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just slip her
them free of charge or sometimes the customers would send them over
to her. Tonight Paul Harrison was working behind the bar, a cute
mid-twenties guy with dark hair and stubble. He told people he was
straight but Dee and the girls at the club knew better. She knew
because her friend Keisha had a thing for white men and one night
had tried it on with him after too much tequila. Although they had
all watched the pair go into the back together, Keisha later told
how he’d admitted he was gay but didn’t want anyone to know. She
promised him she wouldn’t say anything but of course, Keisha’s big
mouth let it slip. Dee kind of liked that Paul was gay. She knew he
was being nice to her because he wanted to be, not because he
wanted to get in her pants.
    Walking past Brooke, the stripper who was sliding down the
pole as she entered, she approached the bar and took off her coat
to reveal her skimpy outfit. She knew a few heads had turned around
her and she smirked. As much as she sometimes hated the job, she
couldn’t help but like the attention at times. Paul, who was
shutting the till drawer after a transaction had seen the heads
move and followed their gaze. His face lit up as he saw her.
“ Dee !” he
exclaimed, moving to her as she sat down on the bar stool crossing
her legs.
    “ Tequila ?” he questioned, but before
she had even answered he grabbed a shot glass and poured it for
her. Dee picked up the shot glass and knocked it back, barely
wincing, gesturing for him to pour another, which he did. She
leaned closer to hear him over the music and
asked  “Busy
tonight ?” Paul nodded and smiled at
her.
     “ You’re
gonna get some big tips tonight girl !”
    Dee
returned his smile and knocked back the second shot. It always made
her feel better to hear it was a busy night. More customers meant
more money.
    Dee sat
for a minute at the bar, looking around. A large group of young men
surrounded the stage, throwing dollar bills like there was no
tomorrow. These men were barely men to be honest, they looked like
university kids, sporting their chunky black glasses and beanie
hats; probably rich kids come to experience a cheap night at the
strip club before they moved somewhere more exclusive. They saw the
likes of these kids come through the doors pretty often on a
weekend. They'd show early, get their fill of women and throw a few
bills before moving somewhere else for the night. They usually
tipped well but they could get an attitude sometimes, sitting on
their high horse thinking they're better than everyone
else.
    Dee's attention moved back to the bar, watching Paul work.
She watched him flirt with the girls and make them feel special,
making cocktails and pouring shots. He really did have a nice
smile. What a waste he was to women being gay, but how lucky
some guy would be one day. He was pretty much the best looking
white guy she had ever seen. He had these bright blue eyes that
felt like they were staring into your soul or something when he
looked at you, and his smile could make any girl weak at the knees.
He had stubble rather than a full beard, and always looked
presentable in his smart jeans and waistcoats.
    Once
Paul had served all the waiting customers, he gave a nod to the
other bartender on shift and walked round to the other side of the
bar and sat on the stool next to Dee.
    ” Are you slacking
off Mr Harrison ?” she teased as he sat
down. He laughed.
    “Oh, someone's flirty tonight. Keep that up for the
customers .” he winked her way and she
smiled. She enjoyed talking to Paul. He would always ask about her
son and her family, actually taking an interest in her
life.
      After chatting at the bar for a few more
minutes and knocking back her third shot, Dee got up and walked
toward the back room. It was situated between the bar and the
ladies room, behind an unmarked door with a keypad lock on it.
Sometimes they would get drunk customers trying to get in through
that door for the