Midnight Desire

Desire in the spotlight

Four

Anabel

Tonight was when we were meant to get our salary and that was why we were all waiting and not home yet. If not, I would have been out of this club once I was done dancing. I hated to leave granny alone at home and it was only when I was with her that I felt my heart beating in peace. I worked in the morning at a bakery to keep myself busy during the day and then at night here.

Tongues would wag if the only time that I left home was in the night. Neighbors who were gossips would tell my grandmother that I was a prostitute and ruin her mood.

I knew that I wasn't a prostitute but that was as close to it to my grandmother and she would be broken all the same.

That was why I had to work at a bakery in the day even though I didn't need the money and the stress and also lie to her that I worked in a convenience store till the late night shift to cover up for why I wasn't coming home by five in the evening like the children of the neighbors and getting home by twelve or latest by one.

"Didn't you see that guy who was looking at you while you were dancing on the pole?" Adaline asked, her black eyes twinkling with mischief.

I sighed. Not this, please. I had thought that I was done with thinking of that black sexy man when I had left the stage. I didn't want to be reminded of him and his allure.

Adaline thought she needed to jog my memory and supplied information that I didn't need. "The black man at the back of the club." She turned to the others who were already turning to her, eager to hear the story.

Nice. I sighed as I rolled my eyes. I was the topic for tonight and unfortunately, Adaline was a great storyteller. I wished Sean would come here quickly with our paychecks so I could leave here. It was getting uncomfortable with the way the other ladies were wagging their eyebrows at me as if I had won a jackpot.

I snorted. They knew that I was never going to sleep with a client so why were they acting like this?

Adaline continued. "He had his eyes all over her as she was dancing on the stage and didn't look at me at all as I was pouring his drink. I could have walked away without pouring anything in his glass and he wouldn't have minded.

I think he already undressed her on that stage. I know men go crazy when Anabel danced but this man is different. I know desire when I see one. This man wants Anabel."

"Oh!" The others cheered, grinning at me.

Adaline turned to me.

"Did you really not notice the man as you were dancing?" She asked.

"It's hard to not notice that intense kind of look."

"I didn't." I shook my head and lied but my face gave me away.

Adaline snorted. "You saw him. Why are you lying that you didn't? You wouldn't be blushing if you didn't see him."

I sighed. This face of mine that easily blushed would be the death of me.

I couldn't even lie to save my life. I would be dead in an instant.

"I noticed him," I confessed at last. "but I don't think that he was looking at me with desire as you believe.

He was only looking at me with lust as the other guys did in reaction to my provocative dance and his lust would pass. You don't have to make a big deal out of it."

She obviously didn't agree and was about to say something else when Sean walked in. I breathed in in relief and for the first time in days, I was happy to see Sean's face.

"Hello, ladies." He said in his usual way of greeting us when we were together.

He glanced at me and I quickly glanced away before Adaline noticed his lusty look and started teasing me that I was lucky again to have the manager want me as well.

He handed over the paycheck to each of us and bid us a good night rest. The girls cheered as they stared at the fat envelope in their hands.

"Who wants to party tonight?" Mia asked. "I know a good club few blocks away."

"Yaay!" Some of the girls cheered.

"Are you going, Anabel?" Adeline asked.

What? And have them tease me all night if another man smiled at me in the club? No, I wasn't ready for that.

"Come on." Adaline whined. "It would be fun."

I nodded. Of course I knew it would be but I still didn't want to go. I was thinking of an excuse to reject them when my phone rang and I hastily jumped at the rescue.

I picked the phone out of the bag and smiled as I glanced at the caller ID.

"I have to take this." I said to them, picked my bag and

walked out of the room.