CHAPTER ONE

IT WAS 2007 WHEN the girls rented a two bedroom apartment in the southwest area of Los Angeles, on Martin Luther King Boulevard, directly across the street from the L.A. Coliseum. The housing building consisted of fifty units. Erica, Shacoiya, and Hassani were all strippers, and worked at the club Erica discovered on Western Avenue, just a few blocks south of the college she attended. The club was considered a hole in the wall, small and not fancy. The only attractions were the beautiful women who stripped there.

Shacoiya was a well-built young woman with a dark mocha latte complexion. She resembled bikini model Buffy the body, but her features were reversed. Instead of the mediocre pair of breasts, hers were thirty-four double D’s, with a 40 inch ass, and hips and thighs to compliment them. She stood a solid five feet four inches tall, and her petite thickness is what enticed every man to fantasize about holding on to her on a cold California night.

Erica was beautiful also. She had golden brown skin, and hazel colored eyes, which made her even more desirable, because upon first glance she made you think of Beyoncé. She wanted to become a lawyer. Erica had known her parents, but at the tender age of seven they were taken away by a murderer’s bullets.

One Sunday afternoon while driving down Crenshaw Boulevard, in the city of Los Angeles, Erica’s parents were ambushed at a traffic light on Vernon Avenue by a rival gang of her father’s. The car took over forty rounds from multiple weapons, it was a miracle that Erica wasn’t killed or even hit by a single bullet. The homicide investigator reported how amazed he was that she survived such a barrage of bullets.

Hassani’s situation was much different than both Shacoiya’s and Erica’s. Hassani was born in Kuwait in 1989 during the beginning of the Gulf War. After her mother died from a suicide bombing, her father brought her to the States to be educated.

Her father’s stay in the U.S. was short lived due to his redeployment back in the war region where a suicide bomber took his life along with six other men from his unit. Hassani’s father was an American, and her mother was Middle Eastern, which made her a by-product of an interracial marriage. After her father’s death, she was forced to live with her paternal grandmother who also died shortly after Hassani’s arrival. Hassani was thirteen at the time, and not many couples were looking to adopt a child in that particular age bracket.

So, she was forced into ‘HOPE for GIRLS; the girls home where she befriended her two sisters. Hassani’s frame was slender with an ass shaped like an apple and dark green eyes; she stood five feet seven inches tall with silky black hair that ran down the middle of her back.

Shacoiya Clark, Erica Robinson, and Hassani Evans had become very close during their stay at ‘HOPE for GIRLS’, a girls home that was nestled in the foothills of the San Fernando Valley. The young women assisted one another during their emotional roller coaster rides, and the loneliness they endured during each other’s birthdays and holiday seasons. This was evident due to the fact neither of the girls had a real family to call their own.

So as time progressed, the trio became closer, so close that before long they treated and looked upon one another as family. The unity and love they shared compelled them to make a pact with each other. They vowed to never leave each other behind and together they would face the world together as one, never compromising their love and loyalty for anything no matter what was being offered. Not even for the men that primarily dominated their world. They saved their money and prepared for the unknown and the unforeseen.

Each one patiently awaited their eighteenth birthday, which coincidently was only two months apart from one another. They were ready to leave the hell on earth, which the state of California called a girls home. They wanted to join the ranks of the rest of the world. The girls were ambitious, goal oriented, and not to mention independent and calculating.

Shacoiya was the rowdy, brazen one of the bunch, but was focused on becoming a counselor for young teenage girls whose situation paralleled hers. She wanted to help females who were never given a chance to be normal, because of their circumstances, and choices not of their choosing.

Unlike Hassani and Erica, Shacoiya was taken away from her drug addicted mother after she was jailed for her fourth drug possession. She was so screwed she wouldn’t have known her own father if he had been in line standing right next to her. Having no other family to turn to, Shacoiya was forced to live in multiple foster homes, in which she consistently ran away from due to the mistreatment and molestation she experienced while staying there. She was reported missing, and after finally being caught, was sent away to juvenile hall for ninety days until housing was eventually found for her which happened to be ‘HOPE for GIRLS’.

Shacoiya and Hassani had already performed for the audience full of perverts, killers, and D’boys. Erica was up next to perform. She was the main attraction out of the women who entertained. Her beauty and the way she seductively danced to the rhythm of the music was what kept the audience captivated.

The girls sat backstage and counted their earnings for the night, while Erica prepared herself to go on stage.

“Girl, I only got nine hundred tonight,” Shacoiya stated in an unsatisfied tone. “How much you got, Hassani?” she asked. Hassani was still counting her money. “Seven hundred so far,” she smiled.

“Well, that takes care of the rent,” Erica stated as she sipped on her drink. “Shit, we need more than that Erica,” Hassani stated.

“Yeah girl, I hope you pull it off,” Shacoiya added. “You know she is. I got eleven hundred all together,” Hassani smiled with satisfaction.

“I don’t know y’all, these niggaz are broke and they cheap. Shit, half of them still live with they mommas!”

Erica knew she could at least bring in twelve hundred from the horny drunken audience. Erica was a better dancer than Hassani, and more attractive than Shacoiya. This allowed her to be the most desirable of the three. But no matter how much they individually earned they would always consolidate their earnings, and divide it equally amongst themselves.

The women sat engaged in their discussion and suddenly Erica’s song of choice came on, it was ‘How Do You Want It’ by Tupac.

“Erica,…Erica you’re on girl!” Hassani and Shacoiya exclaimed.

“I know,” Erica replied while adjusting her outfit.

Erica ran to the entrance of the stage and took a deep breath to calm herself, then walked on stage. The audience lights dimmed as the stage lights came on. Everyone in the room was focused on Erica as she seductively swayed to the rhythm of the song. Erica knew how to communicate with the crowd with her body, all you heard was cheers as money was being thrown.

Even though she didn’t like to strip, there was a part of her that enjoyed the attention and the power it gave her. While she danced, she couldn’t help but observe one of the women in the crowd strangely staring up at her. It was a lustful stare, one of admiration and infatuation. Erica was no longer affected by the awkward stares and rude statements by men and jealous women. But this woman in particular made her feel uneasy by the way she gazed at her. Nonetheless, she continued to dance, finishing the song without any indication of uneasiness which would display her discomfort.

The song finally came to an end. Everyone cheered, whistled, and screamed for more while yelling sexual comments. Erica liked the comments, that’s how she knew she had done her job. Erica gathered her clothing from the stage floor along with the ones, fives, twenties, and fifty dollar bills that had been thrown on stage during her performance. As she continued to pick up the money and her clothing, a wad of cash flew Erica’s way. When she looked in the direction the money was thrown, a lady stood watching her. Their eyes connected briefly as the woman smiled and walked away, leaving Erica in a trance of curiosity. She left the stage out of sight of her audience.

Slightly panic-stricken, Erica yelled, “Hassani!, Shacoiya!,

“What’s up, Erica?” they both answered, noticing her worried facial expression at the same time.

“It was some weird ass lady out there and she scared the shit out of me,”

“What, what happen?” Shacoiya inquired in the tone of concern.

“The bitch stared at me like she wanted to eat me or something,”

“That’s what they do girl. Hassani said with a smile.”

“They all come here to lust,” Shacoiya added.

Shacoiya’s statement caused Erica to become frustrated.

“No, fool,” Erica snapped still flustered by what had taken place, ” it was more than simple lust.”

“Don’t worry, girl, we won’t let her get cha,” Hassani put her arms around Erica.

“It’s over now, Erica, how much you pull in?” Shacoiya asked.

Erica pulled out her money. “Let’s find out,” she replied.

She counted her money which totaled up to sixteen hundred. “I got sixteen hundred, oh but wait,”

Erica pulled out another wad of bills, snatched the rubber band from around it and began to count them also. The hundred dollar bills added up to twenty-one of them thangz. When Erica finished, she looked up and saw the amazement in Hassani’s and Shacoiya’s eyes.

“Erica, you sure you just didn’t go suck no dick?” Shacoiya jokingly asked, causing all three of the girls to giggle.

“Hell naw, girl, never!” Erica replied.

“Well you gonna have to teach me those dance moves,” Hassani said then, trying to contain her laughter.

“No, serious though, Hassani and Shacoiya, it was that woman I was telling y’all about, she threw this,” Erica held up the money from the woman who had bluntly admired her and had thrown it on stage to gain her attention.

The parking lot of the club was a party within itself. Everyone, from the inside of the club, to just passers-by had stopped there. Some of the people displayed their cars’ sound systems by opening the doors and trunks, so different music was blaring at an extremely high level.

Shacoiya, Erica and Hassani all walked to their cars after their shifts were over. On the way to their cars, an all-black 2011 Mercedes Benz SGS model with 22-inch rims pulled alongside the girls. Shacoiya admired the car, but couldn’t see the driver through the limo-tinted windows.

Erica’s and Hassani’s attempts at ignoring the luxury car that cruised upon them failed. The passenger window rolled down and the car came to a complete stop, that’s when the face of the woman who had complimented Erica with the roll of cash was revealed.

“That’s her, y’all!” Erica nervously expressed.

“Who?” the girls asked.

“The woman from earlier,” Erica said through clenched teeth. Shacoiya and Hassani took in the beauty of the woman sitting in the passenger seat.

“Excuse me, ladies,” the woman said as she stepped out of the car.

“What do you want?” Shacoiya being the more aggressive and assertive of the trio, blurted out.

“Your friend right there,” the woman smiled and stated with the utmost confidence, pointing at Erica.

“She’s talking about you, girl,” Hassani tapped Erica lightly, nudging her towards the elegant looking female with the curious expression on her face.

As Erica approached, she greeted the woman with her hand extended. They shook hands.

“My name is Tash…Tasha Steele.”

She stood five feet six inches tall and had a soft mahogany skin complexion. Tasha resembled a Hollywood actress by the name of Tamala Jones. Erica being high into fashion, couldn’t help but notice the cream and olive green Dolce and Gabbana pantsuit. She could tell this woman had class, plenty of money and a load of confidence, but there was one question that remained unanswered in Erica’s head…What the fuck did the bitch want with her?

“How are you doing Miss Steele? My name is Erica,”

Their handshakes were given with firm grips while both looked each other in the eye.

“Erica, let’s cut to the chase, I’m a club owner myself. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the club ‘FourPlay’ in Hollywood? I own and manage it, I was wondering if you would be willing to work for me? Not to knock this club, but this hole in the wall is not fit for a woman of your caliber.”

Erica was familiar with the gentlemen’s club Tasha mentioned. It was known for the high rollers and corporate clientele. The club was very upscale along with the women and men who often attended.

Erica debated with herself before she answered. “I don’t know, Tasha, we would have to discuss it in detail before I could give you a definite answer.”

“That’s understandable,” Tasha replied with a head nod.

“Also, I can’t just leave my friends hangin’,”

“Oh no Erica, I want them also,”

“Well, let us think about it,” Shacoiya interjected.

Tasha shot an annoyed glance at Shacoiya then turned her focus and attention back to Erica.

“Alright, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll pick y’all up tomorrow and take y’all to see the club. We’ll discuss whether or not then, so call me tomorrow, deal?”

Erica took the card, looking at it long and hard. “Deal,” she replied with a very enthusiastic smile.

CHAPTER TWO

TASHA VIBED TO THE tune of ‘Let Me Upgrade You’, compliments of mega pop star Beyoncé’s B’Day album, as she navigated through the early morning traffic on the 110 freeway in a cocaine white 2007 Range Rover Sport with mirror tint windows which kept her identity concealed, more of a safety precaution than a fad.

Driving through the Los Angeles streets required a little more vigilance, and Tasha was very vigilant. She was smarter than the average working woman. Her past and present lifestyle required her to have a little more wisdom. She knew who her enemies were and was certain that there were more out there than she knew existed. Tasha didn’t fear them in any way, yet the unknowns were what kept her cautious and on point 24/7. She kept her safety and security a priority and proceeded with life, maintaining an attitude that all were potential enemies.

Tasha had been out of Federal Prison for close to three years, where she had served part of an one hundred twenty month sentence for drug trafficking. A case she took for her boyfriend, the same son of a bitch who abandoned her while she was just a year into her bid. He left her with fifty thousand dollars, but Tasha would have traded it all for his support and companionship. That’s how much she loved this man.

But as the months turned into years, her heart grew cold and thoughts became calculated. She was now emotionally detached from the world in general, and men in particular. So strategically she built and owned Club FourPlay, as well as a successful escort service. They kept her bills paid and her bank account fat, all while her competition hated her success. Her lack of love for the male species made her bisexual to a degree, and very dangerous. But even though she was bisexual she maintained her femininity. Being streetwise allowed her to have the best of both worlds.

Tasha wanted the most exotic looking women for her club. She scouted the surrounding establishments that were similar to hers. Her intent persuaded the best looking strippers to come work for her. Tasha’s business acumen and savvy ways continued to add value to her club, and money to her pockets. After hand picking Shacoiya, Hassani and Erica, she knew her club’s value would instantly appreciate. But she had another agenda for these chosen three. She was supposed to pick the girls up the day they first met, but postponed the meeting until the following Friday. Tasha exited the freeway on Figueroa and headed south. She put her music on mute, and called the girls at their home.

“Hello, is this Erica?” Tasha inquired.

“Who am I speaking with?” Tasha responded.

“This is Shacoiya.”

“I should’ve known,” Tasha irritatingly mumbled.

“Well look, are y’all ready, because I just got off of the freeway and I should be pulling up in about ten minutes. I’ll call back when I’m in front of the apartments,” Tasha hung up and proceeded to the girl’s place of residence.

When Tasha pulled into the reserved parking space, the girls gave a quick assessment of the location and came to the conclusion that the area must be where the rich came to play. This explained why Tasha chose the Hollywood area to lease a building and construct her club. After remodeling and christening the joint, ‘FourPlay’ became the club which accommodated the rich and famous. Even though there were other well-known clubs in the area where a lot of celebrities frequented, at ‘FourPlay’ you could run into anyone from Rick Ross the rapper, to niggaz like Freeway Rick, the drug lord.

For the twenty three months the club had been open it never had a full bottle of champagne left after closing. The club was considered the place to relax after a long day of hustling, recording or filming.

When Shacoiya, Hassani and Erica walked through the doors of the two story structure, they immediately noticed it had three separate dance stages for the strippers to perform. Tasha designed it this way because she knew not all men desired one particular ethnicity. She had different races of strippers so the club wouldn’t be labeled or appeal to just one kind of demographic. FourPlay attendees could sit in the V.I.P. section of the club, and view all three simultaneously. In the V.I.P. section, meetings could be held and private dances provided for the club patrons.

The girls were amazed of the club’s high maintenance. The tables in the audience were covered with satin cloth and decorated with candles in the shape of champagne glasses. Leather couches surrounded the perimeters of the walls. The bar was stocked with liquor of all sorts, and the girls knew that this was more than a regular strip club. It was a lounge, which catered to the wealthy.

Shacoiya went on stage and began to dance on the pole, mounted from the floor to the ceiling. Just by the way Shacoiya slid down the pole; you could tell she was well experienced. Hassani and Erica, went to the remaining two stages. Watching the girls dance, gyrate and motion their bodies on stage made Tasha smirk. She went to the DJ’s booth and dimmed the lights, turned on the music, then watched while the girls danced.

Halfway through the song she stopped the music, then went and sat down at a table in the audience.

“Okay girls, let’s talk business,” Tasha gestured her hands as if to summon them over to where she was sitting.

“What’s up, Tasha? You seem as if you can be fair, for the most part. So what do you have planned?” Erica asked.

Tasha placed her hands on the table interlocking her fingers.

“Well, I was thinking, you girls could work tonight and keep all the tips and feel the place out. You know, see how you like the atmosphere. Then we can discuss whether or not you feel as though you can make FourPlay your home. At which time we can also discuss your wages,”

Tasha knew once they experienced the atmosphere with the place actually open for business, they would be more than willing to work at the club. She purposely picked that night for them to work, knowing they would make triple what they usually made at their previous establishment.

“Y’all can tour the premises and check out the dressing room upstairs. I have to go take care of some other business right now,” Tasha got up and went to her office.

Shacoiya, Erica and Hassani, discussed the pros and cons about the establishment. Tasha was convinced she had won the girls over. She watched from her office, on the multi-screen monitor, as the girls admired the club’s dressing room. She could see that they were impressed by the way they were fussing over the collection of lingerie and the costumes, which had never been worn. The girls immediately noticed this from the price tags still hanging on the garments. Feeling satisfied that she had the girls in the palm of her hand; Tasha cut the monitor off and grabbed her phone.

Shacoiya, Hassani and Erica remained in the dressing room standing in the full length mirror admiring themselves. They held the clothes up against their frames, loving the way the fabric felt against their bodies.

“So what do you think, Erica?” Shacoiya asked breaking the silence.

“I’m wit’ it, girl!” exclaimed Hassani.

“What about you, Shacoiya?” Erica asked before giving her own answer.

“Shit, girl, you know I’m wit’ it, let’s get this money,” Shacoiya stated while she danced to the thoughts of the money she would be making.

“Alright then, it’s a go, because if y’all would have said no, then that would have been it. We’re in this together. But I’m still going to let her know, we just gon’ dance for the night before we enter into any contracts,”

Erica and the girls hugged. After they hugged, Shacoiya went to the dressing room, where she located the private bar for the girls, and poured some drinks for the three of them.

“Let’s celebrate.” Shacoiya passed Erica and Hassani a glass of Grey Goose Vodka, then took a seat on the sofa.

Tasha walked through the door. “What do y’all think?”

“We like the place, Tasha,” Erica responded,

“But we would still like to dance for the night before we make our decision,” Shacoiya stated, interrupting Erica.

“Fine with me,” Tasha replied with a tone of confidence, then went and poured herself a drink.

She knew the deal was sealed. The girls raised their glasses and toasted to club ‘FourPlay’.

PROLOUGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNFORESEEN

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO