Damien glanced over at his best friend Curtis, not sure how he had been talked into this particular situation. Curtis insisted that he had a special and memorable way to celebrate Damien's thirtieth birthday, that he would take him to a place where no one recognized him or cared that he was Damien Perucci. So far, Curtis has kept that promise, but then again, a strip club was hardly the type of place that a multi millionaire frequented.
Damien watched as Curtis downed another drink. A millionaire in his right, Curtis still frequented common places on occasion.
"Come on, have a drink old man," Curtis encouraged, "It's not everyday you turn thirty."
"I've already told you I can't," Damien insisted.
"Meeting new staff hardly qualifies as a reason to deny yourself life's pleasures on your birthday," Curtis chided.
Damien in some ways agreed with Curtis. Meeting new staff was nothing new, and he was the one in a position of power. Hell, he didn't have to meet them until the following week if he didn't want to, but money didn't make itself and Damien wanted to give the once over to each of his new staff members to make sure that no incompetent people were hired while he was away on one of his frequent business trips.
"You can't remain quiet all evening Damien. Come on Damien. Live a little. Don't any of these birds take your fancy," Curtis asked.
"No, they don't," Damien answered honestly. "You forget, I'm a multi millionaire. Women throw themselves at me for my money alone. Throw in the sex appeal, charm, and legendary prowess and I am an irresistible catch."
"I forget nothing," Curtis replied laughing. "I'm a good looking millionaire too, although I admit I don't have anywhere near as much experience as you with women, after all, I'm only twenty-nine," Curtis finished with another laugh.
Damien joined him in his laughter. They had often watched women's eyes glaze over looking at them together, trying to decide which one was a better bet, which one might commit or spend the most.
A sexy blond wandered over to their table, issuing a wide smile as she stopped to chat. "Enjoying yourselves," she asked.
Both of them immediately tensed.
"Don't worry," she laughingly admonished, "I'm not after your money. I'm Rose, the owner. I just wanted to make sure you guys had everything you needed."
Curtis laughed at this too, he clearly had had way too much to drink Damien thought.
"My friend could use a lay," Curtis joked. "You see how stiff he is."
Rose laughed with Curtis before turning back to Damien. "Perhaps you would enjoy a lap dance. We offer both a softcore and a hardcore lap dance, the former costing $500, and the latter costing $1,000. The hardcore lap dance comes with a free pair of boxers and in house laundering should it be needed," Rose smiled as she tacked on this last part. "You see anything you like," she offered, knowing that each of her girls looked their best.
Damien's eyes wandered over the girls parading themselves about in scant lingerie, per the work dress code, and was about to say no when he caught a dark haired raven beauty enter through a side door in a modest two piece that couldn't hope to hide her generous proportions or her sensual nature. Damien's eyes followed her as she walked around serving drinks. She very carefully avoided being touched by any of the male hands that came too close and continued to move proficiently through the tables taking orders.
Rose followed Damien's gaze as it lit upon Amethyst. Rose groaned under her breath. It would have to be Amethyst. The only dark haired one among the girls, the only one that wasn't available, the only one that all the guys seemed to want.
"That's Amethyst. I'm sorry, but she isn't available for a lap dance, but all the other girls are," Rose pacified.
"Come on, it's his birthday," Curtis argued. "I'll pay $5,000 for her."
"As I said," Rose parried, "Amethyst is not available."
"$50,000," Damien countered.
Rose sighed in dismay. This man was not to be thwarted. He intended to get what he wanted, but Amethyst really wasn't available.
Amethyst's mother had become ill almost a year earlier and had required specialized care. Amethyst was determined that her mother should have the very best and had run up a hospital bill totaling almost half a million dollars. Since her mother died six months ago, Amethyst had worked day and night to decrease the almost impossible debt, having already paid over $150,000 she continued to work herself relentlessly.
Amethyst carried with her such an air of unattainableness because of her severe loss. Rose thought that was what drew the men to her. Whatever the case was, her beauty wasn't working to her advantage just now.
"I'll check with her and see if she is willing, but it is her choice," Rose finished, walking away.
Amethyst looked up as she saw Rose approaching, and issued forth a light smile, the most she could accomplish in the circumstances.
"Having a hard night," Rose questioned.
"The same as usual," Amethyst answered. "I start my new job tomorrow so I won't be in until late, and we can discuss a new schedule once my hours are more constant with this new job."
"No problem," Rose answered following Amethyst over to the bar. "Amethyst listen, there is a guy that wants you to do a lap dance for him, and he is willing to pay you $50,000."
"I don't do lap dances," Amethyst answered, without showing any sign at all that she had heard how much money they were dealing with.
"Amethyst, this money could put a huge dent in the debt you owe. You shouldn't be working as much as you do and I care about you, that is the only reason I'm, encouraging you to do this."
"No!" Amethyst answered tightly. "I don't do lap dances. I'm not for sale." Amethyst turned away from Rose and moved to pick up her drinks tray.
