HIS DOUBLE LIFE, HER SECRET

CHAPTER 3: A LAP DANCE

ROSELINE

Like always, Sophie walks over to my seat when the class is over, “Hey spotlight! What does it feel like?”

“What?” I ask, “Being the hot lecturer’s favorite student.” She says and I flip her middle my finger which she gently smacks and giggles. I grab my bag and we head to the cafeteria. Some groups from my art class are talking about Mr. Romero, some about Michelangelo and others like Sophie and I are just sharing silly stories over snacks- our usual routine.

“Is everything okay?” I ask Sophie when I notice the frown on her face as she types away on her phone. She looks up and sighs, “It’s just Ben. He’s been distant lately…I’m starting to think he found out about my kiss with Daniel at the closing party last semester.”

I look at her, surprised to hear her confession. “Why did you do that?”

“Because I like Daniel, duh!” my brows furrow at that and she says, “I mean, I love Ben but I like like Daniel and…”

I laugh interrupting her, “You’re really funny Sophie, you know.”

A message pops up on my screen and I open to read it. It’s the club manager reminding me about the expiration of my subscription to use his club for my job and informing me about the increase in the subscription fee.

“Why do you look worried now?” Sophie asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Nothing really, It’s just a text from my boss,” I smile in attempt to conceal my worry.

We get back to class when the break is over and walk to my room when the lecturer doesn't show up.

“My dad is here,” Sophie says, looking at her phone screen a few minutes after reaching the residence hall, “I need to go.” She adds, hugging me before grabbing her bag and rushing out of the room. As soon as she leaves, I sit at my table and study. When I’m done, I walk to the nearby restaurant and order myself a meal. I’m half way done with my meal when Josh shows up, taking the seat across from me.

“Hey Rose, those mashed potatoes look yummy” he says, looking at my plate.

“You can join me,” I say and he laughs.

“I saw you walking here so I followed you, can we talk? I’m sorry and I mean it this time,” he sighs, his eyes looking straight into mine. Words elude me so I just drop my fork and walk out of the restaurant. Josh rushes behind me until he catches up and I stop, to face him. “What is there to talk about that we’ve not already talked about, Josh? I’ll forgive you and the cycle will continue... that's how it's always been”

“Well, I’m sorry. You just pushed me, you know.” He says and I shake my head, walking away. He doesn’t follow me but I feel his eyes on me.

I met Josh in the second week of my freshman year in the library. He sat next to me and on his way out, slid to my table a piece of paper with his phone number scribbled on it. I needed to make friends so I didn’t hesitate texting him. When I found out he was my senior, I asked him to show me around the university and the surrounding areas of which he did. A few weeks later, he made me his girlfriend and that’s when I started noticing his habits-calling me names especially in the presence of his friends and flirting with other girls in my presence. How disrespectful! I’m not one to endure disrespect so I broke up with him but took him back when he apologized and that repeated itself until it became a cycle, him hurting me and apologizing, me forgiving him.

***

I lay face up on my bed waiting for my alarm to go off and when it does, I grab my bag and leave the room. As usual, I wait a few minutes in the car park for my cabby and he drives me to Las Montez. I’m early today because I need to see the club manager and pay my subscription. Lucille isn’t here so I might as well use her shift to make double the amount I make from one shift. It being a Friday is a bonus as there are more people than usual and that means even more money.I ready myself in the dressing room and step on stage when I'm done, dropping loose the gown covering my body. Now there’s only lingerie and a pair of stilettos left on me. Men and a few women gather and cheer when I grab the pole and swing my hips. “She’s so hot,” I hear a man’s voice say and that’s the motivation I need to showcase my moves-one positive comment.

I started strip dancing in my freshman year in order to earn money and survive. I was nervous at first but when I tasted attention from a number of people all at once, I fell in love with the job because for the very first time in my life, I felt seen. Many times, I felt guilty and thought of telling Josh about it but I knew if I told one person, at least half of the school would know and I would be expelled so I decided to keep it a secret. On the other hand, no one at the club knows I'm a university student.

More people gather around me throwing money and nasty comments as I slide down the pole, making my final move and that's when I see him. The sight of him takes me by surprise because this is no place for people like my lecturer, Mr. Romero. He's too sophisticated and seeing him here feels wrong in some way.

I gather my tip money and stuff it in my bag wanting to leave the stage before he spots me. Someone pats my shoulder and I look up.

“Can you give him a fifteen minute lap dance?” my manager, David, says pointing at Mr. Romero, “I need him entertained while he waits for his friends.”

I want to say no but David is my boss and I ought to follow his orders so I just nod and take deep breaths before nervously sashaying my way to Mr. Romero.

I straddle his lap and begin bouncing on him, ignoring my heart’s palpitations. He looks at me and frowns as if trying to recall something and I look back at him.

He sucks in a sharp breath, "You're the art geek from the University."

I caress his torso, mentally thanking the manager for the first rule of lap dancing which forbids the client from touching the dancer.

"And you're the art guru," I smile nervously, inhaling his scent–he smells like chypre and trouble.

When the fifteen minutes-a duration I’ve mastered-are about to elapse, I focus my gaze on him and realize that Sophie was right when she said Mr. Romero is hot enough to burn down a room–he is disturbingly hot with his chocolate brown eyes, a tan skin, black hair and a strong jaw, let me not even get started about his muscular body.

He snaps his fingers, startling me and I break the eye contact I wasn't aware of.

"You can't tell anyone about this," I say, immediately hopping off his lap and letting the crowd swallow me.

Pacing the dressing room, I begin to wonder what my new lecturer is doing in a strip club and I silently hope he doesn't expose me.

“You made some good money Roseline,” David walks in, handing me a check. My jaw drops when I read it.

"Why would he pay so much money for fifteen minutes?" I ask and he laughs.

“Careful before you drop your whole mouth to the floor, he must have enjoyed your dance. You know my share.” he winks, leaving the room.

I leave the club earlier than usual and get a ride back to the university. When I get to the door, however, I notice that my key isn’t in my pant’s pocket.

“s**t! s**t! s**t!...” I mantra, checking my bag and every other pocket on my clothing but there's nothing still. I must have left them in the dressing room at the club so I get a taxi back to Las Montez even though I'm afraid of bumping into Mr. Romero again.