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I’d been good about saving money when I could. I wasn’t hurting financially, not with Fawn living with me and only having one rent to pay each month. When she moved out, I would have to only feed me, and I didn’t eat that much. I also knew the dancers who worked the dinner hours got to eat here for free. It was the same for those who worked the lunches. I didn’t want afternoon hours. They were the slowest. If I was going to do this five days a week, I wanted hours that brought in good money. The only thing that stopped me from doing all five later at night was my desire to see Peyton.
Dexen was flexible and told me if I needed to change it around to let him know. This would be a good trial to see how the hours and pay fit me. I did agree to keep doing private dances in the rooms, only with his VIP members. The VIPs dropped a lot of money in those rooms. Not only for the dance, but the tips were usually hefty. It was a good way for me to get extra on the nights I danced.
I hoped it worked out. I had a good feeling about it. If only the rest of my life would fall into place.
“I’m going to up your budget for costumes,” Dexen said. He took care of the dancers and covered their costs. It was how I was able to afford such elaborate masks. The slacks and ties weren’t too expensive. I wanted to look nice without going crazy. No one was getting on the stage to check my labels. And Fawn loved to tailor the vintage slacks I found in secondhand stores. Some of my best ties came from there too.
Dexen’s phone vibrated on the desk. His lip curved up when he saw the message.
“Something good?” I asked. I was being nosy, but Dexen treated me well so I could push a bit.
“Time will tell. You should go get ready. You’re on soon.”
“Thank you for everything. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re not only well liked here, but you’re professional. You don’t treat this place like a hookup app. I need more people like you in here.”
Grabbing my bag, I nodded and left his office to get ready. Tonight, my outfit consisted of navy pinstriped slacks with matching suspenders and a white bow tie. The mask was navy as well with swirls of white over it.
My G-string was solid white with thick enough fabric that it wasn’t see-through and there was a lace band instead of thin silk.
I sprayed myself with a silver sheen then added some of my vanilla mist. There was a fan on my counter I turned on so I could dry quickly and get my outfit in place.
The door opened and Emerald slid in. He was around six feet, had these gorgeous, sculpted muscles the members drooled over. His dark hair was styled in a coif. His name came from his piercing green eyes. I’d never seen a green so vibrant. He was grinning.
“Good night?” I asked.
“Hell yeah. I just got done with three rooms. Man, they are spending tonight.”
I smiled. “That’s what I like to hear.” I looked down at my mask. Would I still want to wear it when I no longer worked for Perry? I did it now to keep my identity hidden. It was also part of my performance. Members loved trying to guess who I was. They never did. If Peyton—who I worked with every day—couldn’t, I didn’t have faith anyone else would either.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I talked to Dex. I’m going to go full time soon.”
“That’s great. I’ll have to try and get on the schedule the nights you’re on. You always bring the crowd and I benefit from it.” He winked.
I rolled my eyes. “Please. You’re beautiful. You don’t need me to get your tips flowing.”
Dexen had once floated the idea of the two of us teaming up and dancing together. It would make us a lot of money, but the thought of trying to find my rhythm with another person didn’t appeal to me. I knew the moves I needed to make on stage. Knew which ones got the best response. Outside of that, I let the music flow through me and take me for a ride. I didn’t do a lot of choreography. Others didn’t agree with my method and that was okay. They had to do what was best for them.
I said goodnight to Emerald before leaving the room and going to the stage, my mask firmly in place. If he’d already done the rooms, his night was over. We usually danced first, drummed up enough attention to get private bookings, then went to the rooms to dance.
“Are you doing VIP tonight?” Dexen asked as he came over to stand beside me.
I could already feel the beat of the music seeping into me, loosening me up. Fuck, I loved this. “Two,” I told him. I’d have to get used to doing more than one since I wanted the money that came with it. Perry paid me well, but working here five nights a week would beat that salary.
“I can fill those.” Dexen left as quick as he came.
Closing my eyes, I soaked in the sounds and the smells. I let everything else go but what I was about to do. If I went out there tense, it would be noticeable. The tips would go down. I couldn’t let that happen.
I heard the deejay thank Diesel. I made sure to step back to give him room. Diesel was massive. Arms bigger than anything I’d seen in real life. Thighs like tree trunks. At first glance, he looked like he should be one of our guards, not a dancer, but fuck could he move on stage.
He gave me an up nod as he passed by. A man of few words that one was.
The deejay started the slow, steady beat of the music I chose for tonight. If I used the same song every time I was up there, it would get boring. I mixed it up the best I could while staying true to the sounds that moved me.
Taking my place behind the curtain, I dropped my chin to my chest so the lights wouldn’t blind me the second the curtain was pulled back. I shook out my arms, shifted my weight from one leg to the next, readying myself for my performance.
