The University of the South

The Performer (2 of 6)

I count how much money I made this month and sigh in relief.

Finally enough to pay rent, I'm safe for another month.

It wasn't the way I wanted to earn the money but at least I didn't have to sleep in the streets.

"Rosetta! You're wanted on stage again." Mimi, our manager calls and I nod, bolting up.

I check myself in the mirror once again to see if my makeup has smeared or if my underwear was on right. I didn't want to flash anyone at the start of the show.

"Rosetta! Hurry the fuck up!" I hear Brandon, one of the workers yell and I know I'm in trouble again after my shift.

Shit.

I stripped for a living.

Just enough to get me through college and I'd stop once I had a stable job.

This wasn't what I wanted for myself but I had no choice when I was literally put up for adoption at 10 years old, kicked out at 18 and had to fend for myself the rest of my life.

Nobody at school knew, I only kept to myself.

If someone told the school, I'd be found out and no other school would probably accept me.

I needed to be careful.

"I'll be right there!" I say and hurry outside the room and onto the closed curtained stage.

I hold my pose until I hear the curtains open, my name being called and men hollering at me at an instant.

I earned good money here as a stripper named Rosetta.

I was Celine the nerd, in the morning and Rosetta the stripper, by night.

"She's fucking hot!" I hear and a few whistles as well.

I bend down, letting them see a view of my ass, adding a little wiggle in the end as I turn around, closing my eyes and feeling myself.

When I turn around I instantly freeze and see Julio staring back at me.

Fuck!

What the fuck do I do? He literally talked to me this morning!

I knew I should've worn a mask.

I freeze for a moment as I hear the men start to complain, the money being thrown at me, lessens.

"What the fuck Rosie?! Fucking dance!" I hear Brandon say and I snap out of it, continuing to dance slowly, taking my eyes off of Julio.

Out of all the people from school, why did Julio have to see me like this?

"Father, where did you find her?" I hear Julio ask his dad, my boss, as I continue to dance sensually and climb onto the pole, spinning and doing my usual routine.

Ignore him, Celine! Just earn your money, ask Julio not to tell anyone and be on your merry way! Graduation was just a few weeks away.

"She came to us. Little thing was worried about paying her bills. We offered her the job." My boss tells him and I suddenly am deafened by the hollers.

I slowly go into a split, spreading my legs below me and I hear Julio groan.

Wait was he actually turned on by me?

I turn around to meet his gaze and find that his eyes have never left me, his attention fully on me.

I go on my knees, crawling towards him, as the men shout and cheer for Julio, knowing he was the boss' son.

I daringly stroke his cheek and playfully turn away when he makes a move to reach me, a grunt coming from his mouth.

I always admired the way Julio looked.

He was tall, all muscle and broodingly handsome.

I was my own woman but someone wanted to feel safe in his arms, for him to dominate me and protect me at the same time.

Ofcourse I found him attractive.

My number came to an end and I spread upside down on the pole, my view of him upside down as well, as people cheered around me, giving me a rush as cash spread all over me.

"I want her." I suddenly hear and gasp when I see that it's Julio who says this.

I instantly scurry off and go backstage.

He wanted me?

Was he going to tell on me.

"Rosetta! Julio Madrigal wants you in one of the private rooms." Mimi says and my eyes widen.

Fuck!

I nod and instantly fix myself up, pushing my tits out and preparing my "please don't tell on me" speech in my head.

I mean I don't think he was going to tell on me. He wouldn't do that.

Maybe I could persuade him not to tell?

Yes, that was the only way.

I mean I don't have sex with my clients but I mentally prepared myself if I was going to have to with Julio.

Fuck!

I arrive at the doorway of the private room, a sheer robe wrapped around my body to keep me covered before I did my private dance for him.

I breathe in and out before pulling the curtain open to the room.

There he was, perfectly sprawled on the couch, waiting for me this whole time.

He was still in his suit from before, but his suit jacket was neatly folded on the couch behind him, his button up sleeves pulled at his elbows, a few of his top buttons undone revealing a peek of his pecs.

Fuck, if I wasn't wet from earlier.

His eyes watched my every move as I entered the room, radiating dominance.

"Julio." I whisper and slowly walk towards him as he stares up at me.

"Rosetta." He murmurs, trying out my stage name when I knew he knew my actual name.

I frown at him and straddle him, wrapping my arms around his muscular frame.

Well, here goes my plan of persuasion.

"You know who I am, am I right?" I ask and he slowly nods as he stares at my puckered lips as I pout before him and play with one of the curls that fell loose on his forehead.

His hair was hot, I loved how unruly it was.

I imagined tugging at it as he ate my—

"You are, Celine." He says and my eyes widen.

Shit so he did remember.

I click my tongue at him as I press a kiss to his cheek quickly, stroking his other cheek and resting my head on his shoulder.

"I see, you do remember then. I guess I'll have to make you...forget?" I say and pull away from him as he raises a brow at me in anticipation.

I had to convince him to keep my job a secret then.

I shrug my robe off my body as it falls to the floor.