The Strip - Max

5 / I know who you are

I took extra time in the change room getting ready after the incident that put a chill on the hot fun at the stand-up table. I wasn't in a hurry to get back on the floor and wondered if my absence would be noticed by management. Would I be 'encouraged' to suck it up and get back to work? I needed a finer point on my eyeliner. That could buy me a few more minutes before needing a new excuse.

"Are you okay?" Megan asked as she entered the room. "You've been in here a while."

"Yeah, just... getting ready."

"Did something happen?"

"Yeah, some jerk... it's no big deal." I was sure she saw through the lie.

"Ahh, that probably explains this drink," she said as she placed a tall Dr. Pepper on my station. "Some guy apologizing for being an asshole. I think he left a hundred bucks for you at the bar. He's gone in case you're worried he's still out there. And Clive told me what happened."

"Oh, ahhh, good. I guess."

"This business has its risks and jerks like that are one of them. That's why I tell the girls to stay sober. The bouncers can only do so much. I guess your client intervened, so that has to show you something. Generally, people are good. You can't always count on it, but working in a place like this helps. That's why we're here and not at The Madam or Cantina. Stay back here as long as you need. You have another performance coming up so, get yourself ready for that."

I had an hour and a half before my next stage performance, and I spent that entire time in the change room contemplating my exit from the business just hours after getting into it. I wasn't working at Busters because I had to. I wasn't forced to follow Megan and Nat's path. I had chosen it. I sipped the drink slowly as I worked up the courage to step behind the curtain and wait for my second introduction of the night.

I worked the stage through four songs that seemed to end sooner than expected. I slipped my panties back on before leaving the stage and dashed back to the change room. And, before the second song of Megan's set had ended, I was roaming the floor, full of confident energy.

The crowd had thinned considerably since my first round, but it was still a bustling place. Most eyes were on the stage, watching my aunt teasing off her panties as I scanned for someone to chat-up. And I saw him. It seemed his were the only eyes following me and not the naked woman on the stage.

"Would you like to buy me a drink?" I asked as I stepped up to the table. Another stand-up table. What does a girl need to do to get a seat in that place?

"It would be my pleasure," he replied as he waved over a waitress.

"Did you enjoy my show?" I asked as Leanne approached.

"Another," he said while pointing at his beer, "and whatever Max is having."

Leanne nodded and walked off, leaving me waiting for a reply.

"Your show? The first one, you seemed pretty nervous, but you got through it pretty well. This last one was amazing. You definitely seemed more confident, and comfortable," he said with a nod. "And the one at the stand-up table... well, that was..."

I laughed, "Oh, you saw that? There were a few people watching, I guess."

"I only saw a bit and, well, more than a few people were watching."

"You only saw a bit of it?" I asked, suspecting he had witnessed my very public orgasm.

"Yeah. Uhm, it got a little, ahhh, uncomfortable." His head tipped forward, breaking eye contact completely. "Listen, I, ahhh, I'm... I actually live in—"