6 months earlier

•••••••••••••••••••••••

Wait tables, they said.

Collect glasses, they said.

Smile at customers and make sure they have a good time, they said.

Offer then extras, they said.

My stomach churned as I stood in the dark club, the music pumped through the building making the walls vibrate whilst the smell of alcohol festered in the air. Watching the women peel off her clothes seductively whilst men sat around the stage, drinking and tossing dollar bills down, made me realise what little faith I had in the male race, now. Skimpy clothing clad waitresses walked in neck breaking stilettos across the club, smiles plastered on their faces, holding a drinks tray as their hips swayed catching the men's attentions.

I'd been here three days. Or nights if we are splitting hairs and whilst my mind screamed at me to leave the first hour on my first night, I stayed because I needed the money.

My eyes connected with the male in the corner, his eyebrow raised waiting for me to appear from the shadows of the club and make my debut amongst what he called his loyal guests. Sure some of the men that were tossing money down had been here every night, but some had rings on their fingers and I couldn't phantom how they could do this kind of thing.

Didn't they love their wives?

The man lifted his wrist out and checked the time before nodding to me. My signal that the clock was on and it was time for me to sink or swim..

Swallowing the sickness that slowly edged up my throat, I stepped out and looked across the club for a man, hopefully one that would enjoy a nice talk rather than a grope and hint of extras.

Seeing a short, rounded man in a booth, nursing his drink whilst he kept his head in his hand, I smiled slightly. He screamed business man, but the ring on his finger and how he kept his eyes glued to the glass meant that he was a man, committed to his wife, just in the wrong damn place.

This could be my chance to talk him out of making any mistake, convince him to go home to his wife and tell her that he loves her. Not encourage him to do the dirty with any of the willing participants, as long as he left his credit card details.

Holding my head high, I walked across the club and was just 20 feet from the table, when my foot slipped on what I could only presume (and hoped) was a spilt drink.

I wasn't quick enough to catch myself and visions of me face planting the floor came into my mind, when arms wrapped around my frame and pulled me into them. My hand landed on a warm chest as my heart trashed behind my ribcage, threatening to tear it open. Shock was evident for a few seconds before I steadied myself and pushed up off the chest slightly.

A hand took hold of my cheek, angling my head up slowly, that's when I met my saviour. His grey eyes shot over my face in concern before his smile revealed perfect white teeth. His hair was spiked and the smell of his cologne made my tastebuds salivate. He was gorgeous and clearly very different from the clientele that frequented here, leaving me to ask one question.

"What's a guy like you, doing in a place like this?"

"What's a nice girl like you doing on a place like this?" He countered back.

Suddenly the nerves from moments ago were replaced with confidence and brazenness. "Who said I was a nice girl?" I threw back making him smirk.

"I'm Zak." He introduced himself.

"Leah." Dammit! Rule one- never tell them your real name, broken.

"Leah is not very stage name."

"Aaliyah is..."

"Ahh. You're new aren't you?" He asks.

I blush fills my face "That obvious?"

He nods "You're not corrupt yet. Still, there's always time. Let's get a drink?"

Before I can reply, I see the man I was previously setting my eyes on get up and leave the bar fast. Causing a swell of pride to fill my chest, my faith in the male race slowly being stored.

"Lead the way." I smiled happily making Zak's smile reach his eyes.

Reaching the long dark purple bar, I signalled for the bar tender, Patience. Her blonde hair was twirled up and secured with two chopsticks whilst her dress code was almost beauty pageant swimwear competition. She beamed at Zak almost making me wonder if they had met but the switch in her eyes as she got closer made me realise that there wasn't familiarity, there was hunger and Patience here was very much liking what she saw.

I looked to Zak to see if he did also, only to find him smiling at me, he hadn't even notice Patience and for some reason, that made me a little giddy.

"What can I get you sugar?" She spoke fluttering her lashes at him.

But it was wasted as he kept his eyes on me "Whisky and whatever the lady is having..."

Patience looked to me "What do you want?"

Her tone evidently different..

"Oh um..."

"She'll have the same." Zak answered making me look back to him. He gave me a wink before pulling money from his pocket and dropping it onto the bar whilst Patience made up the drinks. "Now that the drinks have been sorted, how about finding somewhere quieter?"

My heart stopped slightly following his eyes to the corridor. The corridor with individual rooms for those intimate dances and extras.

I glanced to the corridor to see my boss there watching. Waiting...

"S-sure." I stuttered and fixed a smile in place.

My body quivered and knees shook gently as we made our way to the private rooms. Until Zak slid his hand around my wrist and stopped us at room 11. "I have a thing about this number.... Do you mind?"

I shook my head and led him in the room.

Please don't want extras. Please don't want extras. Please don't want ext—

"Do you offer extras?" He asks as he flips the lock on the door behind us.

Fuck!

"Yes..."

"Lock the other door." He says motioning to the two way glass. I glance at him with a little worry when he sits down and pulls out a clip of money. "Lock it and its yours."

Needing the cash, I approach the door and enter into the small room designated for staff. Thankful that my boss hasn't made his way into the room yet, I flip the lock over and return to the main room where Zak has placed the money down.

"What would you like?" I ask trying to hold myself confidently, at first I think it pays off. Until he speaks again.

"Drop the act. I just... Let's talk."

Talk.. warm up. Okay..

"Dirty?"

He laughs slightly making me smile genuinely. "No sweetie, I mean talk as in normal. Come." He pats his knee and I slowly make my way over.

Chewing my lip, I just make it to his seat when he reaches out and turns me around before pulling me onto his lap. I twist slightly and place my legs over the arm of the chair so I can see him.

His grey eyes roam over my face as his fingers play with the ends of my hair. "You're young. Why are you here?"

"I- sorry?" I question before I was expecting something other than this... Was he one of those guys that went into Satan's lair and pledged the bible to the sinners in a hope that he can reform them?

"How old are you?"

"Well how old are you?" I ask back.

"41."

"Shut the fuck up." I reply before my eyes widen. "Sorry..."

He chuckles "I age well right?"

I nod instantly.

"Hmm. So now you know my age, how old are you?"

"33." I reply.

He pauses and glances back up to my face, his finger draws down my face gently "You're lying.. How old are you?"

"26."

"Better... I don't like lies and I'm guessing your real name is Leah?"

I nod awkwardly "Don't tell anyone I told you. I broke the first rule by even telling you."

He smiled softly "Secret is safe with me."

My eyes landed on his watch, its large silver face and thick black strap, it screamed expensive...

"Why are you here?" I probed.

"Like every man, I'm here for a good time."

I scoffed "You're wearing a real expensive watch in some seedy club full of strippers and some unsavoury clientele. You're looking to get robbed... No offence."

Zak laughed "I appreciate your honesty, but I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt that." I sigh looking at the size of his arms.

"Without sounding a jerk, how much do you charge?" He asks.

"I... It depends on what you want to happen." I answer.

He looks a little surprised and picks up one of the glasses and hands it to me. "Tell me the price range."

"I'm new. This is my third night."

"And how many clients have you had?"

"One?" I summarise carefully.

"An unsure one.." he notices.

"Well we haven't actually done anything as of yet."

His eyebrows lift. "Oh, I see. So private dance?"

"Experience leads to high pay, take Patience for example, the bar tender. She's been here 5 years. For a private dance, you're looking at $250 for 15 minutes. No contact, fully nude."

He nods showing that he's still listening to me. "How much of that does she get?"

"$150-175."

"And how much is your private dance? I will spare the non-touching, I think we broke that rule too."

"$150.."

"So you take home.."

"$75."

"Half? Jesus Christ. What a ball buster."

I stifle a laugh "It pays to be experienced."

"Okay, and the extras? Do you do extras?"

My heart sinks and I almost feel the urge to cry at having gotten myself in this situation when Zak lifts my chin. "I'm not paying for extras. I'm just curious."

"I will if you want I–"

"I just want to talk." He confirms making me reach out and fiddle with the rosary on his neck.

"Patience.. She's the only real one I have spoken too. She charges $500 for a quick romp."

"Slightly high than most brothels." He notices.

"Do you frequent them often?"

He shakes his head "And if you had to give extras?"

"$275. Until I can be convincing enough. I think they are put through some tests.. You know?"

Zak frowns before the penny drops "The owner likes to make sure you're up to stand huh?"

"I haven't got that far in. There's a fine line between sexual harassment in the work place and promotion. It happens to be a thong."

"Is his cut still the same?"

I nod.

"Then you're pretty much forced into that side of the business. Just to make money... Jesus I feel dirty for even being here."

I frown "Sorry."

"Why are you apologising? I'm just trying to work out if I pay you more to keep you safe from any other asshole out there tonight or give you a small amount so that he doesn't expect more from you." Zak answers.

I didn't want to tell him that I had been thinking the same.

"So how come Patience is behind the bar when she can earn all that by being out and circuiting every night?"

"That would be Mother Nature, reminding all females, every month that they are still in working order."

"Right."

"What about you? What do you do for work?" I ask.

He smiles "I work with cameras."

"Oh, cool. Like photography?"

"Yeah, and video."

I pull an impressed face "Well Vegas is certainly the right place."

His smile is genuine as he looks at me "That it is."

"So do you live in Vegas?"

"I do. Other end of Vegas."

"And you came all the way here?"

"Something about the location." He shrugs.

I sense there is more to it but I don't push any further. Twisting the rosary in my fingers, I look back up to the curious grey eyes. "Religious?"

"A little."

"Zak, the religious camera and video man."  I conclude.

"Leah the.... exotic dancer."

I grin at his conclusion and the cheeky wink he seals it with.

Zak's arm wraps around me as he leans forward and reaches for the small stack of money. "The money I said.. There is $500. 30 minutes of your time is $300. The extra $200, you need to hide. I don't care where or how you do it. But I want you to have it. Not him..."

"I shouldn't.."

"Leah. You seem like a nice girl messed up in this. Just take the $200. For a rainy day."

"Who even carries that amount on them?" I whisper in disbelief.

"Someone who can." He replies matter of factly as he slips two $100 bills out the pile. "Hide them. On your body. I don't care if you gotta shove it in your panties. As degrading as it might sound. Just do it. That's my request for the night."

I stare at him for a few seconds before slowly taking the $200 from his hand. "Thank you.." I breathe.

He tilts my chin up with a smile "Thank me when I become your best client. If I come back, I want you. Every time. Got it?"

I nod and silently pray that he comes back... Just for his sheer kindness.

••••••••••••••••••••

And here the friendship blossoms. 😘