Page 4 of Zinc: Black Metal Gang

Imagine being able to dance freely and provocative, but no one knew it was you. Behind colored tinted glass, I gave an illusion. My silhouette was the only thing they could see and from there they lusted for me in ways one could only imagine. Shadow Thongs was so upscale, the closest we got to being naked in here was topless and that was only in the VIP rooms. Even then, we wore face corsets to hide our features. This was the right place to live out a dream.

Also, this wasn’t something I was shameful about, but it was something that would spark conversation from every muthafucka that knew me. I wanted to do something for me and not get judged, even though I didn’t give a fuck about what anyone else thought. Nevertheless, I kept this one tiny thing to myself for my peace.

“Hey Chanel, what you think?” Chanel was my stage name, and I actually loved that the owner named every single one of us something high priced.

I turned around and gave my trainee a once over. She wore a purple satin set that looked so good on her caramelized skin. I nodded and smiled saying, “You look cute, Dior. Give me a second to put on some dust powder and I’ll be good to go.”

Normally, I took on early evenings because I could get away with it. Zinc didn’t call as much, and I could do my thing in peace. Today was just an odd ass day because I was asked by Martin to take her under my wings. I’d been dancing since I got to Eastlake, but no one figured it out yet. That was how I wanted it to stay.

Grabbing the dust powder off my vanity, I hit the spots that most men couldn’t resist planting their face. In VIP, we may have started behind tinted glass as a bearer but by the end of the session, that glass was gone, and the client had the privilege to touch. There were only seven VIP rooms. Martin was big on completion.

“Okay boo let’s go blow these niggas mind. You did good with me on stage. VIP is a lil’ more intimate than that though. The tinted glass is here as well but it eventually goes back into the ceiling and the clients get to touch. As long as they don’t go overboard, they’re in the clear. I don’t normally do VIPs, but you might so that’s why I said yes, this time. I don’t want you going in blind.”

“I appreciate you showing me the ropes, Chanel. The other girls act as if I was coming in and stepping on their toes or something.”

“I mean, technically you are. You got ass on you and them titties perky as fuck. Hell, if I was lacking in self-esteem, I’d be intimidated. You need to get a lil’ more comfortable dancing, then you’ll be a threat. You pretty as fuck too… yeah, them bitches big mad, pooh.”

“Thank you, Chanel. I believe it since it’s coming from you.”

“What you mean by that?” I questioned spraying myself one last time.

“You were the first person I noticed when I got here. You are exactly who you think you are. Bitch, you know how hard Black women have it just to be noticed, but your skin is dark and rich. Let’s not forget the fact that you turn heads. I done questioned my sexuality a few times already behind you.”

I blushed off her kind words. I knew I was a bad bitch. I never let my dark skin be an insecurity either. Dark chocolate and still bagging niggas that want to spoil me from sunup to sun-fuckin’-down. I didn’t see a bitch fuckin’ with me and that wasn’t arrogance.

“Girl, I’m flattered but let that shit stay in yo’ head. I’m not gay, not even a lil’ bit, stink. Now, come on. I have somewhere to be in a few hours,” I said grabbing her by the hand and ushering her out the dressing room.

We hit the main floor and entered room four. This room had blue tinted glass, and my silhouette exceeded more than one’s expectation. The clients entered after we were secured behind the glass. The lights were dimly lit giving the room a lil’ intimate touch. We watched them sit and get comfortable as they eyed the glass. Dior and I wouldn’t be seen until the light behind us was turned on.

“Are we doing the same set as earlier?” she asked in a whisper.

“No. VIP is a go with the flow type vibe. Follow me like you did in tryouts, and you’ll be aight. You ready?” She nodded and I copied her gesture.

As soon as the slow tunes of Jamie Foxx and Marsha Ambrosius came through the speakers, I squatted in front of Dior with my hand gently cupping her breast. This was going to be a simple girl on girl dance that made the brothers in suits appreciate the female gender. It always made them rock hard to see a woman touch another woman anyway.

The blue wall light came on next and the show started. I was sure our silhouettes were pleasing to the eye. Like I said, the most they would get out of this was a lil’ boob action. Nothing less and damn sure nothing more. They came up off racks just to be in here.

Dior was a pretty girl and would be able to make her money easily. I was hoping she got the gist of things quickly. I preferred doing my own thing and training wasn’t one of them.

With the music flowing through me, I switched from Onyx to Chanel. All I thought about was making them niggas fall in love with me. My hips swayed from left to right at a slow pace as the curves of my body gave an illusion of water. I moved effortlessly and so did Dior. I couldn’t lie. She matched my style to the T.

&

I rushed home right after I left the club. I was in charge of my best friend’s bachelorette party and unlike them other bitches she called a friend, I was the one that had the maid of honor title. It was up to me to get that bitch down the aisle and by all means,I was getting her to that altar. Her and Chrome deserved a happy ending.

As soon as I got home, I rummaged through my closet to find the bag of singles I got from the bank earlier this week. I was able to find a catering company called Enticing Entree’s that served you seductively. Yup, the men were cooks as well as strippers. Kosha was pregnant again and couldn’t do too much. I knew giving her the bare minimum would still be satisfying.

After I had the bag of singles in tow, I grabbed my Beats speaker off the charger and headed back out the door. I had approximately an hour to get to the hotel and finish setting up. I got started on it before I went to dance and needed to finish the final touches.

Hotel Chivalry was one of the most elegant places in Eastlake. I only knew that because Zinc and I had a few sexcapades there in the beginning of our relationship. For the next week, I was at Kosha’s beckon call. Whatever she asked for, I was granting. She had it like that. I owed her that because of how much of a great friend she was.

The drive was only ten minutes from my crib. I had a spot downtown at the Lakeview Condominiums. Besides KoKo and her crew at the shop, my neighbor was the only other person I had a decent relationship with. She was much like my best friend. A baby that wasn’t even one and pregnant again. She said something about her man being a congressman or whatever. I knew she was happy to bag a nigga with money. It wasn’t nothing like it, I swear.

Nahmari wasn’t no congressman, and my bank account damn sure had more commas than his, but he wasn’t broke. I appreciated the fact that he still tried to spoil me knowing I could easily get it for myself. That alone brought several smiles to my face.

Finally, I made it through traffic and was pulling into the parking deck of the hotel. Kosha had a hell of a year and now it was time for her to really settle and bask in the happiness Chrome provided her. She smiled more now than she’d ever done in the past seventeen years with her weak ass ex-husband. I liked seeing how carefree she was now because the man by her side allowed her to actually live and enjoy that shit. I was happy for her for real.

I found a spot and entered the building with both hands full. Of course, I booked the best for my girl. She had the presidential suite to herself for the rest of the week. Whenever she needed to get away from Chrome’s possessive ass, she had somewhere to crash. She was stressed more lately due to her wedding being only seven days away. She was going to make a beautiful bride once again. That white looked good on her.

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