"A volunteer, anyone?" Maya smiled at the crowd, her ass planted on the chair with her legs apart, her thin covered middle in full view of the crowd. Each member stretched their arms as high as possible, trying to get her attention as they screamed with excitement. With the support of the pole, Maya reached out to a somewhat young man, it was a miracle she didn't fall into the sea of bodies with the way people grabbed her outstretched arm. A few whines were heard by eager volunteers that weren't picked. As the man got on stage, all stared at him, including Maya. She had to tilt her chin up to look at his face due to their height difference.
But he was not as tall as a certain Arabian….
The man was wasted which came as a relief to her. His muscular arms managed to get a few gropes of her ass and waist, almost taking off her nipple covers before she settled him down on the chair. The music began and so did her movements, she moved sensually against him, moving her hands up and down his rock hard chest.
She continued to swirl her ass on his member, watching as his dark eyes swirled with pleasure before turning her body to the raging crowd.
This was her life.
She smiled at the crowd as she continued to sway her body to the beat, the unknown man shivering beneath her. Her smile, the smile no one knew when it was real or not. Her eyes roamed the crowd, but everything went into a blur as her green eyes met his blue ones.
Her Arabian's.
She couldn't help the smile that drew her lips, there was a difference this time to it. There was a sparkle in her eyes and the dimples in her cheeks were finally visible. Why was she so happy to see him? Very few things made her genuinely happy, but why is seeing him one of them?
As quickly as her smile came, the faster it left. His cold blue eyes pierced right into her heart making her feel a pang of guilt, but for what?
Maya hadn't noticed that she'd stopped dancing until the man beneath her said, "what are you doing?"
As if in a trance, she snapped out of it and continued her routine. She tried her best to draw her eyes away from the tall Arabian for a few seconds before returning them to him. Only this time, instead of meeting those cold angry eyes from before, she was met with his retreating back.
An unknown wave of panic settled within her chest and before she could think of her next actions, she was already running down the stage and chasing after him. The music stopped.
"Where the hell are you going?" The man she was dancing with snapped. The crowd erupted in murmurs of confusion as their eyes followed her.
"What's happening?"
"Is this part of the show?"
"Maybe she's pregnant and needs to vomit."
Luckily there was a short path that connected the stage to the VIP lounge or else she'd have to go through the main crowd, and that would just be a whole other nightmare on its own.
"Hey, wait!" She yelled once she caught sight of his tall form. He continued to walk away with his friend until they were out the door and in the parking lot. She was going to regret this but her body seemed to have gone on autopilot as she burst out the doors and followed after them.
The bouncers were stunned to see her outside. As a rule, no dancer or worker was allowed outside the building during work hours. They were about to drag her back inside, as if sensing their upcoming moves, she turned around and looked at them with pleading eyes. They stopped.
Everyone, not just customers, but even her fellow workers had a soft spot for her. She was a gem in their eyes, and with a story like hers, she ought to be. They let her chase after the two strange men but made sure to keep a close eye on her.
"Excuse me? Hey!" He continued to ignore her as he walked up to his car. Only his friend bothered to spare her a glance, his eyes twinkled with amusement and mischief as he followed his friend. At this point, Maya was beyond frustrated that she didn't even know his name. Why did it bother her so much? She did not know. She grabbed his hand and as quickly as they made contact, he pulled it away. As though she had burnt him.
"What?!" He snapped and her already big eyes widened. Blake too was shocked by his friend's response, he always knew Faiz as a calm and unbothered guy. A small grin pulled at his lips as his mind started putting it all together. He had the sudden urge to laugh but he remained silent as he watched the two interact.
"Why are you leaving so early?" She asked, her voice sounding smaller than usual. She hated the way she was acting, she wanted more than anything to know why she cared so much. Was it because he was different? A foreigner?
"And why should you care? Do you normally keep track of when your customers come and go?" Something about the way he spoke was different. His accent was stronger than before, it was filled with so much anger it almost made her heart tremble.
Almost.
"I just…. I just wanted to know…." She found herself saying. After all, she didn't know the answer to that either. "What's your name?" She finally asked.
"Faiz."
"Faiz," something about the way she said it caught him off guard but he didn't dare show it. "I'm Maya," she introduced but he kept silent. "So um, did you enjoy the show?"
Faiz's eyes were filled with so much irritation and anger, that he couldn't stop them from going to her exposed body. How could she possibly be comfortable standing in public practically naked? He could hear the beating of his own heart as blood began pulsating to his throbbing member. She was making him feel things he never wanted to.
Anger.
Lust.
But there was something else…. Jealousy?
He couldn't get the image of how some man had his hands all over her body. How his eyes filled with pleasure as he relished the feeling of her in his arms. Faiz felt like he was about to go insane. But for what? A stripper? Someone with little to no values and class? He didn't even know her that well, he just learnt her name few seconds ago.
So his next words shocked everyone within hearing range, "Of course, I did not enjoy it! Why would I enjoy watching you making a complete fool of yourself with some stranger in front of the whole world?"
Blake's jaw dropped.
Maya was too stunned to speak for a few seconds, she could do nothing but stare at him. Once she got herself back, she blinked rapidly at him, "Are you judging me?"
Faiz did a humourless laugh, "Judge you? What's there to judge? You've already reached your verdict. Don't you feel any form of shame? But what would I expect from a slut-"
That was the last word that came out of his mouth before his neck snapped to the side, her handprint on his hollow cheek. Faiz slowly placed a hand on his stinging cheek, his eyes met hers, and at that moment, he wished they didn't. His chest constricted as he watched the tears well up in her emerald eyes, anger and hate swirling deeply within them.
"How dare you. Slut? Yes. Oh fuck yeah, I'm a slut! And I make a hell lot of money from it too! Who the hell made you the judge! Someone like you wouldn't understand a person like me. I can see your entire history in your eyes, people like you were born with a golden spoon in your mouth. You've never had to work for anything in your life, everything was handed down to you. But for me? It seems you forget we aren't all the same. I wasn't born surrounded by wealth. Yeah, it's not the most prestigious job but money is money!" She took a breath, a sniffle escaping her and it was then they realised how silent everywhere had become. The club wasn't blasting with music like it normally did every night, everyone at the main entrance had their eyes on the two.
What a mess.
Faiz wanted to hit himself so badly, what was wrong with him? How could he have judged her so brutally? And the things he said… his mother would have slapped him for it. He was ashamed. "I-"
"And you know what? This slut here has spent her money helping countless children on the streets," his mind went back to the orphanage, and he shut his eyes in embarrassment. "And saved a cancer-stricken child from dying. So the next time you want to judge someone, know the whole fucking story."
"What's going on here?"
All eyes turned to Clubspace's number one best dancer, Bella McCarthy. She was in nothing but a dark silk robe, it stopped just above her mid-thigh and made no effort to hide her braless boobs. Her amber eyes were like that of a fox's as she pinned Faiz down with her death glare. She had come out to see what was happening after the music stopped and was angry after hearing what Maya did. But when she saw her best friend in tears with the very same man that had caused her so much trouble, she became furious.
"It's not-" Maya started but was interrupted by Bella.
"You, shut up." She started making her best friend snap her lips shut. Bella turned her eyes to Faiz who looked like he wished lightning would strike him down that very moment, "I have had absolutely enough of you. Every time you come here you create some form of ruckus!" Maya opened her mouth to speak but stopped as Bella shut her with a menacing glare, "I never want to see you here again. From this day onward, you are banned from my club." With that said, she grabbed her best friend's arm and stormed back into the club, leaving a regret-filled Faiz and a horror-struck Blake.
"It wasn't his fault-" Maya started once they were back inside.
"Oh, I know it wasn't his fault. But it was either him or you. Every fucking time that man is involved, some weird-ass shit happens to you. The boss is furious by the stunt you just pulled, do you have any idea how many customers have complained while you were busy with your lover's quarrel?!" Bella's eyes blazed with so much anger and Maya paled at the mention of their boss.
And as they say, speak of the devil and he appears.
"Maya."
Fuck.
Drake Carney was the owner of the number one club in Miami, his aura alone radiated wealth and some hidden source of darkness. His dark eyes were filled with rage as he stared down at his second most prized employee.
"S-sir," Maya shook with fear as she stared down at his feet. No one dared look him in the eyes, he considered it a great insult to him. His steps were slow and like that of a predator's, a mix of fear and panic rose within Maya's chest. "I'm so sorry! I swear it'll never- ah!"
She stopped as her jaw was grabbed roughly by Drake's calloused hand. He held the tender flesh with much force it was sure to crack if he didn't let go soon. Bella watched helplessly as tears streamed down Maya's cheeks, she was too scared to move. After all, this was Drake Carney they were talking about.
"Sorry won't bring the money, I lost you bitch!" He yelled and Maya trembled beneath his fingers, "You're very lucky you are my customers' favourite. But the next time this happens, you are out of here and back on the streets you came from."
He let go of her jaw and walked away, Maya's knees gave up on her as she sobbed. Bella's arms quickly encircled her and the two sat there for God knows how long.
Maybe Bella made the right decision banning Faiz from returning to clubspace.
Or maybe she didn't.