A/N still not mine.

As Penny finished locking up her truck and started for the stage door, she realized she didn't want to leave her packages in the truck all night. Unlocking the door, she got the bags, relocked the truck, and walked across the parking lot. Entering through the stage door, she was met by Mike Hayward the security guard. Mike was an ex-Marine and looked every bit the part. He was over six feet tall, well built, with a ruggedly handsome face. All the girls adored him, but not near as much as he adored his wife and two daughters.

"Good evening, Penny; was starting to wonder if you were going to make it."

"Hey, Mike, yeah I cut it a little close."

As she started to walk past him, he asked, "Do you mind if I check those bags?"

"Oh, no, sorry, just some Christmas presents; didn't want to leave them in the truck."

Mike, looking into the bags, "If you want, you can leave them in the Security Office; it's always locked when I'm not around."

"That would be great, sure won't be a bother?"

Taking the bags, "Not at all, I'll just set them on these shelves, you can pick them up on the way out."

"Thanks, Mike, I really appreciate it."

She continued down the short hallway and entered the room the girls called the Cattle Call. It contained a series of eight stations consisting of large desk type furniture with a well-lighted mirror on each and a large closet beside them. Currently only four of the stations had occupants.

Just to her left was Mary Crowly, a twenty-eight year old widow with two young children. Her husband had been killed in Afghanistan. If the truth be told, Mary normally would not have been hired. She has a rather plain face and had to fight to keep her weight up; her breasts were also kind of small. But when a friend of Doug's had told him her story and that she needed a job, Doug had given her a try. She wore a military type costume and was called "The Lonely Lieutenant." When she was introduced it was mentioned about her husband. She consistently got the biggest applause and tips and none of the girls begrudged her them one bit.

Then Penny saw that Doreen's spot was empty and that she apparently hadn't arrived yet. She was already in Doug's doghouse and if she was late again, it might be the last straw.

Looking up to the station to her left, she got a wave and smile from Mama, which she returned. Goergina Brown was a legend among the girls. She had been stripping for over twenty-five years all over the world. Even though she was over fifty, she was still gorgeous. A black woman with large breasts and curves perfectly proportioned over her six-foot frame. Everyone called her Mama because she was always there when you needed her. She thought of herself as their protector.

Shifting her eyes to the furthest desk on her right, she had quick eye contact with Juanita. Juanita Juarez was the mystery/bad girl of the group. The stories were that she had been a prostitute on the streets of New York, killed her pimp, and spent time in prison. One of the girls had approached her once to ask about it and was told in no uncertain terms to back off. Now they left her alone. She did her job and bothered no one. She was a pretty Latina with a slim figure and a beautiful tattoo of a dragon that covered her entire back.

As Penny reached her table, she took her purse and put it in one of the drawers. Just then, she heard a commotion behind her and turned to see Doreen come through the door; flushed and breathing hard as if she had run all the way from the parking lot. Doreen Mason was the youngest of the girls, only twenty-two years old. If you looked up Bimbo in the dictionary, you should see her picture. She was blond, big breasted, and dumb as a tree. Penny was about to comment on her being late when she saw the welt on her cheek. That bastard, she thought to herself.

Just then Mama came up to Doreen. "Dammit Doreen, you know what Mr. Cummings will do if you're late again." Then she noticed the welt. Softening her voice, "Oh Baby, did that SOB hit you again?"

Doreen looked up at her, "It wasn't like that Mama, it was my fault, I just kept bothering him."

Mama's voice sharpened, "Listen Girl, you've got to get away from that man, someday he's really going to hurt you."

"No, Mama, he loves me, you should see how apologetic he is."

Mama shook her head, "Well, get over here and let's see if we can get that mark covered before Mr. Cummings sees it."

As Penny sat down, she was greeted by the woman in the station to her left. "About time you got here. Please tell me you were held up by a man. Well, actually held down by a man."

Penny had known Cherie Hudson since she was in Middle School. They had both been on the cheerleading squad in High School. Both were sure they were on their way to fame. While Penny had gone to California, Cherie had gone to New York. She had given up about a year before Penny returned. It was Cherie who had told her about the stripping job and introduced her to Doug. If Doreen was in the dictionary for Bimbo, Cherie was there for Cute. From her pixie haircut, past her upturned nose to her "perky" breasts, to her gorgeous legs, she was adorable.

"It was not a man; I was Christmas shopping, if you need to know."

"If you went to the Mall, you're late because you were trying on shoes!"

Penny giggled and looked at her, "You know me too well."

Penny took off her jacket and hung it in the closet. She then stripped to her panties, hanging her clothes up as well. She sat down in front of her mirror and began to work on her makeup and hair.

A few minutes later, she heard the door that connected to the offices open and looked up to see Doug Cummings come through the door on the other side of Mama's station.

Doug Cummings was the owner of "A Gentlemen's Club." He had set out to create a high-class strip club and had for all general purposes succeeded. He had two basic rules. One, no one ever touched the girls. Second, he would abide no hint of soliciting by any of the girls either in the club or away from it. He had managed for the most part to have a professional clientele; Lawyers, businessmen and even some public officials.

He was a good boss and paid well. The no touch rule applied to him and his employees as well. He even gave the girls a percentage of what was paid for drinks when they were at a table with the customers and from their lap dances, as well as letting them keep their tips.

As usual, he stopped and talked to Mama first as she hurried to move away from Doreen. Although she had no official title, Doug always worked with her as though she was in charge of the girls.

"Hello, Mama, how's it look today? Looks like everybody's here."

"Everything is fine, Mr. Cummings."

Cherie had told Penny that when Mama first came to work there, Doug had told her to call him Doug like everyone else did. But Mama informed him she felt more comfortable with Mr. Cummings. She believed if you respected your employer, you should not use his first name.

Doug moved by Mama and spoke to Doreen. "Glad to see you're here on time, Doreen." Then he stopped and leaned in to look closer at her. She tried to turn her head, but he grabbed her chin and turned her cheek toward him.

"This has got to stop Doreen, I know you won't listen to me and get away from that bum, but you tell him for me that if you come to work marked in any way anymore, I'm going to let you go. Maybe that will slow him down. He would hate to lose his meal ticket."

Doreen started to say something, but Doug just raised his hand and shook his head. He turned back to Mama, "Could you help her cover it up?"

He moved down to where Mary was and his demeanor changed to a friendly smile.

"How are you tonight, Mary, hope your Mom and the kids are good."

Mary smiled at him, "Everything is good, Doug, thanks for asking."

He looked down at her body, she was in panties as were most of the girls.

"You are looking good, seems like the diet stuff is working."

Blushing slightly, Mary answered, "Yes, it is, Doug; and I want to thank you for setting me up with those people. I have really felt better about everything."

Doug smiled warmly at her and then made his way diagonally to stand by Juanita.

"Good evening, Juanita."

She looked up at him and said, "Doug."

He moved down the line and approached Penny and Cherie, "How are my cheerleaders tonight?"

Both answered, "Fine, Doug."

He smiled at Cherie and asked, "Well, how many boyfriends are you dangling this week?"

Cherie had always been a party girl and usually dated at least two men at the same time.

"Well, you may not believe it Doug, but I am now a one-man woman. It's been just me and Dave for over a month."

Looking surprised, "Well that's great, he must be quite a guy."

"Yeah, I'm surprised myself."

Turning to Penny, "Hi Penny, hope Sara and your family are doing good."

"Yeah, they're fine Doug, Thanks"

It was strange, Penny would spend a part of the night naked except for a G-string in front of a crowd of leering men and women, but she still felt self-conscious when Doug or any of the other male employees saw her naked away from the stage. Maybe it was because he did look her over; I mean he was a good boss and a good guy but he was still a man.

He stepped back and raised his voice. "Okay girls, looks like we're going to have a big night for a Wednesday." Looking at his watch, "Lineup in twelve minutes. Break a leg."

As he went through the door to the stage, Penny smirked and turned to Cherie, "Break a leg? What does he think this is, Broadway?"

Cherie smiled, stood up and shook her breasts; "We're in Show Business, Baby."

Penny chuckled and shook her head. She then finished up and got ready for lineup. She changed her panties to a thong and put on a sheer negligee that really covered nothing but did tie it at her waist so it physically covered her breasts. Then she put on shoes with stiletto heels and stood by the door to the stage. The lineup had all six girls on the stage, walking around once and then standing for a time. She actually had three sets of clothes she would wear. The sheer negligee for the lineup, her costume to remove for her strip, and the outfit that still showed a lot of skin but was a little less revealing when she flirted with the customers at the tables. For her act she was a Cowgirl complete with hat. She was called Randi Rancher.

As the stage manager stuck his head through the door and said, "Two minutes," Mama took her place in the front, smiled and said, "Okay girls, big smiles and strut your stuff!"

The door opened and they moved out onto the stage, smiling and swaying their hips.

It was almost three o'clock when Penny and Cherie left the Cattle Call. They had done a double lap dance just before closing and took a quick shower when they were done. As they headed down the hall, Cherie spoke up, "What did you find for Sara for Christmas?"

Penny got animated, "Oh my God, I forgot to tell you; I found a Komfy Kelly doll."

"How the hell did you do that? I thought they would all be gone by now."

"Yeah, crazy right, I couldn't believe it when I saw it."

"Aren't they kind of expensive though?"

"You are not wrong. It blew my Christmas budget all to hell. But when I thought of the look on Sara's face, I couldn't resist. I also got Jeremy what I originally planned so the gifts for the rest turned out pretty pitiful."

"Oh well, they'll understand."

"That's what I thought."

They arrived at the security office, but Mike was still out escorting the last of the other girls to their vehicles. The rule was that no girl could go to her vehicle at night without Mike along.

While they were waiting, Penny wondered if she should tell Cherie about Leonard. Cherie was the only one outside of her family who knew the details of her life in California.

While she hesitated, the decision was taken from her as Mike arrived back. "Ready to go?"

Penny answered, "We're ready, could you get my packages?"

Mike took a key from the ring on his belt, opened the door and handed her the packages.

After he locked back up, they exited to the parking lot. They first arrived at Cherie's red Mustang. After exchanging goodnights, she drove off squealing her tires.

Mike shook his head a little and escorted Penny to her pickup. As she unlocked her door, Mike said, "Goodnight Penny, drive carefully, see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight Mike, you get out of here and go home to your family."

Mike than stood and watched until the engine started and Penny drove away.

Although it normally took about an hour and a half to drive to the farm, late at night Penny usually made it in about an hour. It was a little after four when she parked her truck in the yard, got her packages, and headed for the house. After hanging her jacket in the entryway, she passed through the kitchen and living room and ascended the stairs to her room. She put the packages on the top shelf of her closet and deciding she was too tired to do anything, she stripped to her panties and put on a flannel nightgown that covered her to her ankles. After all, it got cold at night and she had no one to keep her warm or anyone she needed to entice. Sighing, she slipped into bed and then realized she should change the time on her alarm clock from the usual 9:00. She changed it to 7:30 to have some time before Leonard arrived. Afraid she might not be able to sleep, she found she was exhausted and in no time was sound asleep.

A/N Thank you so much for your reviews.