skull and I'd do anything to keep her.
Chapter One
Rachael
Shit! I arrived at the Nautilus Club fifteen minutes late again. My boss was going to kill me. The seedy building stood in an abandoned complex right next to the jammed-packed freeway. A gigantic neon sign repeated girls three times and a long pink awning jutted out from the front door.
I stumbled out of my car, carrying my purse and bag of school books. In between dances, I could get a little homework done if nobody bothered me. Jerome stood at the front door looking menacingly as always. He was an over-sized black man with the softest heart and a hug that could crush every bone in your body. He grinned and let me right in.
The club lights were dimmed and Cherry danced on stage to Britney Spears' “Womanizer.” A bar sat along the far right wall and Johnny was there tending to the drunks. A shot of whiskey sounded good right about now. I took a hard right through velvet curtains that stated: Employees Only.
Joe, the owner, came barreling towards me. His hair had receded to the very back of his head and he wore the cheapest suit available. He wasn't as soft as Jerome but he took care of his girls. “Rachael! You gotta be fucking kidding me. How could you be late again after we just had that talk?”
Damn! I thought he might not have noticed this time.
“I'm so sorry, Joe, but I got caught in traffic.”
Joe checked his watch. “There's no fucking traffic at nine o'clock.”
“There was an accident. I promise it won't happen again.” I gave him my best puppy dog eyes. Joe was a sucker for a pretty girl.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Cherry offered to switch with you. You're on in twenty minutes.”
I really owed Cherry a big one. This was the fifth time she had covered for me. Maybe I could buy her some makeup as a thank you.
Joe continued, “I also need you to cover Jasmine's shift on Saturday night.”
Double Shit! This Saturday I promised my mom I'd come visit her. But I couldn't negotiate with Joe without him firing me on the spot. I was already playing with fire.
“You got it, Joe. Whatever you need.”
Joe clasped his hands and bowed before me. He really wasn't all that bad. I just needed to be on time more often.
I walked into the makeup room and sat at my station. Exposed light bulbs surrounded the mirror and pictures of my family were taped to the edges. I wanted my area to feel a little more homey—a little more personal. I went to the open rack behind me that held the few outfits I owned. The dancers at Nautilus were required to pay for their own costumes which meant I couldn't afford too many.
I pulled out a blue bikini that was bedazzled with a hundred sequins. It looked really cheap but you couldn't tell in the dark club. I quickly changed and stuffed my big breasts into the bikini top. I sat down at my station and opened the drawer full of makeup. I brushed my brown hair and darkened my eyes with black liner and eyeshadow. I added the biggest fake lashes and overdid the lipstick.
Helena strutted into the room wearing a long dress and platform shoes. She was very thin and tall with small perky breasts. She could've been a model if she wanted to. Most of the dancers were so jealous of her body.
“Joe seems angrier than usual. Late again, Rachael?” Helena sat down at the station next to mine. She had been dancing at the Nautilus for over ten years which was a lifetime to some of us. When I started, Helena helped me through the basics: getting my costume, learning the routines, and dealing with customers who get a little too touchy.
I capped my lipstick and pursed my lips in the mirror. “Only by fifteen minutes. I could be one minute late and he'd still go ballistic.”
Helena laughed. “Joe is Joe.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “We just got in a big group of guys.”
“I hope they have
Chapter One
Rachael
Shit! I arrived at the Nautilus Club fifteen minutes late again. My boss was going to kill me. The seedy building stood in an abandoned complex right next to the jammed-packed freeway. A gigantic neon sign repeated girls three times and a long pink awning jutted out from the front door.
I stumbled out of my car, carrying my purse and bag of school books. In between dances, I could get a little homework done if nobody bothered me. Jerome stood at the front door looking menacingly as always. He was an over-sized black man with the softest heart and a hug that could crush every bone in your body. He grinned and let me right in.
The club lights were dimmed and Cherry danced on stage to Britney Spears' “Womanizer.” A bar sat along the far right wall and Johnny was there tending to the drunks. A shot of whiskey sounded good right about now. I took a hard right through velvet curtains that stated: Employees Only.
Joe, the owner, came barreling towards me. His hair had receded to the very back of his head and he wore the cheapest suit available. He wasn't as soft as Jerome but he took care of his girls. “Rachael! You gotta be fucking kidding me. How could you be late again after we just had that talk?”
Damn! I thought he might not have noticed this time.
“I'm so sorry, Joe, but I got caught in traffic.”
Joe checked his watch. “There's no fucking traffic at nine o'clock.”
“There was an accident. I promise it won't happen again.” I gave him my best puppy dog eyes. Joe was a sucker for a pretty girl.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Cherry offered to switch with you. You're on in twenty minutes.”
I really owed Cherry a big one. This was the fifth time she had covered for me. Maybe I could buy her some makeup as a thank you.
Joe continued, “I also need you to cover Jasmine's shift on Saturday night.”
Double Shit! This Saturday I promised my mom I'd come visit her. But I couldn't negotiate with Joe without him firing me on the spot. I was already playing with fire.
“You got it, Joe. Whatever you need.”
Joe clasped his hands and bowed before me. He really wasn't all that bad. I just needed to be on time more often.
I walked into the makeup room and sat at my station. Exposed light bulbs surrounded the mirror and pictures of my family were taped to the edges. I wanted my area to feel a little more homey—a little more personal. I went to the open rack behind me that held the few outfits I owned. The dancers at Nautilus were required to pay for their own costumes which meant I couldn't afford too many.
I pulled out a blue bikini that was bedazzled with a hundred sequins. It looked really cheap but you couldn't tell in the dark club. I quickly changed and stuffed my big breasts into the bikini top. I sat down at my station and opened the drawer full of makeup. I brushed my brown hair and darkened my eyes with black liner and eyeshadow. I added the biggest fake lashes and overdid the lipstick.
Helena strutted into the room wearing a long dress and platform shoes. She was very thin and tall with small perky breasts. She could've been a model if she wanted to. Most of the dancers were so jealous of her body.
“Joe seems angrier than usual. Late again, Rachael?” Helena sat down at the station next to mine. She had been dancing at the Nautilus for over ten years which was a lifetime to some of us. When I started, Helena helped me through the basics: getting my costume, learning the routines, and dealing with customers who get a little too touchy.
I capped my lipstick and pursed my lips in the mirror. “Only by fifteen minutes. I could be one minute late and he'd still go ballistic.”
Helena laughed. “Joe is Joe.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “We just got in a big group of guys.”
“I hope they have
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