Chapter 1
Dakota
I am a Las Vegas showgirl.
A sentence I never thought I would have to say. But you take what you can get. Because one day while I was at work, my parents packed up our entire house and moved away. They left with no contact information, nothing.
Though there was one saving grace. My then boyfriend's father owns this hotel that I work at, and he's allowed me to keep the job even though his son and I broke up.
This isn't the best job and I'm one of the backup dancers, which means I am in the back and my costume is a red corset and matching red barely there shorts. But at least I'm more covered up than the girls in the front who wear outfits that show more than most bikinis on the beach do.
Even though I’ve always loved to dance, this was never what I wanted to do with my life. But I can't say it's a bad job. I make more money than I would at any job on the strip and the hours are pretty good, though I do have to work weekends.
In another few weeks, I should have enough money to get my own place. Since then, I've been bouncing around from couch to couch of the different dancers, but tonight will be my first night in the car because their generosity has run out.
When I'm on the stage, I know my steps and my role like clockwork. I've been practicing for so long now that I can zone out and still hit every mark. Besides, it's not like anyone sees my face this far back on the stage.
So tonight, while I'm on stage doing our show, my mind is racing on any possibility of a place to stay that would not include me checking into a campsite at the state park for twenty dollars and staying in my car overnight. After considering my options, I decided to use the campgrounds because at least it would be gated and a lot safer than sleeping in some parking lot. An added bonus would be I have access to showers and a bathroom. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than getting a room anywhere in town.
Not for the first time, my mind wonders to Grant. He is my ex-boyfriend's father and owns this hotel along with a few others on the strip. We always got along really well, and it was nice of him to let me keep the job here. Since Jason, his son and I broke up, he's checked on me several times.
I'm sure if he knew that I was going to be sleeping in my car tonight he would let me stay at the hotel at a heavily discounted rate, if not for free. But I just can't bring myself to ask him or to even talk to him about what happened with my parents.
The show ends and all of us dancers file backstage to the rows of mirrors as we take off our costumes and the massive amounts of makeup and glitter that we cover ourselves in for the show.
I barely sit down when Lee, the show manager, walks in and starts clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. Gigi, my friend who has the station next to me, hates him just as much as I do. She looks over at me and we both roll our eyes and giggle before we turn to look at him.
Gigi is the one girl that I'm closest to here and she was the first one to give me a place to stay. But since she lives with her parents, when they came back from their vacation, I had to find someplace else.
"We just had one of our lead dancers move on to bigger and better things, so one of the spots is open. This comes with more stage time and a pay raise. If you are interested in auditioning, come see me in my office before you leave tonight."
I turned to Gigi, and I see her eyes are wide too.
"You're going to try out, right? You are one of the best backup dancers here." I tell her.
"As long as you try out, I will too, but no hard feelings if the other one gets a deal?"
I could use the extra money with that pay raise, especially having to get my own place here in Las Vegas. And I know Gigi is saving to go to school, as she wants to be a doctor. The biggest downside is the costume. I never wanted to show that much skin on stage but you to what you have to do.
"Deal."
After I finish up removing my makeup and getting dressed to leave, I stop by Lee's office.
"I'm interested in auditioning for the lead part," I tell him.
His smirk should have been my first clue something was off.
"I was hoping you would. Let's wait and see if anyone else stops in and I will schedule auditions out. You okay to stay for a bit longer?" he asks.
"Yes, that's fine. I will be at my station." When I head back to my chair, Gigi looks at me expectantly.
"He asked me to wait. I put my name in, but he wants to see who else applies so he can schedule auditions."
"My turn then." She pops up and goes to his office.
She’s back a few minutes later.
"He asked me to come in early tomorrow before practice, so he must have a few people wanting to audition. Give it your all." She grabs her stuff and is out the door.
I don't have to wait much longer before Lee is calling me back into his office.
"Let's go out to the practice stage," he says, turning without even seeing if I'm following him. When I look around and realize I'm the only person left, I start to get a little uncomfortable. We had an early show today so of course, everyone is gone out to enjoy the rest of the evening.
"Aren't other people trying out for the spot?" I ask as I follow him.
"Yeah, most are trying out tomorrow morning before practice or after practice tomorrow," he says and takes his seat to where he normally sits while we practice.
Then he looks me over and licks his lips.
"Yeah, I was really hoping you'd apply. There is a way you can assure you get the spot." His eyes lock on my boobs and he spreads his legs wide.
"What... what is it?" I stutter, suddenly anxious and every nerve in my body screaming to run.
"Get over here and wrap that little tease of a mouth around your daddy's cock." He says, as he starts to unbuckle his belt.
My mouth literally drops open in shock, but as he unbuttons his pants, self-preservation kicks in.
"No way. If this is what it takes, I don't want the part." I start to leave, but he jumps up and moves faster than someone who smokes as much as he does should be able to.
Grabbing a fist full of my hair at the back of my head, he yanks me to face him. The tears are already flowing down my face because he is pulling hard and putting my head at a weird angle.
"Listen here, you little slut. We all know you fucked the boss's son to get this job, and now you want to move up. You got some more fucking to do and if it isn't me, it will be private parties who won't be as gentle as I am. You see?"
"Let go of me!" Though I’m trying to get away as I'm yelling, but I know it's no use. After making sure everyone was gone, he has me alone and stupid me let him.
My heart is racing and I'm trying to think of any self-defense moves I've watched online and not one of them comes to mind. His free hand reaches under my shirt and I shiver in disgust and squeeze my eyes shut.
One moment his hand is an inch away from my breast, then the next he's screaming and his grip on me is gone. When I start to collapse, big strong arms wrap around me, and a spicy aftershave scent that fills the air.
I know that sent.
I look up to find Grant’s kind eyes staring back down at me.
"You okay, baby girl?"
