Chapter 163 A PRIVATE DANCE
PLEASE KNOW THIS IS STILL A PREMISE!!
AURORA’S POINT OF VIEW.
“A private dance….um…” I stuttered, my hands still trembled at the thought of Kai in that crowd. He represented everything I have tried to keep buried, to hide….but seeing him here, one glance….it was enough to bring the past five years of pain back….and I wanted to drown in the heartache.
“Yes,” Greyson grunted.
Licking my dry lips, I looked around for a second, thinking Kai would suddenly jump out or materialize from nothing and pounce on me. “I am really tired…..Can’t I just head home and allow Vickie to take care of this instead?’ He still didn’t look at me; rather, he kept his gaze above my head. I couldn’t even see what he thought, because the man wore sunglasses and had a stoic expression on at all times.
“No.”
“Please, Greyson….I can cut you half of tonight’s earnings if you want.” I offered. I was so desperate. Although that money would have gone in support of mom’s medical treatment, I couldn’t risk seeing Kai….not tonight, not ever. Too much rode on this. …my life, my sanity, my mother’s hospital treatment….everything I’d tried to run from…..it was too much for me.
If Kai and I so much as breathed the same air again, Dad could and would cease all of his part payments for Mom’s chemotherapy. She already struggled to live with her stage four lung cancer…..if this treatment is cut off, I could barely make ends meet myself….how on earth would I treat her, pay for her food, and feed myself too?
Even her nurse’s salary….No, I shouldn’t see Kai.
‘Remember, Aurora….Kai Mercer is poison….you have even a little piece of him, and you’ll choke….because I’ll cut your air off for good.” His voice played in my mind for the third time since seeing Kai… and I shuddered.
“Listen, Barbie….this customer has requested your services tonight, and he says if you come over, do a great job; you’ll get at least ten thousand dollars.”
My eyes widened immediately at the offer. My mind calculated everything I could do with such an amount. Mom’s nurse could get her payment for the past two months and finally return to keep watch over her. I could get mom some more of the oxygen that dad has refused to pay for anymore. Hell, I could move out of the shitty apartment I rented in desperation, which would automatically free me from the company of my overbearing landlord….so much could be done.
And if I did such a great job, maybe he’d feel even more generous and raise the price a little so I could start college. Mom’s treatments take up all my money, and while I don’t mind it….I really want to get my own life started, finally.
I gulped, thinking…’ maybe it won't be so bad….I could just hope and pray really hard that I don’t see Kai again, or that he’s home now, too drunk to form a coherent sentence….but Kai doesn’t even like alcohol…..
Fuck it.
Mom needs me….I have to do this.
“Okay….are you sure it’s going to be okay?” I couldn’t help but feel nervous all of a sudden, which was weird because I’d given enough private dances to know what I should and shouldn’t do.
“Relax, Barbie…the client knows the rules.” He said, and I could see a hint of a smile on the corner of his lips. He probably did it to reassure me, and it worked, because I smiled back slightly, squared my shudders, released a nervous exhale, and nodded at him to lead the way.
“Oh, and you should probably change into something hotter…you know the club’s rules.” He added, leading me into my private dressing room. All of us had one, but mine was much larger than that of the others because I was the most expensive dancer.
“Okay….give me twenty minutes.” I would try to make it at least ten. Every fiber of my being pushed me into changing as fast as possible, so I could meet with this client before he either changes his mind about the money or I somehow bump into Kai. If he were anything as I remembered, he would be relentless in seeking me out.
And I learned years ago, when Kai wants something….he’d stop at nothing until he made it his.
Spritzing the last set of perfume, I rushed out of the dressing room to meet with Greyson again, and with one nod, he led me to the door of the VVIP arena.
“VVIP?” I squeaked. “IS this person so important?”
“Yes, he owns the club, Barbie.” My eyes widened instantly… the owner??
He was a myth; no one knew if he truly existed, let alone had any idea what he looked like. All we know is that this was some secret establishment of his, because his family was very public and didn’t like something as disgraceful as a strip club tied to their name. The first time I'd heard it, I rolled my eyes so hard and so far back, I could see my brain.
I didn’t like him either. The fact that he made millions…hell, hundreds of millions over this club at least every hour because the elite of America’s society came here to party, have sex in threesomes, foursomes, or just indulge in voyeurism. Some of them focused on their BDSM kinks, but for some reason, even though we were all in the same building at once, while some worked here, and others were customers, they still thought we were beneath them for some reason….and it made me stifle a scream at least three times every hour.
“Is he testing all the dancers to be sure they’re up to par, or something?” This was suspicious. The man was rumored to never even be in the building until all of us left….so why was he asking for a private dance?
“Or something….look, you want the money or not? You told me your mother needs the surgery, or doesn’t she anymore?” he asked, exasperated. It was like someone pulled me back to consciousness. His words reminded me of the reason I stood outside the club years ago, dressed in an ankle-length floral print gown with multiple holes, my half eaten moldy sandwich in one hand, and an umbrella in the other to shield me from the biting rain.
Greyson was the one who's aw me, and hooked me up to the job instantly, and while I would have hated to do this, it was a necessary evil for me… but dad doesn’t know…if he does, he’d stop with mum, and I’d really be alone all over again.
“Fine…. I’ll go in now.” I released another nervous exhale, nodded at him, and stepped into the private area with one final glance. The moment I stepped in, the scent of expensive hookah hit me in the nostrils, my six-inch heels clinked against the floor slowly as I approached the figure, hooded in the purple lights that concealed his face.
All I could see was his white shirt, hidden in his black suit jacket, but for some reason, I could feel his eyes looking me over with each step I took until I stopped in front of him, my hand grabbing onto the glittery pink pole.
“You asked for a taste of Barbie?” I whispered, making sure my voice was seductive. My brows furrowed as I took note of one change.
I’ve done so many dances that all I do is block my thoughts, get the job over with, and bounce the second I’m done. I’ve never felt anything in all these years, but now… my nipples are erect, my skin is flushed, the room feels hot even though I could feel the cold blast of the air conditioning beside me….and my pussy tingled.
Clearing my throat, I shook the odd feeling off, bent low so I could whisper in his ear, while making sure I jutted my ass out perfectly enough that he could see it in the mirror behind me. “Ready for a slice of Elysium, sir?”
His breath fanned my face, and the second he shifted slightly, I caught a whiff of another scent.
Leather, and musk… it felt…familiar.
“It’s been a long time, Aurora.” My eyes widened at the sound of that familiar deep treble in his voice, and in that moment, I could see those eyes….those dark, perfect eyes that’ve haunted me for years….
“Kai.”