1. THE GIRL IN THE SKIRT

Cherry's POV

You'll find today in many parts of the world that women claim that being strippers or hookers or prostitutes or porn stars is a form of sexual liberation and independence. They say that it's a way of embracing their womanhood and finding pride in the power of their flesh and somehow, a lot of women today see this as honest work that should be done without an atom of shame.

Hi there, I go by Cherry 🍒 and I'm a stripper and I just want to tell you that what all of these women say about sexual liberation is a pile of bullshit. Most women are not doing these kinds of jobs because they feel it's a way of expressing their artistic side, most women are not doing these kinds of jobs to embrace their sexuality in a manner that is decent or upright. Bitches are doing these jobs because they like it. They love the attention they get from wealthy men and women, they love the sex and most importantly, they love the money.

Now don't get me wrong, not all of us are as promiscuous as the others and I'm one of such people. As I said, I am a stripper but I don't go around sleeping with all of my clients. I just dance for them and take their money. Unfortunately, some of the girls I work with that strip also entertain and it caused me a few problems when I first started stripping because a lot of men were disrespectful and treated me like a whore. It took a little while but Cookie set those guys straight and as I grew in the business, men knew to keep their dicks to themselves if I didn't ask for it. Now, I could have done something else with my life, something a little more decent and respectable and, I could also give you a sob story about how my stepdad was an abuser or how my mum didn't really care about me which was why I joined the wrong company and got into this business but that's all a pile of crap.

The truth is, I was always a wild one even as a little girl and when I became a teenager, boy did I rebel? Late-night partying, drinking, drugs, sex, multiple boyfriends, you name it! I did all of that but at some point, I grew up. I became an adult and I realized that I could turn what I do for fun into something that was actually profitable to me and so, I left my little hometown and ventured out into the world to find myself. I arrived in good old New York and after a few months of scraping the gutter trying to make ends meet, I met my helper and the most charming and smartest woman I've ever known; Cookie.

Cookie was the owner of one of the most frequented strip clubs in all of New York that she named "Sweet Cookies Swinging" and when she first saw me, she thought I had the potential to be one of her best employees and so she offered me a job. I didn't hesitate! I took that job immediately after she offered it and I've had absolutely no regrets ever since.

Life has been good and business has been booming. Once a small town girl, now a woman of the world making my own money, making my own rules and living the way that I want. I don't regret the direction my life headed right from when I was a child to when I became a woman. It was a hard and long journey but I finally made it to the promised land. And now, I have hundreds of wealthy men who come to the strip club every Saturday just to see my show and after they leave, I become thousands of dollars richer than I was when the day started.

In fact, I'm about to perform right now and you're more than welcome to watch but, don't come empty-handed! Make sure your pockets are filled with cash because Cherry doesn't dance for free.

*********

"And now, the moment you have all been waiting for. Please, give a big hand for the main event of the evening, the dazzling blonde queen of the pole, the sexy firecracker that gets your motor running, the girl in the skirt, Miss Cherry,"

Every time I hear Marcus's voice echo through the speakers as he introduces me to the crowd, I'm filled with so much vigour and excitement. Being born beautiful is a gift that many women receive but aren't smart enough to utilize to their benefit. As for me, I knew what I had and I wasn't afraid to shake it in front of the world.

I walked out on the stage, wearing an armless white bra and the shortest schoolgirl skirt you'll ever see; it was more of a headband really. My heels were high and pointy and my hair was done old-school-like, giving Marilyn Monroe vibes because she was my idol but, I considered myself more of a sexual icon than she ever was. Sorry, Marilyn! You had your time in the spotlight and now, it's my time to shine, girl.

As soon as the spotlight hit my face, the packed house went nuts for me and the bills began to fly before I even began my dance. I blew my admirers a kiss and grabbed what was to me as important a tool as Picasso's brush was to him; my pole. The DJ began to play one of the songs that I wrote and recorded myself. Yeah, I sing and I only ever dance to my own music. It's another one of my many talents but nothing beats what I do on the strip pole.

My routine tonight was an overlay of multiple tricks and moves that required years of knowledge and mastery. I've been stripping since I was eighteen so I was kind of a master of the pole. I grabbed that pole and I let my music transport me to another realm where the most important things that existed were the sexual parts of a woman. It always amazed me how easily I could drive men nuts with what I do and today was not any different. They were practically drooling all over my stage and at that point in their lives, only I mattered to them and I loved having that power.

Every single man at the show let the bills rain all over me that night. Even the richest of my clients got to their feet to strap their offerings to my panties and they all wanted me to never get off the pole. They all worshipped me. All but one particular man. A black man that was seated up front. He wasn't applauding and neither was he spraying his money on me. He wasn't going crazy like the others but he was certainly watching.

I've had men gawk at me with hunger and lust many times before and I knew how to deal with it but, there was something different about the way this man was staring at me, something predatory and intimidating and for the first time in a long time, I felt a little uncomfortable by a man's eyes. He never once blinked and I started to become hypnotized by him which wasn't normal because I usually did the hypnotizing whenever I was on that stage. It was almost a relief to hear my song come to an end because I just couldn't stand his eyes on me any longer.

"Give it up for Miss Cherry!"

Marcus announced me off the stage and I blew a kiss to my admirers and walked out through the back and as I walked away, I could still feel his eyes brandishing my backside with its piercing gaze. I turned around as I walked and truly, he was still watching me go. I made it backstage to where the other girls were and I was finally able to catch my breath. I don't know why that man made me so…tense and hot but he did. That much was for certain. I could feel my skin burning up and my nipples were harder than they'd ever been. It took me a while to get a hold of myself.

"Nice work, Cherry! Flawless performance as usual but I kinda noticed that you were a little off in the end there," Cookie said to me.

I hadn't even heard her walk up to me. That was how shook up I was.

"Was I? I didn't realize," I lied.

"Well, it's a good thing your fans are a bunch of horny men who didn't notice. Whatever got you spook, take care of it before your next show, okay?" Cookie asked.

"Sure thing, Cook," I said and walked away from her.

.

.

.

The night or should I say, the morning finally came to an end and the club became empty which seemed like a miracle every single time. Cookie was settling all the other girls with their earnings for the night and I was the last she attended to because I made the most money tonight, just like every other night. I was seated at the bar, drinking some water while I waited for her to call me.

"See you tonight, Cherry," The last girl said as she walked past me.

"I'm not going to be here, Juicy. I only work Saturdays, remember?" I said back and blew her one of my signature kisses.

"Of course," Juicy replied with a hint of jealousy and it made me smirk.

"Cherry, get over her and get your money," Cookie called out.

I got off the bar stool and walked over to Cookie. She handed me a large wad of fifties and I took it and put it in my purse.

"You're not going to count it?" Cookie asked with a raised brow.

"That's not necessary. I trust you," I replied with a smile.

"I'm glad to hear that," Cookie said and handed me another wad of hundreds, "It seems you have a new fan. He asked me to give this to you personally,"

"Did he say who he was?" I asked, surprised to see so much money from a single client.

"Nope! Just claimed to really enjoy your show,"

"Thank you," I said and took the cash, "Guess, I'll see you next Saturday."

"Sure. Next Saturday," Cookie replied weirdly, like she thought something was up with me.

I turned around and made my way to the exit. I walked out of the club and into the street to get a cab that would take me home. I waited by the side of the road for a taxi and suddenly, a dark Range Rover pulled up beside me. The tinted windows of the passenger side rolled down and the same man from my show was inside. When I saw his face, I felt it again but this time, I didn't let it control me.

"Good evening, Miss Cherry. Wonderful show you put on tonight," He said with a deep voice and an accent I'd never heard before but it was certainly an African accent.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Although, it didn't really seem like you did, seeing as you never tipped me,"

I found it a little insulting that he never got up like the other men in the club and I wasn't scared to let him know it.

"But I did tip you. My tip was probably more than all you made tonight," He said.

"So, you're the one who asked Cookie to give me that money?" I said when I realized it.

"That's right and I have a business proposition for you," He said.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance when I realized what he was going to ask for, "I don't entertain so if you're looking for a prostitute, look elsewhere,"

"That isn't the business I want to offer you, Miss Cherry," He said with so much charisma and confidence, that I felt my legs turn to butter.

"It's cold and it's late. You probably have to get home so I'll call you tomorrow so we can meet up and go through the terms of what I have to offer. Goodnight, Miss Cherry," He said and his windows rolled up.

His car drove away and I was left standing there with so many questions in my head that included: Who was this man, what business did he want with me and why does his presence make me so aroused? I guess I'll find out tomorrow.