When Natalie got a call from Kaller saying Tony had called her in to work the next day, she didn't know what to think.
'Am I getting fired? Of course, I'm getting fired! I can't even keep a good paying job for two mo—'
"...and no Natty, you're not getting fired. Tony just has a new 'private' gig for ya tonight." Kaller had said as though she could hear the black woman's thoughts.
"Private gig?" Natalie had asked with a small frown etched on her face. The nervous giggle Kally had released disturbed her immensely.
"Oh... Yeah! I'll tell you at work tomorrow. Just know to bring the...uh... stuff in the purple shopping bag."
"The purple shopping bag? I thought you said that was for a special occasion!"
"Well... It's technically a special occasion, but I can't tell you any more! I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye!"
Kally had cut the call before Natalie could probe any further. Her thoughts swirled around the 'special occasion.'
'Am I getting a raise?' Natalie had thought, 'Or a promotion? Maybe... But does clubs like LowiSe give promotions?'
After finishing a quick shift at D&J's, Natalie proceeds to walk home. For some reason, she avoids to cycle to work. The two-year old bicycle have been chained in Polly's mini garage, collecting dust and cobwebs.
She feels bad whenever she shifts her gaze away from the bicycle immediately her eyes drifts to it.
Honestly, she is scared.
Scared of what might happen if she climbs on the bicycle one day and it takes her to where she doesn't want to be. No matter how silly that sounds, Natalie couldn't help but nurse the thought.
What if she rides it one day and it leads her back to Joel?
Back to the dirt-coated porch of his—because he can't clean to save his middle finger.
What then?
She bounces on the ball of her feet as she unlocks the door to her... Well, Polly's house. As usual, the apartment is dead and quiet. Shiny stilettos and gowns are scattered around the living room, hanging on the Japanese lamp beside Natalie's favorite couch and on the plain carpet.
After hanging her coat and dropping her keys, Natalie pulls her hair from the tight ponytail it was confined in. She'd only noticed she tied it too tight once she'd gotten to her place of work.
Puffing out a sigh, Natalie pulls the rubber band away from her hair. Wave of curls fall on her shoulders, cascading down her back harmonically and some escaping to her front.
At night, Natalie got a call from Greg. The latter had called to check up on her and to apologise for being too busy to call. They talked on the phone till Natalie heard the front door slam open. She waits to hear the closing slam and when she doesn't, she says her goodbye immediately and run downstairs.
As predicted, Polly had left the front door wide open and was stumbling up the stairs while mumbling a 'colourful' set of words.
Sleep, that night, was short.
When Polly wakes up the next day, it's already 2:47pm and Natalie is started on lunch. The tall lady clutches her head as she walks into the kitchen. She heads straight to the cabinet, completely ignoring Natalie's presence, where she picks out painkillers.
"You came back late last night,"
Polly chugs down the glass of water, "Yeah? So what? Are you gonna ground me or something?"
Turning, Natalie drops the spatula. "No. I'm not Mom. But you were so drunk last night!"
"And you're surprised because..?"
"I'm not surprised... Well, I am. Not because you drank, but because of how drunk you were last night! You almost drank your hair conditioner thinking it was a strawberry smoothie and you threw up four times!"
Polly roll her eyes, "I drank the same amount last night, and why are you even butting into my biz? I'm not that bitch-ass, Joel that you'll be doing that to! I'm just squatting you that doesn't mean you should hang on my neck every single day!"
'Oh.'
Natalie bites her lip. She turns and picks up the spatula before stirring.
Noticing the shift in tension, Polly groans before standing up.
"Look Na—"
"No. I get it, Polly. I'm sorry. I was just worried," she flashes her cousin a small smile. She shuts off the cooker, "Lunch is ready."
She goes to her room and doesn't come out till it's eight o'clock. She tries to avoid Polly on her way out but when her hair catches on the handle of the water jug and sends it flying to the ground, she knows there's no escaping the encounter.
"Where are you going?" Polly's blunt voice startles Natalie.
For somebody that doesn't like people being in her business, she sure is in Natalie's business.
She sweeps the shard of glass and dispose of it before answering her. "I'm going to work."
"Work? At LowiSe? You said you didn't have any shifts today,"
"I didn't. Until Kaller called me yesterday to tell me I had work today."
Polly purses her lip, her eyes landing on Natalie's strap bag that puffed out a bit because of its contents.
"You performing tonight?"
"I don't know, really."
"Okay. Well." With that, Polly turns back and struts back up the stairs.
Natalie looks at her retreating figure. She shakes her head before hightailing out the apartment.
She got to LowiSe ten minutes later and was immediately tackled by a grinning Kally.
"Natty!" She yells over the music.
Natalie grins widely, "Hey Kaller! Am I late?"
"Late? No... Kinda. Tony's been looking everywhere for you,"
"Oh? Should I go tell him I'm here?"
"Nah... He'll find out sooner or later."
Natalie nods and squint her eyes at Kally—who'd already led her backstage. Kally just avoids her gaze anything it meets Natalie's.
"So?"
"So? So what?"
"So, are you going to tell me why Tony called me in today?"
Kally chuckles nervously, "Me? Why'd you think I know something?"
"Kaller, I know you know something." Natalie probes.
Kally bites her lip. Hiding it till the last minute sounds cruel and she can't do that to her friend. She scratches her left eyebrow before sighing.
"Okay. Okay, I'll tell you. You'll going into the private suite tonight,"
"What! The private suite? I thought it's restricted to only qualified. I'm not qualified! I'm just a pole dancer!"
Kally laughs, she sits beside Natalie and sips from the drink she hijacked from Susan few seconds ago.
"I know. Tony knows that too. But a patron called in yesterday and all the dancers are booked so Tony had to call in last minute. Trust me, I tried to discourage him but he insisted I called you."
'Okay. Okay. It's okay. Breathe in, Natalie. That's it, good girl.' She soothes herself internally.
She's heard stories about the Private Suite. It's as the name implies: Private. Natalie is aware of the 'No Penetration Policy' but that doesn't make it any less intense.
Natalie has never dreamed of stepping into the Private Suite. She's always thought that she'd have resigned before that will happen.
'I guess some dreams just force their way through.'
"Kaller... I don't know... I—"
"Hey, have you se— oh, Natalie, you're here! Thank God!"
"Hey Tony," Natalie shifts uncomfortably.
"I take it that Kally has filled you in on everything?" When Natalie nods, he continues, "Good. I'm sorry for the late request. You're my last option. Thank you for accepting!"
'But I haven't even accepted yet...'
Kally glances at her apologetically.
"So, you're just going to give a private dance to him. He pays for the right to touch you but no penetration of any sorts. A guard stands in front of the door in case of any... 'hiccups'. But trust me, you're safe."
Natalie blinks... Once. Twice.
"Um, I... I don't know," She rubs her arm cautiously.
"Tony, can I talk to her in private? Just for some minutes,"
"Okay. I'll wait outside," He winks at her before walking outside.
"Natty."
"Kaller, I can't do this! It sounds dangerous! What if I go in and so...something happens? I— I..."
"Natty, I know we haven't be friends for a while but you have to trust me. The Private Suite is the safest part of LowiSe. You need the money, right? Dancers that go in there comes out with fat wads of cash. You need the money to pay for that apartment you want, don't you?"
Natalie shifts her gaze.
Kally sighs, "Natalie, Please trust me."
"You're sure it's safe? If something bad happens, I'll never forgive you." The black woman murmurs shyly before shrugging.
"You're doing it?! Yes! Thank you! I'm afraid you'd say no, I don't wanna be stuck with mopping duties for a week."
This brings out a giggle from Natalie.
"Tony, you can come in! She said she'll do it!"
Tony runs in. A huge smile gracing his lips, "Thank you!"
"But... I have a request!"
"What is it?"
"He has to be blindfolded."
"Blindfolded? Why?"
"I... I can't tell you, just— can it be arranged?"
Tony squint his eyes, "Okay, I can arrange that. It's almost time. Change immediately and meet me at the Private Suite. I'll give you the room number,"
Roughly 14 minutes later, Natalie is dressed in a barely-there lingerie. The front of the lingerie is open in the torso area with only two straps covering both nipples. The back of the piece of cloth is transparent and stops just in the middle of her thighs.
A robe is wrapped around her and when she gets to Tony, she refuses to give him the robe. Tony puts his hands in surrender and gives her a key card.
"Briana is already performing to the other so just go to this ro—"
"OH HELL NAH!"
Both Natalie and Tony watches as Briana stomps out of a room while shaking her head.
"No. Tony no! I'm not dancing for that... Thing! Hell no! I'll take the other one!" She switches her keycard with Natalie before she walks away without even saying anything else.
Tony flashes Natalie a nervous smile, "It's time to start. Make him happy, okay?"
Without answering, Natalie walks to the particular door that the keycard unlocks. She lets the robe drop from her shoulders and she turns the doorknob.
Her eyes widens...