Clara’s POV
I flinched as the slap landed hard on my ass, his grip tightened strongly making me wince in pain. It felt like a bolt of electricity struck me or perhaps a lightning bolt, because the shock was so painful making me wonder if my skin had been peeled off. I moved my hips slowly, reluctantly, as my hands rested on either side of the sofa. My waist swayed, and he let out a breathy gasp. “Ooh.. yeah… that’s it… that’s what I want. You’re good at this,” he grumbled in satisfaction, his head resting on the leather sofa, and his both hands holding my waist softly. But I wasn’t satisfied. Inside, I was burning with anger. The only thing I could think of was ending this hell—ending everything I was doing here. I wasn't comfortable, I was in fear, my body trembled, I was wrestling with an anxiety that's already tearing me from the inside. He grabbed my ass and squeezed it more, gently raising my skirt. I pushed his hands away. I wasn’t a harlot. I was a stripper he forced me to be—a prisoner trying to pay off a debt I never even benefited from. “You know what happens if you refuse to do your job right,” he growled, his brows furrowed, a menacing ghastly gasp of his was so horrible that it felt like a lion breathing hard on my neck. I hesitated, then slowly let my hands fall, allowing him to raise my skirt. His hands moved toward my panties—and that was when I snapped, and decided to act. “I can’t take this anymore,” I said, standing up, my voice trembling but angry. “Please… I’m not a sex worker. I’m just here to settle a debt.” He chuckled. “You thought I brought you here to play games with me, you bitch? paying off the debt is part of satisfying me, or have you forgotten I make the rules here,” he barked, eyes sharp as a blade. I stood silent, my body shaking like I was sucked into a cold ice water, unable to move or speak. “Now get back here. Finish what you're supposed to do,” he demanded. Slowly, I returned to his lap, positioning myself again. He slipped his hand into my bra, squeezing my nipple. My face twisted in anger—but I couldn’t do anything. He grabbed me on the neck while he breathed warmly onto my ears. His hands moved round my body, from my breast to every part of sensation, but I wasn't feeling any bit of the urge towards sexual attraction. All I want To do at the moment was satisfy him as he had requested and get the hell out of this room, since he hadn't demanded for a sex, all he wanted was a session to strip for him. After I was done, he tossed an envelope in front of me. I stared at it, confused. “Take the money. Use it to take care of yourself,” he said casually. “And as for the debt—I’m deducting ten thousand dollars from it.” I blinked. Ten thousand? That would leave twenty-nine thousand. I had only managed to raise two thousand after months of work—and he just slashed a quarter of the total like it was nothing. “Go,” he added with a wave of his hand. “I’ll call for you when I need you.” I grabbed my heels and rushed out of the room while holding the envelope he had given to me. I didn't even care to know the amount of money that was inside, all I had in mind was to exit the room as quickly as I could. When I got home, I still couldn’t believe it. The money in that envelope was more than I’d ever earned here—combined. Yes, he assaulted me. Yes, he touched me in ways I hated. But that kind of money? It almost didn’t feel real. He gave me money for myself, too—not just toward the debt. I sat on the edge of my bed, stunned. For months, I stripped, and I never saw this kind of payment. Now I understood why he was called the boss. I’d never been like this—not even once. But a strange new feeling was creeping into me. A sliver of hope. Could I really be free soon? If I kept pleasing him like that, maybe… just maybe, I could finally pay off the debt. I gasped in relief and let my head fall back onto the bed. Maybe this nightmare would end sooner than I thought. The next morning, a loud bang on the door jolted me awake. My eyes were still heavy. “Who the hell is banging on my door this early?” I mumbled to myself, dragging myself out of bed. I opened the door—and froze. Derick. “What’s going on? Why are you here?” I asked, confused. Derick had never known where I lived. Seeing him at my door didn’t make sense. “The boss wants to see you,” he said coldly. “Why? It’s not even time for me to report to the club, based on our agreement,” I replied. “I don’t give a damn about your little agreement. I’m here to tell you to get in that car—and go meet the boss,” he growled, locking his eyes on me. I was baffled. Why now? Why this early? “If you don’t come willingly, I’ll drag you there myself,” he added, sensing my hesitation. I nodded, swallowing my fear. “Please… give me a few minutes to change.” “There’s no need for that,” he snapped. “Come with me. Now.” His glare was terrifying. I knew better than to argue. Still in my pajamas, I walked beside him to a sleek black SUV. Two security guards opened the door for me. I got in. Derick sat next to me like a watchdog—like he expected me to jump out and run. “Where are you taking me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. No answer. The driver said nothing. The other man in the front seat—dressed in a sharp black suit—stared straight ahead. Not a word. Not a glance. It was as if my question didn’t exist. I sat in silence, heart pounding. Something about this felt very, very wrong.Clara’s POVI remained quiet. Nobody wanted to answer any of my questions. After a few minutes of driving, we pulled up in front of a luxurious mansion. The gates opened automatically, and the car rolled inside. My confusion deepened. If we were going to see the boss, wasn’t this supposed to happen at the strip club?This mansion looked more like a government official’s residence—or maybe even the White House. It was unreal, the design was top notch and the cars parked at the garage made me wonder if this is a place where luxurious cars are sold, the cars are more than twenty, and each of those cars, if I am to do the math correctly, could cost more than fifty thousand dollars each. I stared around, and my mind was clouded with astonishment, I haven't seen anything this perfect and luxurious in my entire life. I didn't even know a place like this could exist here in this city. it totally felt like heaven, a paradise, a dream I could never reach. I began getting nervous not because of
Clara’s POVI flinched as the slap landed hard on my ass, his grip tightened strongly making me wince in pain. It felt like a bolt of electricity struck me or perhaps a lightning bolt, because the shock was so painful making me wonder if my skin had been peeled off.I moved my hips slowly, reluctantly, as my hands rested on either side of the sofa. My waist swayed, and he let out a breathy gasp.“Ooh.. yeah… that’s it… that’s what I want. You’re good at this,” he grumbled in satisfaction, his head resting on the leather sofa, and his both hands holding my waist softly.But I wasn’t satisfied. Inside, I was burning with anger. The only thing I could think of was ending this hell—ending everything I was doing here. I wasn't comfortable, I was in fear, my body trembled, I was wrestling with an anxiety that's already tearing me from the inside. He grabbed my ass and squeezed it more, gently raising my skirt. I pushed his hands away. I wasn’t a harlot. I was a stripper he forced me to be—
Clara’s POVI walked into the room meant for the strippers and began getting myself ready, changing into sexy dresses that exposed my body more. Tonight is another chance to make another attractive move, creating a better performance that would definitely make my viewers spend even more money on me than before. I can't wait to get over this lifestyle of being a stripper, I had never chose to be like this, I chose to be something better and productive, so I was ready to give out all my best, pouring a fake passion I had to generate that could make my performance more interesting—I wasn't going to slack.A few minutes passed, and it was almost my turn to go on stage. Just as I was about to step out, Derick’s voice echoed behind me.“Hold on a bit—I want to have a word with you.”I turned to him and nodded slowly, still puzzled as to what he wanted to say to me.“The boss wants to see you,” Derick said. I froze, it was as if a shock wave was beneath my skin, threatening to split it way
Clara's POVI stared at Derick as he walked out the door, and deep inside me, I knew what he said was right. I was indeed a slave, bound to this club to work forever—until I succumbed to death itself. I felt pain, and betrayed. If I had seen what was coming, I wouldn't have gotten into a relationship with Alaric, that later ended up as a nightmare to my life. I feel am not normal anymore, I felt like I was in a cage I can't run out from. I was an orphan, raised without a father or mother. I grew up in an orphanage and eventually went to college. After graduating, I worked at a restaurant, leaving my peaceful life with my little earnings, and that was when I met Alaric—the man who had caused the pain I was drowning in now. We made love, and I never imagined he could be so heartless, to betray me in such a gruesome way. I once suggested finding a high-paying job to help repay the debt faster, but the crime boss Alaric borrowed the money from refused. I was informed that my jackass boy
Clara’s POV I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply into the warm breeze, mixed with the reek of alcohol. I knew it wasn't my first time strip dancing. I felt my legs heavy, already going numb. I had stripped dance multiple times and had tried to perfect all the moves, pushing myself further to practice ballet so I could be more flexible when dancing on the pole. And yet, I felt I wasn't ready for the performance tonight. Tonight was another session where I would strip dance half-naked in front of men old enough to be my father. It was my job—a responsibility I had to abide by—or else I would face consequences that could lead to death itself. Months back, I was deceived, betrayed, and used by my boyfriend, which later got me into this mess—to work as a stripper in order to pay back a debt I knew nothing of. Alaric, my boyfriend, borrowed a huge sum of money from a crime boss, and now I was the repayment. If I failed to do as the boss said, I would face brutal consequences. Thou