Chapter 3

“So where should we go?” Brent asked Darlene.

She held up a finger to him, then shifted her focus to the WE and went looking for a club that was still in business. The internet had really wrecked havoc on the live stage shows that she used to do, with everyone seeing shows online instead of in person very few clubs still had live stage shows any more.

“Got it.” she exclaimed after a couple of seconds. “Let’s go. Do you have a car or should I drive?” she asked him.

“I think you should drive. I gave up my license a long time ago along with my old van.”

“Oh, ok. Let’s go.” Darlene said, getting up from the bench and offering him her hand. He stood and took it, then walked with her as they went to her home just a few blocks away. They walked through the house, she grabbed her purse, and they went out back to a Cadillac and she unlocked the doors for them as Brent moved to the passenger seat and Darlene got in behind the wheel.

“I was just thinking that I could probably get my license back. I wonder what the rules will be for that sort of thing.” he asked out loud.

The same rules apply, Brent. You have to be 16 just like before and pass the driving exam as well as the practical driving test. Though since you did that a long time ago, the WE suggest that you simply go to the DMV and get your picture taken and a new card. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting a new card. his WE said to both of them.

“Should I get a new card with my new face on it?” Darlene asked.

That would be acceptable but your WE will vouch for you if you get stopped. the WE said to both of them.

“I guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow.” Brent said.

They both laughed since Darlene was going to do the same thing.

She drove them to the club Velvet located downtown. Brent hadn’t seen this place, didn’t even know it was there, but here it was. They got out and walked hand in hand to the front door.

“Do you allow amateurs to dance?” she asked the bouncer after they paid their entrance fee.

“Sure, is that what you want to do?” the bouncer asked her.

“Yes please. I used to dance back in the day, but I retired a long time ago.” she said, telling more of her story to the bouncer while Brent stood by.

“Really? What was your stage name?”

She leaned in and whispered it to the bouncer, but he didn’t react or acknowledge the name. “It was a long time before you were born.” she said, teasing the man.

The bouncer came to realize what he was being told and waved them in. He led them to another man who the bouncer spoke to, who then looked at Darlene and moved to speak to her.

“Are you sure about this? Did you bring an outfit?” he asked, the name tag reading ‘Frank’ pinned neatly to his shirt.

“I didn’t, but I was hoping that another dancer may lend me an outfit I could wear for a dance.” she said, leaning in and speaking directly to him trying to overcome the sound system. Both forgetting the WE which made Brent laugh when his WE made the comment to him.

The club allowed Darlene to take the stage as an amateur since their roster was full and couldn’t accommodate another dancer. She went backstage to borrow an outfit from one of the dancers, while Brent found a seat near the main stage. The steady beat of dance music thumped through the room, vibrating in his chest as the lights cast a sultry red glow across the stage, punctuated by flashing strobes that added to the electric atmosphere.

A waitress leaned in close to Brent, her voice competing with the music. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Yes, please—a Coke,” he replied, raising his voice slightly to be heard. Moments later, she returned with the drink just as the DJ’s voice boomed over the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a special treat for you today! A guest dancer stepping out of retirement just for this audience. Straight from Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s the legendary ... Lola Belle!”

Brent didn’t immediately recognize the name, but Darlene’s voice came through their mental link, soft and teasing. Here I come, just for you.

From behind the stage curtain, Darlene strutted into the spotlight, her confidence radiating through every step. She wore a simple black skirt and an oversized white men’s dress shirt, unassuming yet perfectly provocative. Her hips swayed to the rhythm as the crowd fell into an anticipatory hush, their attention riveted. Her head was held high, her chest thrust forward, exuding a boldness that was impossible to ignore. She reached the shiny stripper pole at the center of the stage, grasped it with practiced ease, and spun gracefully, her legs pressed together as her feet lifted off the floor. The motion sent her shirt fluttering upward, revealing a glimpse of her toned stomach and sparkling lingerie beneath.

The crowd erupted in cheers as she let go of the pole, landing softly before turning her attention back to the audience. With deliberate precision, she began unbuttoning her shirt, teasing the room with flashes of her glittering bra and taut abs. Every movement was a performance, deliberate and captivating. She dropped to her knees, crawling forward, her eyes locking with Brent’s. It was as though the rest of the room vanished; it was just her and him.

When she reached him, she leaned over the railing, her breath warm as she beckoned him closer with a playful wiggle of her finger. He leaned in, and she placed her hands on his shoulders, pressing her sequined-covered chest gently against his forehead. Her lips brushed the top of his head in a soft kiss before she spun away, back to the pole, leaving him mesmerized.

As the first song ended, Darlene flung the shirt aside, revealing the full shimmer of her glittering bra. Designed to catch the light, the fabric sparkled brilliantly under the flashing strobes. The second song began, and with it, Darlene’s movements grew even more daring. She tugged the hem of her skirt upward, teasingly revealing the tops of her stockings and the garter straps holding them in place. Her legs extended in graceful poses that displayed every inch of their toned beauty, leaving the crowd enraptured.

She kicked off her heels with a flourish, moving seamlessly from seductive elegance to playful provocation. As the second song reached its climax, the skirt went flying toward the back of the stage. Darlene now stood in a matching thong and bra that gleamed under the lights, every inch of her toned body commanding the room’s attention. Her movements were hypnotic, a mix of skill and sensuality, each gesture calculated to tease and seduce.

The crowd’s energy hit its peak as she discarded the thong and bra, leaving her clad only in the garter belt and stockings. Her body was a vision of poise and confidence, every move drawing gasps and cheers. The room was electrified, the audience transfixed by her presence as she danced with an ease and control that spoke of years of mastery.

When her performance ended, Darlene stepped off the stage to thunderous applause, her head held high. Brent slumped back in his chair, sweat beading on his brow, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t look away, his mind racing with the image of Darlene—the elegance, the strength, the unshakable confidence that left the crowd in awe.

The DJ’s voice cut through the lingering applause. “Give it up for the legendary Lola Belle!” he called, before announcing the next dancer. But Brent barely heard him. He was lost in thought, mesmerized by Darlene’s performance and the realization of just how talented she truly was. The dollar bills flew onto the stage, a sign of the audience’s support of the dancer. Darlene didn’t come out, but one of the other dancer’s gathered up the dollar bills and stuffed them into a bag and tossed it off stage. She started her dance wearing a cheerleader costume that could only be worn here, it was too brief for a regular girl to wear in public.

Darlene came out from backstage and slid her hand across his shoulder then draped a leg over his and sat down in his lap leaning forward to share a kiss with Brent. He wrapped his arms around her body as he pulled her tightly against his body as the kiss deepened.

“That was the hottest thing I have ever seen?” Brent said to her as the kiss broke apart.

I’m glad you liked it. It has been a long time since I garnered that much attention. she said to him through their WE link. Would you like a private dance?