Learn a lesson. Hear a warning

Struggling to control your tears, you count the bills in your hand. To your horror, the total comes to $103, meaning that after you have paid Tony his room rent, you performed a five song lap dance and gave a bareback blowjob for three dollars. You give a little moaning sob as you tuck the money in your purse.

Wiping the tears out of your eyes you leave the room, making directly for the dressing room. Once there you slump into a chair between Sugar and Ginger who are both fixing their makeup.

"Hey girl, first time up and you do a VIP room! Way to go," Sugar says, giving you a smile that dies on her face as you start to cry.

"What happened girl? Did he hurt you?" She puts her arm around you and hugs you, and Ginger slides over and wraps her arms around you as well.

You shake your head, letting your tears flow, sobbing out your story of being cheated. The two women hug you, offering soothing words, gradually calming you down. Finally, with a long deep breath, you get hold of yourself, wiping away your tears and giving a grateful smile and hug to the other two.

"Ok girl, learn from this," Sugar says. "Money up front. No exceptions. Guys will pull that shit all day long if you let them. And if something goes wrong in there, push one of the buttons. There's one by the door, one by the TV. Push that and a bouncer comes in. He'll come in hard and mean too, so don't push it unless you mean it."

"Yeah, Sugar's right." Ginger adds. "You didn't get hurt, and at least you got enough to cover Tony so you're not in the hole. I knew you were new but I didn't know you were that new. You sure you really want to be doing this?"

"I've got to. I'm...I'm way behind on the rent...I need money fast...and..."

"What about your parents? Couldn't they help you out?"

"I already asked them for help, and I'm...embarrassed to ask them again. I didn't know what else to do."

The two dancers share a look, Ginger shaking her head sadly. Sugar gives you another hug, then uses a tissue to wipe the last tears away from you.

"Come on girl, fix up that pretty face and get dressed," she says. "My mama always said nothing like hard work to make you forget your troubles, so lets get our fine asses out there and put them to work. Go get your outfit on."

You give her a grateful smile and start getting into your farmer's daughter costume, then sit down to fix your makeup. Sugar leaves before you're finished, but Ginger stays to help you, giving you words of comfort and advice.

When you're ready the two of you return to the club room to find it nearly full, with far more customers than there are dancers to join them all. Looking around you see a number of tables with groups of unaccompanied guys, and giving your head a resolute shake to steady your nerves you start towards a table of five men in suits seated at a table near a side wall.

You've only taken a step when Ginger stops you with a hand on your arm.

"Not those guys," she leans close and whispers in your ear. "Bad news."

You look at her in surprise, seeing she's genuinely alarmed.

"What..." you begin.

"They're connected," she says, then seeing your confusion shakes her head. "Connected. Like to mobsters, you know, like organized crime. See the younger guy in the middle, the one with the shirt open half way down his chest? He's supposed to be a serious fucking guy. Jimmy something or other. Look, Tony's over there now, kissing their asses. Tony don't kiss anybody's ass. Word I heard is the kid is related to Tommy DaCosta. You know, Tommy "The Hammer" DaCosta? Stay away from them unless Tony sends you there. Pick another table."

You remember that you've read a few stories recently about Tommy DaCosta. Something about being implicated in some corruption of local politicians. You don't remember the details, but you take Ginger's words to heart, sauntering over to a table of three middle aged guys who look like businessmen on a night out. As you do, you glance over at the table of guys Ginger warned you against. Tony is still there, laughing at something, his body language almost supplicant to the young guy in the middle. As if he senses your gaze, the young man looks up, staring at you for a moment with dark eyes that make you shiver a bit.

Reaching the table of three men, you bend down with a sultry smile, letting them get a good look at your cleavage.

"Would you gentlemen care for a little company?" you ask with a coy smile.