Chapter 3

Frank walked into the suburban club just before opening time and met with the women that had filled out applications to be dancers at this club.

All were lovely women, all suburban women and all looking for something different in their lives. He had housewives, accountants, managers, baristas and many other professional women who were bored and tired of the 9 to 5.

“Good morning ladies.” Frank said meeting with the women who were all sitting together nervously talking quietly. “My name is Frank Devon, and I own this club and the big one near downtown. I’m sure you have seen the Kitten contest for the past few years and heard how successful it was. Well, with success comes challenges and my challenge is keeping talented and beautiful women working in my clubs. I have openings so I need women to work in my clubs, which is why you all are here.” He said, standing in front of the group, all eyes were on him.

“I don’t expect perfection, not today, but I do expect some level of talent and a willingness to learn and grow professionally as a dancer. So, here is how we are going to run this. I’ll have each of your fill out the 1099 form so that I can keep everything legal. I know the WE already know everything so lying on the forms is useless, but I still have to have these forms filled out. Please use your real names on the forms, they do not like stage names on government forms. Once that is done, you’ll go backstage, change into your costumes and then come out and perform two songs here on the main stage. I’ll judge if you’re talented enough to work here or if you need some help.” Frank said as gently as he could. He didn’t want to hurt anyone and sometimes being honest can hurt people.

The women filled out their forms, handed them over along with their driver’s licenses so that they could be copied. Once all of that was done, he sent them backstage and one by one they came out and performed their two song routine.

First up was his first black woman who wanted to work in his club. Latasha Freeman strutted out wearing stripper heels, short booty shorts under a skirt with a white bra under a midriff baring t-shirt. She worked the pole, had an obvious sensualness to her movements and her light brown skin tone showed nicely under the lights, though they would have to be lightened slightly to give her the best look.

Next was Mei Nakamura, his first woman of Asian descent. Her long straight black hair was used to hide as well as entice anyone watching her. She had a man’s business suit coat over bra, panties, garter belt and thigh high stockings. She moved nicely, but was not as sensual as Latasha, but still got the job done keeping Frank’s attention.

Vanessa Carter was next up, and she had no skills at all. She tried to swing around the pole but slipped and slid to the floor ungracefully. Yes, she was wearing a cheerleader outfit and was cute as a button in it, but she didn’t move well on stage at all. She would have to be let down about getting a job at his club.

Brielle Sinclair was a classic blonde bombshell. Her breasts were bigger than the other women. She wore a bra and panty set in red under her athletic shorts and t-shirt. Her Nike shoes and ankle socks finished her outfit which was different from the other women. Most went for sexy, she went for sporty and that was different enough to make Frank want to keep her. Her movements on stage were good, but she could use some refinement. Her figure kept his attention and her movements and openness on stage helped make his choice of keeping her an easy one.

Danica Reyes was the last dancer of the five. She had been a manager of a team of people who were called field engineers for some sort of tech company. She wore a simple dress that unzipped on the side with no bra but a tiny pair of panties so that after her second song, she left the stage nearly naked.

All of the women were lovely, easy on the eyes and all seemed nice enough, but he didn’t need all five.

“Thank you all for the great shows. I’ll be reaching out through the WE later today and letting everyone know if they passed through the audition. Thank you all for your time this morning and have a good day.” Frank said to them, once everyone was dressed and back out front from backstage.

The group all shook Frank’s hand as they left, except for two women. Vanessa and Danica, they both stayed behind.

“Yes ladies, how can I help you?” Frank said to them once he saw that they were not leaving with the others.

Vanessa raised her hand and spoke first. “I know that I don’t have the dancing skills, not graceful on stage, but my ex husband always said I was a good fuck. Do you need anyone just for working in the VIP lounges?” Vanessa asked, blushing from the question but she was at least honest about her willingness to be an entertainer in the VIP lounges.

“Ya, I don’t know if you need a manager of a club or something else with keeping people working and whatnot, but that is a skill I do have. I may not kill it on stage, but I can keep people on task and customers happy.” Danica said in a rush, wanting to make sure Frank knew she had other skills.

Frank held up his hands to quiet them both down. “Thank you both. I appreciate that. Vanessa, I don’t know about hiring someone just to work in the VIP lounges. I’m trying not to run a... “ he paused and forced himself to say the word, though it did pain him to say it. “Whore house.” Upon saying the word, he had to swallow before he could say any more. “I run a strip club, that is my business model and that is what my investors have bought into. Vanessa, I’m sorry, but unless there is something else you can do for me, then having you only here to work in the VIP lounge just isn’t what I’m looking for.”

She slumped in her chair, dejected but quickly brightened, “I noticed that you don’t have a coffee machine back there. If you hired me, I could run a small coffee shop in your club. Everyone loves a good coffee.” She said, smiling at him.

Frank had to pause, and think on that one. Alcohol was allowed anymore so he was forced to serve only mocktails and soft drinks. Coffee drinks hadn’t even come to mind when the WE came alive. “You know what, that is a great idea. How do you know about coffee drinks and such?”

“I’ve worked as a barista for many years. I’ve done purchasing, organizing and making drinks of all kinds for years. I may not be able to dance, but I can make a Caramel Macchiato that will knock your socks off.” She said, then pointed to the bar, “You have space right over there.”

Frank looked to the bar and realized that she was right. He could put a steamer right over there where the alcohol used to be and with a slight modification, he could have pastries and cups and other things without taking away from the mocktail and soft drink area of the bar.

“That is a very good idea. We will have to talk more and if you know numbers, let’s sit down and work them out.” He said actually getting excited about the idea.

He turned to Danica, “Danica, what hours are you available? We could use someone, I just don’t know what kind of a schedule I could offer you.”

“I’m very flexible. My kids are easy going and unless something happens as an emergency, I can work most any schedule.” She said with a hopeful smile on her face.

Frank nodded his head, “Let me see what I have available. I wasn’t planning on hiring a supervisor, but let me see and I’ll get back with you.”

Vanessa and Danica grabbed their stuff and left the club.

Frank went about his duties as the other dancers came in and started to get ready for their shift at the club. He sat in his chair and used the WE to check his dancers, who was here, who was not and who was supposed to be here. Once that was done, he checked the money, counted it and then packed it away for the deposit. He double checked the order for the bar and agreed that it all looked good, then picked up his phone, called his supplier to find out if they products to make and support a coffee spot.

“Bob, it’s Frank over at Club Velvet. How are you doing today?”

“Frank! I’m doing great. Got an order for me?”

“I do, and I’ll fax that right over. But I have another question for you.”

“Go ahead.” Bob said, his chair making a very noisy creek sound as he readied himself for this new topic.

“Do you have any supplies for a coffee shop? The machine, cups, mixes, coffee, that sort of thing.”

“Oh boy, are you in luck. I have all of that and so much more. Are you thinking about expanding, opening a coffee shop?”

“Sort of. I interviewed a woman today who wanted to be a dancer, but had no skill for it but she had the knowledge to run a coffee shop. I was just wondering how big of a deal it would be to add the machines and supplies to my existing club, or clubs.”

“Oh, that makes sense and is a good idea. Let me put together some numbers for you and I’ll send them over. I assume you want the best, right?”

“You know it. I run a high class club here, I want only the best in entertainment as well as drinks and food.”

Bob laughed, knowing full well that Frank spared no expense to make his clubs the best. “I understand. Let me get back to you by lunch, I should have something for you by then.”

“Thanks Bob, I look forward to seeing the numbers.”

Frank then went to the WEnet and added a ‘help wanted’ ad asking for baristas to work at his clubs. They would work for the club directly so I-9 and W-2 would have to be filled out and he put that in the ad. He then outlined the uniform they would have to wear, which happened to mirror what his waitresses wore since they worked for the club directly. He couldn’t force them to be nude, and didn’t want them to be either. The same would go for his coffee girl. Or coffee guy if one wanted to work here.