#Traffick'd

'Repeat it back to me then. Since you know it so well."

Pablo was always quizing me, like i didn't stay up for hours studying this shit. But that's just Pablo, paranoid and precise. He always wanted to make sure i was on my A game.

"My name is Royaal, i work at a few other clubs, most are out of the city and I love doing stage shows." I sighed annoyed.

"They don't always ask for interviews, but sometimes they do. What's the name of the clubs you worked at?" he asked unbothered.

"Cheetahs and Leopards, they're in windsor. I like working out of town, but i'm looking to find something closer to home. Less of a commute, you know?" I said in the fakest tone I could muster up.

He gave me a look of approval, that made my inner thighs sweat. "And remember, don't talk to nobody about our shit." I understood why he was so paranoid, considering pimping is illegal. But I couldn't help feeling like he should know I wouldn't do anything to fuck this up. I mean, he's the one that helped me get here. I wouldn't of even known about this world, if it wasn't for him. And even though some would say maybe that would've been for the better, i don't think that for one second.

Now i know how this looks, and I know what you're thinking. Girl, why are you giving this man your money? And if you're asking that, I also know you're not apart of the game. I remember my first night stripping, I had some clear 6 inch pleasers heels. And a black bikini from ardene with a matching little purse, and i made $0. That man spoke the game into my ears, looked me dead in my face and asked me "how does living paycheck to paycheck feel? Remember that exact feeling, everytime you're paralyzed with fear. If the fear of talking to these tricks is bigger than the feeling of living paycheck to paycheck, go to your zara shift tomorrow. If not, then we know where you'll be." The next day i made $400 in 5 hours, and zara never seen their employee again.

Now i'm going to have to teach you the game, in order for you to understand my story. In this shit, you have to prove yourself. To your pimp, to your sisterwives, to your manager, to your customers, shit even to yourself. This a game of skill, strategy and finesse, and not in the way you're thinking either.

I hop up and reach to the backseat of the car to grab my work bag, hoping he'd notice my ass.

"I gotchu when you come home." He reaffirmed with my favourite smirk, while gripping my ass cheek. Now don't get me wrong, Pablo and I made love, but he was never very much into the PDA thing. Most pimps aren't. That's how girls start to get confused and thinking their pimp is their boyfriend. Not me though, i knew what it was, I loved Pablo but he was my pimp. We probably will end up being together when this done, but only because convenience. It's hard to find love when you're in the game, but even harder to find love once you're out.

I pop open Pablo's peanut interior bmw and hop out. I put on my best walk, knowing he's watching me. Right before he drives off, he rolls down the window and mouths " i blu you". Something we came up with, that's just our own, it's different than love. I open the heavy doors to the strip club and i'm immediately greeted with an array of aromas. The red strobe lights dance overtop the stripper on stage, as she slowly descends from the pole.

"Name?' says the DJ, interrupting my stare. "Royaal, with two a's", I respond back confidently. I had a whole speech prepared, but sometimes there's so many girls that come and go. The dj's usually can never keep up, on whether you're new or not.

"You worked here before?"

"Yup, like 4 and a half months ago or something like that. Honestly, i can barely keep up with time nowadays, it's going so fast." I flirted.

"You're telling me! I came into work late today cause i set my alarm to am instead of pm. Today's not my day man" he laughed, as he wrote my name and time i arrived down on a little sheet. Strip club dj's are the easiest men to influence, possibly more easier than the customers . Maybe it's because majority of them are perverted cokeheads.

"Speaking of late, let me go get ready, cause i'm behind myself."

"Yeah, no problem, go get ready and then come pick your songs. Apparently it's been good since they opened and a party is suppose to come in tonight. So it should be a good night."

"Baby, it's always a good night for me" I uttered confidently as i walked away.

I walked towards the back of the club, where i figured the changerooms would be. I'll be damned if i ask anyone that works here, and let them catch a clue its my first time at this club. Lucky for me, another stripper was walking in, so i just followed behind her. We walked behind the kitchen to a corner room. Victoria secret perfume filled my nostrils. I scanned the shabby change room quickly for a vacant locker. I spotted one in the top left corner, "perfect". I began to unpack my work bag, and look for my outfit.

"What's your name? I dont think i've seen you here before."

I looked up, a bit surprised to see the strippers eyes locked onto me.

"My names Royaal, with two a's, i worked here before like 4 months ago, but i haven't been back. I don't think i seen you when i was here, what's your name?"

"You're pretty, i feel like i would've remembered you. My name's Ari."

"Thank you babe, you're fine yourself." And I wasn't lying, she was fine as hell. She was around 5'6, petite build, but she had voluptuous breast and a heavy ass. She had long black hair, I could just tell her caramel coloured skin was as soft as a baby's. She had these full lips, that made you wonder what they could do. A tiny cute nose, with light brown eyes, that felt like they were staring into your soul. She was a money maker for sure, i didn't even have to see her on the floor. She kinda of reminded me of an older, more put together me. I could tell she's been in the game for awhile.

"Thanks babe."

I started to put on my make-up and prepare for the night.

"You drink? I got some henny, if you want a shot. But gotta do it now, before the other girls come. They always drinking off my shit." she offered kindly.

Now Pablo's rule is to not get drunk at work. And trust me you don't want to go into the car with a pimp that's mad at you. He thinks i'll get sloppy and won't be on my A game. But he also underestimates me, and for some reason I kinda want to be this Ari girl's friend. And not accepting the shot, is kind of seen as disrespectful, cause stripper don't share their things.

"I'll take a shot still, i'm not really a drinker like that though."

"Down the hatch, or whatever tricks say. And girl, in this place, we're never what were pretending to be." She flashed me a quick smile, as she tossed her hair.

The night started off kinda slow, i had two customers and was sitting at $180. It was 9:48pm, and I figured I might as well freshen up now before the rush comes in. There were more girls, than when i first got there. But so far no real competition, other than Ari.

"Great minds must think alike, cause we meet again bitch." Ari grabs the small bottle of henny from out of her bag, and throw back a couple shots, before pushing the bottle my way.

"Fuck it, why not. One for fun, and one for good luck. But for real bitchhh, where's the people at?", i griminced and wiped my mouth after taking the shot. We both looked at each other and started laughing.

"Ima need that party to come through pronto, mama ain't make enough money yet. But to be honest, if it's not popping by 11, i'm going to leave. Cause i've been here since the day shift. And i'm suppose to go out with my man."

"Wait no, don't go, you're the only reason I'm even kinda enjoying myself. I hope it gets popping, cause I have to stay either way."

"Girl you came at 7pm, you can leave at 11pm. You only have to stay 4 hours.'

"Nah, my man doesn't like when I leave early, and I don't want any problems tonight."

"Girlllllll, tell me about it. My man gives me problems too. But that's why I try to do the day shift, cause then he can't say anything. He's taking me out tonight anyways, so he knows i'm obviously not going to stay till the end.

"I get it boo, my man's a workaholic so he's always on road. And honestly, i don't want to stress him, it's not that serious. So i just hug it, cause he's getting money for us too, and doesn't complain. But speaking of getting money, I need to change outfits and get back on the floor. It's 10pm already, a crowd should be rolling in just now."

"Alright babe, well give me your snapchat just in case i do leave and don't see you ever again. You know how this shit goes", she chuckled.

"No for sure, club bathrooms ain't got shit on strip club change rooms." She passed me her phone, with snapchat already open. I quickly put my username in, and accidentally slid up to the home screen. "Wait, who's this?"

"Huh", she turns and looks at me with a confused face, "who's who?"

"The hand, this guy in your wallpaper holding the money? Who is this?" I asked kinda agitatedly.

"What the fuck, that's my man. Why? How do you know him?"

Her eyes were telling a story, she didn't intend to. Anger, confusion, disappointment, she couldn't conceal it. I watched as she pieced together the puzzle in her head. "How do you know him?" she repeated stiffly. But I was too lost in my own thoughts to answer her...