“Perfect, thank you. Francy, how are we over at the bar? Stocked and ready?”
“Fully ready to go. I also talked to the chef; he’ll have all the orders ready for tonight.”
“That’s right, thank you for reminding me,” Pepper said, as she looked through her notebook. “There will be ten members tonight. Some really powerful men are meeting about some government business. They are not to be disturbed for anything. All their orders will come through the iPad at the bar. They also will have full meals that we need to serve. Tonight will be a little different because we will all be serving after our presentation. Each girl will have two men to wait on.”
“No lap dances tonight,” Kace said, as he walked up to our conversation.
“What? Why?” Babs asked. “These men can afford it easily.”
“Jett said no lap dances tonight.”
All the girls made a knowing “oh” with their mouths as they turned back to what they were doing. Something was going on.
“Am I missing something?” No one answered me. “Um, hello?”
“Drop it, Lo,” Kace said. “You girls are dismissed until tonight.”
“Wait,” I called out before he could walk away. “I’ll be heading out to meet with my friend Lyla; I just wanted to remind you that I will be back around four.” Kace looked at me as if I had three vaginas plastered to my forehead. “I told you about it a week ago…you said it was ok…”
“Uh, yeah, let me check real quick.”
“What do you mean let you check? You already cleared it; I made plans with my friend.”
“Things have changed, Lo.” Then Kace walked away while typing something into his phone.
“What the fuck?” I said, while I turned around to the girls, who all avoided eye contact with me. “What’s going on and don’t tell me you’re not allowed to talk about it.”
Pepper looked over at Babs and they both smiled.
“Jett is infatuated,” Babs sing-songed.
“What do you mean?”
“Jett never takes away lap dances because he knows they benefit us. The only reason he would take them away is if he doesn’t want one of us doing them because he doesn’t want one of us all over another man.”
They all looked at me and smiled irritating smiles. “You think it’s because of me?”
They all laughed. “Duh, Lo. Don’t be so naïve. He finally invites you up to the Bourbon Room last night and the next day he takes away lap dances. It’s so because of you.”
“That’s not fair to you guys.” They all shrugged their shoulders as Tootse came up holding out costumes.
“Here, ladies. I love them! What do you think?” Francy sidled up next to Tootse and kissed her on the lips.
“You’re adorable,” she said, as she helped hand out the costumes.
I held mine up and nearly gasped at the lack of fabric. It was a red, white and blue bikini top encrusted in gems, but it was probably about two inches wide, just enough to cover up my nipples. The bottoms were just as skimpy, but instead of a thong, it was a pair of lace and jeweled cheekies that would show off my ass perfectly.
“These are hot,” Babs said, as she held them up. “Too bad we are not doing lap dances because we would have men sprinting to the jack-off booths in two seconds.” The thought of that still made me cringe. It was so weird that the goal in our lives was to get a man to rub one out.
Mad that I was the reason lap dances were off the table, I went up to Kace, who was now on the phone.
“Is that Jett?” I mouthed as I tapped him on the shoulder. He shook his head no, but I didn’t believe him.
I grabbed the phone from him as he yelled at me, but I took off in my heels as he chased after me. I put the phone to my ear and said, “How dare you take away lap dances when these girls work so hard every day. They deserve to give the members lap dances and make some more money, so I suggest…”
“Excuse me, umm…is Kace there?” A feminine voice came through the phone.
Embarrassment took up residence in my body as I turned around to see Kace with his arms crossed, tapping his foot and waiting for me to realize that I was making an absolute ass out of myself.
“Yes, one minute. He will be right with you.”
Kace held out his hand as I placed the phone back in his grasp, completely stoic and unfazed, even though deep down I wanted to die from mortification. I started to walk by him as I said, “I’m getting ready for my date with my friend and I could give two shits what Jett thinks.” There, my respect was still intact as I walked out with my head held high and chest puffed out.
The girls clapped as I walked back to my room to get ready for a lunch outing with my best friend Lyla.
At least I could put on a good show.
***
“Girl, you look good!” Lyla said as she hugged me and we both sat down at a table outside of Ignatius Eatery on Magazine Street.
“Thanks. I took the opportunity to order us both red beans and rice.”
“Bless your hooker soul,” Lyla said, as she sipped her water. “I haven’t had red beans and rice since you left. It doesn’t feel right eating them without you.”
“I feel the same,” I agreed, as I thought about the traditional dish we use to eat together all the time. Whenever we went to a new restaurant around town, we always ordered red beans and rice, trying to figure out which establishment served the best in New Orleans. We have yet to find a better red beans and rice dish than the one served at Joey K’s.
Leaning forward, Lyla said, “So, tell me all about the Lafayette Club.”
Knowing I couldn’t divulge that much information, I kept my information to just the surface because, even though I love my friend, I didn’t want to jeopardize any contract I signed. Because, to be honest, I was one lucky motherfucker and I planned on keeping it that way.
“It’s great. I am having an amazing time. I am finally able to be on stage, which I understand now why you like it so much. It’s so….exhilarating.”
“Blah, blah, blah…tell me about Jett,” Lyla said, while rubbing her hands together and leaning forward.
I laughed and said, “Sorry sweetie, can’t.”
“Damn,” she said, while pounding her fist on the table. “I thought that maybe I would be able to squeeze it out of you, but I completely understand. I don’t want to get you into any trouble. Are you doing alright though? I mean, you look happy. Are you happy?”
I thought about her question for a second. Was I happy? I think I am. I am happier than I have been in nine years, at least.
“I am,” I nodded. “I feel safe and taken care of. I feel like the worries I used to have on a day to day basis are no longer nagging me, but instead, I can start to think about my future and what I want to do with my life. I’ve been able to draw more, which has relaxed me…”
“And you have been getting your vagina screwed,” Lyla cut me off.
Laughing I answered, “Actually, the first time I even met him was last night.”
“You’re shitting me. It’s almost been a month.”
“Tell me about it. I was almost positive my pussy shriveled up and died until yesterday.”
“And you don’t want to tell me about it at all?”
“I wish,” I said sadly. “Sorry.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s alright. I get it.”
At that moment, the waitress brought out two steaming plates of red beans and rice. My mouth watered from the delectable New Orleans staple that was placed in front of me. Grabbing my fork, I dug right in.
“Mm, this is fucking good,” I said, as I talked with my mouth full.
Lyla took a huge bite off her plate and then instantly spit it back out on her plate as she grabbed her water and started chugging it. I hovered over my plate with my fork halfway to my mouth, as I watched her finish her water.