sirius part three: Jack and you cross paths in a place you try to keep private from people in your life. He buys you some gifts.
warnings:fem!reader, age gap, sexual harassment, sex work
a/n: I’m so sorry that I’ve been IA; I’ve been having some health issues with my eyes lately; and I have been limiting my screen time. I also started my new job, so updates will take longer and will probably be on Wednesday or Thursday or Saturday night.
Part 1 | Part 2
Link to article regarding feminist and sex work. (XX)
——————
09:45 PM - SUN.
"I thought we had a safety meeting already." Olive asked. The redhead sat down on the bench and took a sip from her water bottle as she looked at you. You turned away and leaned against the beauty counter. "I mean, unless we have to do it all over again?"
"No." Ezra said, "Just wanted to remind you all about some things around here that I have been noticing."
Makayla joined you. "How is your hand?"
"Good. Healed. I got the stitches out a few days ago."
"Glad to hear that, missed having you around." she smiled.
"Girls," Ezra warned. "I need you all to be on the floor, on the stage, or in the private rooms during the whole shift. I've seen too many of you spending time in the dressing room or outside taking a 'breather'. Look I get it, sometimes the people can be too much, but the purpose of your job is to cater to your regulars..."
You stopped listening to Ezra and looked down at yourself. You hadn't worn such an outfit such as for about a week and a half. You felt odd in it. Of course, you opted for one that had less nudity compared to Olive's or Pam's outfit. It was simply a fuchsia sexy teddy romper made out of hologram material with a halter neck, open front with heart buckle accent, open back with tie closure, and bottom keyhole cutout with heart buckle accent.
"Does that sound good to you?"
Makayla nudged you, "Ezra is speaking to you."
You looked at him. "I'm sorry, what?"
"There is a party of about 6 to 8 coming in later tonight - celebrating whatever they're celebrating - do you want to join Olive with the group?"
"Uh, I'd prefer to work the private rooms."
You were not in the mood to entertain 6 to 7 more than likely annoying, touchy men. You hoped a few regulars of yours would come in considering you had not worked in a hot minute.
There were a few things you've learned since becoming a stripper three and half years ago. One, don't touch anyone's money. Two, when on the pole and a customer is watching her, don't strike up conversation with said customer. Three, don't take regulars from other girls.
"What a drag." Makayla sighed, "Cancelled plans with my friends to pick up an extra shift and no one is even here. And that party hasn’t even showed up.”
The two of you had been sitting in the chairs next to the stage for the past hour, doing absolutely nothing beside chatting. Olive had finished her stage and now Vicky was up there doing hers and getting feedback from Pam.
"It's a Sunday night. But, Ezra wants us to spend more time on the floor meanwhile this is the floor."
Makayla chuckled, "So stupid."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course!" the girl chirped.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"I do."
"Does he know what you do?"
She laughed, "Are you kidding me?! I tell him I'm a night shift stocker at Walmart. I don't think he'd react well to the news about me being a stripper. Do you?"
You laughed too. "Nope. I don't tell anyone what I do. My friends think I am a bartender at a bar and my parents think I work at Olive Garden."
Makayla scooted closer to you, whispering "This job isn't really something I'm proud of. I don't know if I feel shame doing it, but I know I don't necessarily like it. I mean Olive and Pam love it here! They're always posting TikToks about what it's like to be a stripper and they just seem to romanticize it and leave out the harsh reality. I mean for fucks sake when you were gone, Pam and some man's wife got into a physical altercation, Pam had to press charges."
"Shit. Is Pam okay?"
"Yeah, went on like nothing even happened. Can't imagine that's healthy. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Do you like it?"
"Excuse me, ladies?" a man said.
You both immediately got up from your chairs. "Hello? Can we help you?"
The man looked to be shy and nervous; he wore a dark pinstripe suit and had been tugging at his tie when he approached the both of you. You had estimated that he had to be a few years older than you. Makayla had gone off to greet her regular, leaving you to cater to the unfamiliar man. "I was looking for a private session."
Private rooms meant one thing, you were alone and naked with a client. When you first started as an exoctic dancer, it was bit shocking to learn what could go on in these private, decorative rooms. You learned that you could do an "air dance," or you could do a lap dance, some dancers let the clients touch them -- rubbing their bodies on them, touch their breasts, or other form of touching, but no sex was to occur in the private rooms. Moreover, you also learned that each dancer makes their own rules towards these private sessions as Ezra lets you all.
"Follow me," you instructed him. Leading him to the private session zone of the club. "Ever done this before?"
"No."
"You can look, but you can't touch. Understood?"
"Understood."
But he did just that.
"Woah, no. You can't touch." you said backing away, "Other girls may let you touch, but I won't let you touch."
"Sorry." he apologized.
That was one of the issue you had read about in the feminist journals regarding sex work, it divided feminist. Some feminists, more liberal leaning ones state sex work is female self-determination and sexual liberation and they fight to de-stigmatize sex trade and reject the notion that they are victims in needing help. However, radical feminist state that sex work is sexual exploitation and gives power to the patriarchy, but they also call out accountability to those who buy sex. You understood both sides of the argument. (see link for more above).
Then, he did it again. Touched you.
You backed away, again. "I'm sorry I won't continue if you keep putting your hands on me."
"Why is that even a rule?"
"It is my rule. Now do you wish to continue?"
"Yeah, sorry. You're just really beautiful."
You'd heard that one before.
"No touching." you help up your finger like a mother discipling a child.
And then again. He touched you.
"Okay, no." you stood to your feet. “Anthony!"
Anthony came in, "Come on dude. You're finished."
"What?!"
You put your lingerie back on and watched from behind Anthony. Situations like this would happen at least twice a week on one of your scheduled days. They don't listen or get to drunk and begin to misbehave with one of the dancers.
"Yeah, you're done. You can't respect what the dancer says, you're done." he grabbed him by his pressed collar, "They make the rules, and I enforce the rules. You didn't listen to her, you're outta here."
"I want my money back!" he yelled.
"No refunds." you quickly added.
He threw a crumbled condom at you as Anthony dragged him out of the club. You quickly exited the private room. Now you were irritated and uncomfortable. Trying to stay coordinated on your feet, you quickly made your way to the back dressing room. Looking behind, you bumped into someone as you rounded the corner of the club. Your body full on hit them and their own hands steadied you by gently grabbing your upper arms.
You eyes grew wider, "Jack?"
Your perception was warped. Here you told yourself that there was no way in hell that you'd run into anyone you knew at this job. You know none of your friends would come to a strip club, as they were to 'pretentious,' your mom and dad lived in Florida, and you never really told people what you did apart from the fact that you work at a bar. So, when you saw Dr. Jack Abbot making sure you're steady on your feet in the strip club, you’re shocked. You presumed that someone like him would never step foot in a place like this. Or was that just your stereotype.
You felt sick at seeing him. "What are you doing here?"
He removed his hands, yet you could still feel his touch lingering. "Are you okay?"
"Fine." you said quickly, "What are you doing here?"
He looked at you, as if he was trying to decipher your words. You repeated yourself, "What are you doing here?"
Before he had the chance to answer you, Olive walked by and stared at the both of you. You turned your head away before cautiously watching her disappear into the dressing rooms. He looked at you, "A colleague of mine is celebrating being newly divorced. Interesting thing to celebrate."
"I see that more and more often. I mean this is a fitting place for newly divorced men, so who am I to judge." he went to say something, but you quickly interrupted. "I'm not a bartender. I say that because it's a lot easier to navigate in conversation than this. But, this job is paying for my tuition, books, and rent so I try not to complain."
"I wasn't gonna say anything." he replied.
"You'd be the first." you added, your breathing becoming regular.
You notice he went to say something but closed his mouth. You gestured to the dressing rooms behind him, "I better go finish what I was gonna do. Ezra told us we're spending too much time not doing our job, so I gotta go change and get back. It was nice seeing you again." you smiled as you slowly walked back towards the dressing room.
But.
His hand had wrapped around the palm of your hand. His hand was soft and gentle as he held your hand. “You sure you’re okay?”
You looked at his hand wrapped around yours. You held it back, more firmly compared to his gentle embrace. “I am now.”
You looked up at him, “Are you okay?"
He smiled too. "I am."
You were reluctant to let go of his hand, but when you heard someone coming from the dressing room, you let go. As you walked back to the dressing room, the hand he held, you held close to your heart. Your face was flushed pink when you finally saw yourself in decent lighting. But, you couldn’t stop smiling.
——————
09:38 PM - TUES.
"Those came for you this afternoon." Ezra said as you walked into the dressing room, him leaving the changing room.
On the stretch of the vanity was a vase of flowers: a moody bouquet of dark purple and orange calla lilies, red lilies, and eucalyptus with a card poking out of the bouquet. Next to it was a small maroon gift bag with tissue paper poking up from the top. You put your bag down and plucked the card from the flowers.
To keep yourself safe. - Jack A.
You couldn’t help but be giddy inside because of it all. You removed the delicate paper and pulled out two cardboard boxes. Opening the small boxes with a wide grin plastered on your face to reveal a taser and pepper spray. You took the taser out of the cloth case and slide the button on the right side to reveal a flashlight; yet, pushing the button all the way up and pressing the red button on the left caused the taser to go off.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Olive snapped as she turned around in the chair. “What the fuck are you doing?!”
“Sorry!” you apologized quickly and turned it off.
You placed your new items in your bag before digging around in tote to take out a smaller pepper spray, “Hey, Makayla? Do you want this? I just bought it.”
The new girls eyes lit up. “Yeah! Thanks!”
You placed the card in your wallet and carefully tucked it away deep in your purse before locking it up in your locker and grabbing your other bag that held all your dance outfits and a pair of heels. You were gonna make tonight a great night and hopefully have a better morning.
'Hey, Ezra! I have to leave at 6 in the morning! I have a thing for one of my classes with a few peers of mine. Sorry, it such a late notice, our professor just sprung it on us last night." you said as you put your feet into your heels at his office door.
"Whatever.”
You knew he wouldn’t argue with you.
07:14 AM - WED.
"Jack!" he heard his name being called.
You.
You were wearing a grey sweatshirt that had The University of Pittsburgh School of Law on the front with the universities crest with a simple pair of wide legged blue jeans and a pair of dirty Vans.
He tried to stop the smile from forming on his face, but he hadn't see you in a few days nor in this morning light. Every time he had the chance to see you it was always late in the night.
"Here I was thinking you only showed up in the dark."
You smiled. "I actually do prefer the daytime. Believe it or not."
"Tired of the night shift?" he questioned. The both of you started to walk down the sidewalk through the park that was across the hospital.
"Not quite." you smiled, "I also came by to say thank you for the taser and pepper spray. I appreciate it! Oh! The flowers too, they are gorgeous and sitting on my nightstand in my bedroom."
He smiled at you. "I'm glad you like them. I can't imagine that your job is particularly safe all the time."
Nodding, "It gets rough with all the handsy people, kinda made me hate when people touch me without permission, but I do okay. I do appreciate the forms of protection. Usually when I tell people what I do they look at me from a different perspective and that usually ends up in me getting, hmm, judged. The last time I told someone - my ex-boyfriend - he sent me a medium sized box filled with condoms. So, it was nice to receive such a gift without judgement. Like I said, I really appreciate it."
"It was no problem at all. My job shows me the aftermath of some violence that occurs." he stated, then added. "And, I'm sorry that your ex-boyfriend did that."
"I can only imagine what you see."
"I can only imagine what you see."
You stopped walking and looked at him. “Well, my apartment is that way. So, I’ll hopefully see you around, Jack.”
“Do you want to grab a coffee with me?”
It was abrupt, but you didn’t hesitate to answer. “I’d love that.”
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