Shadows In Durango

"Can | help you?" | turn to find a random guy ask with a quizzical look on his face the second | enter the building,

shockingin his work uniform since | hadn't yet seen him around here before.

"Hey... | work here too, in the upstairs bar. My names Sofia, | don't think we've met!" | add politely, as he seems

to eyein disgust next, catchingmore off guard than before as his eyes rake over me.

"You work here? Says who?" He pushes on, as | glance over to the main bar in desperate search of Tito, finding

him nowhere to be seen.

Who the heck is this guy and what's with his attitude?!

"Tito." | tell him simply, before watching as he inaudibly curses under his breath in response with a shake of his

head.

He had clearly decided seconds after meetingthat he didn't likevery much which I didn't find fair. He

could have at least givena chance... but | guess he was just old and grumpy!

"Well Tito isn't here tonight and we are incredibly short on staff. I'm the old manager, | recently retired from here.

Just go to your area and set up!" He orders, rushing the words atbefore shooingoff with his wrist.

He was damn well rude to say the least...

But | forced a smile back at him, hurrying up the staircase towards the VIP lounge, only to be halted in my tracks

for the second ttonight as | reach the top floor-

Reid was behind my bar, with an Intensity uniform covering his chest as | stilled for a second to process what

was going on.

Am | being pranked tonight? Had | fallen into a dream like state and none of this was real? Or should | say a

nightmare?!

There was no Tito to greetat the door and Reid was now standing behind my bar in uniform?

Steadily, | start walking towards him, still not liking him very much after he had trippedlast week in school.

As | grow closer, he eventually looks up, an eyebrow raising as he cleans another glass with a bored look on his

face.

"So nobody told you?" He all but says, as | tilt my head and furrow my brows.

Toldwhat? Had | been fired? Why else would Reid be working my night behind my station?! Maybe Vincent

changed his mind and didn't have the heart to tell me?!

"You aren't working up here tonight love, they need you downstairs... to dance." Reid practically scoffs at his own

statement, as my heart begins to race fast.

Did I just hear him right? To dance?!

"What? Nobody toldthat!" | explain, deciding that there has to be ssort of mistake there.

| was good at my job up here - Tito and Vincent both said so! | wasn't one of the dancers, despite having danced

in my younger years, but | wasn't hired to dance on a freakin pole! | was the only underage worker around here

too, despite Reid who had suddenly stepped in to my job role it seems, but | figured it could be risky having me

dance in front of everyone downstairs...

What if people question how old | am and the bar get into trouble?!

If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for

free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

"Well it's true, they are low on staff tonight that's why I've been asked to work, Vincent wants you down there to

dance so you better go get ready!" Reid states matter of factly as | open and close my mouth in horror. This had

been landed onlast minute which I didn't think was fair, but I had no choice.

| needed the money...

Hanging my head in shame, | turn to head back for the stairs, hearing Reid's amused chuckle fall quiet from

behindwith the more distance | placed between us.

I don't like him, he's an ass and that was final!

| reach downstairs, heading for the dancers dressing room, knowing that the shift was due to start any second.

"Hey honey, do you need shelp?" A beautiful tall black girl stops me, as | nod frantically feeling stressed

over what was happening.

"I've been told that | have to stand in to dance tonight... | haven't done it before so I'm really worried!" | tell her

truthfully, as she eyesover once before draggingby the hand into her room.

The room itself was small, with a dresser and mirror, with a rack full of what looked like costumes.

"My names Dina, you can borrow one of my costumes! I'll fix up your hair and makeup quickly too! It's no big

deal love, you stand and move your hips to the beat - don't overthink it. You'll get good pay too!" Dina moves

quickly to grabsomething from the rack, usheringbehind a small curtain to change in to it.

| do so in record twithout even looking at myself after, thanking her for her help since | must've looked like a

lost puppy dog wandering the hall.

"We are really short tonight... there's a terrible flu going around after the storm, even Tito has it!" Dina explains

with a shake of her head as | sit on the stool and allow her to add sblush to my cheeks and ssparkle to

my eyes. "Red lips and I'll spruce up your hair!" She hums, handinga lipstick as | face the mirror and try my

best to keep it in the lines.

Maybe this will fool everyone in to thinking that I'm older too?

If you're loving the book, nel5sis where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for

free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

She takes my hair section by section and back combs it, adding volbefore spraying it over with hairspray in

order for it to hold.

"Done! The music has started so we better go..." Dina grabs my hands giving them a squeeze as | release a

shaky breath and nod.

I hadn't properly processed any of it yet, allowing for my body to go into overdrive - following the lead of Dina

who had been so kind as to helpout a little bit with what to do.

Move my hips, that's all... no stripping or anything too intense... | can do this!

"You can take this one, it's further away from the bar... that's where they can get rowdy." Dina whispers, as | step

out to find the bar beginning to fill up already.

Crap! Now | was really nervous... | wasn't used to seeing or dealing with this number of people!

Climbing up onto the podium, | take a moment to look down at my outfit, feeling instantly naked and exposed.

| had changed into whatever Dina had handedat lightening speed that | had forgotten to even look at the

outfit itself...

It was red, matching the lipstick, consisting of red leather low rise short shorts and a red leather bra - squeezing

and pushing my boobs up to my chin.

I look around like a deer caught in the headlights, horrified at how | had ended up here tonight without any

notice...

| look over to Dina, watching her dance and move around to the beat, as the customers begin to fill up the

tables, watching us hungrily.

| clear my throat, deciding that it would be best just to blend in and with that, | rock my hips from left to right

slowly whilst holding on to the pole.

| used the pole to more so keep my balance, as opposed to actually trying to be 'sexy" with it, knowing that now,

| would be in for a very, very long and nerve shattering night. A night in hell...