04

𝙰𝚁𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙸 𝙽𝙴'𝚉𝙸𝙰𝙷 𝙶𝙸𝙱𝚂𝙾𝙽

𝙱𝚁𝙾𝙾𝙺𝙻𝚈𝙽, 𝙽𝚈

Armani woke up at 7a.m to get ready for work, she worked at Nike until 4p.m. Then, she  worked at Kingston's diamonds from 8p.m to 2 a.m.

She sighed as she got up from bed, as much as she hated waking up early she had to get to the money. She went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth then put on her favorite Aztec mask. While letting it sit for 10-15 minutes she called her dad.

"Hey mani, up for work?" He asked already knowing.

Armani's dad knew all of her jobs and he didn't judge not one. He met her mom when she was a stripper, not because her mom couldn't get another job, but because she liked the money, and if he married a stripper who was he to judge? He supported her because he knew that she wasn't going to be one forever.

"Yep, I'm exhausted from Azari's party last night." She said.

"I'd expect you to be, I hope you're keeping up with your homework though." He said.

"Of course." She said. "I only go out every once in a while, you know this."

"Yeah I know but listen mani, I gotta client coming in and papers to look at so I'll call you after work." He said.

"Okay." She agreed and hung up.

She got into the shower and washed up, then got out after 20 minutes. She rubbed cocoa butter on her bare skin, and got dressed in the familiar Nike uniform. She didn't feel like wearing shoes so she put on her white crocs and grabbed her keys. She left and stopped at Starbucks before heading to the mall.

She blasted Exchange by Bryson Tiller while she drove. She pulled up 20 minutes before opening and went in.  Everyone was setting their stuff in the back and she did the same. She unlocked the register and opened the doors to signal that they were open.

People didn't start coming until 10 and it didn't start getting busy until 12. She put her AirPods in and listened to music while she worked.

"Thank you and come again." She said smiling at the lady and the little girl in front of her.

"Thanks for the help and have a good day." The lady said.

"You too." She responded.

"Excuse me." Somebody said.

She looked up from the cash register to see two little girls and their parents.

"Can I get these in a size 3 and 4?" The mom asked.

She nodded her head and went to the back grabbing them. She came back to the front and looked for them. She spotted them on one of the benches and walked over.

"Here you go." She says. "Anything else you need let me know."

"Thank you." Said the dad.

By 2o'clock it was packed and Armani was running around trying to help— all while being the cashier. She had 2 hours left and didn't even have time for break. In the couple of hours she worked, she helped about 30-40 people find what they needed. She was exhausted.

"Next in line." She said.

That continued to be the routine until her shift was finally over. She went to the back and grabbed her stuff before her manager could see her and ask her to stay overtime. She clocked out and did the dash out the door to her car.

Before going home, she stopped at chipotle and got her traditional rice bowl.

Once at home, she ate her food and took a long shower. By the time she finished doing both those things she decided to take a nap seeing that it was 5.

She woke up at 6–very much still exhausted, but she wanted her money. She pulled out her Nike duffel bag from her closet stuffing it with her attire she wears to dance. She then pulls on a bodycon dress and grabs her keys and leaves.

"Hey Kash." Said another stripper Krystal greeting Armani.

Krystal never knew Armani's real name, Armani didn't know hers nor cared too.

"Hey." Armani responded.

She got dressed in her outfit and sat down fixing her hair.

"Kash you're up next."said Star, another stripper but her real name was Aniqua.

"Mkay." She said and got up.

"Give it up for one of y'all voted favorites Kashmere!" They called and she went out.

They played When we by Tank and she got to doing her thing.

The crowd went wild throwing 100s and 50s on the stage as she went on. She twirled her way up on the pole doing her thing mostly making sure she didn't fall.

She finished her routine and picked up her money stuffing it in her duffel bag Star handed her. She felt eyes on her, and she looked up seeing Nasir— looking as edible as possible.

She winked at him and then carried her money backstage.

"Damn girl you made a lot today." Said Star looking at her as she dumped out her money on the floor to count.

"I know, this was probably one of my best nights." She replied as she counted mentally.

"That routine you did was dumb good." She said. "Had everybody looking at you mesmerized, especially lil chocolate daddy in the back."

She smirked. "I know."

"Oh girl he was so fine, you shoulda seen him." She continued.

Armani ain't really care to listen to anything Star was saying, she just wanted to count her money before she had to go again.

She had made $1,500 in that one dance routine.

Hmm... all the ballers out tonight huh? She thought to herself as she put the money in her second duffel bag and stuffed it in her locker.

She knew about 3 other strippers that like to steal money when they night ain't go well. She was not about to let that happen to her, so she went and got herself a fancy lock.

Star went and then Krystal went and then it was 2 more strippers ahead of her.

"Kash you're wanted for a private dance." Said Tony, her boss.

"You know ion do private dances Tony." She said. "I haven't done none in the 2 years I've been here, all the fuckin weirdos be tryna get they dicks sucked or pimp me."

"I know but this one isn't taking no for an answer so go, and if he tries to pimp you then you tell me." He said.

She smacked her teeth and went down to the rooms.

"Listen muhfucka Ian suckin yo dick, Ian fuckin you, and I'm fo sho not boutta be pimped." She said as she entered the room closing the curtain behind her. "Now what is it you want?"

"Ion think I got to ask you last time, where you from ma?" Said the one voice that made her weak in her knees.

She looked up and saw chocolate daddy in his flesh sitting comfortable.

"Baltimore." She said.

"Ian gon lie, when I saw you dance I was stuck yo, like deadass." He said. "How long it take fo you to learn how to move like that?"

"A couple hours, I'm surprised I didn't bust my ass while I was up there." She spoke honestly.

"How long you been a stripper?"

Damn nigga asking ALL the questions. I like that, get to know me lil daddy. She thought to herself.

"About 2 years now."

"What got you into stripping?"

"Your time is almost up, you came to ask questions or do you want a dance?" She asked because she didn't need none of the other strippers listening in.

"Nah I just wanted to get to know you privately." He said

"This isn't exactly private." She spoke. "The strippers here are insanely nosey and I don't want them in my business."

"I feel ya, so when is a good time fo you cause I'm really feelin yo vibes." He spoke honestly.

Even though she was a stripper, he could tell she carried herself with class and respect. He wasn't gon judge her cause it wasn't his place. He meant it when he said he liked her vibes.

"Pick a date and let me know." She said and walked out.

Her focus was her money, she'll worry bout Nasir when there's a date to worry about.