A few weeks after...

Rihanna's voice sings across the club. Well not RiRi herself but her music does, as I stand mesmerised at Patience as she twirls around the pole. Her length legs seem longer than ever as she spins around and captures the attention of everyone in the club. My heart leaps as she slips down the pole making me thinks she's fell when she pauses a few centimetres before the floor and slides across the floor. Her eyes glued to my shocked face, with a flirtatious smile she rocks her body against the floor and turns slowly giving us a clear view of her ass before she rises up.

For a split second I forget who I am and find myself wanting to bone her. She dripped sex appeal, her confidence was astounding. There's a reason why she's the highest paying one here..

As Patience finishes her routine, Candy an African American woman with the most beautiful hair I've ever seen steps on after her. Candy was the second highest paid and yaps at the hells of Patience.

"You almost turned me bi." I speak as Patience comes to my side to enjoy Candy's show.

"I think I did. For a second I thought you were gonna stuff bills in my g-string."

I giggle "I admire you, I really do. You're amazing up there."

"Thanks. You'll get there. Not that I should encourage you.. So how are things? It's now what, your fifth week?"

I nod.

"You're still here too. So tell me, is it because you have that handsome gentleman most evenings? Or is it my fabulous ass?"

Giggling, I tilt my head "Your ass is one of a kind, I must admit."

"It's okay hunny, I would pick him too."

I smile at even the though of Zak. He had been coming in nearly every night, we would go in the private rooms and chat about anything and everything, then after he would hand me the private fee and then a little sweetener before kissing my head and leaving. It was almost a strange counselling session for us both. I could only hope that I helped him as much as he has been helping me.

"When are you getting up on centre stage? You always take the side pole." Patience spoke making me shrug.

"I'm nowhere near as good as you both. Look at her." I nod to Candy who lifts herself side ways and splits her legs apart.

"You're good. A little afraid at times but I've seen you up there. Twirling around. We have been doing those little sessions, you just have to put a routine in order. Use your curves to your advantage. We get paid good for the waiting on those men, but not nowhere near as much as if you were up there every night."

"I know. I need to be working harder at it—"

"GET BACK HERE!" A voice roars making both myself and Patience turn to see our boss, Ace storming across the club after one of the girls.

"SCREW YOU! SHOVE YOUR JOB!"

"I WILL BLACKLIST YOU!"

"FINE BY ME!"

I looked to Patience as the woman stormed out and slammed the door behind her leaving me stunned.

"Patience!" Ace barked making her move to him. "Find me a replacement tonight! That bitch has gone loco! We need a th— Aaliyah! Pole! Now!"

My face pales. "But I—"

"Now girl!" He orders.

"Shit." I mutter walking to the second pole, giving Patience a worried stare, she shakes her head and stands in front of me.

"Show me." Ace snaps his fingers.

Taking a few breaths, I try to get into the music and begin to dance.

"STOP!" He barks making me pause. "Jesus fuck, sort yourself out. Pole. Use it to your advantage."

I nod and place my hand on it before trailing around it slowly, putting a sway into my hip as I did. Patience nodded and motioned for me to get onto the pole.

For the past two weeks, she had become my mentor on this bloody pole, I had more bruises than I cared for. I shimmed up and pivoted down, stopping half way down on my second descend and opening my legs wide.

I risked a glance to Ace who rubbed his finger over his lip in thought. As my foot touched the floor, I pushed my other up the pole doing the splits before grabbing the pole spinning around, letting the blood run to my head before stopping on the floor.

"Up!" He ordered.

I stood up and looked to Patience who looked the proud parent in some fucked up sense.

"Patience, fix her routine. Learn it Aaliyah. You're on tonight and suggest you find a song."

I nodded as he walked off before looking at Patience and squealing.

"Girl! You did it! Holy shit! Okay let's get you sorted before we open tonight." She speaks making me nod.

It felt like my night had only just begun.

••••••••••••••

Zak POV.

"I'm going out." I answer as Bacon asks me again where I am going.

I don't want to tell him. In fact, I don't want anyone knowing. Not because of the embarrassment, although it would come across as some embarrassment, I just didn't want to share my new found enjoyment. Leah.

Nobody would believe me when I said I went for the conversation, they would presume I went to the club for some seedy reason. For the first time, I admit, I went there with intentions.. But then it changed and suddenly seeing her after a busy or heavy day would make things better.

I was getting attached.

"Yeah but where? Dude you disappear all the time. People are worried."

I pause "Like who?"

"Okay, I am worried."

"I understand bro, but seriously, look at me. I'm fine. This is good for me."

"Is it a girl? It's a girl, I can tell, you're fussing over your clothes way too much. What's her name?"

"Nope. I'm gone."

"Fine!" Bacon sighs before leaving as well.

I drove to the club, keeping within the speed limits, despite wanting to floor it over there to spend more time with her. She was an expensive new hobby, but I enjoyed myself and I hoped to make her night just as enjoyable as mine was.

Parking around the back of the club, I got out and walked up to the door, giving it a quick thump, it opened to a large man. He gave me the once over before tweaking his head granting me access.

With the music flowing up the corridor, I grinned and as soon as I entered the club, my eyes began scouring for her.

Booths and tables of men were full, women in small outfits sat on their laps, laughing and giggling on command. Pushing their boobs out and putting in their ears making the men smile wickedly.

"Evening handsome."

I turned to see Patience leant against the wall. "Hey."

"You lookin' for your girl?" She asks.

Leah mentioned Patience being her mentor for dancing and how she was looking out for her, which made us both allies in keeping one woman safe.

I nod "Might be. Any idea if she is busy?"

"She is."

My smile fades slightly at the idea of her with another man before me tonight.

"Turn around."

I do, just as music kicks through the club and a woman saunters onto the stage. I recognise the curves and instantly freeze.

Leah begins dancing around the pole, dipping her hips and shaking her ass at the patrons sat around the stage tossing money at her feet.

🎵 No wonder you've got demons
Everything you ever did is coming.. 🎵

The lights changed and suddenly the whole stage lit up with strobe lights as the song dropped and she spun around on the pole. She had got better, so much better than when I asked her to dance for our amusement one time. This type of dancing was different..

I watched one of the men stand but before he could do anything he was pulled down into his seat and more money littered the stage.

The song slowed and I almost felt relief but when it kicked back up my fists clenched seeing her spin around the pole, occasions stopping half way up to twerk against the pole, her feet were in heels which looked painfully high, but her smile never faded. She shone up there, but I wanted to keep her in the darkness with me.

"I know what you are." Patience spoke in my ear.. "The song is pretty fitting. She chose it herself... Don't worry, I won't tell her who you really are."

My mind froze and I looked at Patience who winked and sauntered off leaving me to watch the end of Leah's dance. I didn't know how to feel, because now she had put herself up there, more people would want her time and I was worried that she wouldn't want to spend any of that time with me..

Inching towards the small gathering around the stage, I took a breath to calm myself down. Trying to sort the pride with worry and the anger with attraction. She had definitely caused an imbalance within me.

So when a man grabbed her ankle and tried pulling her off the stage, I went for it. Barrelling towards him and his filthy paw, I was stopped by Patience just as a large man appeared and lifted the guy clean up off his seat and out the club.

"Don't ever get involved or your time here will end instantly." She warned before backing away.

Leah looked a little worried for a second but it changed when she saw me and abandoned the money she had just made in favour of jumping down and throwing herself into my arms. "Did you see me?!" She asked excitedly as I held her tightly.

"I did."

"Oh my god! It was so good! I feel alive!"

I placed her down and checked over her body for any signs of harm. But I was met with that gorgeous smile.

"Private dance?" I ask in her ear as she wraps an arm around my waist.

"I can't, not yet. I'm waiting for Ace. I'm going back up again tonight."

I faked a smile and tried to stop the bitter disappointment at not having her to myself. Checking over her face, I sighed gently. I felt horrid for not sharing her happiness, but I couldn't because I didn't like sharing. Especially not when it came to Leah...

•••••••••••••••••••••••

For those wondering what song I chose, it's in the heading at the top, or the original version, is below by The Glitch Mob- Our Demons.

Y'all welcome!

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

&& Zak has got himself too invested.