His Personal Dancer

2

      "Raina??" I inhaled sharply at the sound of my name which pulled me back to reality. I turned away from the mirror and swallowed hard "Sorry Sugar" I said faintly. She nodded smiling at me, she sat in her director's chair and applied makeup on her face. I stood there admiring her beauty. She had dark brown skin with light hazelnut eyes. She had on a golden two piece that looked stunning against her complexion. As she was applying highlights to her cheekbones she caught me staring at her. She smiled at me through the mirror "You're very beautiful Sugar" I gave her smile in return and she let out her angelic laugh "You are too Ray" She said putting down her highlighting brush, she turned away from the mirror and looked at me face to face "Can you get me golden pair of stilettos in the back room. I no longer fit a size 8" she laughed, I nodded before leaving the dressing room. My body was here at work but my mind wondered, after the ordeal of yesterday with that man and seeing the drink on my kitchen counter I couldn't sleep at all. I couldn't shake the feeling of eyes watching me. Tiredness lingered my whole body, a sense of weakness poured over me. My body felt like it was made from cement. I made my way down stairs to the VIP rooms. I went down the hall opposite from where I went yesterday. "Simply can't do that. My interest in the business has been declining for some time now-" I heard someone's voice from the nearest exit. I kept to my own business and went into the storage room turning on the lights and scanned the shelves of various stilettos before coming across the pair Sugar requested for. "Pulling the investment now would save us from when the business goes down later on" I stopped in the doorway of the storage room and looked to my left where a man in an all black suit stood out in the alley way. His back was facing me and two other large men were standing in the alleyway with him. Probably his bodyguards, I was about to be on my way until I got a good look at one of the bodyguards. Anxiousness overwhelmed me as I recognized the man standing in the alleyway from the man yesterday following me in the streets of New York. He was probably the same guy who left the drink in my kitchen as if to taunt me, but how would he know about the drink? My lack of sleep and paranoia caused me to throw the heels down onto the floor, storm down the hallway, and through the door that led into the alleyway

        "Hey! I recognize you!-" I said pointing my finger at the man until I stood a foot in front of him. "Why were you following me?!" I asked him, he stood there not acknowledging my existence. He was quiet and looked ahead. I pressed my lips together offended that he treated me like a nonexistent piece of garbage. "I'm asking you a question, you can't just ignore me!" I squealed, the more irritated I became the more puerile my voice sounded. "Get out of my face b***h" he said growling down at me, I backed up fear rose within me making me realize I made a huge mistake approaching this man. My eyes widened with fear, I nodded my head before turning around and met a pair of green eyes. I didn't recognize him from his facial features but his demeanor and his shiny black dress shoes made my mind revisit the horrible event that happened yesterday. Suddenly the pain in my cheek that once faded now burns, I felt like I was taken back to that room "Y-you" I squealed, he was still on the phone but unfortunately he gave me all of his attention. I backed up into the man I had failed to confront. "Just take care of it" he ordered  before sliding his phone into the pocket inside of his jacket. He tightened up the red tie around his neck "Don't ever interrupt my phone calls ever again" his voice was calmer from yesterday but still had a threatening sense to it, he took a step towards me already and I felt my face heat up. I tried backing up away from him but his bodyguard blocked me from doing so. His eyes stared down into mine, I swallowed hard. His eyes began to linger my face. Slowly he lifted his hand up to my cheek. He was so close to me I felt the coldness of his hand. I cried silent tears as I stared up into his eyes and flinched away from his soon to be touch . My bottom lip tremble with fright, he clenched his hand making it into a fist dropping it down to his side before backing up away from me and swiftly turning to go back inside of the building. The two bodyguards who stood there followed him as well leaving me alone in the alleyway. Once fully out of sight, I coughed out tears and stumbled against the brick wall trying to hold myself together. I clawed at my chest trying to contain the racing heart in my chest. My arms wrapped around my body,I sat there hyperventilating nervously "Raina!?" Zeke came running into the alleyway a few minutes later unaware of what happened. He wore a floor length white fur coat on top of a black cat suit, along with black wedges to match. "Dear God, are you not capable of doing anything Raina!?" He said pushing the hair out of my face, he turned my face upwards to look at him. He wiped my cheeks from their tears and picked me up from my underarms before hauling me back inside.

      "What is going on with you Raina?" Zeke asked me with disappointment flooding his voice. Zeke had taken me to his office and laid me down on the couch. Zeke was typing away on his computer while keeping one eye on me "Maybe working here is too much for you. Maybe you shouldn't be working here. You're young and it's June, you could probably be a lifeguard somewhere-" I shot up from the couch hearing Zeke's words induced fright from within me. "No!" I said sitting up and facing Zeke, he pulled away from the keyboard and crossed his arms at me "Zeke I'm fine, I just..-" I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed deeply, I looked at away from him "I just didn't sleep last night is all" Last night was admittedly horrible, I tossed and turned thinking about that man Mr. Ace. Paranoia caused me to think someone was hiding in my closet and underneath my bed. "I get it Raina" Zeke's words were surprisingly gentle and comforting. I looked up confused wondering if it were the same Zeke who I thought resented me. "You do?" I asked, Zeke nodded and sighed leaning back in his chair and stared up at the ceiling "When growing up, I knew I was gay from the age of 12. My father didn't approve of it, my mother didn't like it either but she was more accepting than my father. She still loved me-" Zeke's reminiscing about his past made me intrigued, I leaned forward devouring every word he spoke "My mother's oldest brother would come over occasionally, and when he did he would slap me around. When nightfall hit, he found his way into my bedroom. He started raping me when I was 13, and it stopped when he died of a car accident. I was 21-" his words sent chills down my spine, sadness and empathy was all I felt for Zeke. He looked down from the ceiling, leaned forward onto his desk staring into my eyes "I'm 29 now, and still I can't sleep without getting nightmares. I haven't looked at my naked body for years now. I wear all these bright colors to make myself feel better-" Zeke smiled at me and stood up from his chair. He walked over to the window that had a full view of the main showroom downstairs. "This place isn't a normal strip joint. Sugar was raped by her own father, Henna was beaten to a bloody pulp by her mother because Henna refused to have s*x with her mother's boyfriend, all the ladies here are survivors and they get to choose what they do with their bodies. They are in power here,not the customers" Zeke looked over his shoulder and back at me, he held out his hand. Without hesitation I stood up from the couch and took his surprisingly warm hand "I'm sorry for not defending you, I was scared that I'd lose the main investment in this club. But I would be a hypocrite if I didn't take care of you like I do the other girls. I'll talk to Mr. Ace and expect a formal apology. Is that okay?" I looked into Zeke's eyes and smiled widely nodding my head vigorously "Yes, thank you so much Zeke" Zeke pulled me into a tight hug and caressed the back of my head. I wrapped my arms around his fluffy fur coat and melted into his embrace. We stayed in each other's arms for a few moments before he pulled away laughing "You're ruining my fur" He joked, I pulled away from him and smiled. 

      "Alright, sit down. I want to get this sorted out immediately" Zeke turned away from me sharply. Confusion crept into my mind as I sat down on the couch slowly eyeing Zeke who had already pulled out his phone. He had requested for the presence of someone and swiftly hung up after saying thank you. He tossed his phone onto his desk and took a big gulp of whiskey that he had on his desk. "Oh God, let's pray that this goes well," Zeke said nervously. I wanted to ask who's presence he requested for but already the door had opened slowly, the man who stepped in made my heart race. I looked away from him swiftly as I felt my hand shake with pure fear. "Sebastian! How are you?!" Zeke said excitedly, he approached Mr.Ace and pulled him into an embrace. "I need a drink and preferably a blonde" His voice was daunting and sadistic, Zeke let out a fervent laugh. I pressed my lips together as he sat down in a chair that was in front of the sofa. I nervously picked at the cuticle on my thumb and kept quiet. "Emotions are running hot after yesterday Sebastian you know? You put your hands on my employee. I'm hurt, she's hurt. I mean look what you did to her pretty face" the room went silent, after Zeke spoke. "What's her name?" He asked Zeke, I looked up at his question and for the first time I was able to get a full look at this man. His skin was a light beige tone, with green eyes and golden flecks that littered them, his jaw was defined, sharp and could cut through diamonds, his hair was slicked back and shaved sides. I looked down at his hands, they were big and golden rings decorated his ring and pointer fingers along with his thumb. "Umm..its-" Zeke had never given me a stage name mostly because he never thought I needed it. No one ever spoke to the servers or the bartenders let alone ask for their names. Only the dancers had stage names to protect their identities. Dazzle  honey Dazzle, you're a star.  My mother's voice entered my mind and I smiled at her words  she used to encourage me and for the first time in front of this man spoke with confidence "It's Dazzle" I responded, both Zeke and Mr. Ace looked at me. I pressed my lips together and looked at Zeke then back at Mr. Ace. He lifted his head up at me, his jaw clenched, changing the dynamic of his face. It was more frightening and threatening. 

      "Drinks!?" Zeke interrupted the silence by putting three drinks on the table that separated me and Mr. Ace. Zeke and Mr. Ace both took the drinks off of the table, while I sat there drinkless. Zeke, who had taken a seat next to me, nudged my side causing me to take the drink off of the table. "Well, that is apparent that it did hit her pretty forcefully. I'll take responsibility for hitting her but I will not apologize. It needed to be done" He said coldly, he looked away from me and took a sip from the glass and swallowed the whiskey, I watched his adams apple rise and decline. I scoffed softly and clenched the glass in my hand, I looked at Zeke who pressed his lips together and looked down at his drink before taking a big gulp from it. I looked back at Mr. Ace who was on his phone not giving a care in the world how much he hurt me yesterday and there was no doubt in my mind that he was the one to put that drink on the table and sent someone to follow me. "With all due respect Sir, but you're wrong-" I said, Zeke coughed up his drink at my words while Mr. Ace put his phone on the table in front of us and peeled his lips away from the rim of the glass. "I had served the drinks quietly and politely with no trouble until one of your men smacked my bum hard, it caused me to jerk forward and that's why I spilled my drinks on you. I apologize for that, but I'm not at fault here you and your men are" I put the drink on the table and clenched onto the hem of my skirt. I swallowed hard and looked at Zeke who had his face in his hand and the other hand was gripping onto the whiskey glass ever so tightly. I turned my attention back to Mr. Ace who leaned forward with a devilish grin on his face. It caused me to lean back onto the sofa I was so intimidated by him. "Listen baby girl, your apparent ignorance shows that you don't know who I am-" he spat, my lips parted shocked at his sudden rudeness. How could someone be so narcissistic and insolent? "You so carelessly spilled drinks on me, it is quite clear that calling you that name and violating you wasn't the best option especially after how you reacted-" He had this demeaning grin on his face which sent me over the edge  "How I reacted shouldn't be factor! What you did was wrong and uncalled for!" I said cutting him off, he raised his eyebrows and leaned back in his chair shaking his head taking another sip of his drink gently shaking his head "Listen to me love, if you aren't going to dance on my c**k and twirl around on a pole. Your existence means nothing to me, let the grownups talk. You're dismissed" He looked back at Zeke as if I was never in the room in the first place. He gulped the remaining liquid in his glass and put the glass onto the low coffee table in front of him. My bottom lip trembled with disgust and offence, I clenched my fists tightly as my heart raced inside of my chest with pure hatred for this man. "Sebastian I-" Zeke started, I shot up from the chair, snatched the glass I put onto the table, threw the liquid into his face. "Dismiss that you sadistic prick!" I slammed the glass onto the table before turning away and walking out of the office. 

      I ran down the steps furiously once I reached the main floor where the main performance room was and darted to the back where the dressing rooms were. Once I walked in, my demeanor got the attention of all the girls. Henna was the first to approach me with a concerned look on her face "Ray, what's wrong?" She asked me, I began to shake with anger but also fright realizing what I just did "I-I just threw a d-drink in his face" Henna held my hands in her attempt to calm me down "Who's face?" She asked, the other dancers began to gather around us and I began to hyperventilate "M-Mr. Ace" tears began to fill my eyes and the girls around me all looked at each other with pure shock written all over their faces, and soon disappointment would litter the room. What I had done was probably the stupidest and most dangerous thing I could've done. I regretted it and now I was in for a hell of a treat.

      After the entire ordeal, the girls calmed me down and put me back behind the bar. I hadn't heard from Zeke, it had been twenty minutes and I continued to serve drinks to the men in the main showroom and make basic drinks I learned on YouTube. Once everyone was satisfied, I cleaned the bar top with a rag. I cleaned vigorously trying to distract myself from what I had done. His face changed completely the minute his liquid hit his face and his eyes darkened like he was a possessed creature. I stopped abruptly and sighed deeply, my actions conflicted me. He was being so rude and disrespectful but was throwing a drink in his face the best option? Yes, he was being heartless and refused to apologize to me,he deserved it! I slowly cleaned the bar top trying to calm myself down.I pressed my lips together and took deep breaths and suddenly a voice broke out "Sebastian! Please wait!" Zeke screamed, I looked up from the bar top and Mr. Ace and a huge group of men that followed behind headed towards the exit. Mr. Ace was slightly drenched from the top of his head down to his chest. I watched him walk by the bar without giving me any recognition. Him and all of our main customers left right through the door leaving the club partially empty. Zeke stopped at the exit out of breath, I stared at him scared of the repercussions of my actions. Zeke turned around slowly and met my eyes, he shot daggers at me. Both my hands clenched my rag nervously. He lifted up a clenched fist before pointing at me then pointing towards the exit "Get the hell out" I dropped the rag onto the countertop as Zeke spoke. His face was stern and his eyes burned with anger. "Zeke I'm-" tears began to flood my eyes and create rivers down my cheeks. "GET THE f**k OUT!"  I jumped back at Zeke's forceful command. The dancers must've heard Zeke scream because they all came out asking what was going on. "This incompetent child made our made investor pull out all of his money on the strip club and the dance bar! He also took all of our most paying customers. He's coming back on Friday to sign his way out of a deal, because of this dumb b***h!" He hollered, I started crying. I didn't want to leave, if I did it meant that I was permanently fired. "Get the f**k out or I will drag you out myself!" Zeke screamed, the other dancers tried pleading with him to let me stay but it was no use. The damage had been done and there was no fixing it. I bent down to the shelves underneath the bar top and pulled my bag out along with my jacket. "Raina wait-" Henna said, 

      I didn't listen to her I went around the bar top and immediately the dancers pulled me into one big embrace "Zeke you're making a mistake, don't f*****g do this!" Sugar screamed, the girls began to scream back at Zeke and he chuckled shaking his head "No! I shouldn't have hired a immature child to work here! My reputation is now tarnished!" Zeke was angry but there was pain behind his words but most of all truth. I bit my bottom lip and pulled away from the dancers. "It's okay, I'm too young and obviously I don't have what it takes to work here"  I said faintly, and the dancers immediately disagreed. I kept my head down and walked past Zeke. Silent tears streamed down my cheeks as I looked over my shoulder and pressed a smile to my face. "I love you guys, thank you for everything" That was the last thing I said before exiting the club.