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still hummed from the kiss. She shivered remembering the feeling of his hardness pressed up against her core. She nearly had a heart attack when she heard a woman’s voice call out. The last thing she wanted was to get caught making out with her boss in the office – especially by his girlfriend. She was done with cheating men. Stupid. She thought racing up the stairs to her third floor apartment. She had another performance tonight and was already running late.
    Devyn burst into her eclectically decorated, one-bedroom apartment, stripping off her work clothes as she went. Once naked she went to the bathroom to take a quick shower. She showered, thinking about Nikola and how to handle the situation. She knew his playboy reputation as well as anybody, so she wasn’t expecting anything to come of them. Shrugging she figured the kiss was a one-time thing; a simple result of them working so closely for the last few weeks. If that was it then, why have you and Andre never kissed like that? Her conscious mocked. She knew the kiss was more than just a result of them working closely.
    From the first time she met him, she felt a magnetic pull towards him. That flame had only been stoked over the last three weeks, but she knew it wasn’t anything major on his end. Monday she would go back to working for Andre and only seeing Nikola once or twice a week. She blew out a breath, as she gathered her costume and makeup. She knew it would take her more than an hour to get to the club in this traffic on a Friday night. She would just have to do her makeup at the club to make it on time. Deciding to forget about Nikola Collins, Devyn focused on her performance that night. Packing up everything she needed, she grabbed some chicken salad and an apple from the fridge, to have as a quick dinner before heading out.

* * * *
    Mercedes: Knock ‘em dead!
    Devyn stared at the text message from Mercedes. Usually Mercedes attended Devyn’s shows when she debuted a new set, but she was out of town for training.
    Devyn: Thanks. I wish you were here. You know I get nervous debuting a new set.
    Devyn responded as she prepared her makeup in the dressing room mirror. Her new burlesque set was to Celia Cruz’s La Negra Tiene Tumbao . It was her first time performing it in front of an audience.
    Mercedes: You have nothing to be nervous about. I’ve seen this set and I damn near wanted to have a cigarette afterwards. It was hottttt!!!
    Devyn smiled at the text. She had performed the set for Mercedes and a few of the other girls to get their input on improvements. They all told her it was great.
    Devyn: :) Thanks! I needed that. I gotta go, but I’ll let you know how it went.
    Mercedes: Break a leg!!
    Devyn put her phone back in her bag and began removing her costume. To pay homage to the La Reina de Salsa Devyn opted to perform in a costume that resembled one of the outfits Celia Cruz wore in the song’s video. Her outer layer was a long, orange silk dress, with long baggy sleeves, and a flowy bodice. The top of the dress was lined with faux feathers and the “eye” of a peacock. Underneath the dress she wore a black lace elasticized skirt, with garter belts, that attached to a pair of black lace stockings. Up top, she sported an orange lace corset, and strip away bra with ruffles, over top her black pasties with shimmery orange hearts. On her head, she wore her hair in loose curls that fell around her face, and flapper style hat that adorned the same peacock feathers and orange color as her dress. On her face, she wore her signature glossy red lip coloring, and black winged eyeliner. On her feet, she had her three inch peep toe burlesque shoes. She stood in front of the mirror taking in her reflection.
    She was no longer Devyn Williams. This was Black Pearl.
    Exiting the locker room, Black Pearl moved down the hallway hearing the occasional, “Knock ‘em dead, Pearl!” She loved the supportive atmosphere that existed backstage. There was no