Present Day, Gotham City
Kiamara trudged down the stairs of her apartment, rolling her eyes at the screaming couple next door. It reminded her of when she was a kid, promises made and silly games. Those were better times.
"EH! Kimana! Your not trying to sneak off without paying rent huh?"
"It's Kiamara, and no! When I got it you'll get it Danny. Geez, your riding me like I'm tryin to get over on you like one of these other idiots. You know I'm good for it."
"Yeah, yeah. Damn tenants..." He muttered and walked back into his room.
She hurried down the stairs uninterrupted, and headed to the strip club across the street.
"Hey Joey." She smiled at the bouncer and patted him on the shoulder.
"Hey Kia, were going to be pretty crowded tonight princess. Some big Mafia guy is stopping in tonight. Uh..I think his name Maloney or something like th-"
"Maroni..." She sighed and brushed her hair away from her face wondering how this would be handled.
"What you know the guy? Is he a problem? cause I can handle 'em if you want."
She shook her head. Sal Maroni was a painbut a very powerful mob leader so the LAST thing she would want is Joe getting whacked in the process of trying to protect her. He was a nice guy and like a brother to her, she couldn't repay him like that.
Maroni was for some strange reason interested in her. He said that he could see she was classier than the other dancers and he promised her all sorts of money and things, but she knew better. The last girl he had "Pretty Womaned" out of this club turned up dead a month or so back. Rumor had it, she found out he was sleeping around and threatened to leave him. Apparently no one left Sal Maroni.
"Alright..." Joey eyed her with a look that said he knew there was something she wasn't telling him, but he respected her privacy enough to let it be. "Oh and go right to the office, Jeff wants to talk to you."
She nodded and went into the club, keeping her eyes to the ground, and avoiding any contact with the men around her. When she got to the back she stopped by the dressing room, and looked at Lisa expectantly. She was one of the other dancers and she was in pretty tight with the boss so whatever was up she would know about it.
Lisa shrugged, and gestured towards the office. If she didn't know what was going on then it had to be bad.
She knocked on the door and walked in then sat down at the chair in front of him.
"You wanted to talk to me."
"Kiki you told me you were how old?"
"Twenty two."
He folded his hands and hunched over the desk.
"And how old are you really?"
"Twenty-two."
Jeff sighed and tapped his finger on the desk. "No Kiki, you see I do a background check on all of my girls. I have to, I run one of the most popular and well known strip clubs in Gotham City. I can't have some underage, IVY League graduate dancing in my club. If the media were to find out about this I would get put out of business! They would make you out to be the victim and my club would be SHUT DOWN..."
He placed his hands over his face, then moved to massage his temples for a second while Kiamara sat quietly.
"I should've known. I should've known why you didn't want to dance like the rest of the girls. An exotic dancer you said you wanted to be, NOT a stripper...I just thought you were being stuck up, but you- Your probably still a virgin!"
She sat up offended. "That's none of your business!"
He sat forward. "But this IS, THIS-" He sighed again and ran his hands through his hair. "Look. Your fired alright?"
"COME ON Jeff that's not fair! Your talkin like I'm 18 or something! I'm twenty! Come on!" she lowered her voice and look him in the eyes pleadingly. "How am I gonna pay my rent Jeff?"
He shrugged and straightened out his tie. "I don't know Kiki...you can dance tonight and that's it. Whatever you earn you can take, but your done here. Hey, maybe you should take up Sal's offer he seems-"
"No, I'll find something else. He's the last person I'd turn to."
"Fine, but at least cut out the New York accent doll I know where your really from."
End Note: Hope you guys are enjoying it so far. If not let me know and throw in your suggestions as well alright?
Joker: When am I going to be in this tale? I thought it was about me after all...
Me: Your coming in soon I have to give them the background you know, let them get attatched to the characters.
Joker: You're the planning type aren't you? I never plan doll I just do.
Me: Well unfortunately I don't have a bunch of fan girls waiting for my next move. I have to give them the build-up
Joker: These fan girls...do you happen to have their names and home addresses?
Me: Tiiiime to go :D
