Not Pizza Club

by Den Warren

  “Wow! That’s fantastic!”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty cool, right?”

  “Where at?”

  “Not Pizza Club.”

  “Not Pizza Club?”

  “Yeah, that place over on the west side, just over the tracks.”

  “Oh, I know where it is. I’m just a little surprised you are dancing there.”

  “I know it’s not Rockefeller Center, but you gotta start out somewhere.”

  “I guess so,” Ethan said.

  “You should come watch me. Bring Ava along too.”

  “Really? You want me to come watch you?”

  “Yeah, it’s no big deal. I mean, you can come if you want. But if you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”

  “I would love to,” Ethan said. “You have no idea how much I would like to check out your . . . act.”

  *******

  On Saturday night, Ethan came to the Not Pizza Club, and brought along Ava and Abigail, who were not familiar with the Club. They had some drinks.

  Ava said, “It’s kinda weird that we are the only women here. Is this a gay bar?”

  Abigail said, “I’m not sure. I hope so.”

  Ava said, “Why?”

  Before Abigail could say anything, Lenny took the stage and announced over the microphone, “Tonight, I would like to present to you, for the first time on our stage. Olivia!”

  Those at Ethan’s table erupted in applause. The rest of the room was noticeably unenthusiastic. Olivia came out in her tights, revealing her well developed athletic form. There was a spotlight on a pole and some music that sounded like it was from a Disney soundtrack came over the sound system. Olivia came out and did some extremely difficult moves and wrapped herself around the pole as if she was a natural vine. She turned and moved in ways that unexpected. She kept it up for several minutes and did an upside down back flip dismount from the pole into a split on the floor.

  “Oh my God!” Ethan cheered. “That was incredible.” The TechCorpEx co-workers were ecstatic over the amazing performance. They stood and applauded. Olivia saw them and acknowledged them with a smile and a wave.

  No one else cheered or applauded.

  Ava said, “Don’t look now, look who’s coming over here.”

  Ethan said, “Oh wow. That topless waitress?”

  Ava said, “Oh. No. I mean that guy.”

  “Hell no,” Abigail said, as she saw Steve the sexual harasser from work come over to their table.

  Steve said, “What are you buzz-killers doing here?”

  Ava said, “What do you mean?”

  Steve said, “Ain’t it enough that you have to ruin everything at work, and now you have to come here and make everything boring with your dancing friend from the office.”

  Ava said, “I didn’t know you owned the place. Do you even know what you are talking about?”

  Steve said, “You do get that this place is a strip club, right?”

  Ava said, “Really?”

  Abigail said, “I was afraid of that.”

  Ethan said, “I knew that. Steve, don’t let us bother you. Go ahead and go back to your table, man.”

  Steve left, then the waitress took their orders for drinks.

  Then Lenny came out and announced the next act. “Here she is, the all-time favorite of the Not Pizza Club, its Bouncing Betty!

  The audience immediately came to life. Betty came out on stage to a thumpity thumping beat of heavy metal music. Betty was an older, voluptuous woman, bordering on chubby. The range of her movements was nothing compared to Olivia, but she shook and grinded as if she was simulating having sex with an invisible partner. As she went through her routine, she peeled off layers of clothes, until there was nothing left to the imagination.

  Ava nudged Abigail, and they both watched Ethan, who was entranced by Bouncing Betty’s gyrations and rippling flesh. Ava asked, “Do you think he actually likes this? No one is cheering, they’re all just staring.”

  Abigail said, “Oh he likes it alright. It’s a guy thing.”

  After Betty left the stage, Olivia came to their table from a backstage door .

  Ethan told her, “You were amazing! I loved it.”

  Olivia said, “Well, Lenny didn’t. He fired me.”

  “What? Why?” Ava asked. “What did he say?”

  Olivia imitated Lenny in her best man voice, “Don’t you get that this is a strip club, stupid?” She slumped down in her chair. “Oh my God, I have never been so embarrassed in my life.”

  Ava asked, “You’re embarrassed that you didn’t take off all your clothes?”

  “These men all hated me,” Olivia said, “Now I know why.”

  Ethan said, “They didn’t hate you. They just had different expectations. You know, when you are getting ready to taste one flavor and you get something you didn’t expect.”

  Olivia said, “You didn’t think I was a disappointment? I bet you liked Betty a lot better.”

  Ethan said, “Oh I really didn’t pay much attention to her. She’s not really skilled like you.”

  Ava and Abigail chuckled.

  Ava said, “See that wet spot on the table? That is where we had to pick up Ethan’s eyeballs after Betty took off her panties.”

  The women, including Olivia, all started laughing hard.

  Ava laughed, “Yeah, it’s weird how you can get fired here if you don’t do something sexually inappropriate.

  They started laughing again.

  Olivia said, “Thanks guys, for being here. She got a little teary eyed. You know, I really do feel like you guys are my friends. I just wanted to ask you about something that has really been bothering me a lot.”

  Abigail said, “We are great listeners, Olivia.”

  Olivia said, “Can we please keep it between just us?

  Abigail said, “Of course.”

  She asked, “Maybe I shouldn’t say anything, but I just wanted to know what you thought about Seth.”

  Ava said, “He’s like, the best looking guy at work.”

  Olivia said, “I get that. Everyone knows that.”

  Ava asked, “Are you into him?”

  “No way,” Olivia said.

  Ethan said, “He works over at the exotic imports car dealership on the weekend.”

  Olivia’s eyes widened, “Oh really.”

  Ethan said, “Yeah. He’s a heck of a good mechanic.

  Abigail said, “I heard he works there to support his little brother’s medical bills.”

  Olivia swallowed hard. “Oh no. That’s terrible that he is so nice. Is there any chance that he worked on Loretta’s car, and was taking her out for a test drive?”

  Ethan said, “Yeah, it sucks when they are so nice, and when mechanics fix cars. That’s what mechanics do, you know.” Ethan’s speech started to sound a little slurred.

  Olivia said, “Oh . . . my . . . God. I have never been so embarrassed in my life . . . again.”

  “What?” Ava asked.

  Olivia said, “Abigail, did I seem a little weird at my interview?”

  Abigail said, “Yeah. Not that you really seem all that normal right now. Girl, you bombed your interview. But don’t worry about it. You flunked the supervision test too.”

  Olivia smiled. “You know, I think I am going to like it at TechCorpEx. You guys are great. Ethan, I really appreciate everything you said, about knowing what you really want and going for it. You are a really smart guy.”

  “Wow,” Ethan said, “You’re welcome. It didn’t work out perfectly for you this time, but it will.”

  Olivia moved close to Ethan and said quietly in his ear as the music concealed her speech from the others, “You know what? I realize now after thinking about you and me, that I am not interested in dating you.”

  Ethan shrank a few inches in his chair. “You’re not?”

  “No. I realize now that I am interested in someone else.”

  Etha
n couldn’t make eye contact with Olivia. Then after a couple of seconds he looked up at her like a sad puppy dog and asked, “You sure about that?”

  “Yeah.”

  He said, “I am very sorry to hear that, but at the same time, I guess I am happy that I helped you in some way.” He couldn’t look at her again.

  Olivia said, “I know you will find the right girl for you, Ethan.”

  Lenny came out on stage again. “Okay, folks, we’ve been saving the best for last. Here she is . . . smokin’ hot and ready to put it all on full display for you. . . ”

  Abigail said, “Let’s get out of here.”

  Ava said, “Yeah, we’ve seen enough.”

  Ethan said, “I still have some drink to finish.” He seemed determined not to move.

  The women shook their heads.

  Ava said, “Come on, you only have two swallows in that glass! I’m going to be grossed out again.”

  Abigail said, “I’m going to be jealous again.”

  Olivia raised her hand. “Unimpressed.”

  All three of the women stared at Ethan and the other patrons the whole time, wondering what appalling images were churning in their devious minds.

  Chapter 7

  The following Monday, Olivia boldly entered Seth’s cubicle, and took a seat on the chair near his desk.

  “Hi Seth.”

  Seth looked up and saw that it was Olivia. “Oh. Hi.” Then he looked back down at his work. “What do you need?”

  “Oh I just wanted to congratulate you on getting the job.”

  Seth looked up at her again. “You know what? I’ve had about enough of you. You know full well I did not get the job.”

  “Seth. No I didn’t. I’m sorry. Honestly. I didn’t. I know you would have made a great boss. Better than me. I had the wrong idea about you all along. Turns out you are a pretty great guy, working hard to help your brother.”

  Seth said, “That is very nice of you to say. Sorry you didn’t get it either. I guess they are going to hire someone from outside.”

  Olivia said, “Next time you’ll get it. Hey I just wanted to ask you something. You know a guy told me once to go for what you want. So I just wanted to ask you . . . out . . . on a date.”

  Seth looked stunned and said, “Part of me says that would be great, but here’s the problem. You seem a little emotionally . . . crazy.”

  Olivia said, “No. Usually I’m not that way. And I am sorry about that. Like I said, I had a totally wrong impression of you. I know that was not right and it won’t happen that way again.”

  Seth said, “Well, I hate to bring it up, but there is one other thing that I have a big problem with, and that is why we will never be a couple, so you may as well forget it.”

  Olivia sighed. “Okay, I hate to say it, but go ahead.”

  Seth said, “I want to raise up a Christian family, so it wouldn’t be a good thing for me to date a porn star.”

  “Porn star?! Who told you that?! I ought to sue them!”

  Seth cowered in his seat a little. “Are you going to go crazy again?”

  Loretta made an appearance at the opening of Seth’s cubicle. “Is everything okay here?”

  Olivia told Loretta, “Were fine. We are just working out some things here.”

  Seth’s eyes were open wide like he was in fear for his life.

  Loretta said, “You sound like an old married couple out here.” She walked away muttering.

  Olivia told Seth in an intentionally calm manner, “Seth, I am not a porn star. I’m not the most devout Christian, but I am one. That’s offensive that you say that.”

  “Well, do you deny that you were a dancer at a strip club?”

  Olivia asked rhetorically, “Why is it that when I get the wrong idea it goes against me, but when someone else gets the wrong idea it also goes against me?”

  Seth shook his head, “Speak English, Olivia!”

  “I danced at the Not Pizza Club, but I didn’t know it was a strip club, so I didn’t strip, nor would I ever.”

  Seth looked at her with a frown. “That is a weird . . . story. Kind of . . . innocent, I guess. You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?”

  She nodded her head.

  Seth hit his own forehead. “Oh man. I am so sorry. But you can see where I would get the idea. You know if you hang around those places. . .”

  Olivia nodded again. “I get that. That is not your fault.”

  “Yes,” Seth said.

  “Yes, what?”

  “Yes, I will go out with you.”

  “You will?”

  “Yeah. I really would like to. I wanted to ask you out the first day I saw you, but I was so chicken, thinking a good looking woman like you would say no.”

  “Seth, I can’t believe you are saying that?”

  “You think I’m making it up?”

  “No, I think you are a little crazy.”

  “No, I am not. Maybe a little on the weird side, but you are perfect. I thought the idea of love at first sight was messed up until I saw you. Then with the talk about sex and prostitutes at the test and the strip club and all . . .”

  Olivia went from teary-eyed to a chuckle over the strip club comment. Then she gave Seth a little peck on the cheek. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it. You don’t mind, do you?”

  Seth turned solid red and shook his head. “You asked me out, but I’ll pay. Since I’m the man and all. How does Pizza Shack after work today sound?”

  “Today?” She paused for an instant, first; at agreeing to go anywhere with the word pizza in the name, then; at not wanting to appear too eager. She decided that now was not the time to over-think things or stall. “That sounds really great, Seth.”

  They both smiled and gazed into each others’ eyes. There was a connection there that was deeply heartfelt.

  Loretta came around the corner smiling. “You people get things worked out? It’s awfully quiet over here.”

  THE END

  Thank you for reading this story by Den Warren.

  Look for more books in the TechCorpEx series.

  Check out more fiction titles by Den Warren, including the dystopian trilogy; Kings and Clans. Also, superhero fiction, including K-Tron, and Metahuman Wars.

  Please be sure to leave a rating and a text review for books you have read. Indie authors depend upon your feedback to help enable them to create more of the works you love.

  Also from this publisher, check out non-fiction business works by Richard Warren, including Supervision Basics: A Leadership Mindset.

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