Free You and I Alone by Melissa Toppen Page B

Immediately my audience breaks into applause. Well, with the exception of one person that is. Bentley is staring back at me with an expression I can't quite wrap my head around. Anger maybe?
                  Not sure what I could have possibly done wrong, I slide my body from the pole and step back behind the red screen that blocks the view of behind the stage to the people in the room. Taking deep breaths, I try to regain some sense of composure. I tend to lose myself in the music and the movements and very rarely second guess the choices I make on stage, but right now, second guessing is exactly what I am doing. But even still, I can't pinpoint what I possibly could have done to cause Bentley to look at me with so much fire behind his eyes. I know when I have turned a man on, and while I may have done just that for him, that is certainly not the only reason for that look.
                  “Hey.” Josh says, startling me as he slips behind stage and hands me a bottle of water. “You were fantastic up there.” He says, giving me a sweet smile.
                  “What's going on out there anyways?” I ask.
                  “Potential new clients. The two on the left are owners of one of New York's top law firms.” He says, pulling back the screen just enough that we can see them but the likelihood is, they can't see us. “The one in the hat plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers.” He continues, gesturing towards the tall lanky man just to Bentley's left. “And then the plump one with the facial hair is none other than Jefferson Banks.”
                  “Owner of Banks Financial, Jefferson Banks?” I ask, referring to one of the biggest financial firms in the country. Not that I know much about him or his company but you would have to live under a rock to have never heard his name before.
                  “The one and only.” Josh says, gesturing for my water bottle after I take another long drink. “You better get back out there. I have specific instructions to have you do a three song rotation, three minutes between each song.” He says, surprising me.
                  “But that's not even a half an hour.” I interject.
                  “Bet you never dreamed you would make two grand for thirty minutes.” He smiles brightly at me like he somehow had something to do with it when I know, deep down, he hates that I am here right now, dancing for Bentley. This was one hundred percent Bentley's doing, I just haven't quite figured out why.
                  “But why are they all here? Has he brought potential clients here before?” I ask, figuring I would have at least heard one of the girls talk about it if he had. Hell, even Lo had no idea who Bentley was, which tells me his appearance here is not frequent. Or at least it hasn’t been until more recently.
                  “I don't know. He usually takes potentials to his New York club.” He shrugs. “Alright, enough chit chat. I have a schedule to keep.” He says, pulling the screen open to allow enough room for me to squeeze through.
                  I am fully prepared to start my next dance but before Josh even has a chance to start the song, all the men stand and start shaking hands. I stand motionless in the middle of the stage, not sure what is going on or what I am supposed to do.
                  I can hear their conversation for the most part, though Mr. Banks words are grumbled and run together. From what I can tell, it looks like they are all preparing to leave. Bentley shakes each man's hand and thanks them for coming. Given that he makes the general statement to be in touch first thing Monday morning to finalize membership contracts, I can only guess that things went well and he succeeded in bringing these men into his elite group of clients.
                  I look to where Josh is standing