Chapter 2

  June was finding it hard to focus on entertaining the eager customers after the news she had received not quite long ago. Cancer had depreciated her mum's health and if June wasn't successful in raising over a hundred dollars to settle the hospital bills, it would finally finish her off completely.

   The stranger's eyes followed her as she made her movements round and round the pole with as much grace and talent as she could muster up. His eyes were glued to her and June felt oddly exposed. Two years of watching men watch her was enough to give her insights on the typical male behavior and their intentions as they looked at her but for the first time since June became a stripper, she was having issues reading the strange man. What did that stare mean?

   "You did so well tonight, Amber" Stephen said as he passed the envelope that contained her pay to her after she had closed for the night. "Do more performances like that and you'd be very rich in no time" he advised. June gave a brief smile as she watched him walk back to the bar. Stephen could be overbearing sometimes but he was a nice man, all in all.

   "He's right, you know. You did so well, tonight" June turned as she heard the unfamiliar but oddly familiar voice that had stirred up drama back at the club. Her hand went to her face on reflex and she relaxed when she felt the weight of the mask.

   "Thank you" she mumbled as she turned to go into the dressing room. It was getting late and she had to make a trip to the hospital.

   "Is stripping all you do over here?" The man made an attempt to start up a conversation June wasn't exactly thrilled on having.

  "Yes Sir" Stephen had a strict 'Be nice to customers' policy and June wasn't going to break any of the club rules even if she didn't like any of them at all.

   "You're a very beautiful woman" the man said as he reached over to run a finger through her hair, obviously mesmerized by the bright color like every normal male would be.

   June flinched and withdrew instantly, "Thank you, Sir" Just at that moment, Anita walked past and June saw an escape.

   "I have to go, it was nice meeting you" She turned and stopped when the man's hand circled her wrist.

   "Stay" June had never felt compelled to do anything in her entire life. Who was this man that commanded so much authority and why was she entertaining him?

   "I want to make you an offer" the man went straight to the point and June felt she wasn't going to like what the offer was going to be.

   "I'm not interested"

   "You haven't heard what I have to say"

   "I don't need to. I'm not interested" She dragged her hand from his grip and turned around again. She barely made it to the door before the stranger spoke again.

  "What if I tell you I can pay you triple times what you've earned today?" That got her attention.

   "What did you just say?" June's hand fell from the doorknob as she turned to face the stranger who had just made an insane offer.

   "You heard me correctly. Triple the amount you have made tonight" Was this man aware of how much she had made? What kind of a joke was this?

   "I am really not in the mood to play games tonight, Sir"

   "Games? I am in no way looking for a recreational activity to engage in with you, Miss Amber"

   "I am not in the mood for this" she said more to herself than him. "What do you want from me, Sir?" It was taking way too much to not give him a piece of her mind.

   "Like I said, I want to make you an offer" A half smile spread across his face and June flinched. How could such a smile give her conflicted emotions?

   "I remember telling you I wasn't interested in whatever you had to say"

   "I'll cut to the chase, I was intrigued by your performance tonight, Miss Amber. It was...different"

   June was muttering a thank you when he added, "I'd like to have sex with you tonight" her heart almost literally stopped.

   "You would...like..to what?" June stuttered as she tried to regain her composure. Who was this man?

   "Sex. I'd like to have sex with you" he repeated, totally oblivious to June's shock.

   Surprise gave way for anger almost immediately, "I really do not want to insult you, Sir" she started off soft and chipped in a warning "Don't make me"

   "My initial offer was triple your earnings for the night. Are you taking it?"

   "Sir, I may be a stripper but I am not a sex worker!"

   "Are you taking it?"

   "Go to hell"  What in the fuck was going on? If anyone had told June her day was going to be full of so much crap, she would have just stayed in bed. But with a family to cater for, a girl couldn't afford such luxury.

   "Been there, wasn't a nice place" the man had the audacity to smile and June felt every control she had built up for the job, slipping.

  "Sir, if you'd excuse me, I have somewhere that is actually important to go to. Goodnight" the door slammed shut as she walked into the dressing room ignoring the stares the other strippers were giving her. She might have been struggling with three jobs, a sick mum and a little sister that needed so much attention it got on her nerves sometimes but there was no way she was going to let a total stranger come into her workplace and treat her like garbage.

   But what was the whole offer thing about? Sex for such a huge amount? What exactly was the man's plans and most importantly why had he approached her instead of the other strippers? Something wasn't right but she sure as hell didn't care to find out or did she?