Aces & Spades

Need

Bella:

I close the final button on my shirt before slipping on my black flats. I make my way out into the main area of the strip club. I spot Rebecca by the bar placing some gin and tonics on her tray.

"Hey Rebecca!" I shout as the overpowering music boomed through the speakers. 

"Hold this and go to that table!"

She hands me the tray and points to table number 5. Right in the middle of the room.

I take the tray and hold it with both hands, scared if I drop the drinks. I reach the table and carefully place the drinks down with shaky hands. There are two men sitting down. One was mesmerized by the dancers on the stage and the other, was staring down at his phone, too busy to notice that I had spilt some of his drink on the table. He glimpses up for a second in which I give him a small smile. He grunts and turns back to his phone.

What a dick.

I continue serving creepy men throughout the night, some of them thinking it's appropriate to touch me. I just signal to the body guard by the door who I now know as Tony, and he escorts them out.

Works like a charm.

This isn't as bad as I thought it would be. As I walk back to the bar to collect another tray of drinks, I hear someone shout my name.

Rebecca to be exact.

"One of the dancers hurt her ankle, I need you to stand in!"

"But...but it's my first day I can't!"

"You signed the contract you have to! Go to the changing rooms and pick out a set of lingerie then get on that stage!"

She pushed me into the direction of the same door that I walked out of a few moments ago. The music is much quieter here only being a faint hum in comparison to the ear bleeding noise it was before. I spot a dancer limping to a seat and I rush to help her.

"Are you okay?" I ask as I grabbed her arm to put around my shoulder for support.

"I... I just hurt my ankle. Fuck it hurts!" She wines as she wraps her pale hands around her ankle.

"Where are the icepacks?"

She points to a small silver cooler. Running to it, I pull on the small handle and take out the blue piece of plastic. I place it on her ankle, and she grabs onto it to keep it in place.

"Thank you for your help. Are you filling in for me?" She asked with a small smile on her face.

"I guess I am." I say with a forceful smile.

"Don't be scared. They sense that. As long as you show your confidence and dance like no one's watching, you'll be fine. Or you could just stand in the back." She laughs and I manage to laugh with her.

"Choose a set of lingerie from the rack there." She nods her head to the left and I turn back, spotting the array of different colored lace and silk fabrics.

"I think red would suit your skin." She says. I grab onto it rubbing the lace fabric between my fingertips. I stare at it in awe before I realize that I need to change. I slip out of my slacks and unbutton my shirt. I place everything into my locker before placing the strappy red lingerie on. She was right. Its fabric caresses my tanned skin as I walk towards the shoe section to take out a set of black pumps. I slip them on and start to walk, trying to keep my balance. I take my hair out of my tight ponytail and let the waves flurry down to my waist.

"Even if you can't dance they'll be getting hard at the sight of your body instead." She says with a giggle as I begin to cross my arms over my exposed chest. "Go to the second door on your right. That's where the stage is."