Act 3: The Possibility

11 pm - Nathan walked her up to her apartment door. She turned towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thank you so much for today, babe. I really needed it.” She mumbled into his chest and inhaled his cologne. He ran his fingers through her hair and brought his lips down to meet hers.

Nathan met her lips with such demand that it took her breath away. He had never kissed her like this before, and it felt like she could snap from the way he wound her up. He ran his tongue over hers and fisted her hair behind her head as he claimed her mouth. Pushing her up against the door, she felt his erection press up against her abdomen. His hand that was around her waist suddenly went lower and underneath her skirt.

What was wrong with her soft-spoken boyfriend?

She broke the kiss and gently pushed him away. “Woah, Nate. Let’s back up a bit, okay?” She said, struggling to catch her breath. When she looked up at him, she saw the rage in his eyes. He scoffed, “You know what, Dev? I gave you today, but after today I might just change my mind. Three whole years and you still won’t move in with me. Is it someone else? Are you fucking someone else?” He asked, striding towards her, “Is that why you keep getting fired, you’re fucking your customers?”

“Woah, Woah, what’s happening here?” Clarissa Thomas, Devyn’s roommate and best friend, walks towards them. She had just come home from work dressed in a tight leather outfit and heels that could probably take someone’s eye out. Nathan glared at her disgustingly. “I’ll see myself out.” He hissed and bent down to kiss Devyn’s forehead. He shot Clarissa another dirty look and took off.

Devyn stood there and stared at Nathan’s back as he stormed off. Clarissa turned to her, “Dev, what the hell?” She asked, not used to seeing that side of Nathan. They usually got along well, but tonight he looked at her as if she crawled out of the garbage. Fair enough, her stripper attire was still on, but that never used to bother him in the past.

Devyn looked at her with wide eyes, and her lip trembled.

“Okay, girl. Let’s head inside and you can tell me all about it.”

ꚚꚚꚚ

Devyn sat down on the sofa after Clarissa pulled her inside. She was still in a daze after Nathan had left. Did he really speak his mind after all? Did he think she slept around as everyone in her past did?

Clarissa walks towards her with a cup of her favorite vanilla chai tea. She sits down next to Devyn and hands her the tea. “Now, tell me what happened today.”

20 minutes later, Clarissa was holding her as she finally sobbed. “I am tired, Clary. Tired of getting fired for my looks, tired of Nathan’s pushing. Tired of people thinking I’m an easy lay when all I want to do is earn a living and sing.” She sniffed and let out a sigh. “And now I have Nathan calling me a slut, thinking I sleep around because I keep getting fired.”

Clarissa stroked her hair and murmured comfort into her ear as she spilled her heart out. She knew how Devyn’s past had shaped her into becoming who she was. People always assumed she was easy because she was kind and outgoing. She was also not shy to flaunt her body, especially when they went out clubbing.

Clarissa perked up.

“Dev, I know it’s a long shot, but why don’t you put your looks to good use? If people are always staring, make them pay to stare.”

Devyn sat up and wiped her tears away after blowing her nose. “What are you talking about?” she asked, not liking where this was going. Clarissa shot her a smile, “The Rabbit Hole. You know I just recently started there, right? With no experience at all, remember how I struggled to hold down a job as well? How much do you think I make dancing for 6 hours?” She asked Devyn and the latter shrugs, “I don’t know, like $300?”

“$700. That’s just for dancing, no sex, and no special favors. The ladies who work in the private rooms earn $2000 a session. But that’s something I would not touch.”

Devyn’s eyes widened. That was their rent and groceries covered for a week. She frowned at Clarissa. “What exactly are you proposing, Clary?” She asked, knowing where this was going.

“The Rabbit Hole is a BDSM strip club that recently opened. It’s clean, run well, and if you know how to flaunt your gifts, you can make a killing in a week. The men who own the place look after the girls who work there. All I do is dance and earn $700 for 6 hours, and that’s without tips. I know you like to dance and you’re not shy about your body either. You’re beautiful and people are always staring at you. So, as I said, make them pay to stare.”

Devyn wiped her stray tears and stared at her. Using her looks to earn money? Could she really do something like that?

“I’ll have to think about it, Clary. Can I get back to you?” She asked her friend and the latter nods, “Of course. It’s something to think over and not decide on the spot. Here’s the business card with the address if you decide to go with it. Ask to speak to Ross, the manager. Tell him I sent you. ” Clarissa finished and put the card down on their coffee table before standing up. “I need to get out of these clothes, girl.” She comments as she stretches.

Devyn gets up and wraps her friend in an embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered and felt Clarissa smiling. “You’re my best friend and I will always be there for you. We need to talk about Nathan as well, but I think that’s a conversation for another day. The things he said to you were awful, Dev. You need to decide if you’re going to put up with that noise, or leave before it gets worse.”

Clarissa was right, she knew all of this, but Nathan had never acted like this before. She wasn’t sure what exactly she did to piss him off like that, and she knew it would bother her until her and Nathan spoke about what happened. She dealt with too many people thinking she slept around, she certainly didn’t need it from her boyfriend,

“I know, babe. I should go get cleaned up and go to bed. Chat in the morning?” Devyn said, bidding goodnight to her friend.

As she stood in the shower washing the days’ stress away, she mulled over Clarissa’s words. Although she loved dancing and was happy with her body, would she be able to dance for men and be paid for it?

She knew the answer was no, but her thoughts kept her awake that night, nudging her towards saying yes.