Song: Never be the same- Camila Cabello

I make arrangement online for a flight out to California. I should be heading out to Louisiana but I want to tell Eli in person that I found my grandmother. I wanted someone to know but I wasn't ready to tell my parents just yet and the guys here will for sure go and tell them. No one knows how to keep a secret around here. I pack my bags just a little after midnight and head out to the airport. I left a letter on the entry way table for my parents. I should have told them I was going face to face but I know they will talk me out of going. The note was simple, just telling them that I was going to New York for a couple of days to see friends. I knew if they thought I was headed to Cali they would tell Eli and I wanted to surprise him.

The plane lands and I have a cab take me to the hotel close by one of the Clubs that he is running. I get to my room and take a quick shower and get dressed. Of course I make finishing touches and add a blonde wig. I should go as myself but I want to surprise him. I look myself over in the full length mirror and I look bad ass. I have long blonde hair that sweeps past my shoulders. The dress I choose looks amazing with the boots. This way no one can see the extra brace around my ankle that I have been using for extra support.

I head out into the city. I admire all the lights. They are nothing like New York's but they will do. I find the Club and have to wait in line for a good thirty minutes to get in. The place is packed and I can barely make my way to the bar. "Hey...can I get a Tonic and is the owner in tonight?"

"Eli...he is not here tonight. I think he is over at Enchanted Cherries."

"Enchanted Cherries...where the hell is that?"

"Over on fifth." He hands me the drink and winks and then turns to help someone else. I drink it down and look around the club. He has done an amazing job getting this place up and running. I set the glass down and pull out my phone to see how far the other place is. It's only a few blocks from here. I turn to leave. It kind of sucks forking out thirty dollars just to get in this place and not staying.

I make my way down the sidewalk. Every now and then I get stopped by guys asking if I need a lift or want to go play. I wave them off and keep on walking. I should have just taken another cab here but me being me wanted to venture out. The line is just as long. I make my way to the front of the line and the guys card me of course and then glance over the Id several times and back at me. He just shakes his head and lets me in. I find my way over to the bar and ask for another drink for the night.

This club is way different than the other. There are areas for you to climb up and dance in like little cages and at the moment it looks like all of them are taken. On stage there are two girls dancing completely naked and it for sure catches my eyes. Oh so this is what he is into! I turn to back to the bar tender and grab my drink. "Hey is Eli in tonight by chance?"

"Who is asking?"

"I'm...just an old friend of his."

He smiles and then proceeds to wink at me. They he motions to the upper level. "He is in the VIP having a meeting with some guys. I can tell him you are here if you want."

"No...don't do that. I will just catch him later."

"Suit yourself, it may be awhile." He winks again and walks off to help another thirsty body.

"It's ok." I take a sip and carry the glass with me to a table. I keep looking up at the VIP section. I could easily go up there and surprise him but I don't want to interrupt anything. I watch as people come and go from that area over the next hour. Not once does he leave. I stand up and make my way over and climb the stairs towards the section. Of course I am stopped once I get to the top.

"Sorry only VIP members beyond this point."

I bite my bottom lip and flirt back at him with my eyes. "Oh...how do I become a VIP member?"

The massive guy stands in my way and looks down at me grinning from ear to ear. Even though he is dressed from head to toe I can still see the traces underneath of his tattoos on his wrist. I even notice the one on his neck that the collar doesn't cover up all the way. I can only imagine how built this guy is underneath because the way his shirt is tight against his body makes me take a step down form him. "Look sweetheart...why don't you just go back down with the rest of the crowd."

I look past him and there on a leather couch is Eli with a few other guys. There are women dancing around them and one is sitting on his lap. It looks as if she is only wearing a thong. I watch how his hands caress her ass and she takes hers to help him hold on tighter. I grit my teeth as my chest rises and falls. I shouldn't be pissed off but I am. I knew that he would never make it this long. I feel the guy touch my arm with just enough pressure to get my attention. "Please...go back down," he says sternly.

But I don't budge even though I know this guy could easily squish me like a bug. "You never said how I get into the VIP section. What do I need to do?"

"Sweetheart...the only one that gets in here has to be asked." He points back down to the dance floor as if that was my cue to leave.

"Oh! Ok!" I look back over at Eli having the time of his life. There is nothing on his mind at this moment but getting freaky with this so called home-wrecker or whoever the hell she is. I turn back around and make my way down the steps. When I get to the bar, I ask for another drink.

"You are still here waiting...I told you it will be awhile." He hands me another glass with an even bigger grin than before.

"Yes you did. So how do I get up there to dance?"

"Stage is for dance staff only but you can dance in any of the cages if you can get in one. The girls here fight over getting in there, hoping that they will be notice. The guys pays really well. And if Eli likes, he will let them know."

"How do you become one of the dance staff then?" I hold my drink up and tilt it towards him and then down it in one sip.

He looks me up and down like I must be joking, that this girl can't possible know anything about dancing and for sure not stripping. When our eyes meet back up he sees that I am not playing around and that I am serious. "You have to try out for Eli. You can come back tomorrow maybe before ten to see him."

"Yeah...ok." I walk off and find my way to the back. I be damned if I will come back early in the morning when I am already here now. I want that dick to see me. I want him to know that I caught him. I find myself in the dressing room with the other girls. These girls are gorgeous that's for sure, perfect bodies with all the right curves in the right places as if picked right out of a catalog. They are all running around changing clothes and putting on makeup along with fixing their hair.

I hear someone behind me. "You are in the wrong place sweetie...you need to go back up front."

I turn around and smile politely. "Oh...I was just checking the place out, thought I might want to work here."

Another girl off to the side chimes in, "You have to get cleared to come in here."

"Oh...Sorry. I didn't know." I hear some of the other girls talking and complaining about someone did not show up which only give me a great idea. "I have skills...I could take her spot."

"Oh really!" They all start to laugh. They all look me up and down just like the damn bartender. "You can dance...yeah right. Not tonight...he will be mad if we send you out. And believe us sweetieyou don't want Mr. Foster mad."

"How would he even know? Look I can do it and if he likes me then he can put me on the payroll. Look I know you guys don't know me and I don't want to get anyone into any kind of trouble but it looks like you might need a little help and..." I look around and I know they are not buying it. "Ok look, I'm a friend from back home and I thought it would be a surprise to Eli if he saw me. They won't let me into the VIP section and maybe this way he will see that I am here."

"So you want to surprise Eli. Well this sounds interesting, why not. I have the perfect song for you to dance to." I watch as the other girls start laughing. I know they think I have lost my mind and they are hoping that I fall flat out on my face. "So Eli has a girl from back home, funny he has never mentioned it to anyone. He doesn't just have one girl."

I ignore the comment as I follow the other girl towards the stage.

The lights go out and I hear someone introducing me as the new girl in the house. I have danced my whole life so that part should be easy. I have never stripped to a song in my life but surely it can't be that difficult, can it. The girl turns around and touches my arm. "You got this...break a leg girly." Shit...my leg. I take off the boots and the extra brace and walk on stage barefoot.

I stand with my back to the crowd. I hear the music start to play and the lights slowly come back on. I start to sway to the music, moving my body. I turn around to see everyone staring at me and I glance up his way. Of course he is not even watching. So I do my thing and I dance with the pole. I do some twirls hoping that certain moves might grab his attention. I mean after all he watched me non-stop for years on the stage, in my apartment, even on the roof top. I move to the music and strip all the way down to my thongs and matching bra. I watch how I step on my bad leg because I so don't want to fall flat on my face in front of anyone.

The crowd is cheering for more. They want me to go all the way. I turn back around and start to unfasten my bra. This is so much easier than I thought it would be. I turn back around and tease the crowd, letting them whoop and holler while I slowly take out one arm from my bra strap then the other. I release the bra in my hands and fling it out to the group of guys. Then I bare it all as I continue to dance till the end of the song, practically making out with the pole and the floor. I know they wanted more but there was no way I was taking off the thong....hell it's not like they already couldn't see everything. I take my bow and when I look up this time he is standing next to the rail in the VIP section looking right down at me. The glare he gives shoots right through me and I know in that moment I got his attention, finally I struck a nerve. I go the extra mile and blow him a kiss before I walk off the stage just to piss him off even more.

As I am walking off the stage I bend over and pick up my dress on the way out, just to show off a little more of my backside.