Sienna.
Fuck.
She was using the name Sienna.
“No. Thank you.” A sense of relief coursed through me, knowing that at least she’d set some boundaries. But why did she have to do this at all? And how the fuck could her so-called husband drop his own wife off to strip for other men?
Downing the last shot in one gulp, I anticipated the song was about to finish. Before I knew it, she’d exited the stage. I didn’t understand why, but all of a sudden my emotional state felt so out of control. Confusion. Jealousy. Curiosity. Desire. Possession.
Sadness.
Pure sadness.
The last five years might as well have been five minutes.
I needed to see her.
Walking over to the waitress, I made a rash decision. “I would like a private dance with Sienna.”
“I told you, honey, she doesn’t do that.”
“Tell her I’d be willing to pay ten-thousand dollars.”
“You’re not serious.”
“Would the money be going to her?”
“All but ten percent.”
“Taking my credit card out of my wallet, I said, “Run it.”
I knew the amount had to be an offer that she couldn’t refuse. Seeing the squalor she lived amongst, I suspected she might be willing to consider my proposition.
“I’ll be right back. I need to talk to her.”
“Please don’t tell her my name.”
“Don’t worry. We use upmost discretion here.”
So much time passed that it became doubtful she was going to go for it. The waitress reappeared, and I stood up.
“She’s agreed to it provided it’s just a lap dance you want, nothing more. There wouldn’t be any sex involved. I do have other girls who would be willing to do that for that kind of money.”
“No. I told you. I just want a lap dance. It has to be Sienna.”
“Let me verify your card.”
My palms were sweaty as I waited for her to come back.
She waved her hand. “Alright. Come right this way.” The woman led me down a dark hallway and into a dimly-lit room tinted with red light.
The long wait was excruciating. Finally, the door slowly opened.
Evangeline entered with her head down, black strands of hair covering her half-naked body. When she finally looked up at me, I took down my hood.
Our eyes locked.
Gasping, she covered her breasts and froze.
CHAPTER 21
EVANGELINE
When Wilma walked into the dressing room and told me that there was a man who offered ten-thousand dollars for a lap dance, I couldn’t believe it. Who would pay that kind of money for something that didn’t involve sex? I asked her if he was a businessman-type, and she said he wasn’t. Just a younger guy in a black hoodie. She said he was gorgeous. That made it seem even more bizarre.
At first, I had adamantly refused. I’d never given a lap dance before and swore I never would. I wouldn’t even take my panties off during my performances. The club allowed me to get away with my hard limits because the regular patrons seemed to love me. Just my dancing topless brought in a lot of repeat business.
As the offer started to sink in, I thought about what that money could mean for me. Dean didn’t know about my secret bank account. I’d only bring home half of the tips I made. The rest was put away. When there was enough cash in it to stand on my own, my plan was to eventually leave Dean and go back to school, start a new life. I’d have to figure out how to leave him carefully, though. Somehow, it had to seem like it was his idea. I couldn’t just leave him on my own accord, because he would come after me. That ten-thousand dollars would give me a huge head start toward my dream.
So, I reluctantly agreed.
I took my phone with me in case I needed to call for help. Wearing nothing but my black lace bra, underwear and stilettos, I was covered in goosebumps as I walked down the hall to the back room.
I felt like a whore.
After opening the door, I couldn’t bear to look at his face. The man had great stature from what I could see through the hair covering my eyes. His intoxicating cologne seemed oddly familiar. I finally looked up. When he took down his hood, my heart nearly stopped.
Covering my chest, I lost my breath.
Sevin’s voice gave me the chills. “Don’t hide. I want to see you.”
I backed up against the door. “What are you doing?”
“What are you doing?” he seethed.
“Why did you come here? I thought you didn’t want to see me. Hated me.”
“That’s how I should feel, isn’t it? That’s why this is so fucked up.”
A wave of nausea hit me. Holding my stomach, I said, “I’m gonna be sick. This is a shock.”
“Maybe I wanted to shock you the way you shocked me when you came back.”