she speaks, and there is a click of the tongue then.

"Lovely, how am I supposed to give you a job here if you can't even look me in the eye when you speak?"

Jennie's chest burns. She lifts her gaze, teeth stuck on her bottom lip as she looks the latter in the eye. The Snake Charmer's smile grows slightly teasing.

"There we go, much better." She drawls, leaning back into her chair. "Your face has certainly gained a shade of red I thoroughly enjoy."

Jennie's breath stutters.

"Uhmㅡ I'm here for the job interview."

She reminds the woman as if she's forgotten why Jennie is here.

Lisa's smile doesn't change.

"Alright. Well, normally I'd ask you to show me what you've got. Got any of your performances on video?"

Jennie gulps and shakes her head no. Lisa clicks her tongue.

"I'd rather know how you dance before I give you a spot on the team here."

Jennie's knee shakes. From nervousness, partly.

And partly from how goddamn attractive Lisa Manoban is.

"Ye-yeah, I expected that. I, uhm, I can show you?"

She's expecting the Snake Charmer to nod her head and gesture for her to do so.

Instead, Lisa shakes her head.

"Can you hold your own on stage?"

Jennie's mind blanks for a second, but then she's nodding her head.

"Uhm, yes. I- I don't want to sound overly confident, but I was considered the best dancer back in my old club."

Lisa tilts her head.

"Is that so?"

Jennie nods, without hesitation this time.

"Why did you leave your old club?"

Jennie exhales a shaky breath.

"The owners changed and the new one allowed his clients too much freedom."

Something in Lisa's expression changes, but it's quickly composed before Jennie can have a chance to realise what it is. When she speaks next, her voice is deeper than before. A tad colder and it makes Jennie shiver, but not in an unpleasant way.

"Did anyone have too much freedom with you?"

"No." Then she falters. "Well, a-almost. But I left before anything could actually happen."

She's not sure why she's telling the Snake Charmer that. It's like she's being hypnotised. She hasn't even glanced at the snake above Lisa's head once now.

Lisa's jaw ticks.

"Tonight."

Jennie blinks, her mouth parting in question.

"There's a free time-slot for a performance tonight. Would you like to have it?"

Jennie gasps.

"Am I hired?"

Lisa's lips curl into a lucious smile.

"Not yet, lovely. Let me see if you really can hold your own on stage tonight, and then I'll give you a definitive answer."

All Jennie can do is nod mutely.