2. Dark

Meave

My eyes found the customer.

I couldn't see much of him due to the dim lit red lights around, but the little I saw, told me enough.

I was nervous, the rate at which my heart changed rhythm had my palms sweaty. He wasn't some potbellied old man. He looked like someone who fell two years above mine.

Even in the dark, I couldn't deny the fact that he wasn't what I expected.

He raised his head immediately the door shut close behind me.

I watched his eyes sweep me from head to toe before he sighed, muttering something and then looking away.

Someone's in a mood.

I'm just gonna do what I came here for... dance.

I made my way to the pole, knowing the music bathing the room.

Letting out a deep breath, I gripped the pole, allowing the professional side of me take over once more. I let the music move my body to its pleasurable instruments.

But—

This didn't fight off the nervousness, it didn't lure my boldness from its hiding place. My palms were still sweaty, my heart unsteady.

I knew it was the first time I would ever give anyone a private dance, but I had done much more embarrassing things in this club, this should be easy, right?

I closed my eyes for a moment, collecting my thoughts.

Come on, you're the Eve. People love you, they chant your name, they love it when you dance.

I opened my eyes, looking over at the customer, whose eyes weren't even on me. He just sat, relaxed on the leather chair, his attention drawn to his phone. The little I could see of his eyes, I noticed the darkness within their surface, and this caused a leap in my heart, the light from his phone showed me the obvious frown dragging his brows together.

Don't look at him, just dance... get your money, and get the heck out of this club.

I removed my eyes from the customer, my body moving to the sound of the beat. Hips snaking around the pole, legs encircling the length of the pole, throwing my hair back in a pose that usually were the men's favorite, but looking at the guy on the chair in front of me, he wasn't even bothered or affected, neither was he interested in my dance. Whatever he stared at on that phone was probably more interesting or sexier than I was at the moment.

If he didn't want the dance, why did he ask of it?

I was nervous, and the nervousness grew only because he wasn't looking at me.

I usually got the attention, and that attention made me very bold. But right now, he acted like there was no one in the room with him, and it only made me self-conscious.

I have to get his attention somehow.

I let out a harsh breath, leaving the little stage and walking over to where he sat.

With my heart basically in my throat, I moved to straddle him, and Immediately, he raised his head, clearly shocked at the intrusion of his personal space.

Well, you and me, buddy, I don't know what the hell I'm doing but—

His eyes... damn... they were dark, intense, deep and sexy in a way that made it hard to look away from them.

Those two dark beauties were shadowed under thick full lashes that made me want to kiss them just so I could feel the roughness on my lips. His full brows rested above; it was well carved and almost perfect.

I swallowed, taking in his whole face.

And so help me God, this man was beautiful, his pointed nose resting above pink full lips, had my mind dancing with unholy thoughts, his jaw held such strong form that made his cheek bones appealing to look at.

I wouldn't lie.

Up until this moment I thought no man could match up to Alec Monroe's good looks, the quarterback from our sports team in college, and my boyfriend for almost four months, until he cheated on me with his ex-girlfriend and broke my heart. Story for another time.

But today, someone topped that list, and it was this stranger right in front of me. The dark red cat like mask I wore, had never felt so tight.

My body pressed against his, I could feel how fucking sexy this man was.

I gulped down, feeling my confidence melt down as he watched me with those calculating, dark intense eyes.

Relax Eve... you've got this... for the money... all for the money.

"I thought this wasn't allowed." He spoke. Voice deep and smooth like velvet.

A smooth smile pulled at my lips, and I was very sure the crimson red lipstick I wore made me look hellishly sexy right now, and I could see it on his face, the way his beautiful eyes seemed to widen.

"It isn't, but..." I took the phone from his grip, in which he let me. "You weren't giving me attention..." I continued, throwing the phone to the other side of the couch. His eyes followed the movement, his jaw clenching as he looked back at me. "...And I like attention."

"That so?" he asked, raising a brow at me, his body relaxing.

He tilted his head, eyes going around my face with apt curiosity.

"Take off your mask, I want to see you." He said out of nowhere.

"That's not allowed." I said softly, maybe a little too soft.

His lips kicked up at a corner. "You're not allowed to touch the customer, yet you're sitting on my lap." He countered.

My finger came to trace a line on his face.

At this point, my mind stopped shooting rational thoughts to my head...

This wasn't supposed to be happening, but for the life of me, I couldn't help myself, or the way my heart pounded fiercely against my chest.

It had been a while since I got this attracted to any man, and it didn't seem like a crazy thing to test the waters.

"Well, if I take it off, you would have to pay extra."

"I'll pay that extra in double."

A full smile stretched against my lips as my hand came to take off the mask, placing it on the space beside us.

He swallowed, the look of amazement arising on his face, as he inhaled. Just staring at me.

The atmosphere became thick all of a sudden, the small lacy bra like thong I wore, made it so hard for me to breathe as he watched me.

He just stared, his brows furrowing in wonder like he had a budding question in his mind.

"You're beautiful." He told me, his sincerity hanging on the rise and fall of the tone he used.

His remark caught me off guard. I blinked, not knowing exactly how to respond to it.

"What are you doing in a place like this?" he asked.

The question had me furrowing my brows at him. "Excuse me?"

"Pardon me... but, you just don't look like the kind of girl who would work on poles for money."

My eyes widened. "Wow." I got up from him. "So, what, there are specific girls who are meant for jobs like this?"

I was already feeling self-conscious and the last thing I wanted was him adding to that.

"That is not what I meant." He said, sitting up as I got to my feet, grabbing my mask and putting it back on.

"Right, so what did you mean?"

He was about to respond when I stopped him. "You know what, don't answer that." I said. "It's people like you who judge other people based on their life choices. You forget that not everyone wants to do what they are currently doing just to make money. You forget its hard out there and that there are people who need things that people like you would consider as nothing."

"Whoa... why are you getting all defensive?" He asked, grabbing his phone and getting to his feet.

"I am not-"

"Okay... relax. I didn't mean to offend you," He inquired for my name.

"Eve." I replied.

"That's not your real name."

"I don't know you, I can't tell you my real name."

"Is that part of the rules?"

"That is part of my rules."

He nodded.

"You know what? I'm just suddenly not in the mood to do this right now. I'll talk to the manager to assign you someone else."

I suddenly didn't feel comfortable in the same room with him.

The way he looked at me, seemed like he could see me... like really see me. I knew I wasn't supposed to be here. I knew it would break my father a lot more than it broke me every time I was done dancing for these men.

But I had no choice, and he had no right to call me out of the dark like that... no right.

He sighed. "Offending you wasn't my intention, it's just. I can't simply ignore some truths when I see them."

"Well, dear stranger, this truth is meant for me and not for you, I do not appreciate your comments." I said, opening the door and looking back at him. "Besides, you don't know me. So, it doesn't really matter what you think. Have a good evening." I rushed out, down the corridor and straight to the changing room.

My heart in my throat, I slammed the door behind me, settling down on the dressing chair, my mind replaying the events in the red room.

I let out a breath.

Brush it off, Eve... get ready for Monday, do whatever it takes to get your father back on his feet. I picked up the wipe, rubbing my face off the make-up, and going out of being Eve to Meave.

You can also take me for example... Mr. Geffrey wasn't the only one with secrets. I too, lived two lives, one in the light, and the other in the dark.

Meave Delaney was a completely different person in the light, but come dark, she becomes Eve.

I stared at my real self through the reflection.

There are some secrets better left unsaid after all.