Black Girl Isn't Let Inside the Club – Story of the Day

Alison and Nicholas are eager for a night of fun at an upmarket nightclub, but it all starts falling apart when the bouncer refuses to let Alison inside. However, the night takes an unexpected turn when the staff realizes a mysterious social media influencer is at the club.

Alison felt a surge of excitement as she and Nicholas finally reached the front of the line at the upmarket Indigo Club. The pulsating beat of music leaked through the club's doors, teasing them with the vibrant atmosphere that awaited inside. As they approached the stanchion, Alison couldn't contain her enthusiasm.

"I'm so excited," she muttered to Nicholas. "I've heard so much about this place. Everyone says it's amazing."

"I hope everyone is right," Nicholas replied.

Nicholas grinned at her as the bouncer unclipped the velvet rope, finally allowing them access. He took the lead, striding past the stern-faced bouncer, eager to step into the lively world beyond. However, their anticipation met an unexpected obstacle.

As Alison moved to follow, the bouncer swiftly intervened, clipping the red velvet rope to the stanchion, creating a sudden barrier that blocked her path.

"Hold on there," the bouncer commanded. He studied Alison through narrowed eyes. "You can't come in here."

A look of surprise crossed Alison's face as she stared down at the rope dividing her from her friend, the vibrant energy of the club's interior now seemingly distant.

This wasn't just a velvet rope but a barrier to a night of anticipation. In the dimly lit nightclub reception area, the thumping bass resonated through the sleek walls, creating an atmosphere charged with excitement. Quickly responding, Nicholas stepped forward, attempting to defuse the situation.

"Hey, relax, man. She's with me," Nicholas said, his voice cutting through the pulsating beats. His brows furrowed, expressing confusion and outrage as he gestured towards Alison.

The bouncer, a stern figure in the dim light, resolutely left the barrier in place for Alison. His dismissive tone hardened as he delivered a blunt verdict:

"It doesn't matter. She doesn't belong here."

As another woman approached the stanchion, the bouncer swiftly moved to let her in, leaving Alison to ponder the unjust turn of events in the throbbing heart of the club. She met the bouncer's gaze, feeling a silent challenge in his eyes, a suspicion growing that this exclusion might be fueled by racism.

Undeterred, Alison voiced her frustration.

Do you think I don't know what's going on here? It's because I'm Black, isn't it?"

The words hung in the air, a bold assertion challenging the unspoken bias lingering in the nightclub's shadows.

Whispers of surprise rippled through the queue behind Alison as she boldly confronted the bouncer. The night air carried the hushed gasps and curious murmurs as bystanders became unwitting spectators to an unfolding drama.

"No, we have a strict dress code here, and bare shoulders are not allowed," the bouncer declared, looking sternly at Alison. With his stance rigid, he exuded authority in the softly lit queue area.

In response, Alison pointedly glanced down at the sleeves of her dress, which covered her shoulders and the upper half of her biceps. The dim glow highlighted the subtle details of her outfit, emphasizing the absurdity of the bouncer's objection.

"Are you serious? Do my ankles need to be covered too?" she retorted with a mixture of disbelief and frustration, her voice carrying a note of incredulity that echoed through the queue.

"So that's the problem?" Nicholas, sensing the escalating tension, intervened.

The shifting shadows played on his face as he sighed, shaking his head at the bouncer as he stepped forward. Without hesitation, he removed his coat, the fabric rustling softly in the night breeze, and handed it to Alison.

"Thanks," she said, gratefully accepting the coat and draping it over her shoulders. The touch of the fabric brought a momentary sense of relief, the soft warmth contrasting with the tension in the air.

The bouncer observed, his jaw tightly clenched, clearly displeased by this turn of events. The subtle play of emotions on his face, a silent acknowledgment of the unexpected challenge presented by Alison and Nicholas.

"Okay, what about now?" Alison questioned, seeking a resolution. The neon lights from the club's entrance cast a faint glow on her determined expression. "My shoulders are as covered as they can get."

"No," the bouncer replied, barely even looking at her.

His rigid posture held the line, a silent barricade against Alison's persistence, while his jaw tightened and his brow furrowed with irritation. He struck an intimidating figure, but Alison was undeterred.

"And what is the problem this time?" Her voice, edged with frustration, cut through the muted sounds of the club behind her. "Are my heels not high enough? Or perhaps my perfume is the wrong scent."

"The problem is you look suspicious, and I cannot search you," the bouncer explained.

His words hung in the air, causing the whispers passing through the people waiting in the queue to intensify.

"I look suspicious… we all know what that's code for, mister. Now, why can't you just search me and get this whole nightmare over with?" Alison challenged.

The echo of her question blended with the rhythmic beats beyond the entrance. The night seemed to pause, caught between the desire for revelry and the reality of an unjust confrontation.

"Because only female guards can search you," the bouncer responded. A hint of stubbornness colored his expression as he upheld the nightclub's protocol.

"So, call one of the female guards then," Nicholas replied. He gestured towards the unseen interior of the club. "You have a headpiece on, surely it can't be that much trouble to get someone else here to sort this out."

The bouncer's reply added another layer of complication. "Thing is, we don't have any female guards."

Alison, now thoroughly exasperated, declared, "Okay, this is just getting more and more ridiculous! How can you have a policy like that and then not have any female guards available to conduct a search? No matter how many excuses you come up with, we can all see what's really happening here, and I deserve to be treated the same as anybody else!"

"Maybe we should just go," Nicholas said.

A woman wearing a badge identifying her as a manager appeared then, catching the bouncer's and Alison's attention as she approached the stanchion. The manager's confident stride and no-nonsense demeanor cut through the escalating tension, momentarily shifting the focus from the discriminatory dispute.

"Is there a problem here?" the manager inquired, addressing the tense situation.

Although she had a stern, no-nonsense expression, her entrance into the spotlight brought a sudden calm, like a steady breeze cutting through the brewing storm.

"Yes," Alison responded, gesturing towards the bouncer, "your bouncer's racist."

The words hung in the air, a stark accusation that caused the manager's expression to shift from curiosity to concern. She shot the bouncer a fierce look and then smiled reassuringly at Alison.

"I'm very sorry, Miss," the manager said. "There's been a misunderstanding. I assure you that the only reason we bar entry to guests is due to dress code violations or some form of misconduct. Please come on in and have a cocktail on us."

The manager's words, a soothing balm, dissolved the tension. Alison's triumphant expression aimed at the bouncer conveyed a silent victory, prompting him to step forward and unclip the velvet rope hesitantly. The soft rustle of the rope echoed the manager's gesture, allowing Alison to enter the vibrant heart of the club.

"That's right, man," Nicholas said, expressing his support for Alison's cause.

With the rope lifted, Alison walked defiantly past the bouncer and into the club, her gaze unwavering. Nicholas put his arm around her, and the couple made their way inside.

The manager, Gina, maintained her stern look at the bouncer as she jerked her head at him, bidding him to step aside for a private conversation. When her back was turned to the customers waiting at the door, Gina's smile transformed into a sneer. She stared after Nicholas and Alison as though they'd tracked filth all over the carpet.

"Hey, hey," The bouncer, Jim, protested as Gina tightly gripped his arm.

"Why the hell are you making such a scene, Jim? You know the big influencer who reviews nightclubs in Austin is coming tonight, right? He said so in his last post. Maybe he's already here," Gina scolded. She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and glared at Jim. "The last thing we need tonight is a scandal."

Jim, visibly confused and outraged, responded, "But you told me yourself not to let anyone like her through! You said we don't want this influencer to post any videos or images that show the wrong type of clientele in our place."

Gina leaned in, speaking through clenched teeth, "Yes, but do it quietly, Jim, without drawing attention. I may have hired you for your brawn, but I assume you have enough brains to know how to be discrete."

Gina walked away, leaving Jim staring after her, contemplating her instructions. Shaking his head, he returned to his spot at the door, a mix of frustration and resignation on his face. The woman standing next in line stared grimly at him as he unclipped the rope to let her in.

"You aren't going to say anything about my shoulders?" the woman asked.

Jim sighed as he glanced at the spaghetti straps on the woman's glittery red dress.

"Do you want me to, lady?" Jim snapped. "Or do you want to come in and have a good time?"

The woman side-eyed him briefly before striding away down the corridor leading to the bar and the main dance floor.

"After all this trouble, that mysterious influencer better give this place a good review," Jim muttered.

Meanwhile, Nicholas and Alison arrived at the bar. The low hum of conversations and clinking glasses surrounded them, creating a lively backdrop to their entrance.

"That was a good start to the evening," Nicholas remarked sarcastically. His eyebrows raised in mild disbelief, a silent commentary on the unexpected twists of the night.

"Don't worry about it. The party starts now," Alison responded confidently, flashing a reassuring smile at Nicholas as she returned his coat. The exchange carried a subtle understanding, a shared resilience against the earlier adversity.

As Nicholas put his coat back on, Alison sat at the bar, ready to enjoy the night. The sleek surface of the bar offered a cool contrast to the warmth of the club's atmosphere.

"Bartender, the manager said that I was supposed to get a cocktail on the house. I'll have a Negroni," Alison ordered, her voice carrying a note of celebration.

Nicholas slid into an empty seat at Alison's side. "I was just about to say the same thing."

The pair smiled at each other, but the bartender rudely interrupted their moment by slamming his cocktail mixer down onto the bar.

"I have a cocktail that's just right for you, a black mamba. You are the main ingredient, so get the hell out of here," the bartender declared. His sharp and biting words cut through the air like an unwelcome discord in the upbeat ambiance.

"What? You're nuts!" Her tone of disbelief and defiance at being compared to a highly venomous snake challenged the bartender's audacity.

Nicholas, indignant on Alison's behalf, retorted, "How dare you talk to my friend this way?"

The bartender, displaying a blatant disregard, walked away to serve someone else. His casual departure left Nicholas and Alison taken aback by the unexpected hostility in the upscale nightclub. The contrast between the glamorous setting and the bartender's discourtesy lingered in the air, a jarring reminder of the night's unpredictability.

"Can you believe this?" Alison said to Nicholas. "First that jerk at the door, and now this one behind the bar."

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes…" Nicholas shook his head as he trailed off. He gave Alison a determined look. "Don't worry, I'm not going to let them get away with treating you like this."

Nicholas rose from his seat, a determined look on his face. But Alison placed a hand on his arm, gently diverting his attention.

"Seriously, Nick, maybe we should just leave." Alison scanned the other patrons seated at the bar and bopping on the dance floor. "The whole point of us going out together was to have a good time, and that clearly isn't going to happen at this place."

Nick also glanced around the room then. He'd seen so many online posts from people having a good time at this club, but now a glaring detail leaped out at him. Alison was the only person of color here. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't recall seeing any sort of ethnic diversity in the photos posted by people while in this club.

The realization hit him like a sucker punch. How could he not have noticed such an important detail or realized what it meant?

"I'm so sorry, Alison," Nick said. "I'd never have asked you to come here with me if I'd realized this place was racist. But I can't let them get away with this. Will you let me try to fix this?"

Alison sighed. "Okay, but only if you swear that this is it. Any more overt remarks about my skin tone or microaggressions, and we're out of here, deal?"

"Deal." Nick turned back to the bar and slammed his fist on the smooth surface. "Hey, I'm talking to you," he snapped at the bartender, "my friend and I are waiting for our drinks and an apology from you for being such an ignorant jerk."

After the commotion at the door, Gina retreated to the corridor connecting the reception area to the bar and stockroom. In this staff-only area, she could keep an eye on the floor while maintaining some privacy. She removed her tablet and checked the nightclub's social media pages. When she noticed the mysterious nightlife influencer was live, she quickly clicked on the post.

A video popped up on the screen. In it, her bartender, Neil, showed off his flaring skills as he mixed a drink for a customer.

"He's already here," Gina muttered.

In the background, Nicholas's voice echoed as he angrily confronted the bartender, calling for attention.

"Hey, don't ignore me! Hello?" Nicholas demanded.

Gina glanced into the bar through an open door connecting to the corridor. Her eyes widened as she observed Nicholas speaking vehemently to Neil.

"I'm gonna trash this place right now if you don't apologize to my friend, do you understand me?" Nicholas declared.

With a severe and calculating expression, Gina raised a hand to activate her headset. If the mysterious influencer had his camera on Neil right now, then he was undoubtedly watching the same drama unfold as she was. She couldn't let this riff-raff ruin her club's reputation.

"Jim, get over here. I got a job for you," she said into her headset. "Come to the bar immediately."

Gina then strode to the end of the corridor and out onto the floor. She strode quickly around to the bar and approached Nicholas.

"I demand an apology! You insulted my friend," Nicholas continued, showing visible frustration and anger.

Gina tapped Nicholas on the shoulder, and he turned to face her. A look of relief washed over him as he recognized the manager.

"Finally! You really need to talk to your staff, miss. What happened with that chump at the door was bad enough, but now this clown is ignoring us and refusing to give my friend the free cocktail you offered her." Nicholas glared at Gina. "What kind of circus are you running here, lady?"

Gina glanced at Neil. This guy was right; she would have to talk to her staff, possibly even put them through some training to teach them how to be freaking discrete! She truly shouldn't have to spell out to them how to get rid of an unwanted customer tactfully, but it seemed like she was surrounded by morons.

"We came here expecting a good time in a high-class establishment, but instead, we've been insulted at every turn," Nicholas continued. "And I've had enough. I'm gonna trash this place right now if you don't apologize to my friend."

Gina immediately turned her attention to Alison. She hated to play out this game, but the mysterious influencer was here somewhere and might even be recording this exchange. Much as she'd love to just throw this troublesome duo out onto the sidewalk for being rowdy, Gina wanted that good review.

"Miss, please accept my sincere apologies," she told Alison. "Rest assured that I will be taking my staff aside to discuss this matter and ensure it will not happen again."

Gina smiled reassuringly. If she were being recorded right now, all the video would show was an efficient, caring manager who swiftly tended to her customers' needs. Perfect publicity.

"That is not enough! Your staff have done nothing but humiliate me all evening," Alison retorted. "They should all be fired for their racist behavior."

It was getting harder and harder for Gina to maintain her professional veneer. Part of her hated Jim at that point. If he'd just handled things correctly at the door, she wouldn't be stuck here doing damage control.

"Again, I'm so sorry. We will do everything possible to make it up to you. We're going to make our VIP room available to you tonight," Gina assured, occasionally glancing at Alison while speaking more directly to Nicholas. "Your own personal bartender will be available to mix the best cocktails for you and tend to your every need."

Gina then glanced past the couple to Jim, who had appeared right behind them, standing stiffly with a stoic expression."Please, take our guests to the VIP room, Jim." Gina smiled brightly at the bouncer before turning back to Nicholas. "Just follow Jim. He'll escort you there and ensure you're comfortable."

Alison and Nicholas glanced back at Jim. He pointed towards the door, indicating the direction of the VIP room. However, they were clearly still upset as they turned to look at each other.

"VIP room?" Nicholas frowned at Alison. "What do you think? I didn't even know they had one here."

Alison, arms crossed tightly over her chest, let out a sigh. "I don't know. If that guy behind the bar wouldn't even give me the free drink she promised me after the first incident, I don't see much reason to believe their VIP room would be any different."

Nicholas shrugged. "Trashing the place is still an option."

Alison smiled faintly.

"I can assure you that you will not encounter any more problems in our VIP room," Gina said. "I will personally brief the bartender, and Jim will ensure you both are treated well."

"And I have so much faith in Jim," Alison muttered sarcastically. "Fine. Let's see this VIP room."

Alison marched off, her long, heavy strides broadcasting her annoyance and impatience. Nicholas followed with a grim expression, and Jim brought up the rear.

"Sorry, it will never happen again," Gina called after them.

She moved over to the bar, watched Jim and the troublesome duo walk away, and signaled to Neil. She had just enough time for a much-needed drink before she followed them to check that Jim had pulled off her plan without a hitch.

Jim led Alison and Nicholas into the quiet, white-painted corridor of the staff-only area. As they entered, Alison exchanged a glance with Nicholas, noting the lack of decoration and ambiance starkly contrasting the lively atmosphere beyond. Jim stopped outside a door at the end of the corridor.

"Here's our VIP room," he announced.

Nicholas stepped inside, his confusion growing as he took in the supplies lining a shelf against one wall and the bare pipes protruding from another. He turned around to protest just as Jim placed his hand on Alison's back, pushing her into the room.

Nicholas caught Alison as she stumbled forward. He helped steady her and turned back to the door just as it shut. A resounding click signaled that Jim had locked it, too. Nicholas lunged forward and banged on the door with his hand.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Nicholas shouted. "You can't just lock us up in your storeroom!"

"Let us out of here!" Alison demanded, joining Nicholas at the door and slamming her palm against it.

Jim spoke calmly on the other side of the door, "Stop panicking. Just relax."

As Jim stepped away from the door, Gina appeared, and he joined her. Their seamless transition suggested a shared understanding and unity in their actions. He smiled at Gina and showed her a thumbs-up.

"You can scream all you want. You're in the basement, and nobody will hear you over the music upstairs. If you behave yourself, Jim will let you out at the end of the night," Gina explained. Her matter-of-fact and indifferent words hung in the air, emphasizing the stark reality of their predicament.

"So you're in on it too?" Alison yelled. Her voice, a mix of disbelief and frustration, echoed in the corridor.

Gina, indifferent to Alison's distress, stated, "Oh baby, all I care about is the reputation of this club, and you people turn this VIP place into a freaking house party, uncultured and chaotic. Jim will let you out in the morning. Ciao."

Gina and Jim exchanged smiles before she walked away, Jim following her. Their shared glance hinted at an unspoken agreement, an assurance that their actions were aligned with a greater purpose.

Inside the locked room, Alison leaned her forehead against the door.

"I knew I shouldn't have trusted their stupid promises of VIP treatment," Alison moaned. "What the heck is wrong with these people? How can they think it's okay to treat other people like this? We have to get out of here."

"They're jerks, Alison, ignorant jerks," Nicholas said. "But just give me five minutes, and I… darn it, I have no cell reception."

Undeterred, Alison reached into her purse, pulled out her phone, and studied the screen.

"No, there is reception," she said, passing her phone to Nicholas. "It's just one bar, but you should be able to call for help."

"Great, but I have a much better idea." Nicholas smiled at Alison. "Remember how I said that trashing this place is still an option? Well, it's now the only one we have left. So, what do you say to bringing this place down?"

Alison frowned thoughtfully. "I have been victimized and humiliated since I got here. And it hurts, you know…well, maybe you don't know, looking like you do, but having to confront people who think badly of you just because of your skin color is one of the worst things anyone can experience."

Nicholas put his arm around Alison's shoulders as she sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Alison," he muttered. "I feel like this is all my fault."

Alison shook her head. "You couldn't have known the evening would end up like this. I just…it catches me off guard sometimes, Nick. You live your life, doing the best you can to be happy and achieve your goals, and then bam! Some idiot is in your face, spewing hatred at you."

Alison wiped her eyes and gave Nicholas a determined look. "Let's do it. Let's ruin this place."

Nicholas nodded. "I don't know how long these freaks have been doing this, but it's time they got their comeuppance."

Gina sat at the bar with a cocktail, surveying the dance floor and bar area. The dim, pulsating lights created a dance of shadows, casting a mystique over the upscale nightclub. Jim stood nearby, his posture mirroring the sense of satisfaction that permeated the air.

"Now, everything is perfect," Gina declared, her voice carrying a hint of triumph amid the rhythmic beats.

Jim, however, remained focused on the task at hand, acknowledging, "Yeah, well, we still need to figure out which one of these people is the mysterious influencer." His eyes darted across the crowded room, searching for any signs of the elusive reviewer.

"I know," Gina replied, her gaze fixated on a blonde woman who walked past, recording with her phone. The soft hum of conversations merged with the music, creating an ambient symphony of the night. "She seems like a safe bet. What do you think?"

The bartender, leaning forward, drew their attention to another group. "Maybe it's that pale guy in the corner."

Gina leaned over to study them, contemplating before decisively shaking her head.

"He looks like he spends more time playing video games in his parents' basement than hanging out in nightclubs," she said.

The scent of expensive perfumes and the distant clinking of glasses added layers to the nightclub's ambiance as Gina's keen observation played out in the vibrant, sensory-rich atmosphere.

Suddenly, a woman, caught in the rhythm of the music, looked at her phone and gasped. The beat of the nightclub seemed to skip a moment as she strode over to the bar and angrily set her drink down.

"You people should be ashamed of yourselves," she snapped before heading to the exit.

Gina, Jim, and Neil exchanged confused glances. However, they didn't get a chance to ponder what had just happened as a chorus of chiming phone notifications cut through the music. Once alive with energy, the dance floor and bar area now witnessed a wave of patrons checking their phones.

Shock, anger, and confusion painted their expressions as they exchanged glances. One by one, they broke away from their revelries and headed for the door.

"What the hell? Why are they all leaving?" Gina exclaimed as she leaped to her feet, her voice rising above the fading music.

Then Gina's tablet let out a soft ding. She snatched it up and checked her notifications. The nightclub reviewer had uploaded a new video.

The glow of her tablet screen illuminated Gina's face as a video appeared, showing Nicholas with Alison in the background. The murmurs of departing patrons merged with the echoes of disappointment in the upscale nightclub.

"Oh God," Gina muttered, "it was him all this time.

"Hi, everybody. This is Nicholas, the secret nightclub reviewer. I'm revealing my face to all of you for the first time today because I have something very important to share with you about the Indigo Club," Nicholas declared in the video.

The soft glow of the tablet illuminated Gina's tense expression as she listened to the scathing review. The pulsating beat of the music seemed to mock the unfolding drama.

"I'm at this disgusting place right now," Nicholas said, his voice cutting through the club's atmosphere. "I can honestly say I've never been to a worse club. The staff are all racist, from the bouncer who didn't want to let my friend Alison in because of her skin color to the bartender who made a racist comment to her face before proceeding to ignore both of us. And, believe it or not, it gets worse."

"When we complained to the manager, she apologized and told us we'd be upgraded to their VIP room for the rest of the night, but guess what? That was all an elaborate trick. They led us downstairs and locked us in the basement. Look behind me, and you'll see the exposed pipes…"

Gina clenched her jaw as she exited the social media app. With force, she set her tablet down on the bar, the sharp sound cutting through the club's ambiance.

"Jim, get them out of there," she commanded, her frustration palpable.

Jim fumbled with the key, unlocking the door with an audible click. As the door swung open, Nicholas and Alison stormed out, their expressions furious. Their hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Gina, appearing in the hallway, called after them, her voice laden with an attempt at remorse. "Nicholas, Alison, please, it was just a misunderstanding. I'm really sorry!"

The couple, however, remained unyielding. Ignoring Gina's plea, they continued their determined march towards the exit. Gina's apology hung in the air, dissipating amidst the clamor of the distant music. She hurried after the pair with Jim in tow, catching up to them in the reception area.

"Nicholas, we just wanted to play a little prank on you! I can't believe you fell for it. You're so gullible," Gina protested.

Alison spun to face Gina, an angry glint in her eye.

"A prank? Seriously? So racism is a joke to you?" Alison questioned, her tone cutting.

"Oh, don't be so sensitive." Gina smiled. "It's not like anyone hurt you. No harm, no foul, right?"

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Alison replied, throwing her arms up in the air.

Nicholas, maintaining composure, urged Alison, "Let's just go, Alison."

Gina, attempting to salvage the situation, pleaded, "Please, don't be so hasty, Nicholas." She placed a hand on his arm, but Nicholas looked down at it with distaste.

"Nicholas, we're all adults here, so let's resolve this issue in an adult way," Gina suggested, reaching back and snapping her fingers. Jim, standing behind her, handed her a stuffed envelope.

"We deeply regret how badly this evening went and how our…prank went so wrong," Gina said. "It's all just been a big misunderstanding, and we want to make things right. So, we're offering to sponsor your next video. Can we just remove this video from the website and maybe post a new one?" Gina proposed.

Gina handed the envelope to Nicholas, who hesitated before revealing a thick stack of dollar notes inside. He examined the money, his expression shifting as he considered the offer, before sliding it back into the envelope.

"You know what, maybe we can," Nicholas conceded, contemplating the monetary resolution.

Alison, visibly disapproving, interjected, "Nicholas, you're out of your mind. How could you do this to me?"

Her gaze conveyed a mix of disbelief and disappointment as she and Nicholas stared at each other in the dimly lit reception area of the club.

"I'm sorry, Alison, but this is business. I'll deal with it," Nicholas said.

"I can't believe you," Alison replied, her face crumpling as she tightly crossed her arms.

"We'll make everything look first class in the new video," Nicholas said as he turned to address Gina, signaling a reluctant acceptance of the compromise. "I'll just explain that the last video was staged, with your cooperation, as a prank."

"In fact, I'll post something about it right now," Nicholas continued, a glint in his eyes. "Stand closer. Let's get a photo."

Nicholas, phone in hand, gestured to Gina and Jim. The club staff gathered, their smiles beaming, as Nicholas snapped a series of photos, capturing the façade of camaraderie. Satisfaction radiated from him as he inspected the shots.

"Perfect," he declared, signaling the end of the impromptu photoshoot.

Approaching Nicholas, Gina smiled broadly. "Mr. Nicholas, it's a pleasure to do business with you. I'm sure your review is going to be amazing. We should make arrangements for you to return tomorrow to record the right video for your social media channel. I'll give you my card so—"

"None of that will be necessary." Maintaining composure, Nicholas tucked the envelope into his coat pocket. "The review will be great either way, and I think I can safely guarantee that it will get a lot of views."

Gina turned to grin at Jim.

"You see, my followers respect my authenticity, and after what they all saw on my live feed tonight, I just know they'll be hanging on my every word when I bury you," he declared, the undertone of challenge hanging in the air.

Gina, visibly confused, sought clarification. "What? But you can't do that, we made a deal!"

"I'm gonna tell everyone how you treat your customers, and I will definitely mention your attempt to bribe me. I have thousands of followers in this city, and my posts have been featured in the newspaper as well as on online news websites. Your photo is gonna be everywhere. I wouldn't want to be you after this," Nicholas warned, his tone carrying a determined edge.

Alison, visibly relieved at this dramatic turn, chimed in, "And I'll call the police. You can bet I'll be pressing charges against you."

"The police?" Gina questioned, taken aback by the sudden escalation. "What are you talking about?"

"False imprisonment is definitely a crime, and I'm certain bribery is too," Nicholas asserted, "and expect a summons too because I'm definitely going to encourage Alison to sue you."

Nicholas turned and ushered Alison out into the night, leaving the club's staff to grapple with the consequences of this unexpected turn of events.

In the wake of Nicholas and Alison's departure, the club buzzed with restless whispers and uneasy glances. Gina, grappling with the sudden unraveling of her plan, beckoned Jim to follow her as she stormed towards the back office. Gina, brows furrowed, contemplated the ramifications of this situation as she collapsed into her chair.

"Nicholas has a considerable online presence," she remarked. "All the publicity that was supposed to boost our business is now going to be turned against us. What the hell are we going to do about it?"

Realizing the situation's severity, Jim suggested, "Maybe we can offer a public apology. Try to salvage our image."

Gina nodded, acknowledging the damage control that needed to be done. "Yes, do that. And find out everything you can about Nicholas and Alison. We need to be prepared for whatever they throw at us."

As Jim set out to execute damage control, Gina remained in the office, contemplating the impending storm. She couldn't shake the sinking feeling that the meticulously crafted reputation of the Indigo Club was about to come crumbling down around her.

Nicholas strode purposefully down the vibrant city street, his phone held aloft as a powerful tool of justice. His followers tuned in, hanging on every word as he spilled the unvarnished truth about the Indigo Club. Neon lights from surrounding establishments cast an ethereal glow on his face, emphasizing the resolve etched into his features.

"The Indigo Club thinks they can silence criticism, but I won't let them," he declared to the virtual audience. "None of us will."

Meanwhile, Alison dialed the number for the local police. As the line rang, she glanced at Nicholas, who was passionately addressing the camera. Her voice, steady and unwavering, echoed through the receiver as she detailed the false imprisonment, the attempted bribery, and the blatant racism they had encountered.

Nicholas's livestream gained momentum. His words resonated with viewers, who shared their outrage in the comments. The virtual community rallied behind the cause, their voices growing louder each moment.

"Let's show these scumbags that we won't tolerate discrimination in any form," Nick continued. He turned to look at Alison as he finished, "We won't let them get away with this."

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If you enjoyed this story, here's another one: Lana is crushed when she bumps into her husband outside the grocery store and discovers he's engaged to his obviously pregnant mistress. She hops into a cab and ends up at the mercy of the handsome driver, who takes her on a life-changing journey. Read the full story here.

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