Don't Fall to Far From Where You Are

I made my way out zipping the black over coat up, covering my black latex bra and high waist shorts. As I walked down the hallway I heard softly, “Miss Jessie James in the building…”

I chuckled, “shush.” I rolled my eyes at the women gawking at their boss as I made my way down the hall towards the lobby.

“You look gorgeous boss lady! Who ever special is here, work it mama; work it!” I heard one of the dancers and good friends, Vixen, speak loudly from the doorway of the dressing room. I smiled and nodded.

I walked up the stairs slowly to the booth my top hat covering my face. I looked up at the camera nodding, holding up my pointer finger where our music tech who watched this booth playing the music we need. I stepped slowly up on the stage and stood with my back to the men in the room and the women that followed them here.

‘Yes the dangerous black widow is to be approached with caution, as the black widow’s bite can cause death. The black widow is easily recognized buy hear goal black body and red hourglass marking. She encases her victims with silk, and then kills with poison from her fangs. The male spider is not considered to be dangerous….’

I turned facing the pole and walked towards the pole, shaking my hips as I walked with conviction. I gripped the pole walking around it, ‘hey lady killa, come right in…’ I lowered myself into a pile squat and unzipped the front of the jacket it, ‘dripping sin’ I stepped around the pole seductively, ‘unlock the cage.’ I tossed my jacket to the side of the stage.

I spun around the pole one last time upside as the music came to a close and dangled there, eyes closed, arms in V below my head.

“Holy shit!” I heard and couldn’t help but giggle. I slid from the pole seductively, sliding back up to a siting position. I rolled my body seductively away from the pole. I walked around the pole I stepped down the stairs, “can I get you guys anything?”

“Your number!” I heard the small man of the group say. I knew him well just like the rest of the men. A women slapped his head, “what? For a friend! Not me!”

I stepped forward, smirking, “it’s in the phone book….”

“Oh, you just got burned,” one of the other gentlemen, said laughing.

“Actually no it wasn’t a burn,” I smirked pushing my dark black and grey ombre locks from my eyes, “I’m the owner of this club, so my number is technically in the phone book.” I sent a wink their way.

“Holy fucking hell, Jessie?” I heard softly straight ahead of me.

“In the flesh,” I smirked widely. “How’s it going Zacky?”

“Fucking a-,” he jumped up, hugging me the rest sat there shocked, except for two. “Guys, it’s Jessie!”

I smiled, hugging back, “anything special I can bring up for you guys tonight?” I smirked, “maybe a bottle of 1942 for the Mister Gates?”

He snapped, “huh?”

I smiled widely, “gentleman, I will be back with drinks for you all. As well as your accompanying ladies.”

I picked up my coat and walked down the steps. I walked over to the bar, noticing requests piling up. I smiled, “Cherry, breathe, I’m here to help.” She looked at me wide eye and freaking out. I smiled warmly at her, got her caught up. “I’ll get you help,” I handed her a shot. “Drink, seriously. Drink it.” She downed it and I walked away. I got one of the other girls who would cover the bar up in the VIP area and walked back with a round of drinks and a bottle of Don Julio1942.

I placed the drink order on the table and along with some shooter glasses. I poured a glass of Don Julio and held it up in front of Brian. He looked at me, “what’s this?”

“1942, your favorite…”

He looked at me, taking it, “thanks.”

“Where’d you learn all those moves?” said a petite blonde.

“Well, at the age of sixteen I started dancing on the pole,” I said smiling, taking a spot on the edge of the oversized block shape table. “Yeah, I was young, but I loved it.”

“And you own this place?” she asked looking at me.

I nodded, “yes. I’m Jessie.”

I held my hand out for her to shake, “Meghan.”

“Ah Zack’s wife,” I said smiling widely.

She nodded, “yes. How do you know these guys?”

“Well I did grow up here in Huntington Beach,” I said smiling at her. “Grew up with them all. I dated Brian back in high school.”

“So you're the infamous Jessie then?” she asked, there it was; the infamous Jessie everyone told stories about.

“The one and only,” I smiled as the bartender Storm handed me a drink. “Thanks Storm.”

She smiled widely, “Lynchburg Lemonade, the way you like it.”

“Thanks, Storm here is one of our best bartenders, she’s been bartending here with me since I opened, but has been bartending way longer,” I said smiling.

“Wow, Brian what happened to you and Jessie, she seems like a real catch already?” Meghan asked.

“Well, to sum it up,” I said softly, to make a super long story short for her. “I found a dirty habit of drugs and working in Vegas…”

“Drugs, ouch,” she said looking at me, with the all too well known face I had come to know. Drugs had really screwed my past life up.

I nodded, “been clean for almost five years.”

She nodded, “Brian! You are single again, why not rekindle it?”

I looked at Brian, “yeah, B?”

He chuckled, “what makes you think I haven’t tried?”

“That is true, you have been calling me for about a month,” I said sighing. “And texting me.”

He nodded, sipping his drink and I smiled as I stood up, “I’m going to get you some more girls, I have one girl whose a treat…I mean you came to a strip club to watch girls not drink and listen to the music…”

I stood sending a wink and walked down the stairs. I retreated to the back room and heard the dancer I was looking for, “Brittany? Can you entertain the VIP guest for me?”

She looked up and smiled, “of course. Let me switch out of this boring outfit and I’ll go up there.”

“Thank you, I will be in my office if you need me,” I said and turned around. “Oh and treat them well.”

“Don’t I always treat our guests well?” she asked looking at me.

“You’ll know what I mean when you see our guest, Vixen,” I said sending her stage name. I walked away leaving her to ready. I slipped into my office.

I sat with a drink in my hand, stirring the ice in it by spinning the glass in my hand. I looked up from my computer as I heard someone in the doorway.

“You know you’re suppose to drink it, not milk it,” the male figure stated.

I nodded, “not much left in it honestly.”

They walked further in looking around the room, spotting the bottle on the desk I was drinking from. He poured me another. I sighed looking at him, “what can I do for you Brian?”

“I miss you,” he said softly.

“I miss you too,” I said blinking up at him.

He sighed, “come back to me.”

I sipped the ice-cold whiskey and sighed, “I really messed up and you want me back?”

“You were messed up, you aren’t now,” he said looking around the office. “We came here to see you, not Brittany.”

I sighed, “you saw me, I gave you a show.”

“That you did, but I know you can give better, plus Meghan is pretty drunk and wants you to teach her,” he stated softly. “If you don’t come up there for me, come up there for everyone else.”

I sighed, “okay…”

He smiled, “great.”

I finished the drink I had and stood up, “I’m doing this because I don’t dance for anyone else besides to teach.”

He smiled, “you mean that was a exclusive performance?”

I nodded, “so I expect a nice tip…”

I walked ahead of Brian, noticing the club was clearing out and the night must be winding down. I looked at Brian to notice him watching me walk. I stopped, causing him to run into me. His arm wrapped around me, stopping us from falling forward. I shook my head, “you always stared when I was in my dance outfit.”

He looked over my shoulder at him; I was his height with my dancing heels. I sent him a wink and slid away from him. I walked up the stairs. “She’s back!” I heard Meghan say excitedly.

“How’s my girl treating you?” I asked shooting Brittany a wink as she danced and the guys watched enjoying their drink.

“Can you teach me that bandy thing?” she asked smirking. “I think Zacky would like it.”

I chuckled, “yeah, totally.”

She was definitely trashed, but I would do my best. “Will you dance for us again?” she asked softly.

I smiled, “I guess I could.”

I looked at Brittany and sent her a wink and walked up to the VIP I spoke with my bartender and waved Brittany off and walked up on stage. The music filled the room and I wrapped myself around the pole losing myself in the music once again.

I danced a couple songs and eventually I stood facing the pole; I closed my eyes. I looked over my shoulder. I looked at Meghan, “come here Meghan. I’m going to show you a move and we’ll see if you can do it.”

She smiled standing up and onto the stage. I smiled, “okay, basic one first. Right hand high on the pole.” She placed her hand on the pole, I lowered it a little, “okay your left hand about shoulder height. Awesome…” She looked at me, “okay, hook your leg around the pole and push off with your other free foot…”

She began to spin, “oh my God, I’m doing it!”

I laughed and nodded, “you are.”

“Show me how you spread your legs on the pole,” she stayed.

“I’m going to show you the best I can then you can try,” I said and she stepped back. “First you get a good grip, no good grip you will fall. I mean it. You will fall.” I gripped the pole, “you can do it one legged, you can do the splits right?” She nodded, “okay you can do a simple sexy move like this…” I lifted my right leg high, spreading eagle on the pole.

I heard coughing. I laughed, “yeah, spreadies get your men to suddenly wanna take you right then and there.” I lowered my leg, “okay, you try, but I’m going to have you face this way.”

She giggled as I made her face away from the guys not to give them a show. I didn’t know what kind of underwear if any she was wearing under her dress. She held the pole and did a standing split. I smiled, “you did it. Okay. Now the challenging part is to do it while your holding your body frame off the ground, “step back and I’ll show you.”

She stepped back and looked at Zacky, “did you see me?” He nodded smiling.

I laughed and gripped the pole. I lifted myself up and did a spreadie as I spun around the pole. I looked at her as I spun slightly. I brought my legs close, my heels clanking together and opened my legs again. I then twisted my form letting my legs closed I did the running man as I lowered my frame.

“That was awesome!” she said. “Do you do classes?”

“Yeah, privately,” I smiled. “I can get you a price sheet and all that.”

She smiled, “I’d love that, and so would Zacky. Right babe?”

He nodded smiling ear to ear. I watched as a couple of the girls appeared in the booth. One spoke, “our shift is over Miss James, see you tomorrow.”

I nodded and waved the guys looked at their phones. I smiled, “yes, it’s two in the morning. You guys are welcome to stay longer and drink. I don’t mind. We close at three though, so enjoy it while we are still open.”

“I don't know about you guys, but Val and I are going to headed out,” Matt said standing with Val. He walked over, hugging me.

Val smiled, “lunch this week still?”

I nodded, “just let me know when.”

Johnny stood, “yeah, we’re going to head too.”

I nodded, hugging Johnny, “see you around Johnny.”

Eventually Zacky was helping Meghan out of the club once he pulled her off the pole. I smiled waving at everyone. I helped Storm and Vixen pick up some of the mess taking it to the kitchen area.

I walked into my office and there he sat. I looked at him, “Brian.”

He was sipping a drink, “you are so much more sexier than when we were together.”

I chuckled, “you’re drunk.”

“So?” he asked pointing his drink at me.

I shook my head and sat on my desk, “enjoying yourself?”

He nodded, “very much so.”

I shook my head, “you are in my chair and I need to close up.”

He patted his lap, “I’m not moving.”

I shook my head and pushed him back slightly and stood in front of him working on stuff. I heard him scoff behind me and I rolled my eyes. I looked up at the doorway, “yes, Jake?”

“The rest of the girls all have left, except Brittany, would you like me to stick around ma’am?” he asked looking at me.

I smiled, “I’m good, ask Britt if she wants walked out and if not you are free to go.”

He nodded, and walked out. I looked at Brian, “quit staring at my ass.”

He smirked, “what, it’s in my face?”

I rolled my eyes and closed the windows on the computer. Britt walked in slowly, “here’s the drop for the night.”

I smiled taking it, “awesome, was a good night.”

“You’re welcome,” Brian said behind me.

I rolled my eyes and Britt shook her head, “is he staying with you or should I drive his ass home for you?”

I smiled, “it’s fine. I’ll take care of him.”

She nodded, “alright, I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.”

I nodded and smiled, “better. Your turn to buy!”

“I know,” she said. “Love ya girl! Call if you need me.”

I smiled, “I’ll be good, love ya too.”

She left and I looked at Brian, “alright, come on.”

“Where we going?” he asked.

I looked up and saw Britt on the camera TV screen shutting lights off. I looked at Brian, “to my place…”

I closed the office door, locking up. He watched me, “don’t we have to go through that door to go to your place?”

I chuckled, “no, not really.” He raised an eyebrow and I walked over to the back door in the corner of my office. I unlocked the door and walked up a spiral set of staircases.

Once at the top of the stairs I hit a few buttons on a keypad next to the door. I opened it up and led Brian in, “welcome to my home.”

“Wait you live in your club?” he asked walking in.

I nodded and flipped the light on. I walked over to my couch, sitting, taking my heels off, “don’t mind the mess…”

He chuckled, “what mess? You were always the cleanness person to live with.”

I smiled, “I tried.” He walked around the place looking at it all. I stood and stretched, “I’m going to change…” I looked back at him, “not that you need anymore but there is alcohol in the fridge.”

He smiled at me and watched me disappear down the hall towards my bedroom. I changed into a pair of lace booty shorts then dug out a cut up muscle shirt that was big on me, covering my rear. I stepped out and walked out to see Brian staring out my back window to the ocean view.

I smiled, “so what you think of my little place above my little club?”

He looked at me, “it’s nice. I would have no clue you had an apartment attach to this place.”

I nodded, “I like it that way.”

“So is the only entrance to your place through the club?” he asked.

I shook my head, “nope, through the garage. There’s a door to down the hallway.”

He nodded and sighed, “how are you?”

“Are you asking if I’m clean?” I asked looking at him. He nodded and I smiled, “yeah I have been for…” I paused thinking. “Four years.”

He smiled, “good. I’m glad.”

I nodded, “it’s still a struggle especially when I have girls who try to bring drugs in here.”

He nodded, “It’s always going to be a battle for you. I know.”

I nodded, and sighed. He wrapped his arm around me. I looked up at him, “I’m sorry I haven’t really replied to you. It’s just been busy getting this club up and running, then when I got it running I got busy with it.”

He nodded and kissed my forehead softly, “I know. I know. I understand busy.”

I nodded, “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too,” he said pulling me closer. I sniffled and he sighed, “why are you crying?”

“Because I screwed our life up,” I whispered trying not to cry.

He sighed, “you didn’t screw it up, the drugs did.”

I looked up at him, “I want to try and fix it all, if you’ll let me.”

He nodded, “I’ll let you.”

I smiled as he reached down wiping my cheeks, “come on let’s go to bed.”

He nodded following me down towards the bedroom. I crawled under my covers and waited for him. He sat on the edge of my bed. I watched him pull all of his jewelry off and set it on my nightstand. His shirt was thrown to the floor followed by him wiggling from his jeans. He crawled under the covers, wrapping his arms around me. I fell asleep trying to not think of the past, but the past was etched in my brain.

Notes

See, much longer chapter! What do you guys think? Ready for some back story?

1 comment alone will get an update! <3