Chapter two
Keep myself awake

Mickey missed it when Hector wasn't here, and the purpose it brought to his mornings. He wished he could have him longer, but he didn't want to push Aspa, so he kept his cool. He had Hector from Monday to Wednesday and he was doing his best to be a better dad.

He turned on the bed to see the empty space, he could still smell her on the sheets. Thinking back to the night they fucked, because to Mickey that is was it felt like. A way for them both to scratch an itch, but he could tell if it was her attempt to make him feel better about the fights they would constantly have these days. Getting up from the bed, he didn't attempt to get dressed walking naked to the bathroom to shower for the day.

With a towel wrapped around his waist he walked into the kitchen to see a note, he could tell it was rushed as he read the message to contact a plumber as the sink was playing up again. He scrunched it up throwing it in the trash, he was sick of having to keep getting things repaired to her standards. He saw nothing wrong with getting a friend to look at it, but no she wanted to pay lots of money out for something that could be done the same but cheaper.

Putting the coffee machine on, he then picked his phone up for the first time this morning and see a few notifications. When a message from Cassandra flashed up, he felt himself smile. He didn't feel bad when he talked to her, the only thing he was guilty of was not telling her he was in a relationship, but he was sure now that Cassandra just wanted to be his friend, and he didn't feel the need to tell Chloe of her just yet.

Replying quickly to her, he now see that Argyris had given him a few miss calls, and before he had a chance to reply he could hear the front door banging. Mickey quickly opened the door to his friend.

"Oh, you're alive!" Argyris said barging into the apartment, he looked pleased to see Mickey, but playfully flicked one of his nipples.

Mickey covered his chest seeing the man heading into the lounge, "What do I owe the pleasure?" He found himself picking up a vest pulling it on, he headed to his bedroom to get himself in some shorts.

Coming back into the kitchen he could see Argyris already helping himself to a coffee, "You wanted to know about work?" He asked to be sure he was doing a good thing.

"Yes!" he was now fully awake, he couldn't believe it, but froze, "What kind of work are we talking about?" He was now thinking of the possible things for him to do to get money, but at the same time he needed to think of his little time with Hector.

Drinking some of the coffee in his cup he was giving suspense to Mickey, "I know a guy who said there is a club, their DJ got into a fight with a patron, and was fired." He held the cup out to make a point, "They need a new one, and I said I know the perfect guy for it." He placed the cup down smiling, "It pays good, also you get tips."

"Okay what's the hook?" Mickey started to make his own coffee; this job sounded like something he'd be good for.

Argyris laughed, "No hook!" He waved, "It's a night job, but then with the money you'll make, you only have to really work a few nights a week." He could see doubt in Mickey, "It's an exotic dancing club." He finally said.

"A strip club," Mickey corrected, "A job in a strip club." He knew for sure that Chloe would not like that, but at the same time she kept telling him to be more responsible. "When do they need me to start?"

Holding a piece of paper out to Mickey Argyris laughed, "I told them you'll call them." He kept grinning knowing this was a too good to be true job, and no one should turn it down.

Taking the number from him, Mickey nodded, "I'm going to do that." He held his phone typing the number in, and then glanced to Argyris, "How good is the money?"

"So good that you'll be buying me a round at the bar when you finish your first week." He headed out of the kitchen giving Mickey privacy to talk to the club manager.

The phone ran a few times before the pickup, "Geia sou ailouroeidón (Hello felines)," a male voice answered.

"O Argýris eípe óti psáchnete DJ. (Argyris said you are looking for a DJ)." He had hoped for an English conversation, but right now he needed the work.

A laugh on the other end made Mickey relax, "Oh Mickey!" The person on the other end was still laughing, "Yes, yes," He spoke when he calmed down, "Argyris said you was good," He paused, "If you want to come over and show me what you have, I can give you a trial set." He stopped talking in the phone, and Mickey could hear him shouting at someone in Greek. "I am Demitri," He talked back into the phone, "Can you do ten tonight?" He asked seriously now.

Mickey felt ecstatic, "I'll come, what do I need to bring with me?" He asked finding a pen and paper to write on.

Listening to everything Demitri said he placed the pen down, he said his goodbyes before hanging up the phone, he could see that Argyris was waiting. "You are the best!" Mickey was beaming, "I mean I have to show them what I can do first, but…"

"You got it," Argyris laughed now, "But when you do get this job, how are you going to tell Chloe?" The lightheartedness went from the conversation.

Mickey rubbed his face, he didn't really think that far ahead, "I'll tell her it's just a night club," He pointed, "I mean it's not like she's going to want to come watch." He paused, "I'll tell her it's a gentleman's club," He nodded to himself finding his coffee taking a sip. "I mean we really need the cash." He wanted to be working, but at the same time he wanted a job that wouldn't interrupt the little time he had with his son.

The two of them talked a little more of the set he would do as the door opened, and Chloe walked into the kitchen seeing both Mickey and Argyris, "I said a plumber!" She exhaled trying to keep a calm in front of company.

"I'm not here to fix anything," Argyris held his hands up, "I found a job for Mickey." He tried his hardest to be polite, but with the fact he wasn't sure what was going on with these two, but he wanted to help mend the cracks.

"Oh," Chloe turned to Mickey, "Well that's great!" She broke into a smile, Where's the job?" She wanted to be supportive, as she had spent the whole morning feeling horrible for the way they had been going.

"A gentleman's club needs a new DJ, and I've got a trial tonight," Mickey waved the notes he made, "And I am going to go in there and do my best."

"A DJ job," Chloe's tone dropped, but at the same time, she didn't want to be rude. She knew what gentleman's club really meant, but she didn't want to make an argument.

"But it pays well, and he can pick up tips," Argyris was doing his best to boost the job, and at the same time he knew that it was something that would help relieve the strain on the both of them.

"If the money is that good, I can still look after Hector, plus do my music, and you won't be using all your income on the bills." He gave Chloe puppy eyes.

Chloe shook her head, "I'm happy for you, and we can make it work." She turned to Argyris, "Thank you." She left the kitchen. "Still need to call a plumber!" She headed towards the bathroom to have a shower.

For Mickey the rest of the day dragged by, he did cleaning, he finally got someone to come and look at the sink again, and the price it cost made Mickey sick. That evening he couldn't stop watching the clock, he was trying to listen to Chloe as she spoke of her day, but at the same time he kept glancing to his phone, he couldn't stop himself waiting for a new text to come through.

She noticed his distance but putting to down to worrying about the trial. She reached over the couch to touch his hand, her fingers laced into his, "I know you're going to be amazing." She was being more supportive now, "So, just let me know how it goes in the morning." She added with a smile.

Mickey nodded, "Yea," He could tell the time was getting close, "I'll try not to wake you up if you're sleeping." He got himself together, and as he opened the door to leave, he glanced back into the place seeing her watching him. He blew her a kiss before closing the door behind himself.

The club wasn't too bad, it wasn't like the high-end clubs he'd never really been in for more than a one-time event, but it was much better than the brothels that were fronted as a strip club. He could feel the bass of the music as he could see the place was quite popular.

"Mickey!" A man's voice shouted, and Mickey could only assume it was Demitri. He was a tall man with dark hair, his eyes were covered with thick framed glasses, and dressed as if he were in an Al Pacino movie. "You're here early…"

"Thought I'd get a look around," He smiled back to the man, he seemed friendly for now, but at the same time he really wanted to get this job. "Just so I can feel the vibe." He wanted to be professional, but at the same time he didn't want to be a bore.

Demitri nodded, "Also see my girls," He gave a dark chuckle, "I get a lot of English, Americans come here, tourist mainly. So, I have a lot of different girls." He was bragging now as he started to walk Mickey through the club, "My bar, you can drink, but don't be drunk." He pointed, "I say have a drink when you're finished your shift." He pointed out trying to be friendly, "This place is my home."

Mickey was taking in the lady behind the bar, she was pretty, but at the same time she seemed in her own world. "I get that." He could tell it was still early for the place, "How many girls?"

"Oh, I have a lot," Demitri was glancing to the woman behind the bar, "Hey!" He snapped to her, "I'd like my usual," He turned to Mickey, "Drink?"

"Water," He wanted to keep a level head, he really did need this job.

Demitri nodded, "Good choice," He sat on a bar stool, and watched as Mickey did the same thing. "I think I pay good, and you'll find the girls will request songs, and will tip you for it, if they don't tip cash, don't prioritize them."

"Okay," He took the glass of water placed in front of him, and for a second Mickey was thinking it was going well, "So am I seriously in the running?" He asked.

Demitri took a mouthful of his drink, then placed the glass down, "I've spoken around, and from what I've heard today is you are very good at what you do." He shrugged, "This is your first shift." He was now talking serious.

"Thanks," Mickey did a double take, "So are we talking salary, hours?"

"You can work Thursday, Friday and Saturday." He stated, "and that is the prime time set at ten till three." He pointed out, "I'll pay you a hundred euro a night, and the tips you keep." He gave a smile, "Also I would advise you not to get into fights."

"I am not the fighter," He tried to be cool, but knew that was the reason the last DJ was fired, "I'll be nonviolent."

Demitri finished his drink, "Good, cos that is what I pay the bouncers for." He pointed to the big men standing around the club, and then glanced back to Mickey. "My first dancer is going to start soon." He got to his feet heading to an office. "Get to know the girls." He now went away, but made it clear he didn't want Mickey to follow.

"God damn it Kylie if one more guy thinks he can grab my ass, I am going to kick my heel into his…" Cassandra stopped her rant at the woman on the bar when she saw him. "Mickey!"

He didn't know what to do as he saw her standing not that far from him, she was wearing a long robe, her hair was styled in light curls, and her makeup was making her green eyes stand out, looking taller in a pair of platform heels, and he was finding himself really taking in the details of her curves. "I never asked what you did for work…" He knew it was strange for him.

"I'm a single mother," Cassandra laughed, "And I'm not ashamed of my work," She pointed to the woman behind the bar. "Kylie on the other hand is just dead on the inside." She paused, "Why are you here?"

"DJ job," Mickey finished the water, and see how quickly Kylie took the glass, her face was still stone cold, "I'm guessing she is nice once you get to know her?"

Cassandra shook her head, "No, she's pretty much what you see, what you get." Her eyes going to the woman, "Kylie," She tapped the bar, "I'd like a drink."