It's a challenge

You have the cab drop you a block from Club Paradise, feeling too embarrassed to get out in front of it. You stride up the street, turning down an alley beside it, seeing door set into the wall. Trying the knob you feel it turn easily in your hand, and step forward into a dingy hallway.

"Tony?" you call, a feeling of uncertainty growing in you.

"Right here, sweetheart. C'mon in," the same gravelly voice from the phone answers you. Tentatively you step into the hallway, letting the door close behind you, as a man steps into the hallway.

He's a large, heavy set man in a rumpled suit and no tie. He has a hard looking face, well tanned, with a thick black mustache. He looks you over with dispassion, his eyes cold and expressionless.

"You bring an outfit to change into?"

"Umm...I have it on... underneath." He shrugs and pulls a curtain aside at the end of the hall, gesturing to you. Your heat beating nervously, you follow, stepping into a club room. The lights are low, but you can easily see a round stage in the centre of the room and two smaller platforms nearby.

"Lose the track suit sweetheart. Let's see the goodies."

You bridle a bit at his words, then bite down your irritation, telling yourself you really need this job. You peel off the track suit, tossing it over a chair, standing before him in your slutty costumed glory.

"The old reliable schoolgirl schtick, huh? Well, it's always a popular number," he says with a shrug. "You got your music."

You look at him with incomprehension. He frowns, then shakes his head.

"You didn't bring music, huh? You are new to the business aren't you sweetheart? Ok, I'll see if one of the other broads left her music." He walks away to a DJ booth, shaking his head, then looking back over his shoulder at you. "What are you waiting for, an invitation? Get up on the stage, sweetheart."

Blushing and feeling awkward and stupid, you clamber up the few stairs to the stage. Spotlights come on, dazzling you for a moment, and you reach out to the brass poll at centre stage to steady yourself. A moment later, music starts pounding out of speakers, a driving classic rock song you've danced to a hundred times. You start to move, swaying your body, as Tony comes back, sitting in one of the chairs at stageside, watching you dance with a blank expression on his face.

You tell yourself to relax and let go of your inhibitions, starting to writhe to the beat of the song, turning in a twirl so your skirt flares up to show your panties. You start to feel confident as dance, feeling sexy and good about yourself, feeling proud of your body and the show you're putting on.

The song reaches its end, and you hold the pole and arch your back, letting your head fall back so your long ponytails hang loose, then straighten and give a little bow as the song ends.

Tony gets up and walks over the booth to shut off the music. Shaking his head he comes back to the stage, looking at you with the same look of disinterest.

"Can't use you sweetheart," he says with finality.

"But..but...I was..."

"Honey, this is a strip club not a dance club. The guys come here to see the goodies, not to see you prance around like you're at disco. Here's how it works. You're up there for three songs. First one you show a few moves, but you gotta tease the customer, dance up close to the stage, show them your ass, bend over to show the titties. End of the song you have the shirt open, maybe even off. Second song, you start peeling, use the pole, whatever you want, but by the end of it you're naked. Third song, you're squirming on the floor, showing them the quim, putting it up close so they can smell it, maybe have your juices drip in their beer, know what I mean? That's the way it works."

You stand looking down at him feeling like you're going to cry. You can feel your hands trembling, your chin wobbling, the confidence you felt earlier entirely drained away. Your mind is frantic with your **** need for cash to pay your landlord.

"Please! Please give me another chance!" you beg, your voice plaintive. "Please Tony! Please let me try again!"