Melanie watched with doubt and suspicion as Ashley led Mrs. LeRoy into the back room of the club.

———————-

"So what makes you think you’re qualified to be a dancer at my club?"

Spencer let out a little disbelieving scoff, "You need qualifications to be a Go-Go dancer?" she said condescendingly.

"Look you obviously don’t want this job to bad or really don’t think first impressions are very important," Ashley retorted, "of course there a qualifications to work here. Are you comfortable in your own body? Are you comfortable taking off your clothes in front of people? Are you a good person? Do you have rhythm? There’s actually a lot to this profession.

Spencer looked at the brunette incredulously.

"I’ll give you an application and if you are serious about this you can come back next weekend with a dance routine and audition on Sunday. It’s the only day my dancers don’t work their asses off. This is a hard job Mrs-." 

"Ms.," Spencer corrected, "and it’s Carlin." The blonde’s eyes shifted around the room, almost nervously, unable to concentrate on one thing.

"Mrs. Carlin. And to be honest right now I don’t think you have what it takes," Ashley finished handling the blonde a packet of papers. "Now you’re welcome to stay and observe the dancers and have a drink but I have to go back to being a manager. It was nice to meet you."

Ashley turned and walked out of the room without taking a second glance. Spencer’s attitude had pretty much ruined her chances of getting a job but Ashley was a pretty big believer in second chances, she’d received enough of them, and she could be useful

  Out in the main room the night was pretty much coming to a close. A few drunken stragglers remained staring up at the girls that they never had a chance of getting in a million years. This was the part of the night Ashley hated. It made her club look like all the other strip joints in LA; dirty and shame filled when it was anything but. She had spent her whole life trying to change the normal persons perspective on the stripping profession, since she herself was persecuted when she was forced to turn to it. Stripping is not "unclean" if done correctly and has saved and protected many women from being hurt. In renaissance Venice, whoring was actually seen as an art and something to be proud of. Ashley believed it was something to be proud of.

"I don’t trust her," Mel said shortly and disapprovingly, cleaning yet another glass, the curse of being a bartender.

"Well you’re a narcissistic cynic who doesn’t trust life in general," then Ashley let out a sigh, "but right now, for once, I agree with you."

"I don’t like her."

"Me either."

"I wouldn’t hire her."

"And I knew we couldn’t see eye to eye forever," the brunette finished. 

"Wait you’re actually considering giving that bitch a job?"

"We need more blonde dancers Mel," Ashley said defeated, moving around to the other side of the bar in order to stand next to her old friend, "and her bitchiness could also bring the show in a whole new direction, a direction that could bring more clients, and we are in a pretty deep hole, especially with Gold and Thomas breathing down my neck."

Melanie made a disgusted face, "ugh. If you need more blonde dancers than dye my hair blonde and throw my fat ass up there."

"You know I’m right."

"Even if we were completely in the red I wouldn’t hire her."

"yeah well it’s not your business, or your life that’s up for grabs here," Ashley replied sullenly. She gathered her keys and coat and headed towards the door of the club. Melanie saw for the first time the way her best friend’s shoulders were slumped and the way her feet dragged as she crossed the floor. She’d never seen Ashley so defeated.

"Hey Davies," she shouted after her, "don’t give up!"

"Yeah," Ashley quietly responded, "lock up," and then she opened the door and stepped outside into the night. The large metal door slammed unnervingly loudly behind her cutting off the cool air.

Melanie watched her go before turning around quickly to pick up the bar phone and dial an unfamiliar number. She waited as the phone rang three times before someone picked up on the other end.

"Hi, it’s Melanie. Look you know I wouldn’t normally ask you for anything personally but Ashley needs you and I know that you care about her even if you don’t give a rat’s ass about me."