Page 7 of Autumn's Coming

I sat down across from Max. He pushed a pile of paperwork toward me.

I skimmed through it, signing where indicated. Max took the papers when I was done.

He gestured toward me with one hand. “Stand up. Let me get a look at you.”

I slowly stood up, lowering my head.

He sighed. “What’ve you got on under that, huh?”

I blushed.

“Jesus. If that’s all it takes to get you red in the face, you won’t last long here. Toughen up. Let me see the bra.”

I hesitated, then untied the shirt and opened it.

Max nodded. “Lose the shirt and you’re good to go.”

“Um, okay.” I nodded. “Is there any training I need to go through? Do I need to meet anybody?”

He shrugged. “Tell the bar you’re the new girl and don’t spill shit on my floors. Be nice to the customers.” He paused, frowning. “And it’s mask night. See if one of the other girls has an extra.”

He shooed me from the room and slammed the door behind me.

Well, that was the end of it, I guessed.

I turned and went out on to the floor.

The club was dark. The stage, of course, was brightly lit; an athletic-looking girl wearing strategically placed straps was holding herself up on the pole as it spun, doing a split upside down. Men seated around the bar cheered for her. At circular booths, girls danced on tables or in laps, money sticking out of the straps of their bras and panties.

What had I gotten myself into?

I bit my lip, walking toward the bar. I felt like I hadn’t done enough. Like my clothes were wrong, my makeup wasn’t strong enough.

I was going to crash and burn on my first night.

But I made it to the bar and introduced myself. The girls behind the bar were friendly; they gave me a tray and told me what section to take over, and one of them passed me a masquerade-style mask. It was cheap, from the party store, but it was black and red with little rhinestones around the eyes.

It was cute, and matched my bra.

I put it on and took a deep breath.

I was somebody else.

I could do this.

I turned and went to my first table, breathless.

An hour passed before I knew it.

It wasn’t at all what I’d braced myself for. Most of the customers were friendly; none of them had made a grab for me. The dancers were really nice, too; I took them drinks backstage, and one of them slipped a ten from her bra into mine. I carried another tray of drinks to a table near the back, bending over a little as I passed out glasses.

I could see Max behind the table, waving for my attention.

With my tray empty, I went to him. “Hey, what’s up?”

“You’re on stage in five.”

I blinked.

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