by Jade Jones
“Hey, girl. How long you been here?”
“Since seven. Rodney usually likes us to be here early to get the crowd going,” she said in reference to the owner.
“Do they be charging an arm and a leg if we come later?” Cameron asked.
“Nah, we just tip out $14 to the DJ. There is a late fee, but nobody pays that shit.”
“Cool.”
“Hurry up and get dressed. A few niggas been asking about you.”
Cameron felt like she was in her old stomping grounds when she finally emerged from the dressing room in a metallic pink bikini. Fellas were checking her out as soon as she walked into the club. It didn’t take much to steal all of the attention. She was one of the baddest females in the place and she knew it.
Cameron thought about working the floor but there were so many people. Before she could decide on what guy to approach first, someone grabbed her gently from behind.
Cameron turned around and met the hazel gaze of a cute light-skinned brother. “Hey, I saw you on JuicyTheGoddess Instagram page. Name’s Paul.” His eyes traveled the length of her curvy body. “I gotta admit you look so much better in person.”
“Thank you, Paul.”
“When you go up on stage, sexy?”
“I think there’s four other girls in front of me,” Cam lied. She really didn’t know. Her turn would come whenever the DJ announced her name.
“Cool, then. You got time to dance for me.”
“Yeah, most definitely,” Cam said. She followed him to an empty section with two other guys.
“Don’t mind them. Just do ya thing.”
It seems like pain and regret are ya best friends…
‘Cuz everything you do leads to them…
The Weeknd’s “Lonely Star” poured through the club’s amplifiers. Cam wasted no time pulling off her top. Paul and his boys’ mouth watered at the sight of her pierced nipples. He was tempted to pinch one but he knew there was a strict no touching policy.
“What’chu getting into after you leave here?” Paul asked, not wanting to beat around the bush.
“I’ll probably stop to grab a bite to eat and then head home.”
“Can I accompany you?”
Cam turned around and caught him staring at her ass. “I don’t date the customers,” she told him.
Baby, you can have the cars, the clothes, the jewels, the sex, the house.
Baby, you can have it all…
“Why I gotta be all dat though?” Paul asked. “Why I can’t just be a friend?”
Before she could answer him, Juicy came out of nowhere and pulled Cam towards her. “Girl, are you crazy? You better go in the back and add some pasties. They done passed a law now.”
Cameron looked around at all of the other girls wearing them. She didn’t know how the hell she could’ve missed that detail. “Damn. Alright then.” After Juicy walked off, she knelt down to Paul’s ear to be heard over the loud music. “I’m gonna run to the back real quick.”
“Gon’ head. I’ll wait for you.” He then pulled out a crisp fifty-dollar bill and placed it in her garter belt. “Just don’t make me wait too long, a'ight.”
Cameron promised him a speedy return before hastily making her way back to the dressing room. Once inside, she realized that she didn’t have any pasties. Cam turned towards a cute, cinnamon-colored dancer seated at the vanity.
“Do you have any pasty glue?”
“Yeah,” the girl answered.
“Can I have some?”
She pretended to think about it for a second. “Um… no.”
Cameron was just about to check her when Pure Seduction waltzed inside carrying a handful of singles. Her skin was partially damp with sweat from a vigorous performance on stage. Cam noticed her ass was much more bigger than she remembered. Evidently, niggas were buying bodies now too.
Pure Seduction did an automatic double take when she saw Cameron. For a second, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. It seemed like only yesterday the two were feuding over Silk. Pure had even gone as far as jumping Cameron, breaking her hand as a result.
Both women silently stared at each other for a second as they allowed those bad memories to resurface. Pure finally broke the tension when she smiled.
“Mothafucking Hypnotic,” she greeted.
“Pure,” Cam said flatly. She didn’t want to be rude but she sure as shit wasn’t about to fake the funk.
Suddenly, Juicy walked in. “I was hoping you were back here. I wanted to tell you I had some extra pasties for you.”
Cam looked at the selfish bitch seated at the vanity and rolled her eyes. The girl shrugged innocently in return.
“It’s these niggas over by the bar — them mothafuckas got money too. They having a lil’ set at their loft after we close. You down?”
Cameron mulled over the offer. She hadn’t even been back in the profession a whole day. Doing a private party didn’t sit too comfortably with her.
“What you stalling for? They asked for you. They saw what you were working with and they wanna break bread. Look, it ain’t even gon’ be that long of a thing. I told him the maximum is two hours. I promise there won’t be any funny business like back in Columbus,” Juicy added.
Cameron shuddered when images of Wallace having his way with her came to mind. She, Pocahontas, and Juicy were supposed to perform at an after hour spot when things suddenly took a turn for the worse. The only good thing about that terrible day was meeting Jude.
Cam quickly shook him and her past from her thoughts. “You promise?” she asked.
Juicy held her hand up. “Scouts honor.”
***
When Cameron stepped back into the club she found Paul posted at the bar. He waved her over as soon as he saw her. It was clear that he only had eyes for Hypnotic that evening.
“I got you a drink,” he smiled, passing her a shot glass.
Cam hesitantly accepted the beverage. “What is it?”
“Absolut.”
Cameron really could use a drink. She was sober and felt she needed to loosen up a bit to work more comfortably. Cam was just about to toss the shot back before Pure Seduction rudely snatched the drink from her hand.
14
“What the fu—”
Pure quickly draped an arm around Cameron’s shoulders and steered her away from Paul. Cam would’ve slapped her had it not been for her explaining the reason behind her actions.
“Bitch, everybody and they mama know that nigga spikes drink — but you. Look, I’ma need you to act like you’ve done this before,” Pure told her. “Don’t take any drinks from these niggas. Get them straight from the bartender, a'ight?”
Pure Seduction quickly walked off, leaving Cam with her mouth agape. She couldn’t believe Pure had actually come through for her. Despite their rocky past, she still looked out. Cam was tempted to pinch herself. Surely, this must’ve been some twisted dream.
The Pure she remembered would’ve gladly watched her choke on poison. Why’s she being nice to me now? Cameron asked herself. She turned to look over her shoulder at Paul. She knew then everything Pure had said was true when he smiled devilishly and winked.
Damn. The game is deep.
***
After dressing and tipping out for the night, Cameron followed Juicy to the Bingham apartments on west 9th. It was only she, Juicy, and one other girl dancing at the loft. At first Cam was a little weary about that, but she figured two hours wouldn’t hurt. Besides, it wasn’t like she couldn’t have used the extra money.
Once they parked their rides, Cam and Juicy headed up to the unit together. On the elevator she decided to tell her friend what happened at the strip club.
“Back at Sin City some fucking creep tried to hand me a spiked drink.”
“That ain’t the first time I heard that whack shit,” Juicy said, shaking her head.
“Yeah, well I’ll tell you what a first for me was. Witnessing Pure Seduction actually be nice to me. She
came out of nowhere and grabbed the drink just in the nick of time. I would’ve drank that shit if it wasn’t for her.”
“Why’s that so weird? You a stripper. She a stripper. She’s supposed to look out.”
“Bitch, you must not recall our history,” Cam laughed.
“Girl, people grow up. Pure done been through a lot over the years. I don’t know if you heard, but she ran off to Miami with some young pimp and got knocked up by him. Word is he used to whup her mothafucking ass too. She came back a lil’ over a year ago, and started doing porn for a hot second—”
“Bitch, get the fuck out of here!” Cameron said in disbelief.
Juicy nodded her head. “Yep. She gotta flick with Pinky’s fat ass. The shit’s disgusting.”
They laughed at Pure’s misfortune together without guilt.
Juicy shrugged. “But aye, I guess a bitch gotta do what a bitch gotta do. You know?”
The elevator doors finally opened at the same time Juicy’s cellphone began ringing.
“Is that them?” Cameron asked.
“Nah. This my nigga. I’ll hit his ass back later though. He knows what time it is. Shit, I don’t be trying to stop his ass from getting his paper.”
Cameron followed Juicy to Unit 619 where she lightly tapped on the door with her knuckles. Seconds later, a tall dark-skinned guy with braids opened the door. The scent of loud was so strong that it literally smacked Cam in the face. Everyone in the place was chiefin’.
“Juicy the mothafuckin’ goddess,” he greeted.
“Hey, T. Hey, wassup, ya’ll,” she said to the fellas standing around. Together, she and Cam walked in. “As promised I brought my girl, Hypnotic.”
“Cool. Cool,” T said, practically watering at the mouth. He’d been checking Cam out ever since Sin City. He was looking at her like he wanted to devour her on the spot.
“Where ya’ll bathroom at? And I’m not talking about the public one? I need one me and my girl can use.”
“Down the hall. First room to your right.”
“Thanks boo.”
“And nigga, wipe that drool off ya fucking face. We ain’t even undress yet,” she joked.
“Whatever,” he laughed.
Cam felt more comfortable knowing T and Juicy knew each other from high school. She counted on them being in good hands for the night. She didn’t want any bullshit.
As soon as they reached the bathroom, Juicy pulled Cam inside and locked the door.
“Everybody’s cool right?” Cameron asked cautiously.
“Yeah, yeah,” Juicy said. “But just in case…” she opened her purse, revealing a small can of mace.
She and Cam proceeded to freshen up and dress.
“Ooh, that smells good. Can I have some of that?” Juicy asked after Cam squirted on her Chanel perfume. Jude had brought her the $400 bottle for Valentine’s Day and now she was using the scent to entice other men.
“Um, sure,” Cam said, handing it to Juicy. She was as she dabbed a little near her under arms and crotch area. Juicy was just too much for TV.
“Thanks,” she said, handing Cam back the Chanel perfume. She then pulled out a small clear zip loc from her purse. “You want one?” she asked after popping a molly. “This shit’ll have you rollin’ for hours.”
“Nah. I’m good,” Cameron waved her off. She hadn’t touched that shit in ages and she didn’t want to start now. “Do your man ever be tripping about you stripping?”
“Girl, he be feeling some type of way about it sometimes, but he respects my hustle.” Juicy said. She popped another pill before finally opening up the bathroom. “Alright now. Let’s get this mothafucking money, Hyp.”
She’s about to earn some bragging rights…
I’m ‘bout to give it up like I been holding back all night…
Girl, take pride in what you wanna do…
Even if that means a new man every night inside of you…
The Weeknd and Wiz Khalifa’s collabo played loudly on a Beats Pill. They had a nice little shindig going. Juicy kept the fellas standing around in the kitchen drinking entertained, while Cam worked the hell out of the living room. Every man was feeling her except one posted in the corner, peeping the scenery.
Oh, so he wanna look, but he don’t wanna pay, she told herself. Cameron, determined to change his perspective, danced over to him. “Hey, sexy. Why you standing over here all by yourself. You don’t like what you see.”
“Of course, I do. You know that,” he said. “It’s just the strippin’ thing ain’t really my scene, ma.”
“Oh,” Cam said disappointed. She was just about to walk off, but he gently grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
“But aye, I respect the hustle all day,” he said, tucking a Franklin in her bra.
“What’s your name?” Cameron asked him.
“Cole.”
Cameron gave him a once over. He was an attractive caramel-colored brother with hazel eyes and thick lips. He looked to be in his mid to late 20s. Cole was dressed casual in an Alexander McQueen sweater, fitted jeans, and black Balmain boots. He had a simple, yet sexy swag about him, and she liked that he was low key. All of the other niggas there were acting like they’d never seen ass and titties before.
“What’s your name?” Cole asked, extending his hand.
Cameron noticed the skull’s mouth tattooed on the back of it. “Hypnotic,” she told him.
“What’s your real name? I don’t do aliases.”
“Cameron.”
He nodded his head in approval. “Cole and Cameron. Gotta nice ring to it.”
Cameron laughed and gave him a hug. “Thanks Cole.”
“No problem, baby girl. Get’cha money.”
As Cameron made her way back to the center of the living room, she noticed Paul and his boys walk in. You gotta be kidding me.
Cameron thought about leaving, but figured she’d just keep her distance from his creepy ass.
“How you doing?” Juicy asked, walking up. She was sweaty from dancing on two niggas in the kitchen.
“I’m cleaning up. Thanks for putting me on.”
“You got it, boo. You fam.”
Cam pulled Juicy close to her and pointed at Paul while he wasn’t looking. “That’s the nigga I told you tried to spike my drink back at Sin City.”
“Girl, that’s Champagne’s weird ass baby daddy. You remember Champagne? The real cute, flexible bitch from The Shakedown. Kinda look like Kaleena from Dirty Money?”
“Yeah, I remember.” How could Cameron forget? She had once tried to whup on her friend, Tiffany for stealing her cocaine.
“It’s a good thing you ain’t fall for the okie doke. I heard they both got genital herpes. You know that shit’s incurable.”
Juicy’s ass knew all the 411. She was more informative than TMZ. Cameron’s stomach lurched after hearing the news.
“Fuck that nigga though. We getting this money,” Juicy told her. After slapping Cam on the ass, she walked off to dance for the fellas in the living room.
When Cameron looked over at Paul, he was already staring at her. He winked and her heart instantly dropped. He had trouble written all over him. Cam quickly dismissed him and his shenanigans. It’s still money to be made, she told herself.
***
After a full hour of lap dances and politicking, Cameron needed to freshen up. She thought about asking Juicy to accompany her to the bathroom. The third girl had left and it now just them.
Juicy was busy sweet-talking some guy by the window, so Cam decided to go alone. I’ll be quick. Once she closed the door, she washed her hands and proceeded to freshen up.
When she looked up in the bathroom mirror, tears suddenly filled her eyes. Cam would be lying to herself if she said she didn’t miss Jude. She missed his smile, she missed his touch, and she missed his scent. Sadly, however, it was the old him she truly missed. The new version of Jude had propelled her to return to the one place she said she’d never go back to.
&
nbsp; Cameron plopped down on the closed toilet and sighed. Running her fingers through her hair, she tried to think about a future without Jude. A future where she had to raise their son alone because he wouldn’t grow the fuck up. Cameron want to do him the way she had, but he’d really given her no other choice.
“Let me get my shit together and get back out here,” she told herself. Cameron stood and sprayed on a few more squirts of perfume. After teasing her hair a little, and making sure everything was in place, she reached for the knob—
Suddenly, the door opened up on its own. An unsettling feeling took over when she saw Paul appear.
With a sneaky grin, he said, “I was wondering where you dipped off to. I looked around and I ain’t see you out there. For a second, I thought you had left.”
“I—I’ll be back out in a minute,” Cameron nervously stuttered.
“Relax. You seem tense.” Paul quietly closed the door behind himself. That’s when Cameron really began to panic.
“What are you doing?” she asked. Cam looked over at Juicy’s purse sitting on the edge of the tub. It wasn’t until then, she remembered the mace stashed inside. The moment Cameron made a move towards it Paul blocked her path. He must’ve read her mind.
“Chill,” he said. “You ain’t got shit to worry about—”
“That’s bullshit! I know what you di—”
Cameron’s sentence was cut short when Paul grabbed her throat and slammed her against the wall. Her head bounced off the surface, giving her an instant migraine. The wall frame above Cam’s head rattled, but thankfully it didn’t drop.
“What the fuck do you want?” she struggled to say. Cam tried to push him off but Paul was far too strong to fight.
“You know what I want,” he said, tugging at his belt.
“Get the fuck off m—”
Paul clasped a hand over Cam’s mouth. “Don’t act like its ya first time,” he smiled.
Cameron would’ve died before letting him stick his infected dick inside of her. She quickly bit down hard on the hand covering her mouth. Enraged, he slapped the shit out of her.
“Fuckin’ bitch.” Paul held her down aggressively. She would never forget the sinister look in his glassy eyes.
