Chapter 1

 "Wait up, June. You're forgetting your mask" Anita called out as she saw her friend rush out of the dressing room headed to the bar. It was a Friday night and Friday nights were the busiest for everyone that worked at the club.

   "Thanks, Ann" June Skylar called out as she rushed back to the vanity to pick up and put on the mask she had worn ever since she started working at Emmys Club.

   "Just relax, Okay? Take a deep breath" Anita offered and continued after June had taken one and then another, "Everything will be alright. Okay?" She stood on tiptoes and gave her friend a brief hug and she went back to struggling to put her hose on. Just like every stripper at Emmys on Friday nights, Anita and June were performing too and the manager was going to have both of their heads on a platter if they weren't out in five minutes.

   "Yeah, it has to be" June nodded, dragged another deep breath and tried to regain the composure she had momentarily lost. Everything was going to be alright. It had to be. A whole lot of things depended on whatever action she was going to take tonight and she needed a clear head to do the needful.

   A quick look in the mirror, reapplication of her lipstick and yet another thank you to her devoted and only friend who was muttering curses at the hose she had been struggling with for minutes, June ran out of the room. The manager had called out her name and she had little time to get tothe bar before he started yelling again.

   "Amber!" The Manager's voice echoed down the hall as June raced down the hallway towards the club, "Hurry the fuck up!" He hissed as soon as he got a glimpse of her approaching the club on lengthy heels. The crowd was getting anxious and Stephen never really understood why customers swooned over such a clumsy and tardy girl but he had to admit, he had never met anyone that could move the way she did.

   "Yeahhhhh!!!!!!" The room exploded with cheerful screams as the strippers, led by June, filed out into the club to meet their eager, regular customers. All eyes were on June as she made her way to the podium where her pole was situated, right in the middle of the room.

   Men who were supposed to be cuddled up with their families, watching movies as was the tradition associated with Friday nights, were huddled up in Emmys, with their work clothes, briefcases, and not too professional flowers pleated ties, attending to more pressing matters which would surprise anyone to find out, included sexy women wearing thongs, dancing on poles.

   "Work that booty!!" A man rose up from his chair as he moved to throw wads of notes at June as she climbed the pole to do what she was famous at Emmys for. Not only was she very good on the pole, her anonymous appearance was intriguing to anyone who had ever watched her dance.

   From her striking red hair to her very curvy figure and then to her emerald eyes which were slightly concealed with a dark amber mask that covered most of her face which earned her the name 'Amber', June Skylar was the major sensation of the strip club and with good cause if anyone was being honest.

   Two very deliberate and highly coordinated movements later, the crowd went wild as chants rose up in theair. Amber! Amber! Amber! Amber! Amber! Everyone was enjoying the show and June was getting lost in it. Their voices trailed off as she plastered a smile on her face and tried to bring her focus back to the routine she had done consecutively for two years.

   Stripping wasn't exactly her dream job while she was growing up but as long as she found a way to sort her bills, take care of her little sister and settle the hospital bills of her sick mom, it was the right job for her and oh, what a good pay she got from it.

   "Blow me a kiss, Amber" the man threw another huge wad of note at her feet and cooed for a kiss with his lips outstretched towards her. June gave a little smile and did as he requested with her free hand and earned herself yet another wad of notes.

   "Give me a little twirl, princess" Another voice sounded next to the podium, drifting June's attention back to the present. The man with the notes had been replaced by another man with notes and June gave him the twirl he had asked for.

  "Move out of the way" An authoritative voice rang out from the back of the club and June stopped twirling to take a look at the person that commanded such authority.

   "What did you say to me?" The man with the note, turned around to face the owner of the voice, obviously not pleased at what he had heard.

   "I said, move out of the god damn way" the man with the authoritative voice repeated and June felt her breath hitch in her throat. She had seen way too many fights break out in the club and she wasn't ready for one, not this night.

   "Who gave you the right to tell me what the fuck to do?" The notes man asked with anger evident in his voice. Alcohol was sure to bring out the beasts in even the calmest of men.

   "Gentlemen, gentlemen" Stephen, the manager, rushed in front of the notes man as he was waddling towards where the other man was seated. "There's no need to have a disagreement over such a trivial matter" he said, smiling broadly in an attempt to patronize the man with the notes.

   "You should tell him to watch his mouth" the man spat as he went to the seat instead. June heaved a sigh of relief, the second time that night, crisis averted.

   June watched as Stephen gave the first man a glass of scotch, muttering that it was on the house and then gave another glass of scotch to the other man at the back. It was easier to avoid fights than to stop them and June understood the process. What she didn't understand was why such a neatly dressed man was seated at the far end of the room, watching her dance with such intensity. Who was he?