Fantasies

A/N

Hey guys :)

If you're a new follower, you should know that English isn't my first language so there will be mistakes here and there. Hope you'll survive :)

Much love to you all.

Tina.

Shay's POV.

I’m at my burlesque inspired club, going through tonight’s routines. I have some awesome dancers. They learn fast and rock the stage every night. They’ve been with me since I opened my club, which is amazing because it shows how loyal they are.

“Babe, do we have any special VIPs coming tonight?” Faith asks.

“Yup, and guess who it is,” I say with an eyeroll, making her snigger. “My brother?”

“Ding ding ding.”

Faith is my best friend. We’ve been friends since childhood and she’s also a bartender at my club. Faith’s brother, Marc, on the other hand is my arch nemesis. I hate him with every fiber in my body. Well, I love him, but I hate him because he’s bullied me for as long as I can remember. Not in a really bad way but enough to be annoying as hell.

“You know he loves the club,” she says. I roll my eyes again. ”Oh come on. He’s only here so he can try to hook up with my dancers.” She raises an eyebrow and smirks. “So?”

“So, I don’t want to lose them because of him.”

She sighs and says, “you know he wouldn’t hurt them.”

“Riiight.”

I leave to check that everything is ready for tonight while making sure that the light technicians are settled, and that the place is nice and clean.

The bouncers and security get in place so they’re ready when the door opens. I have a lot of security because we get our fair share of drunken bachelor parties, and they can sometimes get a little too loud and behave inappropriately towards the waitresses and I don’t want that. This is a place where people can come and have a good time. It’s not some strip club where men can shout vulgar things at my dancers or grope my waitresses.

Of course, as soon as the door opens, the first one I bump into is Marc.

“Hi, Minnie,” he says with a grin, which makes me roll my eyes and sigh. My parents named me Minnie because I was small when I was born. I’m only 5.3 and even though I’ve changed my name to Shay, Marc just keeps calling me Minnie

“If you don’t stop calling me that, I will ban you from my club,” I say. His grin grows. “Aww you know you love me.”

I scoff and his grin turns into a smirk before he says, “you know, I’m beginning to think that you don’t like me.”

“You catch on quickly.” I turn around on my heels and walk away from him while he’s laughing. Then he shouts, “SEE YOU LATER, MINNIE.”.

He goes out of his way to piss me off and I have no idea why. Faith and Marc’s parents were our next-door neighbors when I was a child. I spend most of my time there because every night, my parents would have a screaming match. It was often addressed to me, accusing me of ruining their marriage, so I often sneaked out of my window and went over to Faith’s.

Her parents always kept their back door unlocked at night so I could get in that way, and Marc always waited up for me and comforted me but when I became a teenager, the teasing started. He’s six years older than I am and, for some reason, he teased me more than he did Faith. So, of course, I started hating him.

~~~~

The evening is running smoothly so I return to my office that’s filled with costumes that need fixing, which means there’s a lot of gluing pearls and rhinestones back on them.

Just then, Mia, one of my dancers, comes into my office, limping. Quickly putting the glue gun down, I go over to support her before I ask, “what happened?”

“I think I sprained my ankle. I’m so sorry, Shay.”

I quickly shake my head and get her to sit down in a chair. “Don’t be sorry. Come sit and let me have a look at it.” I gently examine her ankle, making her hiss. Then I say, “yeah, it’s definitely sprained.” I get her an ice pack and then I pull my phone out and call my sound guy.

“What’s up, boss?”

“Dancer down. Postpone the next act. You know what to do.”

“No problem. Let me know when you’re ready.”

“Will do. You rock.”

I hang up the phone and turn my attention back to Mia’s ankle. “I’m so, so sorry, Shay,” she says again. I give her a soft smile. “Stop apologizing. It’s not your fault.”

I’ve had a lot of sprained ankles, so I know how to bandage them. When I’m done, I say, “all done.” Then I find more ice packs for her. “Take these and I’ll help you upstairs.”

She sniffles and asks, “are you sure?” I give her another soft smile. “Absolutely. Now, come on.”

I help her on her feet and take her up to my apartment upstairs where I get her settled on the couch. When I’ve made sure she has everything she needs, I say, “alright, I gotta go. Just settle in and relax, babe.” She gives me a grateful smile. “Okay, thank you so much.”

I return her smile with a wide one. “No problem.” Then I hurry downstairs to the dressing room.

When a dancer is down, I take their place on the stage. I love to perform, but I hate that I always have to be in the front because I’m so freaking short. I don’t hate it because I hate to perform but because it should be my awesome dancers who should be at the front of the stage. Not me.

I quickly apply some make-up, fix my short, blond, pixie style hair, and get dressed before I call my sound guy.

“Alright, we’re ready.”

“Got it.”

Pussycat Dolls ‘Buttons’ starts playing and I dance my way out onto the stage with all my other dancers.

We dance seductively and flirt with both the men and the women that are seated at the tables in front of the stage. At one point, I notice that Marc is looking at me, almost devouring me with his eyes, which makes me raise my eyebrows slightly.

What the hell? He’s seen me dance a thousand times before, but he’s never looked at me the way he is now. He teases me like a little sister, so why is he looking at me like that?

When the song is over, my dancers and I go into the dressing room where they change outfits.

“Good job, girls. You looked hot as always,” I say.

“Thanks. What happened to Mia?” Sharon, one of my dancers, asks.

“Sprained ankle.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah, I’ll call in a backup dancer.”

She shakes her head. “Oh no you won’t. You’re going out on that stage to shake that fine ass of yours.” I shake my head myself. “No, Diana can-.”

“Pleeease. It’s so much fun when you dance with us.”

Tilting my head back, I groan and say, “you suck.” She laughs and helps me change outfits before we all go back out on the stage. Luckily, I only have to dance two more routines and then the girls can handle the rest.

When I’m done, and since the club is packed, I change into a waitress uniform and go out to help at the bar.

“Alright Faith, what have you got for me?” I ask, making her smirk. “A bottle of whiskey to the VIP section.” I sigh and say, “please don’t tell me it’s for your brother.” Her smirk grows. “No can do.” I groan, take the tray, and make my way over to the VIP section.

I spot Marc at a table with a bunch of his friends, including Faith’s fiancé, Shawn. I put down the tray and give them the whiskey as I say, “here you go, boys.” Shawn smiles at me. “Hey, Shay, how are you doing tonight?” I return his smile with a wide one. “I’m doing good Shawn. You?”

Lie. My feet are killing me in these high heels.

“When my fiancé’s shift is over, I’ll be good.”

I chuckle. “Yeah. She’s very busy, so that might not be for a while.” He pouts, making me chuckle again.

Then I notice that Marc is looking at me, and I can’t quite read the look in his eyes, which is unusual because I know him in and out. I turn to him and ask, “no girl tonight, Marc?” He shakes his head. “Nah, not feeling it tonight.” I fake a shocked expression and put my hand on his forehead. “Are you sick?”

He chuckles and smirks before he says, “maybe.” Rolling my eyes, I turn to the other guys at the table before I ask, “anything else I can get you guys?”

“Your number,” one of the guys says before he smacks my ass, making me stiffen. It’s a guy I’ve never seen before, and I see that Marc quirks a brow with a smirk tugging on his lips. “Bad move, dude.”

Slowly turning around, I look at the guy, lean down, and smile sweetly before I ask, “do you see that guy over there?” He turns his head and looks at a big, bulky guy who’s looking straight at us, making him swallow.

“That’s Knuckles. If you ever touch me or my staff in any way, I will make him throw you out of my club, violently. Do you hear me?”

His eyes widen and he swallows again before he stammers, “y-your club?”

“Yes, my club!”

Still with a smirk tugging on his lips, Marc chuckles so I turn around and smack him on the back of his head before I say, “don’t bring him here again.”

Then I turn back to the guy and give him another sweet smile. “Now, you boys have a nice evening.” With that, I turn around and walk back to the bar.

“How are they? And when I say they, I mean my fiancé,” Faith says.

“He’s good. Waiting for you to get off work.”

She smirks. “Oh, he’ll get me off, alright.” She wiggles her eyebrows and I roll my eyes with a smile. “Next order.”

She fills my tray with drinks and says, “table seven.” I nod. “Got it.”

I walk around, serving drinks for the rest of the night until it slows down and the waitresses can handle the rest. Then I go over to Faith and say, “I’m off, babe. See you tomorrow.”

“Night, Shay.”

I make my way up to my apartment where I immediately take off my heels and rub my feet, which almost makes me hiss because they feel like they could fall off any minute now.

I find Mia sleeping in the guest room with an icepack on her ankle, so I gently remove it and pull the covers over her.

When I moved in, I got an extra bedroom made in case one of the girls would get injured, or they’d be too tired to go home. Then they could always crash here.

I decide to take a bath to loosen up my sore muscles and aching feet. When I turn on the water to fill the bathtub, I put some scented oils and bath salts in it and wait until it’s full before I lower my body into the hot water. While it soothes my muscles, I massage my feet while my mind wanders to how the night went.

Note to self: call a backup dancer and order more wine and scotch glasses plus more shirts for the bartenders.

Then I start to think about new routines and, for some reason, Marc. The way he looked at me when I danced… And for some reason, my eyes kept wandering to him because of the way he looked at me. It was so weird. He’s never looked at me like he did tonight.

Shaking my head, I sigh because I’m too tired to think about that right now.

When the water starts getting cold, I get up, dry myself off, and put on my pj’s. I make a cup of tea and take it into the bedroom where I crawl under the covers and let out a long sigh of contentment. Then I read some magazines from vendors, and other stuff for the club.

Finishing the tea, I get comfortable and get some much-needed sleep.

----

I wake up early in the afternoon and instantly smell coffee, so I get out of bed and go into the open planned kitchen/living room where Mia is sitting at the kitchen table, reading a magazine.

I smile at her and say, “morning, Mia. How’s your ankle?”

“Sprained.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Yeah, that sucks.” She nods. “Mm hm. There’s fresh coffee if you want some?” I give her a grateful smile. “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”

I pour myself a cup and take a sip before I ask, “do you want me to take you to the hospital today?” She shakes her head. “Nah. You know what you’re doing when it comes to sprained ankles.” I chuckle. I definitely do. It’s a big risk you take as a dancer. Especially when you dance in high heels.

“Alright, go sit your ass on the couch and relax,” I say, making her roll her eyes with a smile. “Yes, mom.”

I chuckle again and go over to my aquarium to feed my fish. I got them because I’ve always felt relaxed when I look at them. It’s almost hypnotizing. It’s my way of meditating.

Sitting down next to Mia on the couch, I take another sip of coffee and sigh in contentment. There’s nothing better than a good cup of morning coffee.

“So, do you have any plans today?” Mia asks me. I nod. “Yeah, I have a salsa class today.” She raises a brow. “Really? I didn’t know you took salsa lessons.” I smile and shrug before I say, “I have for years. It’s so much fun and I always have a good time with my dance partner, Eli.”

She smiles. “Maybe I could come?” Chuckling, I pat her thigh. “Concentrate on getting better first. When your ankle has healed, I’ll take you there.”

I look at the clock hanging on the wall, drink the rest of my coffee, and say, “alright, I have to be there in an hour. Do you want me to drive you home?”

She looks down and fidgets a little, so I give her a soft smile. “You know you can stay here as long as you want to, right?” She looks at me, smiling a little and asks, “yeah?”

“Mm hm. On one condition.”

She quirks a brow. “And what’s that?”

“You have to make me morning coffee every day,” I say, grinning. She laughs and nods. “I can definitely do that.” I give her a big smile and lean in to hug her. “Great. Now, I have to get dressed.”

Going into my bedroom, I put on a light blue tank top and a matching short, flowy skirt before I grab my bag, say goodbye to Mia, and make my way to the dance studio where I’m greeted by my dance partner.

He grabs me, dips me, and gives me a quick kiss, making me chuckle against his lips. “Hello to you too, Eli.”

He brings me back on my feet and smiles before he asks, “are you ready to shake your ass today? I smile. “Aren’t I always? He grins and nods. “Good, because I’m pumped today.”

That makes me groan. “You’re going to swing me around the whole room today, aren’t you?”

“Ohh yes, I am,” he say, winking at me, making me sigh.

My poor feet.

~~~~

Mark’s POV.

I’m at my sister’s place, chatting with Shawn. He called me earlier, begging me to come over because Faith is in bridezilla mode and for some reason, he thinks I can calm her down, which I know I can’t.

He gives me a beer and I take a sip of it before I say, “so, the big day is almost here.” He sighs. “Yeah, hence the chaos. I love Faith with all my heart, but she’s driving me crazy with all this wedding stuff. Isn’t it supposed to be the bride that arranges it?” I chuckle. “Count yourself lucky that she wants to include you.”

“I know, I know, but I just don’t care if the tablecloths are white or off white. Thank God Shay is coming over to help today.”

My heart beats a little faster and I swallow a big gulp of beer before I ask, “she is?”

“Mm hm.”

My heart beats faster and I can feel that my palms are getting sweaty. That’s bad. That’s so, so bad. After last night at the club, I had hoped I wouldn’t see her today. Well, I want to see her, I just hoped it would be in a couple of days so I could get myself together.

Last night was different from what it normally is. I can usually control the way I look at her, but it slipped last night. I’ve always been able to hide that I’m looking at her when she dances but, for some reason, I couldn’t last night.

You see... I’m in love with Shay.