Chapter 5- The Deal

"Come on then" he was holding his out hand for me. I noticed a hint of mischief in his eyes. What am I getting myself into? I noticed his hair was slightly disheveled and his navy blue suit was slightly wrinkled, since it was already night time.

"Where are we going?"

"Well, we're friends now, so you tell me" he was still smiling. To go. Or not to go.

I narrowed my eyes at him but took his outstretched hand anyway. The napkin on my lap fell aimlessly to the floor. My eyes were glued to his broad back. I was like a corpse dragged out onto the street not caring at all whether or not I was going to die.

The sudden gush of cold wind brought me back to reality, I immediately enveloped myself with my arms, not that it helped but I had to do something. I was freezing, why didn't I think of putting on a jacket earlier. I was then wrapped in Seth's coat, it smelled so sweet and yet, so male.

I muttered a "thank you” and he gave a small smile as a response. He proceeded to pulling me and I didn't even know where we were going but at the back of my mind, I didn't care, some part of me wanted to spend time with him even if it was at a rundown part of town.

"We're here" he said with a smiling face, I faced the building in front of us and it was old, some pieces of paint hanging from the wall and I had to shut my mouth to mask my surprise. Well, the place was clearly packed since music was blaring from the inside.

"Where are we?" I turned to face him

"A strip club” my mouth hung open once again and he was studying my face. He was smiling from ear to ear, clearly amused at my reaction and he let out a chuckle, clearly he can't keep his reaction at bay.

"Why are we here?" Are we here to rub in the fact that I am nothing like them, slim body, small hips, kissable lips and oh so long legs. I sighed and tried to calm my nerves, I've never been to a strip club.

"We're here to strip"

"WHAT?!" So much for keeping myself calm

"I was kidding Ysabel, we're here to have fun" he was smiling from ear to ear again, why can't he just keep his happiness to himself?

"What kind of fun?" I narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms across my chest.

"Well, you have to step inside to find out what kind of fun I was talking about" he was holding out a hand for me but I was still thinking on what to do.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh, I'm going to regret this one day or better yet, bite me in the butt. I put my hand in his, hesitation made my hand tremble. I opened my eyes and his face showed concern.

"We don't have to go if you don't want to" there it is, he's giving me an out.

Stupidly, I declined his offer for an out. "No, I'm fine. We are friends, so I trust you" and I did trust him which is weird because I'm not the type of person to trust easily.

"Well, let's go then" he pulled me inside and the smell of cigarette polluted the air and into my nostril

I covered my nose to prevent anymore cigarette smoke to enter my lungs and give me lung cancer. I was pulled towards the bar and a good looking, blonde, green eyed man looked at me and the man beside me before speaking. "Nice to see you again Mr. Morgan. What'll you have tonight?" His accent made me look at him once more.

"My usual"

"And for the lady?"

I was still looking around, trying to breathe in my surroundings. "Ysa" I heard my name and turned to look at Seth.

"Yes?"

"What'll you have?"

"Same as what your having" even though I have no idea what he just ordered

"Two Shirley Temples coming right up"

What the heck is a Shirley temple? I feel like I'm going to have a massive headache when I wake up in the morning. Seth took my hand and led me to a booth. I looked at my surroundings once again. A runway with a stage took up half the room, and there were several doors probably leading to rooms where couples can do the nasty. Did he bring me here to do 'it'? That we're some kind of friends with benefits? No, that's not him, at least the 'him’ that I know of.

"What are we really doing here Seth?" I asked, completely serious

"You" he pointed a finger at me "are going to help me find a woman"

"Here?" He wants a woman to shag?

"I know where your brain is taking you and I'll be the first to say, it's not what you think"

"Then please. By all means, enlighten me"

"People know me as the playboy, the guy who doesn't do relationships. The heartbreaker, the ladies man and other nicknames they made up for me"

"Okay” I nodded slowly

"My family has been breathing down my neck for over a year now, wondering why I have no wife and here are the tabloids saying I have a girlfriend"

"Uh-huh" our drinks arrived and I took a small sip, I need to be sober for this part of our conversation.

He also took a sip of his pink colored drink and continued. "So, I want to find the woman of my dreams"

"You do know that is impossible, right?"

"No, not impossible if we work together"

"And where do I fit in through all this?"

"You are going to fill me in on all things woman, what they expect for birthday and holiday presents. What they want in a man, what they expect during dates. Because you women, you give mixed signals, you say one thing and expect the other"

"You sound like you want to be gay” I giggled

"No, I do not want to be gay. I can show you just how manly I am right now if you want to"he smirked, knowing what my reaction would be. That shut me up, and I could feel my cheeks getting redder by each passing moment.

"Okay” I cleared my throat, or at least attempted to since I have nothing to clear."How do I do what you're asking me to do"

He was still smiling at me. "Well, Miss Crest, I already know the basics, what women love and need and that stuff but no two women are alike"

"So how do I even help, as you said, we are not the same. We have different interests and wants"

"That's right, so I want you to befriend a woman I'm interested in" he shrugged

"And how do you expect me to do that? I'm not really a sociable person"

"A woman too busy with hospital duties who still has time for friends and to go out to party seems sociable to me"

"That's not true” I protested

He raised an eyebrow at me” okay, you're partially right" I raised my hands in defeat

"So Miss Crest, I want you to befriend a woman I'm interested in and see if she's any good"

"How do I even know if she's any good? I don't even know your type"

"Well, Miss Crest, my type includes woman who loves the outdoors. Who is not afraid of a little mud on her designer boots. A woman who knows how to cook, and I want a woman who knows how to take care of herself and not be dependent on another person to clean her mess"

"Well, there goes half the women in this city” I smirked at him

"Miss Crest, there are still some pretty decent women out there"

"Whatever you say" I shrugged and took another sip of my Shirley temple

"Back to the topic, I want a woman who loves children so there won't be a problem when I want my own kids someday. I want a woman who is not afraid to show her true self, a woman who is confident in herself and a woman who I can trust and trust me in return. And last one, a woman who is not afraid to take on the challenges of a relationship"

"That is one long list Mister Morgan"

"I know, so, will you help me?"

I sighed, at least I know what his type is and it's definitely not me. I checked atleast, uhm, two of the things he mentioned. I sighed again and took a sip of my drink, more like a gulp, I needed it if I want to survive this evening.

"What's in it for me?" I blurted out

"Well, what do you want?"

I haven't thought of that. "Uhm, once I think of something, I will let you know"

"So we have a deal?"

"One question?"

"What?"

"What are we doing here exactly?"

"Well, I co-own this club, a friend of mine wanted to start his own strip club so he asked me for money and he wanted me to co-own it to repay for the money he borrowed"

"Ohh" I thought he was going to introduce me to his prospect of a woman and I never once believed that she would be a stripper. I thought of it once he mentioned a woman. Ha!

"What? You think I'm a stripper as a side line job?" He chuckled

"No, I thought the woman you want to marry is one" I smiled sheepishly

"Now, why would I marry a stripper?"

Since I didn't know how to respond, I shrugged.

"I have an idea"

"Okay"

"You help me find the woman of my dreams and I will help you get over your ex"

"His name is Greg and I'm already over him"

"How do you say that?"

"Well, one, I don't think of him as much recently, two, the thought of him makes me smile because I know he's finally getting his dream. And three, he wants me to be happy, that's why he broke up with me"

"And how does breaking up with you make you happy?"

"Well, he knows long distance relationships and I don't exactly mix"

"And why is that?"

"Because I hate worrying, wondering when he'll be back for me and will I just put my love life for him in hopes that someday he'll be back on one bended knee asking me to marry him"

"So, you also want to settle down?"

"Not really settle down, but I want a stable relationship without all the shit that comes with it"

"You do know that when you do find the man of your dreams, you're going to do everything just to be with him?"

"Maybe, if he really is for me but I don't want to get my hopes up, I don't want the next guy to think that he's just a rebound from Greg. This time, I want to take it slow, the whole healing process"

"But you said you've moved on"

"I did but I didn't say that it doesn't hurt anymore. He will always be part of my heart and I just have to deal with the fact that we don't always get our happily ever after"

"How about this? I'll help you find the man of your dreams one day, when you're ready" he smiled at me

"Okay, I think that's a fair deal"

"Well, in order to find the man of your dreams, you have to tell me your type"

"Uhm, I haven't exactly thought of that in years because I thought Greg was 'it'"

"Then tell me one day"

"Sure"

"Looks like your drinks all gone, want another one?"

"Uhm, no, I want to get home sober this time. Besides, I still have work tomorrow afternoon"

"Okay then. We have a deal. I mean, we are friends after all. This is what friends do right?"

I giggled "yes, this is what friends do for each other"

"Great! I don't have many friends and I'm glad I have you for a friend"

"Me too"

-----BETTER-----THAN-----DREAMS-----BETTER-----THAN-----DREAMS-----

A/N

YEY! ANOTHER CHAPTER

I apologize for any mistakes made, this is not edited.

Thank you! And please vote!

-G