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Chapter One
GENEVA
I’m backstage applying my makeup and finalizing my look before heading on stage. It’s the last week in October, and all the dancers are going to be in special costumes for the whole weekend. The manager had us pull a folded piece of paper of all the costume choices, but we were free to switch with someone if we wanted. Summer Dee Zanders is the first to ask me to switch her angel costume for my devil costume.
At the vanity, I sit in a barely-there angel costume. White thong, white push up bra, white stockings, wings and a halo.Maybe the devil costume suited me better, but it’s too late for that now.
“Girl, I think that costume was made for you.”
I stand, giving myself a final look. “You think so?”
“Yes, you look gorgeous. I almost regret not being the angel myself,” she laughs.
“Well, I don’t know. You look hot in that devil outfit.”
“Thanks. Excuse me while I go make the stage my bitch.”
I smile. “Go make that money.”
Three songs later, it was my turn to appear on stage. Every two to three songs, the girls rotate so we get breaks or if we get a client in a VIP room.
While the stage remains dark, I head toward the center with my head bowed and praying hands. A white spotlight appears in the center of the stage illuminating me.MotivationbyKelly RowlandandLil Waynebegins. With one hand high on the pole, I walk around it two times before I begin taking off my wings. The lighting is soft and flip s between white, light blue and light pink. The crowd is wearing masquerade masks, so everyone’s face is hidden behind the mask, and makes the event mysterious. My wings are off, and I balance myself on the pole. I spin my body around the pole and contort my body into sexy moves. The second songBody PartybyCiarabegins, and I look out into the crowd and immediately spot a man standing tall, wearing a suit, his hair slicked back, and we lock eyes. He stands with one hand in his dress pants pocket and a drink in the other hand. When the third and last song,Yeah, I said itbyRihannaplays, I put more effort into my dance routine, make my moves more seductive and every so often, I lock my gaze onto Mr. Mysterious, and he doesn’t look away. He wants me to notice him watching me. I enjoy the attention from this man. But I wonder, is he a regular and playing a part, or is it someone completely new to Heaven’s Door?
The song ends, I scrape the cash off the floor and head backstage.
“Earth to Geneva,” Vanessa waves her hand in front of my face as I am sitting at my vanity.
I shake my head. “What?”
“Where are you? I asked how the crowd was,” she laughs.
I laugh, playing it off. “Oh. Yes. It’s a good crowd out there. And they are all wearing masquerade masks too.”
I was too distracted thinking about the mystery man to hear what she said, and I wonder why he is affecting so much because a man has never done that.
When I go out for my second set, I do my routine and scan the crowd. I don’t see the mysterious man. Part of me is relieved.
“I’m still giving you a ride home tonight, right?” Summer asks.
“Yep.”
After my shift I gather my things and start to head out to meet Summer out back. When I reach for the door, my manager calls me over to the bar, where he is wiping it down.
“Hey, someone left this for ya.” He hands me a wad of cash. All one-hundred-dollar bills.
“Who? Why?”
“Guess they liked your show,” Aldus, my manager says with a shrug.
I shrug because there is no note or anything with the cash. They just left it anonymously. I stuff the cash in my handbag and head out to meet Summer.
There is a black SUV running, sitting next to her. But I know none of the dancers drive that type of vehicle. And there are no customers lingering at this time of the early morning hours.
“Do you know who drives that?” I ask Summer, nodding to the SUV.
She looks over. “No. Not that I know of. Maybe they are just picking someone up or something.”
“Yes. You’re right.”
