“A fine ass man by the name of Bleu, is what happened. He bought the place and wants to turn the strip club into a sex fashion house.” Yvette frowned.
“Sex, fashion house?” I asked, perplexed.
“I don’t know girl, that’s what I’m getting from it all. Strippers haven’t been stripping for the past three weeks. He hardly comes in but whenever he does, shit turns into a big photoshoot. They bring in prompts and have most of us model his new clothing line. There’s more to that but I’m not complaining because I’ve been getting paid six figures just to come in and oversea the new construction that’s been taking place here. His assistant claims this will be one of many…I’m just trying to see what his dick is hitting on. If not him then the other rich looking guys that come through with suits and ties.” Yvette shrugged.
I couldn’t help but to let out a soft laugh.
“Six figures? To stand around and make sure people are doing their jobs while lusting over the new owner. Sounds like easy good money.”
Yvette grinned, twisting a loose piece of hair around her finger.
“Hell yeah. And to keep the girls from sneaking off with all this new, nice, expensive shit in here. You know how it is.”
I pressed my hand to the bar and grounded myself. Memories of the club’s old ghosts flickered in and out of my mind. Nights where music and regret mingled with heavy congested air. For a moment, I wondered if the place could ever truly shake its past, even with all the new money being poured into it.
“So, you like what you see in Bleu?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.
“Mm-hmm. He fine as hell, tall, with smooth brown skin, He got some sexy bedroom eyes that look like he could see through all your secrets. I ain’t stupid though, Mira… I know he got that hush money charm, the kind that makes you want to confess and follow him anywhere, even if you know better.” Yvette’s laugh was full and warm.
“I don’t plan on getting too caught up or trying too hard with that man, Mira. Even a blind bitch could see that he’s colder than the ice in his cognac.” She sighed.
“And the others?” I asked, voice softer now. “The girls. They, okay?” I swallowed down roughly thinking about the other strippers. Most of them were here to simply survive what awaited them on the outside. We all kept a mutual respect for one another, there was never fighting or arguing whenever I came to play the violin.
Yvette’s expression slid into something sad and knowing.
“Some made out, some dipped, a couple got on with the new vibe. But it’s different, Mira. Feels like we’re all waiting for the next act, trying to figure out if we’re part of the show, or the audience.”
I nodded, letting her words settle. Change had come, whether they were ready or not. I felt uneasy, realizing that change had come into my life with Kenric. My thoughts buzzedinside of me. It felt good and bad to have a man become so obsessed with me just from me playing the violin. It was also scary and thrilling to wonder what great lengths he would take to keep me in his possession.
What’s really next for me? Do I make it this easy for Kenric to have me or do I make him work for it since I can’t deny the raw attraction that I feel for him. Especially after playing the violin for him and watching him play chess as he fought through his own self conflicting thoughts. I was drawn to him like a magnet. It’s like I pushed all the bad facts and red flags attached to him to the side to only recognize the good cause of all of his madness.
My fingers itched for the comfort of strings and music, for something real amid all this shimmer and pretense. Playing my instrument brought me back to my own reality. Staress popped into my mind, she was currently outside of the club waiting for me to come out. While it was never my intention to make things hard for her by trying to disappear to get my mind right. I had to make my own decisions in that moment.
“Yvette, I want you to help me.” I uttered, voice cracking out of nervousness.
The words sounded foreign off my tongue because I never liked to put my burdens on anyone. I hoped that Kenric didn’t take this as me running away from him. I would take my phone with me and if he really wanted to hunt me down, he could track the phone. That’s how much denial I was stuck in. I wanted him, wanted to know more about his world but was scared shitless.
It felt like I needed time in the real world outside of his darkness to see if it was something that I really wanted.
“Talk to me babe.” Yvette slid on the barstool next to me and looked me deep in the eyes.
“I’m scared—” My voice broke as my heart rate doubled.
Yvette’s face softened, her brows knitted with concern, but she didn’t interrupt. She just waited, patience written in the setof her jaw, her fingers gently grazed my elbow, it felt like a silent reassurance that I wasn’t alone, that someone was here to help me shoulder the weight.
I took in a shaky breath, letting the silence sit between us.
“I don’t know if I’m strong enough to step back,” I whispered, the truth ashamed of my admission. “Kenric feels like gravity, I’m scared that he might make me forget how to stand on my own. I never had a man make me feel so wanted in safe all in the same breath…the way he does my body, listens to me… I—its beautiful.”
She squeezed my arm, offering me those understanding eyes.
“Mira, you don’t have to figure it all out today. You don’t have to do it alone, either. Let’s just breathe. One choice at a time. I have a two-bedroom house thirty minutes away. We can leave right now through the back of the club…get some drink, food, and just talk and relax. I still have to come to work, but my place is open to you for however long.”
The ache in my chest loosened, just a bit. It felt like I could breathe better and like I had somebody in my corner. I needed time to think.
“I’ll go with you,” I managed, voice steadier.
“Thank you so much, Yvette.” I smiled through the tears that started to build in the corners of my eyes.
