Bella was somewhat relieved that the car ride to the club was filled with silence. She'd half expected Edward to start ranting and raving at her, demanding answers that she couldn't give.

When they pulled up at the curb Bella turned to Edward. "Will you… Will I see you after my feature dance?" She asked, her voice wavering a little with uncertainty.

Edward had intended to drop Bella off in front of the club before looping back around the block to find a parking spot. At her question though, he paused. His eyes flicked to her face.

"Do you want to see me?" his voice was low.

Did she? She swallowed, her eyes flickered downward and her cheeks heated.

"Yes." She finally said after a beat. Her eyes drifted back up to meet Edward's.

She would endure his questions. She would endure anything if it meant thirty minutes with him.

"Then I'll be there." His eyes smoldered as they met Bella's wide brown ones.

He forced himself not to think about the possibility that Bella might just endure his company during their private dances because of the money it brought her. It was probably true, but the thought was a painful one. Edward would have much rather believed that she wanted to see him because she actually wanted to see him… That she enjoyed dancing for him as much as he enjoyed watching her.

This is why you're an idiot, Edward. The little voice in his head scoffed.

"By the way… nice shoes, Bella." He remarked lightly as she clIsaed out of the car. A ghost of a smile crossed his face but before she could respond, Edward had already driven away.

As Bella climbed out of the car she turned to hear Edward's snarky words. His tone was light, but she still flinched knowing exactly what he was saying behind the words. She slammed the door shut, a little harder than what was necessary and turned on her heel.

She was running late. Most of the girls had already arrived and glanced up when she came bustling through the door. But they were accommodating enough to give her mirror time to get ready, she applied her makeup carefully, outlining her lips and filling them with red lip-stainer.

Some of the girls disappeared, emptying out the change rooms which allowed Bella to move around more freely. She got changed into her outfit. Today it was a periwinkle blue bra and matching g-string with a sarong tied around her waist.

She was tying the straps of her shoes around her ankle when she looked up into the mirror to find Riley standing directly behind her. Her heart leapt into her throat.

"Riley!" She stared at him through the mirror; he placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her, although the smile did not quite reach his eyes.

"Just wanted to remind you of what I expect from you today. You remember, of course?" Bella nodded, her spine tensing.

He looked her over. "This is nice… Wear it for me after the show. Come to my office before you get changed."

"Okay." Bella quickly agreed, and then he was gone. Bella breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Riley moments before she was due to start her work was nerve racking.

She went through her motions; she gave her song list to Tyler, ignored his leering glances and finished getting ready in the change room.

The doors opened and men gradually spilled in over the night, it was slow going. There was only two bucks parties and Bella began to worry that she wouldn't be able to make her target tonight.

Edward sat in the back, as he usually did. She kept an eye on him, as she was coming back from doing one of her dance routines on the stage, she bumped into Clara. "I noticed your boy toy is back tonight." Bella looked up and laughed lightly. "Seriously girl. You are one lucky girl having that piece of meat wanting you to dance for him." Clara pretended to fan herself.

Bella was beginning to feel a little edgy, for some reason she didn't like Clara talking about Edward like that.

"You know… I noticed you went home the other day with him…"Clara led.

"It's not like that…" Bella defended herself.

"You don't have to lie to me, Isa." Clara laughed at the face Bella pulled. "If that man wanted me, I wouldn't even think twice."

Bella sighed. She knew there was no point in defending herself to Clara. Clara would believe what she wanted to believe.

Bella counted each note that made its way into her pocket. She knew she wasn't making nearly enough, and while she was doing well for a regular night, she needed to make double it. She was beginning to stress, her customers were even beginning to notice as she wrangled hard for their money; she had to control herself before she started begging them.

By the time she was due for her feature dance, Bella was really feeling the stress. She found it difficult to smile, her fingers shook as she took the small notes that were offered to her on the stage.

"Take it all off!"Someone had jeered to her half way through the first song which had made her falter in her step. She had her routine, she would take it all off, but the reminder that a crowd of people had their eyes glued to her, expecting her to remove all her clothes made her feel so dirty.

She was relieved when the final notes of her last song ended and she could collect her clothes, wipe down the pole and leave the stage. She redressed in the change room, choosing to keep the costume she'd been wearing instead of changing into the normal one. Usually this was the time that Edward liked to take her back for a dance with him and she'd picked this outfit, as usual, with him in mind.

She found him quickly. He'd been in the same spot all night long. Most of the girls by now knew that she was his and so had steered clear of him. Some talked to him, just to keep him company, but they all knew he wouldn't accept their dances.

Bella sauntered over to him, Edward's eyes met hers and he smiled. She could feel her body relax with every step closer she took to him.

He noted the nervous tension that hung around her… something he had noticed when she had been dancing on stage that night as well. She hadn't been as fluid as she always was and he had wondered why. Was it because of what had happened that afternoon with George? Or because she thought that he was still mad with her?

And while Edward was on some levels still annoyed with her – more annoyed than angry, really – the brief time they'd spent apart had cooled him down somewhat.

"Hey." He smiled as she came to a stop by his table. Edward's green eyes softened appreciatively as they took her appearance that night before moving back up to settle on her face. "Sit with me?"

He gestured to his own half empty glass, "Do you want something to drink?"

Bella took a seat next to Edward, her stomach fluttered with nerves her mind too occupied with thoughts of what Riley was going to do to her tonight. "A drink would be amazing…" she murmured. "Something strong?" She asked.

She stood up again to follow Edward to the bar. Amy, the same girl that had been speaking with Edward the night before was there serving another customer but she quickly turned her attention to Edward, a bright smile on her face. "Hi Edward! What can I get you? Your usual?"

Bella was surprised that Amy even knew Edward's name a flash of irritation coursed through her too, how often had Amy and Edward talked?

Amy's eyes flickered to Bella's. "Isa? Did you want your usual too?"

The girl was good. Bella realised. She'd only ordered from Amy a couple of times, but the young brunette still remembered. "Yes, please."

Bree set down a glass filled with ice and a shot and a half of scotch as well as two shot glasses filled with tequila, two slices of lemon and a bit of salt for her hand. As Edward paid, she licked the space between her thumb and forefinger, sprinkled some salt on it, picked up the lemon wedge, breathed out, and licked the salt. Picking up the shot glass, she tossed the tequila down her throat and grabbed the lemon wedge, biting into it.

The alcohol burned her throat but she knew she needed it. She repeated the process with the second shot just as Edward was turning back to her, having finished paying.

Two shots of tequila would give her a good buzz, but not enough to make her fall on her face. Besides she was done with her stage dances for the night. She needed to relax.

"Thanks."

Edward watched her with mild amusement as Bella set the second shot glass back down on the polished counter top. "Feeling better?" he asked. She nodded and he waited for her to elaborate but when she didn't, he let it go.

He paused long enough to brush some loose strands of Bella's dark brown hair back from her face in a surprisingly tender gesture. His face was a little wistful. Edward had always preferred her dark hair. He never thought it would make such a difference, but seeing her like this only reminded him about the other persona Bella took on while she worked at Indulgences.

Thanking Bree, Edward took his own drink and motioned for them to return to the table. "Shall we?"

Q.A

Q. Do you have a beta?

A. No, I do a few proof reads myself. But if anyone has some editing experience and would like to volunteer as a beta, I'd be happy to consider! :)