Hell yes

The bar they chose was dark and anonymous, a dive frequented by dancers from various clubs after their shifts. Susan had quickly changed into a simple dress that complemented her Suzanne persona – tight enough to show off her figure but not so revealing as to draw unwanted attention outside the club.

Drinks flowed freely, with rounds being bought in quick succession. Susan found herself seated between Ebony and Alexis, with Destiny and Jade across from them. The conversation ranged from club gossip to dating disasters to dreams of what they'd do when they eventually "escaped the pole," as Destiny put it.

"I'm saving for cosmetology school," Jade was explaining, gesturing with her cocktail. "Another year of this and I'll have enough for tuition and living expenses while I study."

"Smart," Destiny nodded. "I'm putting mine toward a down payment on a salon. Been doing hair on the side for years, just need my own place."

"What about you, Suzanne?" Alexis asked, her thigh pressed casually against Susan's under the table. "What's your escape plan? Or are you just in it for the thrills?"

The question caught Susan off-guard. She hadn't thought much beyond the immediate gratification of her performances, hadn't constructed a detailed backstory for what 'Suzanne' wanted long-term.

"I'm not sure yet," she admitted. "Getting out of my marriage is the first step. After that... I haven't planned that far."

"You should think about private dances," Ebony suggested, echoing a conversation they'd had earlier in the week. "Seriously, the money is so much better than stage work."

"And with your latex gimmick, you could charge a premium," Alexis added. "Fetish specialists always can."

"I don't know," Susan hedged. "It seems so... intimate."

"That's exactly why it pays better," Jade pointed out pragmatically. "The more personal the service, the higher the price."

"It's not like you have to fuck them," Destiny said bluntly. "Though some girls do, for the right price."

Susan nearly choked on her drink. "At Sakura-Mai?"

The women exchanged glances. "Not officially," Ebony clarified. "Sajima runs a legitimate business. But what happens between consenting adults after hours..."

"Or in the VIP rooms, if you're discreet," Alexis added, a knowing glint in her eye.

"Jesus," Susan breathed, genuinely surprised. She'd suspected some of the dancers might offer extra services, but hearing it confirmed so casually was jarring.

"Don't look so shocked, housewife," Alexis teased, her hand briefly touching Susan's knee under the table. "We've all got bills to pay and skills to sell."

"I don't judge," Susan said quickly. "I just... didn't realize."

"Speaking of skills to sell," Destiny leaned forward conspiratorially, "Alexis here has been holding out on us. Tell them what you made in the VIP room last night."

Alexis rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smirk. "Six hundred. But he was a regular, and it was his birthday."

"Six hundred dollars?" Susan repeated, stunned. "For one dance?"

"For a forty-five minute 'dance,'" Alexis corrected, making air quotes. "And yes, clothes stayed on. Mostly."

The implications hung in the air, and Susan felt a strange mix of shock and curiosity. Six hundred dollars for less than an hour's work was substantial – more than she'd made in total over her four weeks at Sakura-Mai.

"Don't corrupt her too quickly," Ebony chided, though there was humor in her voice. "Let her enjoy the stage a while longer before you drag her into the VIP lifestyle."

"I'm just sharing information," Alexis said innocently. "What Suzanne does with it is entirely up to her."