Page 20 of Hollywood Comes Home

“Amber?”

Startled, my eyes darted to the bouncer, puffing a cigarette outside. He often planted himself there, chain smoking before we opened. Giving him a shy smile, I power walked toward him.

“Hi!” I greeted him as I hurried through the door.

“Are you okay?”

Spinning around to face him, I took a few steps backwards, nodding with a large smile plastered on my face. I rotated toward the dressing room, speeding out of the lobby. Stopping just outside the door, I stared at the ceiling. “I can do this.”

Entering the dressing room with fake confidence displayed on my face, I waved eagerly at the girls while sashaying through the room. I dropped my pink Calvin Klein duffle bag on the chair, then I dug my phone out to stare at the screen, wondering if he’d call. Shaking off the tinge of jealousy of someone else pleasing him, I took a deep breath, tossing my phone back into my bag.

“Hey Amber, are you back for good now?” Kirsten, one of the VIP room waitresses, called out from the other side of the room, her olive skin glistening with a light dust of purple glitter.

My gaze met her excited expression. I nodded happily with a radiant smile, removing my shirt.

“You’re too good for him.” Trina, one of the dancers, chimed in while smearing a thin layer of foundation on her already flawless ebony complexion.

My smile diminished. I struggled with the decision to defend him or not. I knew she meant it as a compliment. She was one of my favorite dancers at the club, always hyping the girls. The comment was a personal matter, not business, and I didn’t want to disappoint Ian after our talk. Only nodding, I offered a polite smile.

I quickly changed into a black vinyl gartered corset and matching thong before I commanded the attention of the other dancers. Despite my break, I was still in charge. It was time for me to focus on work, giving the club my full attention.

“Girls!”CLAP! CLAP!

The room dulled to silence, and the club’s music starting in the other part of the building. With the attention of the girls on me, I scanned the room to make sure everyone was accounted for.

“I see some new faces, so I’ll introduce myself.” I beamed as warmly as my expression would allow. “I’m Amber, the head dancer and also in charge of the floor. You come to me if you need anything. I’m nice, but I will give you orders so I suggest you not upset me. It gets busy here, so I don’t have time to coddle you… but I will help you adjust.”

It was the same speech I gave to all the newbies, other than Jenna. Before her first shift, Jade pulled me aside and told mesomething about her was different and to please not give her the ‘tough love’ speech. At the time, I didn’t know why, but quickly saw how selfless and special she was.

“Um, yeah,” Kirsten chimed in, whispering loudly with a knowing grin, “Amber’s like best friends with Mr. and Mrs. Knight.”

Folding my arms over my chest, I stifled a giggle. Kirsten loved Jenna now, but when she first started, she didn’t really care for her. She was like that with all the new girls. She’d recently started hooking up with Luke’s brother, Declan, but still played the part of the young, horny stripper so well. And her tips showed for it. So did his proud face whenever he saw her in her role.

“That has nothing to do with it, but yes.” Placing my hands on my hips, I exhaled. “Well, yeah, ok, that too, so I WILL rat all of you out if you screw up.”

“He’s so hot and so is his friend with the floofy hair and sexy bedroom eyes!” One of the new girls blurted, snickering with another new face.

Kirsten snorted, then tightened her lips, fighting back a smile while watching how I’d respond.

“What are your names?”

Immediately, they sensed my tone and stiffened their posture. All pleasantries wiped from their faces. The taller, fire engine redhead nudged the other.

“I’m GiGi,” the shorter, curvy blonde replied.

“And I’m Satine.”

Grinning sarcastically, I remembered I needed to have patience. Ian and Luke were two incredibly good-looking men, and I couldn’t be protective. Here, they were my superiors, not the guys I drank with and poured my heart out to.

“They’re both off limits and don’t let them hear your opinions of them or you’ll be fired. I suggest you keep boyfriends or girlfriends away from the club, too. Mr. Knight doesn’t take too kindly to that.”

Kirsten and I exchanged a glance with a silent understanding. While Ian knew about her and Declan, he didn’t like it and kept reminding her they were never to make their relationship anything more than sex. None of the girls knew their secret, and he still received private dances from his favorites.

GiGi and Satine nodded in agreement.

“Sections and set lists are posted on the bulletin board over there.” I pointed to the west wall. The flashing of my phone in my bag caught my eye. Ian’s face was on the screen. Quickly, I concluded, “New girls, you can train with Lacie.”

She stepped up between them, hooking her arms with theirs. “That’s me.”

---