I'm so sorry for the overdue update, I've just been really busy with family visiting and getting books ready for school and all that.
Thank you for all of your lovely reviews, I love that you like Ashley and see her as a realistic character in the show and your support of the story means so much to me!
I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, hopefully you guys have as much fun reading it :)
Please review guys, it means so so much! Tell me what you think of the story, what you think of the latest episodes of Home and Away (which have been amazing, well done to the H&A story writers!), You know what I want to know, who's your favourite Braxton Brother or character of the show? I personally have a list, Casey being top of it because Lincoln Younes is just... indescribably brilliant :P Charles Cottier (Dex) makes me laugh so much and I love Sasha too, she's amazing and kicks ass :P
Right, sorry for the rant, know it's time for the story! Please enjoy and Review! :)
I own nothing of Home and Away.
It had been a month since Ashley started working for David, she loved working at the bar, and she would get the bus out to the city in the evenings and then either get it back or have David or one of the other girls drive her back to the bay at night.
It was a fun club with music and some of the girls danced, Ashley had even been on the stage a few times herself, she had to admit the admiration she got while on stage and off of the slightly drunk men didn't exactly bother her.
David was charming too, always complimenting her on her hair or outfits that she wore, how great she was with the customers and how she could carry herself if some of them got a bit handsy or rowdy.
She had told Xavier in the end about the club, he was a bit hesitant when she told him about David but she convinced him that he meant nothing but good when he hired her.
After working at the club for a month she had saved enough to not only pay Brax the rent she owed him since she came to the Bay but also move out.
Brax was suspicious of the club she worked at, she could tell from his never ending questions about it and David, but Heath knew the club and told him to get off her back.
She had also gained an unsuspecting friendship with Sasha, neither of them spoke of her attack on Indie but they figured out that they had the same sense of humour and that the other wasn't as annoying as they thought when they first started working together.
"Y'know you don't have to move out," Brax shrugged as he watched her sit on her suitcase in an attempt to flatten it.
"I really do, it's nothing against you boys but I feel bad for stealing Casey's room, it's a wonder the boy hasn't been complaining of back pains at this stage,"
"Yeah but he's gone to stay with Mum for a few days so it's no rush," Brax's voice was casual but Ashley couldn't help but smile at the hint of pleading behind his words. Since she'd arrived she'd grown closest to Brax, having regular fights with Heath and Casey disappearing for hours in the day she reminded herself how Brax didn't question her or treat her like a convict when she first arrived whenever he got on her nerves a little.
"I know you're going to miss me but it's not like I'm moving country, I'll just be in the caravan park until I find a proper place,"
"Yeah I'm not too sure how happy I am with that either," Brax muttered, taking a drink from the bottle in his hand. "Have you thought about how close you'll be living to the old man?"
"Of course I've thought of that but he's not going to try anything with a bunch of people around and Casey as a witness of how violent he was when I came into contact with him last time,"
After a few minutes silence Brax began laughing.
"Do you really think you're heavy enough to flatten that down? Ash you're as light as a feather, here let me help," He walked forward and sat onto the suitcase, bouncing slightly as Ashley zipped it up, he made a much bigger difference to the height in the bag than what she did.
"Thanks, bro," Ashley smiled at him. "Well I guess I'll see you around," She shrugged before giving him a slightly awkward hug.
"Just be careful, and call if you need me for anything,"
"Don't worry, Brax," She rolled her eyes at him before trailing her suitcase out the door.
After having a shower and unpacking the necessities Ashley began getting ready for work, she straightened her long dark hair and applied her make up.
After dressing in a tight, low cut top and her smallest pair of shorts, she smiled slightly when she remembered Brax's scolding looks whenever she would arrive in the living room dressed like this and announce she was heading to work. When it first started happening he would ask her repeatedly if it was completely necessary for her to dress in that way.
She passed the time on the bus journey by texting Xavier who was training at the academy; he was enjoying it a lot more now a days because they were being brought out on various raids around. It always made Ashley laugh when he rang and told her in detail about everything that had happened at the latest raid, he sounded so much like a small child with a new toy.
"Ah there she is," David smiled when he saw Ashley coming through the door, he opened his arms and kissed her on each cheek before hugging her tightly, Ashley always brushed off the shiver that ran down her spine when she noticed how his hugs lasted just a small bit too long.
"Now, would you mind giving up your shift here tonight and coming with me to this new club that I'm opening a few blocks away?" David smiled charmingly at her.
"Will I still get paid?" She asked, making him laugh.
"That's why you're my favourite girl, you always think of the money, you'd make a great business partner," Ashley blushed at his words; it was a change for someone to compliment her on her talk-before-you-think attitude.
After being assured she would still get her full night's pay she agreed to go to this new club with him.
They had a comfortable journey in his car on the way there, making light conversation but Ashley noticed the familiar shiver when he clapped his hand on her bare leg and left it there a little too but taking it away before she could comment on his actions.
David was older than her but a very attractive man with a shining smile twinkling blue eyes, he always dressed well and had a charming personality but Ashley kept reminding herself of Xavier. She could help but compare them in her head, Xavier was only starting out, still in college really, David already had everything, he knew people in high places and he was a business man, Xavier was just a child when put next to him.
Her reverie was interrupted when her car door opened, she was slightly shocked to see David stood waiting for her to get out, his hand outstretched to help her, something Xavier never did, she noted.
Taking it and smiling to him in thanks she followed him to the club, he placed his hand on her lower back when they reached the door, he smiled at the bar man who nodded back to him and they entered.
Ashley was stunned for a minute by the strobe lights but when her eyes adjusted she noted how much bigger this club was to her work place.
There was a large stage set against two of the walls with sleek silver poles going from the floor of the stage to the ceiling.
The club was packed with people dancing and grinding on each other, or men throwing money up at the dancing girls.
Looking up Ashley noticed the upstairs area of the club, the grand decoration and red velvet ropes telling her it was the V.I.P area, she noticed the private booths stood against the back wall in this section and swallowed hard, trying not to look nervous.
Looking back to David she saw that he was studying her facial expressions, a slightly amused look on his face, she noted that his hand still hadn't left her lower back.
"Don't be scared, I saw you dance in the old club, you're twice as good as any of these girls, not to mention, way hotter," He winked at the end and Ashley cursed the blush she felt creeping up her cheeks.
He guided her up the stairs to the V.I.P section and right down to the end, Ashley's eyes were scanning all around her, taking in everything.
"I want you to meet Richard Yorke, he's the one selling me this club," David told her when they reached a man who was clearly older than David but just as good looking when he was younger.
Ashley smiled and shook the man's hand, nodding her head slightly.
"Well you didn't exaggerate Dave, she's a beauty," Richard commented, Ashley shivered once again, her eyes narrowing, she didn't like being talked about like a cow being sold at a fair.
"Wait until you see her move," David winked; Ashley looked at him in shock.
"What, now?" Ashley asked, not bothering to hide her panicked expression.
"Well why not?" David shrugged. Ashley looked around and spotted a pole placed on a small stage not too far away. She took a deep breath and gave herself a small pep talk as she walked towards the pole, holding her head high.
You're a Braxton you can do this, by the looks of this place it pays even more. Show them you're in charge and they would be lucky to have you.
Ashley stood at the pole, holding it with one hand and her head facing the ground as she waited for the right beat to hit.
When it did she cleared her head and didn't think, determination the forefront of her mind.
She blocked out the faces and concentrated on the lights and music as she swung her hips and danced around the pole.
When she was finished she stopped to see David and Richard clapping and smiling. She laughed slightly as she stopped on her way back to them and curtseyed jokingly.
"Best dancing I've seen in years," Richard nodded, looking impressed.
"Thank you," Ashley grinned, the dancing had loosened her up a bit, she glanced at David who was smiling at her in what she thought looked like admiration, once again her cheeks turned red and she looked away, slightly embarrassed but flattered.
"Y'see, Ashley, Richard here is giving me this club on a condition that he is absolutely sure I won't run it into the ground, and that's why you're here," David told her, smirking slightly at the look of shock and confusion on her face.
"I am willing to give Dave this club if you are the headline act," Richard said, sitting back in his chair, surveying her.
"What as like a pole dancer?" She asked, hesitantly, she had only ever worked behind the bar or waitressing in the old club, when she did dance it was for a laugh with the girls or because she'd had a few drinks beforehand, she had never even told Xavier about those nights because she knew he would give out about it and it would only end in an argument.
"Please, Ashley," David asked. "You're the best girl we have and I could double you're wages from the last place if you headline,"
Ashley thought that over, it would be nice to have the extra money and she supposed she didn't have to tell Xavier about the dancing just that she was working in a new club.
She stopped herself from over thinking it and nodded, silently agreeing that she would be headline act.
David bought her a round of drinks and she sat chatting with the two men for the rest of the night, drinking away the unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach.