The Stripper's Firsts

Avery

“Thank you so much, Mr. Carter. Looking forward to our partnership.”

Avery stood up and offered her hand for the old man to shake. Mr. Carter, an old man in his mid-50s stood up and gladly took Avery’s hands.

“So am I, Ms. Walker. Then we’ll go now.”

“I should see you off, Mr. Carter.”

Mr. Carter waved his hand in front of Avery, telling her not to sweat about it.

“Nice of you Ms. Walker. But it’s okay. You don’t have to do that and just enjoy your lunch here.”

“We will Mr. Carter.”

Avery with her secretary, Niña, vowed lightly to extend their respect for the old man.

Mr. Carter motioned for his secretary that they will leave now, after vowing back to Avery and Niña, they walked outside the place.

“You’re really great Ms. Walker. Mr. Carter was known to be very picky in terms of business partners but you didn’t even look like you had trouble making him say yes.”

Avery stifled a laugh at her secretary’s statement as she put the piece of meat that was left cold on her plate.

“Of course, I’m always good at whatever I do.”

Niña just laughed, but she agreed to that statement then finished her food.

“Since we’re done already, I’ll let you have some fun for the rest of the day.”

“Really Ms. Walker?”

Niña asked in a loud and excited voice.

“Yes, just take care and don’t get lost.”

“But compared to you Ms. Walker, I have a better sense of direction.”

Ms. Walker just glared at her and Niña just gave her a peace sign and apologetic smile.

Despite being wealthy, being the boss, Avery is humble, friendly, and close to the people who are working for her. She believes that a good relationship with your workers is the reason why succeeded in life and became one of the youngest billionaires at the age of 27. Of course, there are also times which she will be angry or disappointed, but she never embarrassed someone.

After their lunch, Niña and she went separate ways. Her secretary said that she’ll visit some of the tourist spots near them. She invited her boss, but Avery refused to go and just stayed in her hotel room, reading a book. Since she already sees those spots, with her wife.

When the clock hits 8:00, she felt so bored. She already finished the books she bought and already had dinner. It was still too early for her to sleep. She’s bored as hell. She’s just lying flatly at the bed and staring at the ceiling.

She looked back at where the balcony is, for no reason then she stood up and open the huge window. She stepped out on the balcony and let the cold air of the night kiss her exposed skin. The night view was beautiful. The way how the different sources of lights produced different colors of lights is magnificent. A view that begs to be captured by your eyes and stored in your mind. The night would be perfect if you’re looking at this view with your lover and exchanging sweet words. 

“Lily.”

As the door shut closed, Avery snaked her hand on Lily’s waist and pulled her body closer to her. Avery kissed Lily hungrily, slightly biting her lips.

Lily responded with the same intensity. Snaking her hand on Avery’s nape and pulling her face even closer to her if that was still possible. Lily moaned on Avery’s mouth and that was the most beautiful sound Avery has ever heard. The sound was even more beautiful to her favorite music. And she made sure that her senses have recorded it and stored it safely in her mind.

Lily pulled away from the kiss and glued her forehead on Avery’s, staring at each other lovingly.

“I love you, Avery.”

Avery pinched Lily’s nose which earned a pout on Lily’s lips which again captured by Avery’s lips but it was only a quick kiss.

“I love you too Lily. I love you so so so much.”

Lily pinched Avery’s cheeks, giggling then run towards the balcony, opening it and gawking at the view. Not too long ago, she felt soft and comforting arms snaked their way on Lily’s waist, back hugging the girl and putting her chin on Lily’s shoulder.

“It was so beautiful.”

Lily mumbled while caressing Avery’s hands on her waist and getting comfortable with the hug. Despite the cold air of the night, Lily was feeling warm due to the hug.

“Yes. But my wife was more beautiful than the view.”

Lily just pinched Avery’s hand then put it on her lips to give it a light peck.

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“Everything for my queen.”

4 years ago, I’m seeing the same view with her. Making the night lovelier with every touch, kiss, and hug. How I wish to experience that night again.

It’s been years, 3 years since the boat where Lily is sunk. She was on her way home at that time, to go back to Avery’s arms that she considered her home, but never did get home. Lily is a nurse that volunteered to join the team for the medical mission of the hospital where she's working. Lily loves to do that, helping other people, tending to their wounds, and volunteering to help someone whether if it's in line with her work or not. That’s one thing that made Avery fell in love with her. Avery can still remember, there’s no way she will ever forget the very first time she saw and had a talk with Lily.

She was only 16 years old back then. She got into a fight with a guy that time, she got a busted lip and wounded fingers due to the punches she threw. She refused to go to the clinic and just ditched her class to sleep under her favorite tree in the backyards of the school. But rustling noises, feeling someone sitting beside her wake her up. She raised the book that she used to cover her face and saw an angel, Lily. Even though she doesn’t know Avery, she tended her wounds. From the very first time that Avery saw Lily, she knew that that’s the girl she wants to spend her life with so she tried so hard to change her bad habits of picking up a fight and did her best to get Lily’s attention which she succeeded later on. Their relationship counted years after years. As days passed, they're loving each other more than they did yesterday. And even if their country is not supporting same-s*x marriage, they married each other. Everything was perfect, they are slowly fulfilling their dreams and they are happy with each other’s arms until that day happened, her body wasn’t found. Nothing was found, it can be mean two things, she died and her body sunk to the deepest part of the ocean that’s why her body can't be found or she made it out alive. Avery chose to believe the latter part.

Avery wiped the tears that fell from her eyes as she kept her eyes on Lily’s picture that she’s holding at.

“I miss you so much, baby. I badly want to see you and hold you. I don’t know baby, I don’t know for how long I will be able to keep waiting on you. I know baby. You’re still alive, I can feel it. Please come home soon.”

Avery, realizing that staying up in her hotel room would only make her cry all throughout the night, decided to go out and check the city during the night. Changing into a comfortable white button-up shirt and black jeans to look at least presentable, Avery walked outside the building, letting her eyes check the surroundings. The night was still busy and sidewalks are still crowded, maybe because the night is still young.

Avery is walking for almost 15 minutes already, and she’s now starting to be thirsty, she looked around if there was a convenience store near her but what she only saw is an establishment that has flashy lights making the name of the place legible. Avery was battling herself if she will enter or not but since it’s been a year since she goes into a club, she decided to go inside, sit at one of the stools in the bar counter and have a chitchat with the bartender.

Avery was wrong, it is not just an ordinary but a strip club. She saw women dancing in the pole in front of horny old men in just tiny lingerie. Avery averted her eyes from the stage. It was her first time, entering a strip club and she was mesmerized but slightly feel uncomfortable.

Spotting a vacant stool on the bar counters, Avery takes a seat while drumming her fingers on the bar counter. She doesn’t plan to get wasted so she just ordered a martini, stirring it lightly then took a sip.

“It’s your first time here, right?”

Avery heard the bartender asked her, she put down her drink to speak with the bartender.

“Yeah. Actually, this is my first time entering a strip club. If I know that it was a strip club at the very start, I’ll probably not enter.”

Avery said watching the guy mix some drinks for other customers.

“Not your thing?”

“Yeah. And I feel like I’m cheating.”

“Oh, sounds like a loyal partner.”

“More like whipped.”

The two stifled laughs, the bartender was about to speak again when a girl approached Avery and standing too close to her.

“Hi, beautiful. Want some company?”

Avery, being the kindest and softest offered the girl a friendly smile but rejected her.

“I’m good Miss. Maybe next time.”

The girl groaned in disappointment but left her alone.

“Why did you even went here if this is not your thing?”

The bartender asked in a friendly tone, Avery took a sip of her drink first before opening her mouth to speak.

“I’m looking for a convenience store to buy some refreshments but I didn’t find any and see this building instead. I thought it was an ordinary bar, and it’s already too late when I realized it was not. So I decided not to waste the entrance fee and have some drink.”

“Then did I ever helped you out of getting rid of your thirstiness?”

Avery laughed at that question first before answering.

“With this Martini? It only worsens my thirstiness. But you got a nice mix there. It tastes so bright.”

The bartender grinned at the compliment. Even though his hands are pretty busy, he sure still can communicate with Avery.

“I’ve heard that a lot already.”

Avery just shook her head in disbelief of the bartender’s overwhelming confidence, the bartender just laughed at her while still doing some drinks. After finishing her drink, Avery ordered one more glass before she ends the night. She was about to take a sip of the drink when all of a sudden, the stage where the strippers earlier, lit up, and 4 girls in a businesswoman suit were there, holding each of them a pole. As a sexy song started, the four started dancing in very sensual moves and the boys, more like old men’s excited voices were heard.

Avery checked out the four, they are all beautiful, sexy and they danced really well, they looked like they are professionals in this line of work. As the girls, started stripping down, the audience went wild and Avery raised one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows in amusement at the scene.

“What’s with them?”

Avery asked the bartender. The bartender just spares her a quick look then back his attention to what he’s doing.

“You mean the performance or the wild old men?”

“Both.”

“They’re VVIP of this club so the strippers are putting up a performance for them.”

“Is that so?”

The bartender didn’t hear her reply and due to the sudden burst of customers, he became busy so Avery just watched the girls perform.

They sure are something but they are not enough to turn me on, Lily is the only one who can turn me on.

As Avery is now close to seeing the bottom of the glass, the lights of the stage suddenly flicked off but it didn’t last long as the light to the center of the stage lit. The girl has her back turned to the audience while gripping on the pole. She’s also wearing a business suit but sexier than other girls earlier.

As Lauren Jauregui’s Expectations played, the girl, slowly turned around to let the audience see her face.

Avery froze in her seat while gripping her drink hard, not noticing that her drinks are now slightly spilling in her hand.

“Hey, you okay?”

The bartender taps Avery’s shoulder after noticing that Avery’s slightly trembling.

“W-who is that girl?”

Avery asked not taking her eyes off the girl who accidentally looked in her way.

“Oh, she’s Shein. She’s a stripper for more than a year already but she started as a waitress here for more than 2 years. Why? Do you like her? But her one night actually cost a fortune, she’s a gem here so one night with her is pricey…”

The bartender just continued speaking about the stripper not noticing that Avery is no longer listening to him.

Then she’s working here for more than 3 years or 4 years already which means she’s not my wife because my wife lost 3 years ago. 

But she really looks like my wife.