"YES!He is a fucking fine feast!"
"Wow!You better hook up with this guy.I can't wait to meet him now!Send me a pic ASAP."She speaks to someone on her end."Hang on, Babe, I will be there in ten minutes."Then she returns to me."Sorry about that.We have a new girl coming in to train, and I need to watch her skills.You know the drill.How much is she going to need before we can put her on the floor?"
"Yeah, I remember my two weeks of intense torture at your hands."I laugh.
"You were the easiest one I ever taught, sweetie.Not everyone has your natural ear for music and your raw dance talent."
"I thought Laura was doing your training?"
"She's pregnant!I didn't text you?"
"No!Oh my gosh!How did that happen?"
"She's hooked up with a local cop, and she got caught fucking without protection.It only takes one time.Don't you get caught.Too many people depend on your dancing for their living."
"Don't worry, Cat.I have taken precautions.I am not about to fuck up this dream I call my life.It is too sweet.So, is she still working?"
"I am training her as a manager now.We have basically traded jobs.You hate to lose good girls, you know?And she's more like family."
"Yeah, I know."I feel a twang of guilt at not returning immediately, but I know I can't until Moore is either more or no more."I'm sorry.I didn't ask how the club is doing.How's it going?How are the girls and Bart?"I roll my eyes at myself."I'm so caught up in this guy.I can't think straight."
Cat laughs at me."You're in love, girl!And you don't even know his name.But we're ok.We're still rolling in the dough, living the dream, but we miss you.Customers are starting to rotate back in too, and they are asking when Surreal will perform again."
"I know.Give me a couple more weeks, and I promise to return to Vegas.I will know by then one way or the other on Moore."
"I'm going to hold you to that.As a matter of fact, I will have Bart schedule his jet to pick you up.Let's say on May 1st?May Day?"
"Ok, I promise to be on it when it returns.Come hell or high water."I hear her cracking up at my southern lingo."Squeeze Bart for me.Tell him his green-eyed vixen is goo-goo over this guy."
She chuckles."I know exactly what he will say.'Tell her to get her glowing green eyes back here, or he will be goo-goo!And if that man breaks her heart, I will personally come down there and make his eyes goo-goo!'"
We both crack up at the thought of Bart even using the term goo-goo.He is much too sophisticated for terminology like that."Hey, before you go, I wanted to tell you I am going out tonight to a cocktail party.A colleague from work was supposed to go with someone else, but she canceled on him last minute.He begged me to take her place.He was so desperate, I agreed."
"That's fantastic!What are you wearing?Did you buy a new dress?"
"No, I didn't have time.He asked me yesterday afternoon."
"Good!You are going to wear your Black & Blue Baby!It will remind you of who you are!You are not a hick from the sticks.You are our million-dollar star, Surreal!The toast of Vegas!I know what you are thinking.It is possible someone has seen your show and might put two and two together, but as your manager, that is a chance I want you to take.Please, please, tell me you will wear it!"
"I am so glad you approve.It is too Diva for around here, but it is all I have."
"The wives will be shocked, but the men will love it.They always have.Are you still working on your pole routines?"
"All the time.It is all I do in my infinite amount of spare time.I have become addicted to exercise!"
"Don't get too lean and toned now.Keep your curves!"
"I'm not.Don't worry.I've been developing some new routines for Seary, and I am working on a killer return performance for Surreal to 'Happy.'"
"Pharrell's 'Happy?'"
"Yes!I have an idea that will send my return to the top of the strip."
"I can't wait to see it!Have you seen Beyoncé's 'Partition' video?"
"Yes, I've been doing it too.It is ready to go."I walk to the stripper pole.I remember Mrs.Smith's raised eyebrows when I asked about having it installed, but Bart is right, 'Money talks and shit walks.'
"That is fantastic.I will tell Bart to clear it with Beyoncé's people."
