Lenny stood in the main space at Tease and watched Elsa and Jenny practising their dance for opening night. Pam was by his side and she kept looking over at him, watching his beady eyes, his arousal. Elsa had upped her game and these two girls were on the stage fighting for the top girl position. Jenny’s leg spun around the silver pole and narrowly missed Elsa’s face, but the new girl was wising up and didn’t even flinch.
This was a job well done, and the deal Lenny and Pam had made together was nearly signed and sealed. Pam placed her hand on his broad shoulder. She whispered into his ear, her breath tickling his neck, ‘We did it, Lenny, we really did it. Tonight’s opening is all that everyone is talking about. We’re going to smash it.’
Lenny nodded, watching the dancers. ‘Just one last thing needed, Pam.’
She stared at him and hunched her shoulders, as if to brace herself. She’d stuck to everything on her side of the bargain, all but one.
His voice was low, and he made sure nobody was listening. ‘The girl, I want her first. Once I’ve had her, that’s your last payment made. This place is yours.’
Pam swallowed hard; she was hoping he might have changed his mind. Elsa had been the lure to tempt him, but she’d thought she’d be able to talk her way out of it later. She looked at Elsa. She was a world away from the girl she’d first met – so confident on the stage now – but there was still a purity to her, a life in her eyes that Pam didn’t want to see deadened. But business was business.
‘Oh, Lenny, you can have any girl you want. Leave Elsa alone. She’s still a kid. You’ll have plenty of time to break her in, in the future.’
His face changed and his nose was nearly touching hers. ‘Listen, I want the girl, like we agreed. Don’t fucking mess me about, Pam. Like we said, untouched.’
Pam felt defeated for a moment, then the steely look returned to her eyes. ‘Relax, Lenny, if you’re that bloody keen, after tonight’s show you can take her. I will tell her she’s going with you to a private party. The rest is up to you, but please look after her.’
‘Fuck me, you actually care about her, don’t you? I never thought I would see the day,’ he chuckled.
Pam looked over at Elsa as she finished the routine. Lenny started clapping, and he shouted over to the girls. ‘Great guns, the punters will be gagging for it. Go and relax for a bit. Tonight’s probably going to be the biggest night of your life.’ He looked over his shoulder, and Pam was gone. The door was still swinging open and a cold draught seeped in from outside.
Pam sat in her car with her head resting on the steering wheel, and sobbed her heart out. She lifted her head up and streams of black tears ran down from her eyes. Maybe she did have a conscience, after all. But a deal was a deal and there was no way she could risk everything now: she’d come too far.