Diamonds

[3]

***
[Thursday July 14th, 1988]

It was currently seven at night and I had three hours left before I had to go into work. It's been three nights since I had met Michael personally and I was very afraid of how Denise would react if I told her. She clearly doesn't want me around him for a reason. Her reasoning is that he's dangerous and he will hurt me.

For the past three nights, Michael has tipped me big money.The two of us always spoke to one another while grabbing a drink at the bar, but only briefly. I didn't wanna upset Denise if she seen me with him.

Denise was currently in the living room with Raven as I resided in my room counting the money I made over the week. The money that Michael gives me is located in another part of my room. Last night, he gave me his phone number on a piece of paper attached to the money that was wrapped in a rubber band. I haven't picked up the phone to call him quite yet.

"I'll stay home with Raven, I won't be in the club tonight." I looked up from what I was doing to see Denise leaning against the door frame.

"Why not?" I asked her.

"I just needed a day off. James was okay with it." She said then walked away before I could say anything else.

As the hours passed, I got ready for work. I wore a thin strap pink dress that stopped to my mid thighs and had a slit on the side. My hair was styled in a curly fro. I also wore light makeup and topped it off with a nude lipstick. I didn't say a word as I left out the door. I made it inside the club and was greeted by Michael as I walked in. Perhaps he was waiting on me the whole time.

"Kirsten, you look amazing tonight." Michael says, as he guides me towards the bar. I felt my cheeks heat up as a smile spread across my face.

"You don't look too bad yourself." I told him. Michael wore a black suit tonight, fedora to match and same penny loafers. His curls looked even better tonight as they hung down his back and a few strands coming down in his face. The two of us seated on a barstool at the bar, ordering a drink.

"We didn't get to talk much last night." Michael spoke as James handed him a glass. "I wonder why." I said, referring to Denise snatching me away from him.

"What's going on with your friend? She seems tense around me." Michael asks.

"I-I'm unsure. She's never like this with people." I lied. Michael hummed, letting me know he believed me.

"Whatever you say love." Michael said. "Take me to the back."

"W-What?" I asked in shock. He hasn't asked me for a private dance since the first time I met him. "I want to talk to you more privately." He said.

"O-Ok." I stutter and led him to one of the rooms once again. I opened the door and he walked inside as I turned to close the door. "Doesn't it feel like we did this before?" He jokes as he stood in the middle of the room.

"What do you want from me?" I asked him. I quickly covered my mouth, seeing how harsh it had came out. He stalked closer to me slowly, causing my body to shake.

"I just wanted to get to know you a little bit." He said as he trailed a hand down my arm and rested it on my lower back. I sucked some air in as I watched him slowly lick his bottom lip. "Is that too much?"

"Y-Yes." I whispered.

"Why?"

"Because you're no good." I told him and he began to laugh. He bit his lip in an attempt to keep himself from laughing more but he couldn't help himself.

"I'm no good? You don't know me. You just heard about me." He said.

"It doesn't matter. I know enough." I told him. Where is all this boldness coming from?

"Is that so?" He questions as he slowly walks away, looking around the room. "It is." I lied. I knew nothing about this man. Even when I tried to talk to Denise about it she refused to say. She said it was too much to explain. I wanted to know badly and if Denise couldn't tell me then maybe he could.

"You didn't even know my name. Everybody knows my name." He said, not turning to look at me. He held his hands behind his back and snickered. "That's what makes you interesting to me ya know?"

"I'm interesting, to you?"

"Of course you are. Everyone has bowed down to me since forever. You just went with the flow and I like that." He explained.

"But I only did what you asked of me." I said.

"I know. The only reason I'm intrigued with you is because you don't know my past or my present. I suggest it stay that way. For now." He said as he turned to face me finally. My eyes stared back at his as he took his fedora off. His eyes were beautiful.

I didn't stare at him long though, afraid of what his next words would be.

"Why did you insist on being back here?" I asked.

"I want a lap dance from you." He shrugged as he found himself sitting on the couch. He slouched and stretched out his long legs. I swallowed as I slowly walked towards him. "A lap dance? That's all?" I question and he nods. Once I was in front of him, he pulled me on to his lap, holding me from behind. His hands went down to my lower back and stayed there as I placed my hands on top of the couch on each side of his head and my legs and each side of his body.

"Show me what you do on stage." He bit his lip while looking up into my eyes.

Arriving in front of my apartment door, I took out my key and unlocked it. I was met with Denise sitting on the couch playing with Raven.

"Look who finally showed up." Denise spoke in a baby tone without looking at me. "You're later than usual."

"I'm sorry Denise." I said as I walked over towards the couch and sat next to her. "I had made a little extra from some private dances." I halfway lied

"That's a good thing, we'd have enough to hopefully get that AC fixed." She said, standing up from the couch.

"Yea.." I trailed off as I picked up Raven from her spot on the floor and watched Denise walk off. If only she knew how I was getting extra money..