Page 16 of A Dark Duet

“Maybe, or he just wants someone who is paid to do what he wants. I really don’t know. Let’s see what happens,” I say.

“I also noticed Jason definitely has a thing for you. He was referencing the kiss, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah, he was coming clean after all this time, but that ship sailed a long time ago. We were kids.”

It’s Friday night and the club is getting more and more popular for the customers to frequent. I see Jake listening to his playlist that he will mix tonight. I tap his shoulder, waiting for him to take his headphones off.

“Hey, I have a song for my solo tonight.”

“Really?” he asks. Jake is handsome with green eyes and is a very talented DJ from London. He appreciates dance and music and we have that much in common in a friendly way.

“When I’m up, can you play ‘In My Feelings’ by Lana, please?” He looks at me with his eyebrows raised.

“Sure, beautiful. That kind of night, huh?”

“Yeah,” I say. If he only knew, tomorrow I have to stroke the lion in his lair. “Thank you, Jake, you’re the best.”

“Anything for you, sweetness.”

I give him a hug and get ready, changing into my outfit for the night. I am heading home early to get ready for Saturday. A car will pick me up to take the flight to Vegas and I will have a car waiting for me to take me to Nate, all outlined in the contract I signed.

The club is at capacity tonight, and the energy is electrifying. Our tables are full, Nate and Jaden are seated at the usual table.

I also see Jace and Jason with his boys from the Ravens, watching them throw money to Treasure and Diamond dancing on the stage.

Brie and I take their orders and they order the same, watching the show, but waiting. Nate doesn’t look at me and Jaden is the only one ordering and interacting with Brie.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Jason tracking my every movement. I make my way around the club in my lace thigh-high stockings and garters, my bra, and booty shorts with rhinestones shimmering in the lights, moving to the rhythm of the music. I decide on a black tutu and black ballet slippers for my solo tonight. Something different and sexual to go with my choice of music in the background. I check the time; Jake will call me up any second now.

“Money Monroe! Where are you, beautiful?” Jake speaks over the mic.

I look up between the tables next to Treasure and Diamond, making my way to the back. I raise my hand, the light shining on me as everyone looks over. “You have a special request, sweetheart.”

Great, when I think it’s an easy night, I get a special request. A special request is someone requesting to walk in front of the stage. Some give money, flowers, and gifts.

You must accept, by company policy, the tips are yours to keep, any tips that are thrown onstage to the girls that were on shift that night are dispersed evenly. Guys love to do that to their favorites who come on stage. I wonder who it is. I look around and spot Nate, and he is not even looking my way, he’s looking at Jason with a murderous glare.

Whatever, I have to get on stage to start my solo and can’t think about it right now. Whoever it is, I am going to find out. It’s probably some guy that has come in and has a crush. Brie tells me it happens all the time.

“Welcome to the stage, the beautiful and talented Miss Money Monroe! Make it rain!” Jake says, echoing through the club as Lana Del Rey plays.

I make it on stage in my tutu, walking on pointe in ballerina slippers.

Yeah, a ballerina performing in a strip club. Like I could make that shit up…

Giselle

Itiptoe on ballerina slippers, feeling Lana’s voice over my body and I twist my leg up and look back. I continue to dance and grab the stripper pole, fly around in circles, holding myself suspended in the air, with my legs pointed.

All the guys from the football ball team are looking in awe, standing and cheering, as I suspend myself in my slippers with my legs straight.

Moving from one stripper pole to the other, I twirl around in circles and land. I have my hair in a messy bun, and I twirl in my ballerina slippers in circles as fast as I can, watching the rhinestones glitter like blinding lights until the song ends. I wait for the person who made the special request to show.

I find Jason with a bouquet of red roses, and something in his hand I can’t see. I walk up as far as I can go, the stage has a bar in the way so that people can’t just go up on stage and touch the girls performing.

Chris, securing the area, is watching Jason warily, making sure he doesn’t cross the line. I stand there in my slippers and tutu, and he comes forward, handing me the flowers, and my eyes soften. I have never received roses before.

His friends whistle and I watch as he removes what appears to be two tickets with lots of money. He places the little stacks, making sure they don’t fall in my garters, band of my tutu, and bra straps and I suddenly find myself full of hundred-dollar bills. I bend down and he whispers, “Please be there, beautiful.” I frown, slightly confused. He kisses me on the cheek and for the life of me, I let him.

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