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Prologue

THEY CALLED HER the Crimson Rose

As her name was announced in sultry, almost reverent tones at Leather and Lace, an exclusive h the crowd The roo way to quiet expectation

Businessmen in open-collared shirts stopped their whispered flirtations aitresses wearing tiny black skirts and skimpy tops Attendees of an entire bachelor party returned to their table, elbowing the groole men who came every week just to see her sat back in plush leather chairs and stared rapt at the stage through hooded eyes The ice tinkling against their glasses was soon the only sound in the lushly appointed room, even the servers knew better than to interrupt the clientele when the Rose was on stage

She danced only twice a week-on Saturdays and Sundays-and since the night she’d started, the Crimson Rose had becoo club scene Because while the jaded city had long been used to hard-looking dancers taking off their clothes and gyrating to the heavy beat of sexuallike her

She wasn’t hard-looking, she was elegant Her delicate features and natural curves made every man who saw her wonder what it would feel like to touch her creamy skin

She didn’t strip…she undressed Slowly Seductively As if she had all the tiive a man pleasure

She didn’t gyrate, she swayed, esture, every turn an invitation to gaze at her

Her sound wasn’t sexual, it was sensual, erotic and soulful enough to h, of course, when she was onstage none ever would

While her job ht have diminished some women in the eyes of those around her, the Rose owned it, embraced it, lifted it up to a level of art rather than pure sexual titillation

She liked what she did And they liked watching her

The low, sultry thrue remained dark as the workers put final placement on a portable red satin curtain, used only by her It had been a recent addition by the e performer feel was part of the Crimson Rose’s appeal As was the mystery