6. Zara
6
Zara
I was happy to put Keyes’ party behind me. He was pleased with my performance, and I gained a lot of new customers at the club, but it put a bigger target on my back with Phoenix. She was pissed that her plan backfired, which put me on the hot seat with Megan.
“Damn, girl!” Jewel yelped, snatching her head away, “Brush any harder, and I won’t have any hair left.”
“Sorry, my bad.”
Jewel was Brandy’s best friend, and was becoming a friend to me too. She had a date tonight and asked me to do her hair. I would’ve done it later, but we had our monthly staff meeting, and then I had work. I didn’t even have time to see Banana Girl, but Brandy promised she would.
“You can make it up to me by telling me about Keyes’ party since you couldn’t get us in,” Jewel insisted. She wasn’t as coy as Brandy, but I liked that about her.
“I wasn’t there for fun. It was work.”
“Spill it. Who was there?”
“A bunch of people I don’t know. They looked like money, though.”
“Damn, I know that shit was packed,” Jewel sulked.
It felt like Keyes' eyes were sure to follow wherever I was. Whenever he lost me in the crowd, panic shrouded his face. It became a game I got sucked into. I purposely made myself disappear a few times just to see that look again.
“Ohhhh! Can you get off next weekend?” Brandy yelped.
“Weekends are prime hours,” I replied.
“All you do is work! It’s a midnight run going down, and my man’s squad is racing, so you should come,” Brandy smiled, leaning in to bump my shoulder.
“If you wanted me to come, you should’ve left him out.”
Jewel covered her mouth to contain her laughter while Brandy rolled her eyes.
“I can’t wait for you to get a man so I can talk shit about him.”
“You know Otto is off limits, Nova. Don’t say nothing about her man, her man, her man,” Jewel added.
“What’s a midnight run?”
“Girl, where are you from again?” Jewel snickered while Brandy looked more panicked than I did. Maybe it was because she hadn’t been groomed to lie on the spot like I had.
“A little bit of everywhere. I moved around a lot.”
“Ohh, me too. My daddy was military,” Jewel shared, trying to connect our experiences.
“So that means you’ll come?” Brandy asked, circling back to her original question.
“I don’t even know what a midnight run is.”
“Another name for nigga’s playing Mario Kart in real life.” Jewel’s explanation made us both chuckle.
“Like street racing?”
“Yup, and everybody knows the DDs run shit around here,” Brandy boasted.
“Yeah, and Otto is like Donkey Kong out there,” Jewel’s joke forced out a snort that made them both laugh.
“Just know you’re coming for siding with an outsider over your own blood,” Brandy declared.
I didn’t know what to expect at a midnight run, but I would soon find out. After I finished Jewel’s hair, I kicked them to prepare for a long evening at Utopia. I didn’t see the point of us sitting around a circle like we were friends when this was simply a means to an end for most of us.
I needed my job, so I pulled up a chair and listened to Megan review upcoming events. Basketball prodigy Aire Kesson booked Utopia for his 21 st birthday and if we wanted it, we’d have to show and prove because Megan was personally selecting the girls for his VIP section.
While in the dressing room, they all made bold declarations about bagging Aire. Some were too old to be skimming his social media page. I tuned them out and focused on laying my wig for the night. I didn’t have time to think about the future when money needed to be made tonight.
“Damn, Freshie, that shit looks like it came out of your scalp!” Rajah raved, bringing unwanted attention to my lavender wig. I wasn’t sold on the color, but I let the girl at the beauty supply talk me into it.
“Thanks, girl.”
“Shit, I need an appointment. My cousin usually does mine, but she’s back with her trifling ass baby daddy, so you know how that goes.”
I didn’t, but I played along.
“I can if you want,” I offered because Rajah had been the nicest to me since I started.
Rajah’s posture drooped, wearing a slight smirk. “Duh! Can’t be a bad bitch with a bad wig. It’s enough of that going around.”
Some other girls whispered insults, but nobody was brave enough to refute her claim.
“Why are you looking at me?” Elektra asked.
“Because you need to be over here trying to get an appointment, too,” Rajah declared.
“Bitches always think they’re better than everybody,” Phoenix mumbled.
“And?” Rajah shrugged, “If you thought better of yourself, you wouldn’t be busting your ass just to hand your money over to a nigga.”
Rajah’s unshakable confidence stood tall against Phoenix’s glare until she had enough and walked off.
“You did not have to go there bitch,” Diamond groaned, following Phoenix out of the room.
I learned early not to take people’s opinions to heart. According to Mom, most people didn’t even like themselves, so you should care less about what they think of you. It didn’t make much sense as a child, but it didn’t take Rajah revealing Phoenix’s business to know she was miserable.
“Anyway, I can do your hair on Thursday.”
“It’s a date,” Rajah smiled, touching my shoulder. “Thanks, Freshie.”
“Welcome.”
Taking one last look in the mirror, I waltzed through the club, greeting my regulars with a warm smile. My charm captivated their attention, leading to more money in my G-string. After moving from table to table, I headed for the bar to grab a drink when Megan intercepted me.
“Come with me. Now!” She demanded, walking off. I no longer needed a drink because my stomach was in my ass, following her to the back. I stepped inside her office and shut the door behind me. “You’re still on probation, which means no VIP clients.”
“I know.”
“You have a VIP request. One I can’t decline,” Megan explained, irritated that she had to bend the rules.
“Just tell whoever I said no,” I conceded.
“It doesn’t work like that but won’t be a regular thing, so enjoy the VIP money until you’re off probation. Hurry up because you take the stage after Cameo.”
She ran down a list of rules that I halfway listened to. My mind was busy figuring out who booked me and why Megan couldn’t refuse. Then, I walked into the room and learned why.
“Were you expecting someone else?” Sydney asked, noticing my disappointment.
A small part of me hoped to see Kenyon’s bowed legs stretched before him. Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was him using Sydney to get under my skin.
“Yes, considering I’ve told you no too many times.”
“A smart woman never quits at the first no. We’d never get anything done,” Sydney scoffed through her smile, sitting pretty in a green spandex dress. Her muscles were toned and lean, giving her an athletic appearance.
“It hasn’t been just once ,” I complained, sitting on the edge of the stage. Much like Keyes, she was always here, watching me like a hawk and requesting lap dances that I obliged out of professionalism.
“So what is it going to take to change your mind?” She sighed, tired of not getting her way.
“Nothing! For the millionth time, it’s not personal. You’re beautiful, stunning, honestly, but whatever you and Keyes are into, leave me out of it.” I pushed up on my thighs and headed for the door, but Sydney refused to give up.
“How much?” she asked, slamming two stacks of cash on the table. “Everybody has a why , Nova. You can’t tell me this money won’t help yours.”
I hated that Sydney was right. My apartment needed furniture. I could finally get the air conditioning fixed in my car, and most importantly, I wouldn’t have to work so much to make ends meet.
“ One dance. Take it or leave it,” I replied, praying I wouldn’t regret it later.
Sydney's eyes sparkled with mischief as she reclined. "I’ll take anything you’re offering, Beautiful,"
I had a job to do, and for the next few minutes, that’s all I was focused on. My body moved in sync with the music. With each gyration of my hips, Sydney's hands traced the contours of my body. She was so busy watching me winding my waist she didn’t notice me watching her. Or the subtle damn that escaped her lips. I tried to stay in rhythm and keep my mind on the music, not on whatever unspoken words were hanging between us until the song ended.
“This might be fun for you, but it’s my job. Don’t make me remind you again.” With that, I left Sydney to put my money in my locker before I took the stage.
When I reached the back, Rajah was lying on the sofa, barely able to contain her laugh.
“Don’t even,” I scoffed.
“VIP requests already. Shit, you might surpass me after all, Freshie.”
“Megan got in my ass about it too.”
Rajah waved off my statement.
“Syd isn’t a bad friend to have. Her family has money and connections. I’m just saying,” Rajah shrugged.
“How did you know?”
“I saw her talking to Megan. Paid her a pretty penny for your time, too.”
I didn’t know what to make of Sydney’s obsession, so I bit the bullet and asked the only person I could.
“You ever been with them before?”
“I know a few who have. The money is good, and ain’t too many giving up an opportunity to fuck with Keyes.”
“He’s that big of a deal around here, huh?”
“He’s fine and has money. That’s all most of them care about.”
“I’ll leave that for someone else. I need to get changed.”
Rajah nodded, and I dipped into the bathroom to swap outfits. Keeping the purple theme of the night alive, I dressed in a sequin purple fringe halter two-piece. The moment the DJ's voice filled the air, announcing my name, a switch flipped inside.
When I stepped on stage, the world fell away. It was just me, the pole, and Kenyon's gaze, which was locked on me. I had grown comfortable on stage, but whenever he watched me with those dark, piercing eyes, it made me nervous.
We were back playing the game from his birthday party as if we were in our private world. Kenyon's silent approval propelled me into my final move. Basking in my applause, I stood momentarily, and Kenyon could finally move again, bringing the glass to his lips. Then Sydney came crashing into his side, ruining the visual.
Trindon gently grabbed my hand as I came off stage. “Goddamn baby, you trying to take over Utopia, ain’t you?”
“I’d be flattered if you didn’t say that to everybody.”
“You know I have a soft spot for you,” Trindon flirted, placing his hand on his chest.
My eyes traveled south. “It looks pretty hard to me.”
Trindon didn’t apologize or scurry away like an embarrassed teenage boy. He stood in his body reacting to mine on stage.
“You did that with your sexy ass. Let me take you on a real date.”
Kenyon's eyes etched a direct path to me through the bustling crowd as if he’d heard Trindon’s question. A possessiveness that looked out of place, yet it sent a clear message.
“I appreciate the love, but you know that can’t happen.”
“You’re breaking my heart, Nova,” he whimpered. Trindon was handsome. Under different circumstances, I might have given him my number, but life hadn’t been normal for a long time.
“Then stop asking questions you know the answer to.”
Trindon was a giver. If he fucked with you, he was generous, and in a short amount of time, I made the list.
“If you won’t let me take you out, at least do something nice for yourself,” he smiled past his disappointment, sliding the bills in my G-string.
“Thanks, Trini.”
“C’mon, stop that shit before I take my money back,” he growled, pretending to be annoyed.
“Yeah, right. Have a good night.”
When I turned around, Kenyon’s dark eyes silently reprimanded me for letting Trindon stuff me with cash. Shaking it off, I continued making my rounds, trying my hardest to avoid Kenyon. While I enjoyed our banter, I didn’t need to get sucked in deeper than I already was.
But he only allowed me to escape him for so long.
“ Purple Haze .” I memorized the timbre of his cadence because he was always here. The hint of huskiness added an alluring edge to his mysterious persona.
“That’s not my name,” I complained.
“I thought you’d like that more than Barney .”
My eyes narrowed, and I pressed my lips together, biting back the first sarcastic retort that came to mind.
“What do you want me to call you tonight?”
“I’d like you to call off your girlfriend . If you can’t do that, we have nothing to discuss.” I quipped, trying to walk around Kenyon, but his hand grabbed my arm.
“Ion’ want no smoke tonight,” he explained, dropping my arm.
“You have an odd way of showing it.”
Kenyon threw his hands up, and that smirk came back. The one that damn near made me grab his hand and wrap it back around my arm.
“I didn’t mean anything by it.” I thought he was about to walk away, but he leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “You and that purple outfit got a nigga jealous as fuck.”
“Hmm, sounds like you’re trying to have your cake and eat it too, from where I’m standing.”
Kenyon’s face twisted in confusion, “I don’t even like cake,” but I wasn’t sure if I believed him. First, Sydney dropped a bag for my time in VIP, and now he was jealous watching me do my job, “But I might be willing to taste yours.”
“Goodnight, Keyes .”
“Stay and tell me why you’re giving me an attitude. Wassup with that Babygirl?” He asked, brushing his fingers against my chin.
I looked up at him, trying to read his expression. There was something vulnerable there, something I wasn't used to seeing from him. It made my resolve waver.
“I’m tired of telling you and your girlfriend no.”
“ My girlfriend ,” he repeated, chuckling as he signaled one of the bottle girls over. “What you drinking?”
“Nothing.”
“You always turn down drinks from customers or just me?”
“You haven’t put any money in my hand, so you’re not a customer.”
Kenyon smirked, and his confident grin quickened my pulse for reasons I didn’t want to admit. His fingers traced the edge of my outfit, and before I could react, he slipped a stack of bills into the band of my top, his touch lingering just long enough to send a shiver down my spine.
“Now I am,” he stated, his voice low and smooth, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. “Tell Tambra to make Babygirl her usual. I’ll take 1942.” She accepted the bill he offered and walked away giggling because he managed to beat me at my own game. “I don’t have a girlfriend unless you’re trying to change that.”
I couldn't get my words out to question what he was doing to me, but Kenyon knew. It was all part of his plan because a man like him was rarely without one.
“Nice ink. You like flowers?”
“T-thanks,” I replied, watching his finger trace my tattoo. "W-what are you doing?”
“Enjoying the view,” he murmured while his fingers continued their lazy path along my body, making it hard to focus on anything else.