The Fall For Love

Chapter 14: The Deal

                                                                                    London 2017

The two women stood outside the Soho club. The younger of the two stared up at the recently changed sign.

"Ria....you cannot be serious?!" she exclaimed.

"Lillian, I have never been more serious in my life, the club is yours." Ria turned to Lillian, her long term employee and honorary adopted daughter. "You have been in charge of this place for such a long time. It's only right that your name would be up there....well, your stage name, but you know what I mean." Lillian turned to her with tears in her eyes.

"I...I don't know what to say." Ria took Lillian's hands in her own.

"You don't need to say anything, you have worked hard over the years my sweet girl, you deserve this." she said with a smile. "Plus I need someone to run this place whilst I'm swanning off travelling around the world." 

Lillian couldn't help the tears that sprang to her eyes. She couldn't imagine not seeing Ria every day, the woman that had been like a mother to her for the last 15 years. Ria reached up and brushed a stray tear away from Lillian's face. 

"There's no need for tears....this is a happy day." She encased Lillian in a hug.

"What am I going to do without you?" sniffled Lillian. Ria pulled back and looked Lillian straight in the eye.

"You will be fine hun, you're so much stronger than you realise. Anyway, I'm an old woman now, I've been in this city for far too long."

"I love you Ria." Ria smiled and kissed Lillian on the cheek.

"I love you too.....now, shall we head in and sign some papers?" Arms linked, the two women walked into club Lilith.

*

At 17 years old, Lillian had run away from home. Tired of a cruel and abusive mother, she had decided to get out. She had never met her father, but judging by the way her mother spoke of him, she wasn't missing out.

Her and a couple of friends decided to head to London. They all took crappy jobs and ended up sharing a bed flat in a rough part of the city. One of their friends took up stripping and starting bringing lots of cash in, so Lillian decided to follow in her footsteps and got a job at the same club. She started out waitressing, but thanks to help from her friend and her natural rhythm she finally landed a job as one of the main dancers.

One night a few of the girls decided to head out as they weren't working. They ended up at a burlesque club and Lillian instantly fell in love. Tired of the sleazy business men and private dances, she set her sights on becoming a burlesque dancer. Each night she wasn't working, she would head down to Ria's to watch and learn. She eventually got up the courage to speak to the club owner about working there.

As they say...the rest is history.

                                                                                London 2019.

Lillian sat at her desk reminiscing about her past and the massive role Ria had played in it as the tears fell down her face. 

Two years ago, when Ria had told her about her plans to travel, she left something out. Ria had terminal cancer and had been given a year to live. She lasted 6 months. It may have happened two years ago now, but Lillian felt the loss as if it were yesterday. She had thrown herself into the running of the club and it was successful as ever. Sadly Ria was not there to see.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her office door.

"Come in." The club manager and part time performer, Beth walked in. Seeing Lillian's face, she perched herself on the edge of the desk.