Having established herself in this fickle life of crime, Crystal now had the means to open an establishment of her own. Detroit was just the perfect place as she was often here to work out drug deals (shhh! no tipping the police). With her name coming up on the police watchlist more often she decided to build her own turf, one which would legitimate and yet could be used as cover for her business. 

THE FIERY DIAMOND 

The neon lighting flickers brightly as it watches over the street. The place on the outside looks well-decorated, the kind which will get your attention. A two-storeyed building which promises luxury on the outside and when you walk inside it lives up to the expectations. Sturdy round tables are neatly arranged, surrounded by four chairs each. Some are occupied whereas the rest lie empty in wait for you. Skimpily clad waitresses walk around the room catering to the orders. Atop the occupied tables are the evening's entertainment. Lithe, graceful, brave and seductive, these girls are everything you want them to be. You can always choose to be left alone while you go about your business, but good business strikes well with a good view. The dancers pay no heed to your talks, the only thing they are here for is to make the evening enjoyable and not one filled with worry. Looking around you can already see a few distinguished faces at some of the tables. The dancers do their best to entertain them, one enjoys a lap dance from a beautiful redhead while at another table a gorgeous brunette strips off her lingerie and kneels down on all fours to give the patron a sultry glare, her breasts almost brushing the tabletop while she dances her hips to the playing music. The gentleman holds out some dollar bills which she accept them with a grateful nod and tucks it under the wineglass before resuming to dance.

Sprawling across one side of the room is a bar. Chairs are placed in front of it for patrons who wish to be seated there as a pretty bartender takes the orders. 

On a long platform across another side are three poles, each graced by a performing dancer. With their smooth moves, these ladies dance their graceful bodies along the pole while people take in the sight from the chairs below. One eager gentleman stretches out his hand to get a feel of the dancer's arse and tips her generously after. 

A set of stairs lead to the upper floor where you can find the private rooms. There are ten of them along a long corridor. This is where you will be brought if you desire to be treated for the whole night. And fear not, what happens behind the doors stays behind the doors. The only rule here being, you have to be unarmed. Crystal doesn't want her girls to feel threatened and hence has two burly bouncers ready at the bottom of the staircase to frisk you before you head upstairs. 

And behind the eleventh and the farthest door on the corridor is Crystal's own office and living room. It is the largest room in the floor and is equipped with a bed, office tables and an adjoining washroom. She is usually here except for the nights which she prefers to spend in her little apartment in town. But the furniture is there just in case the work at the nightclub keeps her late. From now this would be from where she carries out her business.

Back downstairs, the nightclub starts to fill up as the evening passes on. As more tables get occupied you can see more of the exotic dancers performing, in various states of undress. Rest assured, you shall find all your needs fulfilled here. 

The Fiery Diamond is now open to all.

Big neon letters indicate the location of Crystal's The Fiery Diamond Nightclub. Alejandrito knows that his boss Jack_Diamond would not forgive him if he would not enter there, so he stepped inside.

As he enered, he immediately noticed the exotic dancers and even though Alejandrito was always well-composed and not easily be influenced, it somehow influenced his state of acting. He accidentally walked into the bar and ordered something without looking at the waitress..

Yes, the top drink of the menu please..

For a moment, little Alex comtemplated sitting down next to the ass-grabber, but thinking it over he would feel quite uneasy. So he decided to ask to be allowed to make a phonecall to his HQ for the lads to join him at the Diamond Nightclub

Crystal had a habit of making frequent rounds downstairs to check on things. She was also always informed of whoever is entering the club and when her bodyguard told her that an Alejandrito had arrived downstairs she decided to go and greet him since she knew him quite well. 

She walked down the stairs and looked around, not finding him anywhere. Then she noticed him on the telephone in the corner. With a drink in each hand she approached him with a smile and held out one drink.

"Evening Alej. Welcome to The Fiery Diamond. What do you think of it?" , she gestured towards the nearby table and one of the girls pulled out a chair for both of them. 

Apache turned the sign on his fry bread restaurant from open to closed. It was that time of night where he would close down and go to enjoy himself. He walked down the street and he seen a new night club with bright neon lights. When he finally walked into Fiery Diamond Night Club he instantly went to the bar. He was stopped in his tracks by a gorgeous blond on the pole. She was staring right into Apaches eyes when she went upside down on the pole, sliding down into a sexy crawl towards him. Apache slid a 20$ bill into he panties. Then went back to sit down at the bar.

”Let me get a straight gin on the rocks please!”

Apache got his drink and began to sip it. Looking around he sees Crystal talking with another gentleman and decided to wait before he approached her.  When she seemed finished up talking with him, Apache went to her with a smile.

”This is a nice place you got here. And the girls well they are a wonderful touch!  I just wanted to introduce myself, I’m Apache I own the Frybread Express down the road!”

Apache held a hand out to shake crystals hand.

Crystal smiled to the gentleman who just approached her and shook the offered hand. She took a seat at the nearby table and beckoned him to sit too. 

"A pleasure meeting you Apache. Tell me how can I be of service?"

She drew the attention of one of the waitresses who brought them a glass of champagne each. She offered a glass to the man.

"I've been thinking of visiting the Frybread Express myself but setting up this club kept me busy. Maybe now that the hard work is out of the way I'll get down there."

The stripper in charge of this table was standing nearby and chatting up the waitress, in case the mistresses' guest would fancy a dance.

Apache accepted the champagne and took a gulp instantly. With a huge smile on his face he accepted the dance from the dancer. While receiving the lap dance Apache looked around the dancer and back to Crystal.

”You should come swing by the restaurant.  I love having new people trying out my people’s spiritual food.  It’s acually the same as a loaf of bread just a little added salt and fried.  It’s the best thing on the market.”

Apache ended his dance and got back to his drink. Slamming the rest of the champagne he grabbed the glass of gin he had as well.  Then turned his attention back to Crystal.

”How is the profit end of the club scene? I’m thinking of opening one over in New York but don’t know if it will be real even. Seems like it costs a lot more than it makes!”

Crystal watched amused while Apache savoured the lap dance from Mystery. 

"The first two days have gone well. Its an unpredictable business really, sometimes the money dries up and at other times it keeps flowing. Thats why we make sure out guests are well taken care of."

She took another sip of her drink. "You should give it a try though. Now would you like another drink?"

Apache listened to Crystal explained how everything works in the club business. He had been heavily thinking of starting up a club and Crystal was selling it well.

”Yeah I’ll take another , that champagne was really good!  And I think I might I still have to put some money away for a few months but it will stay in my mind for sure.”

Apache waited for the bartender to pour another drink.  Then he took a sip from the fresh glass. The alcohol gave Apache the courage he needed to ask Crystal what he wanted.

”So I’ve been thinking, maybe you would let me take you out one of these days?”

Apache began to sweat. He was not good with rejection at all.  Hopefully she is up for it he thought to himself.  He took a big gulp waiting for her answer.

Crystal laughed softly behind her palm on seeing the beads of sweat form on Apache's forehead after he posed the question to her. She clinked her glass against his, "Alright. I look forward to it."

She poured some more champagne into his glass to help his nerves. He did look really nervous after all! And the last thing she wanted was anyone to be left nervous at her club. She beckoned over the nearby girl who promptly came over and seated herself on Apache's lap. 

"Hopefully Marla will make sure you get your nerves back tonight. You'll need them for the date.", she winked. 

Apache was thrilled to hear Crystal accept his offer for the date. Now the nervousness of what they were going to do came across him. He realized it was too early to worry about that yet and he will just ask her when the time comes. He was surprised she had accepted with the way he looked in a bear hide over coat and feathers and beads hanging from his hair. He took another big swig from the glass.

”How about Friday let’s say, 8 o’clock?”

crystal accepted and called the dancer back to the Native man.  Apache accepted the dance from Marla but hesitated to get to frisky, trying not to leave the wrong impression to Crystal.  Then he paid the dancer and the bartender, gave Crystal a wink and left the club one happy camper.

After a few days out of town, Crystal was back in Detroit again. She did not spend on a hotel room this time, now that she had her own private apartment in the upper floor of the nightclub. 

She looked around and was pleased to see how well it had been managed by Miya in her absence. The place was a little less crowded than usual today but she expected it to pick up as a weekend approached. At one table though she indentified a familiar looking man as the corrupt officer who handled some of her drug deals. He was in plainclothes, and from the looks of it was enjoying the night out. Crystal ignored him and went upstairs to her room to catch some rest. 

Elias walked into The Fiery Diamond Nightclub on his own, it was the first time in a long time that he'd done this...it was without Isabella_Luciano. It felt like half of him was missing. Since their apparent 'fight' the other night, he dropped her home, and hadn't seen her since..Was she still angry...was she annoyed at him? 'I just wish she'd tell me what went wrong. The night seemed like it was going perfectly, maybe someone got to her in the restroom..'

With the thought still in his head, he gestured over to the bartender if he could use the phone..which was passed to him..he dialled in Isabella's digits before he could hear that it was picked up from the other end, he heard breathing..but not speaking..'Hello' said Elias...'Izzy are you there dear? I'm in the Fiery Diamond Nightclub at the moment, please come down? If I've done something wrong, I'd much rather know..than being ignored. I could tell you were fuming on the journey home last night. So let's sort this out once and for all..I'll have a drink waiting for you.' Still only hearing Isabella breathing down the phone, he wondered if she was going to speak, or if she would meet him in the nightclub..

Isabella held in her tears and listened to Elias' words, her grip on the handle of her bag tighter than ever.  She wanted to go to him and pretend nothing had happened, but it had.  They had to see each other and talk... but not in public and not with her bodyguards watching, listening and reporting to her father.

She spoke quietly, "Go home Elias."  She said through the heart break.  "Just go home."  With that she hung up her phone and raced out the door - a note addressed to Elias in her hand.  She had to get to his place before he did and leave the note.  And, in the meantime, somehow lose her father's men in the process.

Elias listened to Isabella_Luciano say those three words to him, he'd been waiting for months to hear three words, but tonight was not that night. She used three very different words that had a heart sinking feeling attached to them. Still not certain this was anything to do with him, Elias done what she asked, he finished his drink before heading to the exit of the nightclub...'maybe next time I can come in happier times' he thought as he walked out the exit door..

On the way home his thoughts were going around, and around... 'Izzy sounded very upset...yesterday she was angry, I can deal with that, but not with her being upset, especially if I don't know if I've even caused it...I wonder if she'll be waiting at my door when I arrive...?'

On hearing the news of her sister's disappearance, Kyrah made the hard decision to give up her civilian life and carry on the good job Crystal was doing with her nightclub. She was pleased to see how well Miya had been managing the nightclub. Miya was taken aback to see a spilitting image of Crystal at first but noticed a long scar along the arm which Crystal never had ,"Who are you?"

"My name is Kyrah. Crystal, was my sister. Did anyone locate her yet?"

Miya shook her head and Kyrah left her to her duties. She went upstairs where Miya told her late sister's room was and locked the door firmly behind her. This life would take getting used to.