New Orleans' Fox, Vanessa.
A sequel of Love In This Time.
1930's
Vesnessa
A stripper who only men value.
A girl who's been tossed away by society.
A business woman seen as low-levelled to some for selling her body for money.
That's me, Vesnessa, New Orleans own Fox.
I've been dancing for as long as I can remember. I first performed for my boss, Serio, an Italian kind- hearted man with anger issues. He had a brother whom he loved so much, but his brother despised me. If money ever got missing in the Den Of Gangs, the boss would blame me.
I remember my first day when I stepped into that den. The day I set foot in the place, my life transformed—There was no going back.
It was Wednesday afternoon, I had just ran from home. I remember panting and lifting my feet off the ground speedily in a systematic manner. I was running away from my mum, and my life, stepping into something dangerous.
Dressed in my white crop top and blue low-level denim fley pants, I ran towards the Den of drugs I had heard about.
"Curse you child!" My mother had hollered at me that morning. She was putting on her pink gown. That pink gown I had grown tired of. "I never want to see you again! Why don't you disappear like your older sister!? Huh!? You disgust me! Your mates are sleeping with wealthy men making money, whilst you just sit in my home asking for education!"
Tears welled up my eyes. My mum had I and my sister when she was a teenager. Of course, she never wanted us. She was an alcoholic, battling depression, praying the love of her life, who was a gang leader to go back to her. She was currently pregnant again so she wasn't mentally stable.
I had tried my best.
Ma and the beatings.
The bruises.
"Its not my fault you failed the abortion!" I raised my voice at my mother for the first time. It was intense, and in order to avoid being thrashed, I fled in an instant.
"You ungrateful child!" Ma gruffed in anger, "Join your sister in her whore house."
I cried. Mother stank greatly of drugs and it was mysterious how her baby didn't still come out after such series of consuming alcohol. Hard drugs!
'I'm sorry baby for leaving you, but if you survive this woman, I'm sure you will survive this world and be a great star.' I apologized in my heart as I decided to leave and not die by my mother's side.
Wreckless woman.
I sniffed in, still running to the dangerous life I would never return from.
I was thirteen turning fourteen soon, and I decided the Den Of Gang, was where I'd spend my birthday. A big party with the theme "drugs".
I took in a deep breath feeling my small chest pound harder than my mother's fist when she's beating me. My small white crop top shielded nothing much on my chest. I was right ass flat and wouldn't even succeed in being a Courtesan.
I was still panting, as I made a halt in front of the terrifying, yet glorious paradise; the Drug Den. I packed my hair up that had plastered my drenched -in perspiration-skin. My belly too appeared sweaty.
"Hello, new home," I soliloquized, "That's if I don't get shot on sight."
"State your name and your business here," I heard the stern voice of a man in front of the Den Of Gangs, whom I grew to know as Thomas.
I wanted to act tough.. so I did. Hell, yes I was petrified but I summoned all strength to be a woman that day. With a small but tough voice, I said, "My name's Vivian. I want to speak with your boss." I found it funny how I fisted my hands in my tight pocket to give that cool gangster aura. The man gave me a look—obviously. He didn't laugh, but I'm sure he found it funny like I did.
What's was a small girl doing here, wanting to see my boss?
He managed a chuckle. "My boss, eigh?" He banged on the door and I soon heard a clanging noise. To my greatest surprise, the door was miraculously opened and he let me in. Before I stepped in, I saw how the man ogle at me, leering intensely at my stingy body—a body that had nothing to offer.
Perhaps it was the confidence for him that had convinced him to open the gate that shielded the lions. 'What was I doing?' I asked myself, walking in. I was still pondering if I could still make a turn back. 'I can't go back since it is probably confidence that got me here. Crying now and ruining everything will make em' think I'm baby playing pranks.'
I felt like crying.
I walked in steadily with folded arms and the smell of smoke danced under my nose.
'Shit, Vivian, this is the life you're stepping into? The kind of life you want to live?'
Men with guns stationed in the place. There was a steamy atmosphere lingering in the place. The red light gave the place a spooky ambience and the people around participated in a 'Dog and Cat Fight.' The place was a typical secret Bad Gang layer. Drugs were in trays being produced, different rooms for different sinful stuff.
Of course, the music.
The adults gazed at me like I wasn't underaged or they had seen girls far younger than I was walk in here. I was waiting for one of the Cats to at least question my presence here, but there was nothing. No one.
I huffed.
Of course they were in the same shit so why question? I was an adult and had chosen my life.
***
Now Inside The Lion's Office. The Boss Himself.
"What did you say was your business here?" The boss' calm but unintentional masculine voice roared at me. He was a well built man with a scar on his grey beared that showed despite the briskly hair that covered the lower part of his face.
"I'm Vivian and would love to work for you?"
"Love?" The Boss, was busy counting money but my sharp voice snapped him out of his focus. We were in his very intimidating office, but that day I saw everything around me as my equal. I had tough, not just on the outside anymore, but on the inside. I didn't care if this man blew a bullet on my face."What exactly do you know about love, especially for working for someone?
You know you could die working for me."
A smirk climbed his side lips. Seated on his executive chair with arms on his finely decorated desk, he uttered, "What are you good at?"
That question was what got me to where I am to today.
I couldn't think of anything else.
My dream… It's… a dumb childhood dream. I wanted to be a dancer but that'll be stupid blurting that out. I wasn't asked what I wanted to do here for the Den of Gangs, instead he asked me a question my mother never asked me. Perhaps I'm taking this casual question too far.
The Gang Boss said, "Silence? What would a girl like you be doing in these parts?"
"I want to help sell drugs." Now I saw the man, who I found to now be handsome, wave for the dismissal of his bodyguards present.
It was now as though he changed. I couldn't just hear his soothing voice, but I could feel it roam on my skin.
His caring voice asked me, "What happened child?" Nobody had asked me exactly how I felt before. The Gang leader was surprisingly caring. Too caring for a Gangster.
Maybe I shouldn't blame my mum for falling head over heels for a Gangster.
I rubbed my shoulder softly, then brought my emotions under subjection. "I'd appreciate a job, Boss."
He stood up from his seat and I saw how tall he was. His aura spun me inside out and I was intimidated for a different reason. It was lovely, if I were to explain…
He held my chin.
"What can you do for me, Vee?" His intense green eyes bore into mine.
We had a conversation… and he asked again, "What are you good at?"
The answer led me to dancing for my Boss, Serio. The curtains were closed and I showed my flexibility. Serio was cool. I was dancing yet I didn't feel compelled. He had a soothing authoritative tone that made you feel you had to what you wanted to do, but his voice was the permission.
I had dressed myself in a skimpy lingerie and there was a pole I handled like it was a game of dominant and recessive. The blue lights were turned on and the red curtains made the place beautiful.
I danced well, and when I accidentally miss a step at the end, my Boss made fun of me; causing both of us to laugh. I felt happy.
Serio came closer to me, and held my exposed waist, placing his chin on my shoulder.
"Venessa" His husky breath tickled my ear. "You did well. My sly Fox."
Chapter One: Dancing For my Boss.