Chapter 6

• Marcello
• Walking through, I go into my usual room, sitting down; my body freezes slightly. Taking out my phone, I send Elaine a message and wait. I watch Daniella dancing through the crowd, my head shaking. Turning, I look at Elaine as she walks in. I point towards Daniella.
• "What is that?" She shouldn't be here.
• "She has decided to do it full time. You suggested it as well, Marcello." I nod. I did before she asked too many questions and made me want more.
• "Right, well tell her no, there is no space. Back to her usual one night every week." She dances once, once every week.
• "Come on, Marcello. You know Jade left with her being pregnant. Robyn is ill and off for a few weeks. We have gaps to fill." Elaine looks at me.
• "Fine, but make her aware once the spaces are filled, she is back to her once a week rule." I didn't want this. I didn't want her here this often, not now.
• "Who is that?" I point to the guy now sitting at the bar with Daniella.
• "Some guy who visits often, I need to get back to the girls, Marcello. I will explain the position may not be permanent. What is the issue with her working here full time now anyway?"
• "She asks too many questions. Just forget it, Elaine." I watch as she walks out, my eyes back on Daniella. Something about her draws me in, but she is crazy, too crazy for me. I shake my head, watching as she sits at the bar drinking with the guy.
• Typically the women dance and leave. They don't stick around and drink with the guys. I watch as she leaves with him, my fist clenched. Why the hell do I care if she left with him? Moving, I grab my things and leave. Walking out, I sit in the car, my head falling back. All the women behaved, did as they were told. Only came round when they were told. She broke all the rules. My head shakes as I sit up and start the car, my eyes glancing across the car park.
• Jealously swarming inside me as I see Daniella in the car naked wrapped around the guy, my foot pushing down as I speed out, it was a good thing. A good thing I told her I wouldn't see her again. She is wild, clearly.
• Daniella
• Walking home, I decide to at least apologise to Clyde, even if he doesn't accept it. Opening the door, it is quiet - no doubt he is in bed. Grabbing a drink from the kitchen, I turn to see Clyde standing at the door.
• "About earlier." His hand goes up, stopping me from continuing.
• "Forget it, I think everything today just proves what we were doing was wrong. We have to live together, so let's just forget all that and carry on as normal without the sex."
• I look at him confused. I assumed he would still be mad?
• "Still, I'm sorry for what I said. True or not, I shouldn't have said that." I shouldn't have. I could have maybe said it in a nicer way and less like a bitch?
• "It is fine, honestly. Made me realise a few things. Are you still going to go through with this experiment?"
• I nod smiling at him. I will find someone to agree to help. However, Alesandro had no issues tonight. Maybe it was just Clyde? I glance at him considering it.
• "As long as you're not putting yourself in danger. Have fun and maybe next time, make sure you put your dress on the right way." I glance down, now noticing it is inside out. It was dark. I couldn't see, which is apparently a bad thing.
• What do I say? There really isn't anything I can say. Well, there is. "I will try to dress right next time."
• "So who is he then?"
• I look at him confused as he sits down. "The guy tonight?" Is he really asking me about the guy?
• "Yeah, do you know him or just a random?"
• "I don't know him. I met him tonight at work." I sit down, my body freezing, shit, shit and holy fucking shit. Daniella, what the hell have you done! The words screamed in my mind.
• "Work? Where the hell do you work this late?"
• Crap, I look at him, now what? Do I say I meant today not tonight? "I meant today at work. I met him today at work." He looks at me even more baffled, realisation hitting me that we didn't go to work today.
• "So, you have a second job then - I am guessing in a bar?"
• "Could say that. Look, I am quitting work. I may as well tell you now as I won't be in tomorrow. I am working there from now on at night - it pays more for less hours." At least that is out of the way.
• "So, which bar?" He looks at me waiting. Now, what do I say? Sometimes I really wish I lived alone.
• "A private one Clyde, I can't have personal people there. It is a private, invitation-only type of club." I hope he takes that and stops asking. I don't want to lie about where it is and have him show up to check. "Plus, does it really matter and do you really need to know? It is a job, like any other. Just pays more, that is all." I smile at him as I stand up. I need to go to bed.
• "Just curious, that is all, Daniella. Seems weird you go out, find a job, start a job, meet a guy and fuck him all in the same night."
• Yeah, that does sound weird when he says it like that. I laugh seeing his expression.
• "I'm not that desperate. I haven’t turned into a prostitute Clyde. It's a legitimate, legal bar. I actually went for the interview over two weeks ago. Tonight was a trial. I didn't mention it just in case it didn't suit me. I'm off to bed anyway, have fun at work tomorrow."
• He nods as I walk off. How can he think I would do that? Sure it looked wrong, but still?
• Climbing into bed, I close my eyes. My mind slowly replaying Alesandro and the car, my head shaking slightly in my sleep. I consider it; maybe I am not the issue, and it is just the guys I find? Waking up, I glance around, wondering what to do. I didn't get this far in my planning.
• If I am not working during the day, what should I do? Nighttime is easy - typically I sleep, but now I am faced with working nights and staying awake during the day? I glance at my phone before picking it up and sending a message. Getting ready, I walk out and to the small cafe. Sitting down, I wait, my eyes on the door. Ten minutes later, I watch her walk in and smile.
• "So you quit?"
• I nod, laughing, watching as Rose sits down. "Yeah, found a club to work in, better pay, fewer hours. No restriction on the times and days I work. It is my choice. So, shopping?" I smile at her. I hope she agrees. I am going to be bored otherwise.
• "Guess it won't kill me." Getting ready, we leave, walking through the shops talking - we don't get time to do this often. She works in a bar at night herself. Sure it is a million miles away from being anything like the bar I work in but still, it means we hardly get time to hang out.
• "So, how is Clyde?"
• I groan slightly, and she laughs. "That bad?" I nod, then shake my head.
• "Yes and no, the novelty of ‘friends with benefits’ has worn off. Sex is, well, dull, and I offended him when I pretty much said that. I'm going to look for my own place, a new job, more money. So yeah, new place, then he isn't there." She laughs, looking at me, slightly shocked.
• "Moving out? Are things that bad between you two?"
• "No, Clyde is great. Someone I can talk to just like you. It is awkward though, coming back, knowing I have slept with a guy, and he will ask where I have been and what I was doing." I like Clyde but hiding my secrets from him is complicated.
• "Okay, so where are you thinking of moving to? We can look today. Come on." She pulls me along to the estate agents, standing at the window. I read the notices, my eyes falling on an apartment. It is amazing. Expensive but impressive and worth it.
• "You wish." I hear Rose laugh, looking at it.
• "Don't need to. I have the new job, so I could afford it if I wanted to." Sure it is a lot, but it is less than one day's wage for a week’s rent. If I work five nights, that is over 5k in a week. Especially dancing in the private booths.
• "Okay, so where is this place you work at if they are paying enough for you to afford this place?" She looks at me waiting.
• "Somewhere, can't say. It is an invite-only, membership type of place. So I can't even tell friends where I am working. It is worth it though."
• "Really? Not even me, Dani? It is me. You can tell me." Laughing, I shake my head at her.
• "No, I can't. Anyway, I am just looking today." I won't rush. I will give myself a bit of time before deciding to move.
• "Fine, but places like that go quick. Just a warning." Nodding, I begin walking. I will get there - I just need to be sure I can handle all the lies. Although the lies will be easier if I am not living with Clyde.
• "So, how is everyone else?" I look at her knowing what she means.
• "No idea, been over six months since I spoke to my parents. My brother, well, I avoid him as well. The whole ‘I shouldn't live with a guy before marriage’ annoyed me. So, I moved in with Clyde, and they can't seem to stop making comments about it when they visit, so now I don't speak to them." It isn't bad, well, I guess it is. They have no idea that I was sleeping with Clyde for fun though. I laugh to myself, imagining their faces if they knew. Henry, my brother, would be angry; actually, he would likely kill Clyde.
• “You can’t do much if they are stuck believing things they want.”
• I nod, understanding her. "Thing is, Henry is fine, he can live with a woman, he can sleep around. Men doing it fine, but for me? No, apparently, because I am a woman, I shouldn't do those things." I roll my eyes. Their ideas are wrong, especially in today's world. Henry gets to be wild and sow his seeds, so to speak, while they expect me to stay a virgin and hidden from men until I find the right one.
• "Swap if you want? You take my family?"
• I laugh, shaking my head. "No thanks, your sister is crazy. You can keep her." She nods, laughing as we walk back. Saying bye, I make my way home. I should call them - my parents - but I know it will be the same disappointment when I do. I am living with Clyde and haven’t found a man yet. When I move, they will be happy. The fact I am no longer living with a guy will make them think I can move forward and find a man to marry.