Maureen/Catherine
Maureen was sick of New York. She liked the hustle and bustle; that was the part that made her stay. It was the people she hated. She could barely go anywhere without seeing one of her exes. She sighed, sinking into her couch and placing her face in her palms. Where else could she go?
***
Catherine twirled herself around the pole, shaking her torso at a patron nearby. He grinned wickedly and placed a folded dollar in the strap of her black thong. She winked at him, continuing her sensuous dance.
Other girls were leaving this place daily. They were going on to bigger and better things; yet here she was shaking her naked bosom at jeering customers, same time every night.
***
“Are you really that unhappy?” Mimi asked, clutching Maureen’s hands in her own.
Maureen nodded. “Things haven’t been the same since Angel died. And then there’s Joanne…” Her voice trailed off. She and Joanne had given their relationship another shot after Mimi and Roger got back together. Things had just ended up the way they had the first time. Maureen flirted, Joanne got jealous and they fought constantly. They’d split a couple weeks ago. “I just can’t take it anymore.” Maureen whispered.
“I understand.” Mimi thought for a moment. “Why not try Vegas? I know a girl who lived there once. She works at the Cat Scratch now. She’s always talking about the money that was rollin’ in every night in Vegas. I bet you’d make a killing as a dancer. You’re hot stuff, girl.” Mimi winked at Maureen, forcing a laugh from the older woman. “Besides, I really think you’d like it. They live the same fast-paced life as New Yorkers. You’d do well there.”
“Really?”
Mimi nodded, placing a thin, tan arm around Maureen’s shoulders. “And if you don’t like it, you can always come back.”
“I’ll do it.” Maureen stated, gaining confidence in herself. “I’ll go to Vegas.”
“That’s my girl!” Mimi laughed and gave the older woman a gentle squeeze.
~~~
Maureen looked down at the city beneath her, the neon lights shining up, welcoming her to Vegas. She could get used to this.
The plane landed and she looked around. “This is it.” She whispered to herself, hailing a cab.
She looked out the window as they drove along, trying to absorb the sights and sounds of the city that was to become her new home. She breathed in the Vegas air, warm and dry. She listened, hearing the gentle ping of slot machines ring out every time someone opened the door to a casino. Yes, she thought, she could definitely get used to this.
The car pulled up in front of her apartment and she walked through the doorway, her single piece of luggage rolling gently behind her.
She rode the elevator to the fourth floor and found her room, 419. She unlocked the door and glanced around. They’d moved her furniture and things in earlier, and she had to admit, she loved the way it looked in her new place.
She sank back into the familiar couch, deciding to temporarily put off unpacking. This was the life.
***
They weren’t due to open for another hour. Catherine twirled around on the pole, practicing a new move and honing the old ones. She wasn’t putting too much effort into it, barely paying attention to what she was doing, letting her mind wander to other things. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do anyways. Most of the time, she came here because she got bored sitting at home watching soap operas all day.
She heard the door to the building creak open and glanced up at the brunette that had just entered before going back to her dancing. “We don’t open until nine!” She called out. She heard the clicking of heels cross the floor and stop directly in front of her.
Her eyes moved up a pair of calf-length boots, across a small glimpse of creamy white thigh, over the mini skirt, to the ample bosom barely hidden beneath a v-neck t-shirt and finally resting on the big brown eyes that gazed confidently back at her.
“Actually, I’m not here to watch.” The woman spoke in a slightly edgy voice that almost sent a chill down Catherine’s spine. Thank God she was paid to control those reactions. “I’m here for a job.”
Catherine eyed the woman skeptically, instantly aware that this woman was too pretty for this kind of thing. “Are you sure about that?” She asked, raising an eyebrow and allowing her eyes to travel up and down the brunette’s body.
The other woman stared back, locking eyes with Catherine. “I’m sure.”
Catherine sighed and stepped gracefully off the stage, running a hand through her thick strawberry-blond hair. “Follow me.”
She led the brunette down a hallway to a door on the left, near the end. She glanced behind her, making sure the other woman was still with her before extending a slender hand and knocking. She noted that the stranger was about her own age.
“Come in.”
Catherine turned the handle and stepped into the dimly lit office, putting on a fake smile for the chubby older man seated behind a pile of papers. “What?” He grunted, not bothering to remove the cigar that was clutched between his protruding lips.
“I have a new girl for you.” Catherine continued to smile as she motioned to the gorgeous woman in the doorway.
The man looked her over and motioned for her to step forward so that he could get a better look at her. He appeared to like what he saw, as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his desk and tenting his fingers together. He looked the pale brunette up and down and a greedy smile stretched across his fat cheeks. She would bring in a lot of dough. His eyes rested on her ample bosom. A hell of a lot of dough.
He leaned back contentedly, pulling the cigar from his lips. “Name’s Roger O’Connell. I own this lovely establishment.” He extended his arms extravagantly and winked at her. “Who might you be?”
“Maureen Johnson.” She spoke up confidently, stepping closer to the desk and the strawberry-blond standing in front of it.
“Nice to meet you Maureen.” He smiled, then motioned towards the other woman. “This here’s Catherine, my number one girl.”
Maureen smiled at the other woman as if she were just seeing her for the first time. “Nice to meet you.”
Catherine raised an eyebrow. “Pleasure.” It was said with a slight hint of sarcasm and a smirk.
Roger turned to look at Catherine. “Now Pussy Cat, play nice.” Catherine hated when he called her that, but she continued to smile warmly. He did, after all, pay her better than any of the other girls. He smiled back, clearly unaware of the falseness and irritation hidden behind hers. “You are the best I got, doll. I want you to teach Maureen here the ropes.” He turned back to the brunette. “You got any experience, sweetheart?”
“Not really.” She grimaced, hoping he wouldn’t turn her away.
To the contrary, he continued to smile, waving a hand dismissively in the air. “No problem. Pussy Cat here can teach you the ropes. Watch her and you’ll be a pro in no time.” He missed the slight eye roll from Catherine, but it did not go unnoticed by the brunette.
“Thank you, sir.” She smiled and winked at him, turning to leave the room. Catherine followed behind her, closing the door on the office of a very happy man.
Catherine fell in step with the brunette. “You learn quickly.” She said, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye. The other woman looked confused.
Catherine mimicked her voice. “Thank you, sir.” She said, adding a dramatic wink at the end. Maureen laughed.
“I’ve worked with guys like him before. The easiest way to get ahead is to know how to flirt.”
Catherine motioned to a table before pulling out a chair. She turned it around and straddled it. Maureen found her eyes wandering over the slender legs on either side of the chair back. She realized what she was doing and quickly pulled out a chair and joined the other woman.
“Well you have the first rule of this business all figured out then. Knowing how to make a guy feel like he is the only one in the room. Trust me, they pay better if they think they’re special. Shake those D-cups at them, throw in a wink and you’re solid. You’ll have guys flinging twenties at you in no time.” Catherine paused to openly examine Maureen’s figure. “And with a body like that, you’re already ahead of most of the girls in this business. What brings a looker like you to a crap job like this?”
“Broke up with a girlfriend and realized I needed to escape New York. My friend’s a dancer back there and she said I’d do well here. I figured I’d try it out for a bit.”
“Girlfriend, eh?” Catherine smirked.
Maureen raised an eyebrow. “Got a problem with that?”
“Problem isn’t the word I would use.” The strawberry-blond laughed. “Ok, well…” She looked at her watch. “This joint opens in thirty minutes and I need to get ready. You can either stick around and watch or you can come back tomorrow around six and we can go from there.”
“I think I’d like to stick around, see what all the fuss is about.” Maureen smirked at the woman across from her.
“Well then, I am going to go get changed. You go ahead and get comfortable and I will see you on the other side.” Catherine winked at her, walking across the stage and into the dressing room in the back.
~~~
Catherine pulled on her stilettos and stood to examine the final effect in the mirror. Same as always. She ran her hands through her hair, teasing it out a bit to give her an edgier look.
She strutted through the curtain, placing a bemused smirk on her face as she glided up to the pole. She wrapped her arm around it, twirling once to give everyone a glimpse of her body.
She looked out across the crowd, trying to find one particular face. Her eyes locked momentarily with the big brown ones of the woman seated beside the stage. Catherine winked at her before hitching her fingers under her bra straps and twirling them beneath her thumbs. The audience hollered.
She pushed the straps down her arms before unhitching the bra and flinging it behind her. Her hands reached up, clutching her breasts. She leaned down, shaking them gently at a man in front of her. He jeered and waved his folded dollars. She sank to her knees before crawling towards him, turning so that her bottom was in his face. She felt him smack it before placing the bills neatly in the strap of the g-string.
She crawled across the stage, her target clearly marked. Maureen smiled at her as she drew closer. The brunette clutched a single and showed it to the other woman. Catherine sat on the side of the stage and spread her legs out in a split. Maureen trailed her hand along the toned stomach before placing the money in the strap. Catherine winked and rose before continuing on with her routine.
She didn’t know when the other woman left, but she looked up near the end of her routine and realized that the table was now occupied by a couple of businessmen.
She finished shortly after and headed back stage, slightly disappointed that the other woman hadn’t stuck around. She was removing her make-up when she heard a door open behind her.
“That was quite a show.”
Catherine spun around and smiled. “You think so?”
“Oh yea.” Maureen laughed. “Done for the night?”
“Yup.”
“Let’s grab a beer.”
“I like your thinking.” Catherine smiled as she turned back to the mirror to finish rubbing off the make-up.
She rose a few minutes later, back to normal. “Let’s blow this joint.” She offered her arm to the brunette, who immediately linked with her and they strode out the back door.
~~~
About an hour later, they’d managed to each have about five beers without paying for a single one.
“So…” Catherine said, feeling brave from her slight buzz. “How many girls have you fucked?”
“O wow!” Maureen laughed. “I don’t know if I can count that high.”
Catherine snorted into her fresh glass of beer. “Damn!”
“Kidding. Let me think.” Maureen tried to count it off on her fingers. “I always feel like I’m forgetting someone.” She thought for a moment. “Oh yea! She was a good one!” Catherine cocked an eyebrow and snorted. Maureen smiled at her. “Twenty-eight. If you don’t count Marky…”
“Oooh.” Catherine laughed.
“Story for another day.” Maureen winked. “What about you?”
Catherine thought for a second before wincing. “Seven.”
“Any good?”
“I would tell you if I actually remembered.”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
Catherine laughed but it quickly turned into a yawn. She looked down at her watch. Eight A.M. “Damn. It’s fuckin late.” She stretched a bit. “Call it a night?”
“Sure.”
“Still wanna meet at six?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
***
Catherine twirled herself around the pole, shaking her torso at a patron nearby. He grinned wickedly and placed a folded dollar in the strap of her black thong. She winked at him, continuing her sensuous dance.
Other girls were leaving this place daily. They were going on to bigger and better things; yet here she was shaking her naked bosom at jeering customers, same time every night.
***
“Are you really that unhappy?” Mimi asked, clutching Maureen’s hands in her own.
Maureen nodded. “Things haven’t been the same since Angel died. And then there’s Joanne…” Her voice trailed off. She and Joanne had given their relationship another shot after Mimi and Roger got back together. Things had just ended up the way they had the first time. Maureen flirted, Joanne got jealous and they fought constantly. They’d split a couple weeks ago. “I just can’t take it anymore.” Maureen whispered.
“I understand.” Mimi thought for a moment. “Why not try Vegas? I know a girl who lived there once. She works at the Cat Scratch now. She’s always talking about the money that was rollin’ in every night in Vegas. I bet you’d make a killing as a dancer. You’re hot stuff, girl.” Mimi winked at Maureen, forcing a laugh from the older woman. “Besides, I really think you’d like it. They live the same fast-paced life as New Yorkers. You’d do well there.”
“Really?”
Mimi nodded, placing a thin, tan arm around Maureen’s shoulders. “And if you don’t like it, you can always come back.”
“I’ll do it.” Maureen stated, gaining confidence in herself. “I’ll go to Vegas.”
“That’s my girl!” Mimi laughed and gave the older woman a gentle squeeze.
~~~
Maureen looked down at the city beneath her, the neon lights shining up, welcoming her to Vegas. She could get used to this.
The plane landed and she looked around. “This is it.” She whispered to herself, hailing a cab.
She looked out the window as they drove along, trying to absorb the sights and sounds of the city that was to become her new home. She breathed in the Vegas air, warm and dry. She listened, hearing the gentle ping of slot machines ring out every time someone opened the door to a casino. Yes, she thought, she could definitely get used to this.
The car pulled up in front of her apartment and she walked through the doorway, her single piece of luggage rolling gently behind her.
She rode the elevator to the fourth floor and found her room, 419. She unlocked the door and glanced around. They’d moved her furniture and things in earlier, and she had to admit, she loved the way it looked in her new place.
She sank back into the familiar couch, deciding to temporarily put off unpacking. This was the life.
***
They weren’t due to open for another hour. Catherine twirled around on the pole, practicing a new move and honing the old ones. She wasn’t putting too much effort into it, barely paying attention to what she was doing, letting her mind wander to other things. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do anyways. Most of the time, she came here because she got bored sitting at home watching soap operas all day.
She heard the door to the building creak open and glanced up at the brunette that had just entered before going back to her dancing. “We don’t open until nine!” She called out. She heard the clicking of heels cross the floor and stop directly in front of her.
Her eyes moved up a pair of calf-length boots, across a small glimpse of creamy white thigh, over the mini skirt, to the ample bosom barely hidden beneath a v-neck t-shirt and finally resting on the big brown eyes that gazed confidently back at her.
“Actually, I’m not here to watch.” The woman spoke in a slightly edgy voice that almost sent a chill down Catherine’s spine. Thank God she was paid to control those reactions. “I’m here for a job.”
Catherine eyed the woman skeptically, instantly aware that this woman was too pretty for this kind of thing. “Are you sure about that?” She asked, raising an eyebrow and allowing her eyes to travel up and down the brunette’s body.
The other woman stared back, locking eyes with Catherine. “I’m sure.”
Catherine sighed and stepped gracefully off the stage, running a hand through her thick strawberry-blond hair. “Follow me.”
She led the brunette down a hallway to a door on the left, near the end. She glanced behind her, making sure the other woman was still with her before extending a slender hand and knocking. She noted that the stranger was about her own age.
“Come in.”
Catherine turned the handle and stepped into the dimly lit office, putting on a fake smile for the chubby older man seated behind a pile of papers. “What?” He grunted, not bothering to remove the cigar that was clutched between his protruding lips.
“I have a new girl for you.” Catherine continued to smile as she motioned to the gorgeous woman in the doorway.
The man looked her over and motioned for her to step forward so that he could get a better look at her. He appeared to like what he saw, as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his desk and tenting his fingers together. He looked the pale brunette up and down and a greedy smile stretched across his fat cheeks. She would bring in a lot of dough. His eyes rested on her ample bosom. A hell of a lot of dough.
He leaned back contentedly, pulling the cigar from his lips. “Name’s Roger O’Connell. I own this lovely establishment.” He extended his arms extravagantly and winked at her. “Who might you be?”
“Maureen Johnson.” She spoke up confidently, stepping closer to the desk and the strawberry-blond standing in front of it.
“Nice to meet you Maureen.” He smiled, then motioned towards the other woman. “This here’s Catherine, my number one girl.”
Maureen smiled at the other woman as if she were just seeing her for the first time. “Nice to meet you.”
Catherine raised an eyebrow. “Pleasure.” It was said with a slight hint of sarcasm and a smirk.
Roger turned to look at Catherine. “Now Pussy Cat, play nice.” Catherine hated when he called her that, but she continued to smile warmly. He did, after all, pay her better than any of the other girls. He smiled back, clearly unaware of the falseness and irritation hidden behind hers. “You are the best I got, doll. I want you to teach Maureen here the ropes.” He turned back to the brunette. “You got any experience, sweetheart?”
“Not really.” She grimaced, hoping he wouldn’t turn her away.
To the contrary, he continued to smile, waving a hand dismissively in the air. “No problem. Pussy Cat here can teach you the ropes. Watch her and you’ll be a pro in no time.” He missed the slight eye roll from Catherine, but it did not go unnoticed by the brunette.
“Thank you, sir.” She smiled and winked at him, turning to leave the room. Catherine followed behind her, closing the door on the office of a very happy man.
Catherine fell in step with the brunette. “You learn quickly.” She said, glancing at her out of the corner of her eye. The other woman looked confused.
Catherine mimicked her voice. “Thank you, sir.” She said, adding a dramatic wink at the end. Maureen laughed.
“I’ve worked with guys like him before. The easiest way to get ahead is to know how to flirt.”
Catherine motioned to a table before pulling out a chair. She turned it around and straddled it. Maureen found her eyes wandering over the slender legs on either side of the chair back. She realized what she was doing and quickly pulled out a chair and joined the other woman.
“Well you have the first rule of this business all figured out then. Knowing how to make a guy feel like he is the only one in the room. Trust me, they pay better if they think they’re special. Shake those D-cups at them, throw in a wink and you’re solid. You’ll have guys flinging twenties at you in no time.” Catherine paused to openly examine Maureen’s figure. “And with a body like that, you’re already ahead of most of the girls in this business. What brings a looker like you to a crap job like this?”
“Broke up with a girlfriend and realized I needed to escape New York. My friend’s a dancer back there and she said I’d do well here. I figured I’d try it out for a bit.”
“Girlfriend, eh?” Catherine smirked.
Maureen raised an eyebrow. “Got a problem with that?”
“Problem isn’t the word I would use.” The strawberry-blond laughed. “Ok, well…” She looked at her watch. “This joint opens in thirty minutes and I need to get ready. You can either stick around and watch or you can come back tomorrow around six and we can go from there.”
“I think I’d like to stick around, see what all the fuss is about.” Maureen smirked at the woman across from her.
“Well then, I am going to go get changed. You go ahead and get comfortable and I will see you on the other side.” Catherine winked at her, walking across the stage and into the dressing room in the back.
~~~
Catherine pulled on her stilettos and stood to examine the final effect in the mirror. Same as always. She ran her hands through her hair, teasing it out a bit to give her an edgier look.
She strutted through the curtain, placing a bemused smirk on her face as she glided up to the pole. She wrapped her arm around it, twirling once to give everyone a glimpse of her body.
She looked out across the crowd, trying to find one particular face. Her eyes locked momentarily with the big brown ones of the woman seated beside the stage. Catherine winked at her before hitching her fingers under her bra straps and twirling them beneath her thumbs. The audience hollered.
She pushed the straps down her arms before unhitching the bra and flinging it behind her. Her hands reached up, clutching her breasts. She leaned down, shaking them gently at a man in front of her. He jeered and waved his folded dollars. She sank to her knees before crawling towards him, turning so that her bottom was in his face. She felt him smack it before placing the bills neatly in the strap of the g-string.
She crawled across the stage, her target clearly marked. Maureen smiled at her as she drew closer. The brunette clutched a single and showed it to the other woman. Catherine sat on the side of the stage and spread her legs out in a split. Maureen trailed her hand along the toned stomach before placing the money in the strap. Catherine winked and rose before continuing on with her routine.
She didn’t know when the other woman left, but she looked up near the end of her routine and realized that the table was now occupied by a couple of businessmen.
She finished shortly after and headed back stage, slightly disappointed that the other woman hadn’t stuck around. She was removing her make-up when she heard a door open behind her.
“That was quite a show.”
Catherine spun around and smiled. “You think so?”
“Oh yea.” Maureen laughed. “Done for the night?”
“Yup.”
“Let’s grab a beer.”
“I like your thinking.” Catherine smiled as she turned back to the mirror to finish rubbing off the make-up.
She rose a few minutes later, back to normal. “Let’s blow this joint.” She offered her arm to the brunette, who immediately linked with her and they strode out the back door.
~~~
About an hour later, they’d managed to each have about five beers without paying for a single one.
“So…” Catherine said, feeling brave from her slight buzz. “How many girls have you fucked?”
“O wow!” Maureen laughed. “I don’t know if I can count that high.”
Catherine snorted into her fresh glass of beer. “Damn!”
“Kidding. Let me think.” Maureen tried to count it off on her fingers. “I always feel like I’m forgetting someone.” She thought for a moment. “Oh yea! She was a good one!” Catherine cocked an eyebrow and snorted. Maureen smiled at her. “Twenty-eight. If you don’t count Marky…”
“Oooh.” Catherine laughed.
“Story for another day.” Maureen winked. “What about you?”
Catherine thought for a second before wincing. “Seven.”
“Any good?”
“I would tell you if I actually remembered.”
“I’ll take that as a no.”
Catherine laughed but it quickly turned into a yawn. She looked down at her watch. Eight A.M. “Damn. It’s fuckin late.” She stretched a bit. “Call it a night?”
“Sure.”
“Still wanna meet at six?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”