An Offer Tania Can't Refuse

Tania felt like a total fish out of water as she and Lacey walked into the bar together during happy hour.

She wasn't antisocial, and enjoyed the occasional trip to the pub or a restaurant with friends. Neither was she teetotal, though her limit tended to be a couple of glasses of wine or one cocktail. However, this was the kind of place people came purely to get wasted, a mentality she could never understand. Tania hated the idea of not being in control of her actions, and couldn't fathom why anyone would voluntarily put themselves into a state where they had no inhibitions and very little memory the next day of what they had even done.

"We should each start with a double rum and coke. They're, like, two quid each" Lacey suggested.

"Okay then" Tania nodded in agreement.

Lacey fetched the drinks and Tania began sipping on hers. The taste wasn't unpleasant, but a little stronger and sharper than she would have liked.

"Come on, down in one Tanny, it's your round next!"

Lacey had only been joking, but was shocked to see her usually reserved friend pour the remaining contents of her glass down her throat in one continuous gulp, before slamming it down on the table.

"Holy shit Tanny, I never knew you were this wild!" Lacey laughed delightedly.

"What do you want me to get you from the bar then?" Tania asked, not wanting to extend the conversation any further, lest her friend suggest something even more unpalatable for her to do next. However, Lacey already had another bright idea.

"You can save your money if we go and chat to those two cute guys in the tailored shirts who keep checking us out. They don't look like students to me, or if they are they are rich ones. It's not like we have to do anything with them, but I bet they'll pay for our drinks for the rest of the night in return for the pleasure of our company"

Naturally, Tania thought this was a terrible idea. It made them both sound like escorts and, if these guys were spending money plying her and Lacey with drinks all evening, she was pretty sure they were going to expect more than their company in return. Nonetheless, she answered in the affirmative and the pair approached the strangers' table together. They were exactly the kind of guys Tania would normally run a mile from - sleazy looking; showy with their wealth, but not in a classy way; and probably total players. At least Lacey was willing to take the lead in introducing them. Tania wouldn't even have known what she should say.

"Hey, I'm Lacey and this is my friend Tania. Mind if we join you?"

"With pleasure. I'm Brandon, this is Rick. We were actually about to approach you two ladies ourselves, so it is super convenient you came to us first"

"Okay, don't get the wrong idea" Lacey seemed slightly concerned she may have come off as too easy "We came over to talk, not hook up"

"Sorry, my buddy didn't explain himself very well. That isn't what he was getting at. I'm actually married" Rick flashed his wedding ring to prove it "and Brandon here lives with his long term girlfriend. We don't come to places like this to meet women. Well, at least not in that way"

"In what way then?" Tania asked.

The two men shared a look, as if silently agreeing the best way to broach this subject, before Rick spoke again.

"We represent the Blue Velvet club"

"That's a strip joint!" Tania blurted out.

"It's an adult entertainment bar" Brandon corrected "the biggest and best in the city"

"So what, you want us to be strippers or something?" Lacey laughed.

"You both have the perfect look for stage performers"

Again, Brandon seemed to think softening his language would somehow change the girl's perception of what was being offered to them.

"You'd be amazed at how many of our live performers are students" Rick added "especially with tuition fees being so high now. We actually turn an awful lot of girl's who come to us asking for work away. You two are exactly what we are looking for, though. You don't have to be great dancers or anything, and we have expert tutors who can show you the ropes. We could start you off at £200 per night each, plus tips"

"Holy shit!" Lacey exclaimed "I could pay off my debts before I even graduate and, I have to admit, I've always wanted to give stripping a try at least once. I don't think I could do it alone though"

"So what about you Tania?" Brandon asked.

"Definitely not" she laughed to herself at the notion and shook her head for emphasis "No offence, but just no"

"Come on, don't be like that" Rick persisted "You should perform with your friend tomorrow night. The two of you can go on stage together to make it less intimidating. As an extra sweetener, since I see such potential in you both, and because I'm a generous guy, I'll double your pay for your debut. That's £400 each for one evening's work, plus tips - and I would imagine you two would get plenty"

"Come on Tanny you can't say no to that!" Lacey pleaded.

"Okay then" Tania sighed "I'll say yes"