1. Her

Meave

A lot of things are hidden in the dark.

Lots of secrets, emotions... Truths. When you take a good look at these things, you'll realize that they are pretty important things, things that could turn anyone's life around, if pushed into the light.

Why do you think these things are kept safely in the dark?

Simple, The dark provided peace, and no expectations, that's why you see some people prefer to shove their secrets into the darkest part of themselves, and then they tell the world that there are some secrets better left unsaid, cause truth be told, if you bring these secrets out of the dark and into the light? You should be prepared to say bye to peace.

Take Mr. Geffrey for an example.

If his wife walked right in here at this very moment, she would most definitely scream her heart out, and then go home crying.

He sat there, at the darkest corner of the club with his friends, highly intoxicated with the effect of the numerous amounts of beer he had downed as Foxy gave him a lap dance, sensually, if I might add. He could hardly concentrate on the drink he was holding, his eyes trained on the infamous full chested dancer.

The banker who, in the light, bragged about his perfect home was proving to everyone in the dark, that it was far from perfect. 

The music in the background of the night club, hit louder and sensual than any other night. And even as I moved, I forgot who I was at that moment.

I paid less attention to my surroundings, to the half-naked waiters passing around with drinks, the way the lights switched neon colors and dimmed from time to time, the way hungry eyes seemed to pierce every inch of my skin, the way the hoarse voices screamed my stage name like I was a goddess who came down to earth with the main purpose of giving them all a hard on.

All my mind could focus on was my hand gripping the pole.

Whenever I mounted that stage, the pole and I become one; it would speak to me, telling me to handle it gently, giving me the courage I seek every Saturday night before I dance.

Tonight, was different, it spoke clearly to me, turning my bones to jelly as I danced for my audience, body swirling like that of a snake on the pole, tempting, gentle, bold, seductive, torturing. I could see it in the eyes of these men.

They wanted me.

They wanted me enough to pay thousands of dollars just to watch me seduce a pole while trying to seduce them.

As I danced, I watched them all through my mask.

I would never like this... neither will I grow to love it. But I did love dancing. It was my passion, and to me, this is dancing, and if my passion was going to give me the money I needed to bring my dad back up, then I would most definitely take it.

Even if it meant being the woman I had stayed away from for years.

The song was almost over. I knew this because I had danced to it a number of times. Just the thought of this night coming to an end, had me happier than I had been all week. I needed to rest up in order to get enough strength to handle my week days job at Vargas.

I was lucky enough to get a spot at such a great company... one that has been the pride of our little state for a very long time. Although spending four years in the university and getting a first-class degree on marketing and all things business, had a lot to do with it.

They paid well, but they didn't pay enough to further my dad's treatment and pay the bills; hence, my secret Saturday night business at a nightclub. Thank God for the mask. I had run into a lot of familiar faces, during my time here.

The song ended, and I back slowly out of the stage, giving them my flawless last move, before disappearing into the shadows and heading straight for the changing room. The other girls who had dances after me, rushed by me to the direction of the stage.

I knew this building like the back of my palm, and even as I took my mask off, I didn't bother to let my eyes show me the way, my body had mastered my movements from the stage to the changing room.

This was a huge contrast to Vargas.

That company was massive... huge... well furnished, amazingly built. Billions of dollars were lavished on the building for sure, and every year, it went through a reset, in which all old things get replaced with new and shiny things.

I wouldn't lie and say I never once admired the company from afar when I was in high school.

I had always dreamed of going there, working there, and being like those adults who dressed decently and looked like billionaires even if they were just mere staffs.

I might even go as far to say I worked my ass off in college to reach the company's expectations. When I got the job, I was so damn happy, so happy that I stayed up all night thinking of how my first day would be.

A little smile brushed the side of my lips as I pushed open the door to the changing room.

I let out a little sigh, grabbed my robe, and then covered my body.

The club wasn't a big one, and each stripper had their specific days for work. I shared my dressing room with just a few of the girls who worked on Saturdays too.

In Vargas, there were Five wings. Each, a company of its own. Each having a boss who answered to the CEO who took over the fifth wing, monitoring the company from afar.

Only a few people had the privilege of working in the fifth wing, and I had heard from the little birds that those people got paid in millions, seeing as they worked closely with Mr. Vargas himself.

I had never seen the top boss, seeing as I worked at the second wing, and it was a bit far from the fifth. But that wasn't really the case though. People who worked at the fourth wing rarely saw him. the only thing we had to suit our curiosity were the rumours that flew by.

The rumours of the boss who just got released from prison after being charged guilty for the murder of his father; they said he had spent three years in prison and was finally proven innocent. People had said that he did it because he wanted the company for himself.

I found the story a bit odd. Why would a son kill his father for a company that would most definitely be passed down to him in future? I had never seen the new Mr. Vargas in person, due to the fact that rumour had it he was a really private person, which I respected because I was the same thing.

There is nothing I cherish more than my privacy and personal space.

I shook my head off the thought.

I better get going.

I picked up my makeup wipe, about to rid my face off the makeup when the door pushed open.

My head turned sharply to the direction, seeing a panting Sam. "Eve, thank God you're still here."

I furrowed my brows at him. "Sam? What's up?"

He caught his breath before speaking, "The boss needs you."

The boss what now? Fred and I didn't get along, and the only reason why I still worked at his club was because I was one of the reasons why men kept flooding the club at night.

I had never been more confused. "What could Fred possibly want from me?" I asked, turning away.

"He wants you in red."

This took my attention. Red was the club's code word for a private dance session.

"I don't do private dances, Sam." I reminded him.

"They are offering to pay triple of what you earned here tonight."

My eyes widened, my attention snapping back to him. "Wh-what? Are you shitting me right now?"

"Nope." Sam shot me a crooked smile.

One in which I returned.

I dropped the wipes. "I think Eve is ready to get back to business."

He smirked. "Come on, I'll show you the ropes."

As we made our way to the red arena, Sam, my roommate slash best friend, proceeded to tell me all he could about the Club's private dance rules.

"So, mask on at all times, should there be any reason it comes off, the customer has got to pay extra. You're free to go give the customer a lap dance, and you're also not obligated to, but knowing you and your personal space issue, you'll probably just work the pole. But should in case you're bold enough-"

"No touching or they'll pay extra, got it." I cut him off.

He smiled over his shoulder at me, his long hair swaying with his movement. "You sure you're ready for this?" He asked, stopping in front of a red door. I could hear the soft music playing from the inside.

My heart flew to my throat. The intimacy of what I was about to do, hitting me at all angles. It's going to be just me and whoever it was in that room. I knew I wasn't going to get hurt, but the thought was scary.

"No," I answered truthfully. "But I need the money, I'm in no position to complain."

Sam shot me a calm smile, pulling the door open. "He's all yours," He whispered. "Don't kill him with your sexiness." With a wink and a nudge on the shoulder, he walked away.

I swallowed down my nerves, blowing out a breath to keep calm as I walked into the dim lit room.