one
. . .
“Aura,you and Synful are in the VIP,” Vick stated, as the pair pranced past him.
Splash was packed on a Friday night. It wasn’t out of the ordinary, but tonight, the locker room had been swirling with rumors of a major player being in the building. Typically, Splash hosted rappers like Jay Lucci or local trappers, but a major baller meant Vick wasn’t leaving a dollar on the floor. Which translated that his two most exclusive entertainers were going to the Splashes VIP lounge. The patrons awaiting their entry had been warned by the nightclub owner that their hands were to be kept to themselves.
Vick may have run an underground brothel, but he took good care of his girls – considering all things. He didn’t and wouldn’t ever condone drug use in his establishment by his girls. Patrons were to keep their hands to themselves. Abuse against his money makers was prohibited, and if they wanted explicit services, there were fees attached.
“Uh uh, Vick,” Aura huffed. “The last set of drunk-ass men were trying to get us downstairs. I told you about that already.”
Vick looked Aura over from head to toe and quickly responded. “I already handled them. You’re not going to have that issue tonight.”
Aura rolled her mask-covered eyes. “You told them I’m not taking my clothes off either? I’m an entertainer, not a stripper, if that’s what they want, they can go to the main floor.”
“Who is running this club?” Vick questioned, waving his finger between the two. “Me or you?”
Synful chuckled. “It might be her once she graduates. She’ll be saving your ass from a whole bunch of lawsuits.”
“Sports law, not criminal,” Aura corrected. “I’m not trying to run this club, I’m trying to go home without being accosted.”
Vick huffed, knowing that Aura alone brought in more money than the other handful of top dancers he had. He also knew that while she was putting herself through law school, she could choose to walk away at any moment, and her regulars would riot if they couldn’t be caught up in her aura because he’d failed to keep her comfortable.
“Biggs!” Vick called over his shoulder to one of the security guards.
“What’s up, Vick?” Biggs’ high-pitched voice that didn’t match his large stature sounded off.
“You’re in the VIP with Aura and Synful. Keep those niggas in check,” he ordered before snapping his eyes back at Aura. “I swear if you didn’t bring in money, I wouldn’t bother.”
Walking away, Vick threw up his hands and muttered something no one in the group could make out. Aura waved him off and proceeded to lead the way to the VIP space. The music and laughter amongst men could be heard outside of the thick door. Synful pulled the door open and stepped inside the dimly lit room.
Slow dancing lights of blue, pink, and red hues set the mood of the space. Aura stepped in behind her, scanning the roombehind her jeweled mask. While she was too busy between school and the club to stalk athletes' day-to-day lives on social media, she knew exactly who the major player was.
Top NFL defensive tackle Khalif Wright. Traded to Los Oceania last season and received a max contract upon his arrival to the NFL. A contract that set in motion debates in her doctoral classes about contract negotiations. She’d seen his name and a few stills of his face, but nothing – absolutely nothing could have prepared her for the being before her.
Khalif was seated in the middle, high-backed leather chair, balancing his attention between the phone in his hand, the liquor being passed over to him, and Aura taking her position on the stage.
His golden-brown skin glistened as if it were dusted with sand and gold. He was cloaked in a designer Ameechii t-shirt, coordinating denim, and a slew of diamonds draped around his neck and wrist.
“Damn, that nigga is fine,” Synful muttered in Aura’s ear as they stood in position, waiting for their music to play.
This, they’d done night after night. A coordinated, erotic dance to draw the attention of the men. Swinging their jeweled-skirt-covered hips would put them in a trance and make the dollars rain down. While Synful worked the room, Aura’s assignment had always been to pull the man in the middle in.
Khalif’s demeanor was tight. Tense. Even with the chocolate beauty before him, moving her body in a way bound to intensify his intoxication.
As she walked down the short stairs, her eyes focused on her target, he sat back. Jaw tight, dark, frame-covered eyes focused on her despite wanting to. His being at Splash tonight was his brother’s doing. The brother who hadn’t bothered to show up to anything since Thursday. The brother who was assigned thehonor of being the best man and hadn’t fulfilled any of his duties.
Somehow, his worries about his brother’s presence were snatched from his shoulders when Aura leaned in ever so slightly and asked, “What’s happening on that phone that won’t allow you to relax?”
The art of making a man feel like he was the only one in the room was the thing that kept her exclusive and continued to pay her tuition semester after semester.
Khalif licked his lips slightly, taking a moment to take her in before speaking. He’d seen his share of strippers in his day. Eager to take his money and prance off to the next, while willing to show their assets. Aura wasn’t that type. She hadn’t even fully entered his space. If he wasn’t trying to be an honorable man, regardless of wanting to be married or not, he couldn’t reach out and touch her.
Not because of Vick’s rules, but because the silkiness of her toned thighs needed to be felt. It was in the twitch of his fingers as he locked his phone and placed it face down in his lap.
“Is it my attention you want or my money?” he replied.
She tussled her bundles over her shoulder. “You paid to be here. Why not pay attention?”
