Dancing In Darkness by Sherrie Weynand

even right here in the club.
    “Hey handsome.” She cooed at the man.
    He responded by smiling at her and saying “Hello.”
    “You aren’t very talkative are you?” She chided. “Want to buy me a bottle of champagne? Loosen up that tongue a bit.”
    “I’m not interested in the fifteen minutes that I would get. A friend dragged me in the other night and I’ve found myself back every night since.” He started to speak to her.
    “Really now?” She asked, trying to play it cool.
    “Yes, really.” He replied simply. “Let me ask you a question.”
    “Sure, go ahead.” She told him.
    “Why are you here? I mean really, why are you here in a place like this?” He asked her seriously.
    “This place has been good to me. That’s why I am here.” She replied.
    “You deserve so much more than this. You carry yourself well, you are eloquent when you speak, and you are beautiful. I don’t understand.” He continued.
    “Well, all of those things are great, but money doesn’t grow on trees and I needed a job where I could make some quick cash. This did it and I’ve been here since. Not long really, a couple months.” She stated.
    “I’d love to buy you a drink, but not here.” He told her.
    “I have a no dating clientele rule that I adhere to strictly.” She commented clearly.
    “I see. Technically, I’m not clientele. I have never tipped you or bought your time.” He half grinned.
    “Touché” She said, smiling back at him. This time with a genuine smile. He noticed the difference. “You have a sense of humor, I like that.”
    “We could have a cup of coffee in the morning somewhere if you would feel safer in public.” He suggested.
    “Perhaps we could.” She agreed. “I hate to run, but I have to get back to work. I’ve already given you more than fifteen without a bottle.” She winked.
    “I told you, I don’t want your fifteen.” He said, back to his more serious self.
    As she was walking away, he called her by name, “Ms. Pris., tomorrow morning, the coffee shop on the corner of Beach and First St., I’ll be there at nine.”
    Without saying another word, she smiled back at him and continued across the room. She managed to squeak out four bottle services, but could not tell you what they said, because she was caught up in the man in the suit. She still didn’t know his name.
    Leaving the floor, Nina touched her on the shoulder. “Girl have you lost your mind? Zena and Diamond are gone and you are flirting with a stranger on a personal level?”
    “Nina, I promise you that I am very aware of the situation. I will not put myself into a place that is dangerous. Apparently right now, just being me is dangerous enough.” Priscilla told her.
    “Just take care of you.” She replied.
    “He wants to meet me at the coffee shop over on Beach at nine in the morning. It should be busy enough and public enough.” Priscilla went on.
    “If you are going to meet someone, you let somebody know where you are every moment. I’m not playing. I don’t give a damn about you being an employee, I’ve grown to love you like family. To me, that’s important.” Nina said sternly.
    “I promise, I will let someone know every move we make.” Priscilla smiled, “Does that make you feel better?”
    “Yes, yes it does. I still don’t like it, but you are grown.” Nina replied.
    Setting her alarm for seven thirty in the morning, she crawled into her bed, thankful for her new apartment, a job that provided well and how life had started to turn around. What made her sad was the loss of her two friends and the worry that there would be more. Trying to put all of that out of her mind for the night, she closed her eyes. Sleep found her easily tonight, she didn’t realize how exhausted she was.
    Finding the coffee shop with relative ease, she parked her car and walked inside. There he was, his back to the entrance, yet he said hello to her when she started to approach him.
    “How did you know it was