WHERE WE MET

Ambers POV At Club Montreal, every night is the same: orgies, pole dances, all-night raves and every other thing you’d expect from one of the most expensive clubs on the streets of New York. Honestly, I’m not complaining. I don’t mind how the nights seamlessly blend together; I’m grateful for it. It’s the only way to get good pay around here. “What is a 20-year-old doing in a club on the streets of New York?” Many people often ask. Well, like I said, it’s the only way to get good pay (for someone who dropped out of college). I’m not a bartender, nor am I a DJ. I’m what Jacqués (the club owner) likes to call “A pole that holds this club together.” It’s his own way of being funny. In normal English, I’m a stripper. The ladies at the club claim that it’s more respectful to be called a “Pole dancer”, but what’s the difference it’s the same thing to me. Every day it’s the same routine: leave home when everyone else is asleep, take a cab to the club, change into the most decent outfit in the club's dressing room. We’re not allowed to bring our own clothes. Lord knows I don’t have anything as slutty as what is on the racks at the club. It’s currently 12 am and the club is starting to come to life. It's time for the highlight performance of the night: My performance! Jacques always calls me une étoile (star). He talks a lot, he really does. Some nights I do solos other nights I do a dance with two extras. Tonight is other nights. I’ve always loved dancing, from ballet classes when I was a child, to contemporary dancing and cheerleading in high school. It’s the one thing I’m actually good at and the only thing I consistently practice. I can say I’m a professional. Mum always made sure I went for practice no matter how busy or broke we were, until she died. It’s such a shame that it’s only the drunk men and women at the club who get to see what all the years of practice amounted to. I shake my head to get rid of the bad thoughts. It was almost time. “Vegas” by Doja Cat had started playing, meaning Adrianna was just about done with her set. When she finished, she got a sitting ovation- if you know what I mean- as always. It's my turn now. The DJ ques me out; “Your favourite! Our very own!! The ginger-haired fox! Alice!!” His voice goes an octave higher with each statement. Before I get onstage, the whole club is already whooping, screaming, clapping and standing up from their seats. They know who the best is. No offence Adrianna. They're the same faces I see every other night. The people that citizens entrust their states to, some corporate heirs trying to test the number of zeros in their trust funds, a few new faces, but they all stand because the majority are standing. I look up to the VVIP section where my target audience usually sit strangely, there's a pair of golden brown eyes glaring at me. He’s obviously new here—his ass is glued to his seat, and unsurprisingly, there’s no emotion on his face. What a creep. I don’t give him any more of my time. I smile at my now-seated crowd, I’m in the middle of two other dancers on stage and the song starts. The DJ plays my anthem “Need to Know” by Doja Cat. I look into the eyes of the men and women in the crowd before I begin the routine I have mastered to perfection. I swing my hips to the song, my hands move all over my body, seducing every single person in the crowd. I’m popping and twisting, twirling and shimmying till the song ends. I effortlessly climb the pole and begin the main strip tease as “Moonlight” by Kali Uchis starts playing. I take off the single-laced fish net I was wearing, revealing lingerie that looked like it came out of a Victoria’s Secret catalog. As the song was about to end, the DJ swiftly changed to the next song, “Telepatia” by Kali Uchis. That marked the end of my performance. By the time I came down from the pole, the clubgoers had all stood up to give me a standing ovation. But the mystery man with the golden eyes still didn’t stand up from his seat. Not that it bothered me, but he was looking at me weirdly. My backups and I did a flirtatious spin and sashayed off the stage, giving way to the next set of dancers. I was so happy to be done with the hard part. The only thing left was a few rounds of the club, greeting some horny men but never indulging(a little privilege for being une étoile), a few smiles here and there, the occasional awkward conversation and lap dance. I make my way over to the VVIP section. That was when I got to see the golden-brown-eyed man up close. He was sitting in a shaded corner of the club, so I really couldn’t make out most of his features. The section he was in, Jacques reserved for "bloody rich people." He had his back against the seat of his chair, looking so relaxed yet serious at the same time. He had only one glass of what I assume to be a Scotch in his hand, a cigar hanging lightly from his lips and an ashtray on the table in front of him. The table that only he seemed to be occupying, which was strange because the club is usually too packed on Friday nights to allow one person to one table. Who is this man? He exuded a lot of authority and power even without having to say or do anything. Obviously, I walked up to him. Alice fears no man, women maybe, but not a man. He looked at me like he could sense what I was thinking. So I sashayed over to him, moving my hips unnecessarily with only one thing on my mind. "The fox has found her rabbit." I could feel his eyes following my movements, I could sense his eagerness as I made my way over to that side of the club. No matter how emotionless his gaze, a man will always be a man. "Hello stranger." I said, in the most seductive voice I could find in my voice box. He didn't respond. “Hard to get? I see, I like that.” I proceeded to lean over and take a sip from the glass he was drinking. I was right, Scotch. I almost couldn't swallow it , but I had to maintain my composure. He still just stared at me with nothing showing in his eyes, but lust laced on his skin. I could hear his pulse quicken. I could bet all the money my Mum left for me that he is fantasizing about me right now. I smirk at him as I tell the waitress to bring me a seat. Well rabbit, let's play!!