Shadows In Durango

*****Sofia's POV*****

I frantically keep checking outside, making sure my neighbours remained there for the time being while I got ready for work.

At least if I knew they were out front I could seamlessly exit out the back without being detected because what I feared most now was meeting them on the apartment building staircase... alone and without a door holding them back! I would rather know where they are at least to keep myself safe and to avoid them.

Checking my phone, I had twenty minutes left before my shift at the bar and with a final sigh, I pull on my jacket and decide to leave.

I quickly fumble with the keys to lock the door, hurrying down the steps and out the back exit - rounding to the end of the street in a quickened stride.

Great, I avoided them for another day at least...

Walking towards town for around ten minutes, the bright neon light of Intensity finally comes into view, leaving me with just over five minutes to spare.

"Can I help you?" I turn to find a random guy ask with a quizzical look on his face the second I enter the building, shocking me in his work uniform since I hadn't yet seen him around here before.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

"Hey... I work here too, in the upstairs bar. My names Sofia, I don't think we've met!" I add politely, as he seems to eye me in disgust next, catching me more off guard than before as his eyes rake over me.

"You work here? Says who?" He pushes on, as I glance over to the main bar in desperate search of Tito, finding him nowhere to be seen.

Who the heck is this guy and what's with his attitude?!

"Tito." I tell him simply, before watching as he inaudibly curses under his breath in response with a shake of his head.

He had clearly decided seconds after meeting me that he didn't like me very much which I didn't find fair. He could have at least given me a chance... but I guess he was just old and grumpy!

"Well Tito isn't here tonight and we are incredibly short on staff. I'm the old manager, I recently retired from here. Just go to your area and set up!" He orders, rushing the words at me before shooing me off with his wrist.

He was damn well rude to say the least...

But I forced a smile back at him, hurrying up the staircase towards the VIP lounge, only to be halted in my tracks for the second time tonight as I reach the top floor-

Reid was behind my bar, with an Intensity uniform covering his chest as I stilled for a second to process what was going on.

Am I being pranked tonight? Had I fallen into a dream like state and none of this was real? Or should I say a nightmare?!

There was no Tito to greet me at the door and Reid was now standing behind my bar in uniform?

Steadily, I start walking towards him, still not liking him very much after he had tripped me last week in school.

As I grow closer, he eventually looks up, an eyebrow raising as he cleans another glass with a bored look on his face.

"So nobody told you?" He all but says, as I tilt my head and furrow my brows.

Told me what? Had I been fired? Why else would Reid be working my night behind my station?! Maybe Vincent changed his mind and didn't have the heart to tell me?!

"You aren't working up here tonight love, they need you downstairs... to dance." Reid practically scoffs at his own statement, as my heart begins to race fast.

Did I just hear him right? To dance?!

"What? Nobody told me that!" I explain, deciding that there has to be some sort of mistake there.

I was good at my job up here - Tito and Vincent both said so! I wasn't one of the dancers, despite having danced in my younger years, but I wasn't hired to dance on a freakin pole! I was the only underage worker around here too, despite Reid who had suddenly stepped in to my job role it seems, but I figured it could be risky having me dance in front of everyone downstairs...

What if people question how old I am and the bar get into trouble?!

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

"Well it's true, they are low on staff tonight that's why I've been asked to work, Vincent wants you down there to dance so you better go get ready!" Reid states matter of factly as I open and close my mouth in horror. This had been landed on me last minute which I didn't think was fair, but I had no choice.

I needed the money...

Hanging my head in shame, I turn to head back for the stairs, hearing Reid's amused chuckle fall quiet from behind me with the more distance I placed between us.

I don't like him, he's an ass and that was final!

I reach downstairs, heading for the dancers dressing room, knowing that the shift was due to start any second.

"Hey honey, do you need some help?" A beautiful tall black girl stops me, as I nod frantically feeling stressed over what was happening.

"I've been told that I have to stand in to dance tonight... I haven't done it before so I'm really worried!" I tell her truthfully, as she eyes me over once before dragging me by the hand into her room.

The room itself was small, with a dresser and mirror, with a rack full of what looked like costumes.

"My names Dina, you can borrow one of my costumes! I'll fix up your hair and makeup quickly too! It's no big deal love, you stand and move your hips to the beat - don't overthink it. You'll get good pay too!" Dina moves quickly to grab me something from the rack, ushering me behind a small curtain to change in to it.

I do so in record time without even looking at myself after, thanking her for her help since I must've looked like a lost puppy dog wandering the hall.

"We are really short tonight... there's a terrible flu going around after the storm, even Tito has it!" Dina explains with a shake of her head as I sit on the stool and allow her to add some blush to my cheeks and some sparkle to my eyes. "Red lips and I'll spruce up your hair!" She hums, handing me a lipstick as I face the mirror and try my best to keep it in the lines.

Maybe this will fool everyone in to thinking that I'm older too?

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

She takes my hair section by section and back combs it, adding volume before spraying it over with hairspray in order for it to hold.

"Done! The music has started so we better go..." Dina grabs my hands giving them a squeeze as I release a shaky breath and nod.

I hadn't properly processed any of it yet, allowing for my body to go into overdrive - following the lead of Dina who had been so kind as to help me out a little bit with what to do.

Move my hips, that's all... no stripping or anything too intense... I can do this!

"You can take this one, it's further away from the bar... that's where they can get rowdy." Dina whispers, as I step out to find the bar beginning to fill up already.

Crap! Now I was really nervous... I wasn't used to seeing or dealing with this number of people!

Climbing up onto the podium, I take a moment to look down at my outfit, feeling instantly naked and exposed.

I had changed into whatever Dina had handed me at lightening speed that I had forgotten to even look at the outfit itself...

It was red, matching the lipstick, consisting of red leather low rise short shorts and a red leather bra - squeezing and pushing my boobs up to my chin.

I look around like a deer caught in the headlights, horrified at how I had ended up here tonight without any notice...

I look over to Dina, watching her dance and move around to the beat, as the customers begin to fill up the tables, watching us hungrily.

I clear my throat, deciding that it would be best just to blend in and with that, I rock my hips from left to right slowly whilst holding on to the pole.

I used the pole to more so keep my balance, as opposed to actually trying to be 'sexy' with it, knowing that now, I would be in for a very, very long and nerve shattering night. A night in hell...