Clara’s POV
I 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 out. “The boss?” I whispered under my breath, almost wanting not to believe. “Yes, of course. The boss wants a word with you. And you have to follow me. Now,” Derick repeated, and something shifted inside me—an uneasy twist in my gut. It's was indeed not just a word from Derick mouth but an actual instruction passed from the boss itself to me, which I hadn't seen in my entire life. The boss's identity was a mystery, I hadn't seen his face nor knew his real name. All I knew was that he owned the strip club… and that he was dangerous. Ruthless. Inhuman. I swallowed hard, fear surging through me like ice, mixed with electricity. “Why does he want to see me? I’m trying my best to pay off the debt. Please… I don’t want to die,” I stammered, my hands shaking. “Who said anything about dying?” Derick scoffed. “Come with me now—unless you want your fear to turn into reality.” I nodded quickly, lips pressed tight, my body trembling. Was I about to face my worst fear? I thought to myself. Swallowing hard. I followed Derick up the stairs to a VIP section I never knew existed. It was hidden and silent—like it didn’t belong to the same noisy, crowded club below. The door swung open, and we stepped inside. The room was luxurious—so lavish it almost felt unreal. My eyes scanned everything, but the fear in my chest never faded, it was like a tattoo that could never clean off my skin. We stopped. Derick bowed slightly and spoke. “Boss, here she is. The bitch you requested.” After Derick spoke, it felt like the room went silent for some seconds and Just then, a voice answered—low, smooth, and laced with menace. That was when I noticed the figure sitting in a large leather chair, its back facing us. The chair slowly turned. Seated there was a man—legs crossed, arms resting casually on either side of the armrest. He wore dark-shaded sunglasses, and just looking at him sent cold shivers through my spine. His aura was so dominant, it made me feel like I could melt in fear. He chuckled—deep and slow, like a lion stirring. “I liked the way you danced yesterday, the performance was unlike anything I had ever seen,” he said, pulling off his sunglasses. The moment our eyes met, my heart stopped. I knew that face. It was the same man from the night before—the one who sat in a secluded plot inside the club, completely unaffected by my performance. “So he’s the boss,” I mumbled in disbelief, my breath hardened as I felt an uneasy sensation surging into my bones. “Yes, sir. She’s the one who owes the $40,000,” Derick added, and I shifted my gaze to him. The boss chuckled again and rose from his seat. “Hmmm… so you’re the lady who’s in debt to me huh? The one who's boyfriend tricked me,” he said smoothly. I instinctively stepped back. My lips were dry—I couldn’t speak. But I was confused. He spoke so casually, like he'd forgotten I was a woman he’d turned into a prisoner, enslaved in this job for a debt I never asked for. Months back when Alaric vanished, I was kidnapped, and taking to a place I never knew, and that was when a man, which his face was hidden from me, informed me about what Alaric did, and urged me to do as he said or else, he won't only kill me but torture me till I secummed to pain itself. All I knew was that he was the boss, and I had never had the chance to see him until today. He raised his hand, gesturing for Derick to leave. Without a word, Derick bowed and exited. I turned to follow, but the boss’s cold voice stopped me. “No. You stay.” I froze, then slowly nodded, my body trembling, hands squeezing together as if that would somehow calm me. He stared at me with a chilling calm smile. “As I said—I like your performance yesterday. It was seductive and captivating. Now I want you to do the same… but for me. Here. Now.” I gulped again, hard. “Do the same to you?” I stuttard below my voice, almost biting my tongue. I didn’t know why I was acting this way. I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to be near him. But I knew something for certain—this man was dangerous, and I didn’t want to test his limits. He sat back down on the leather sofa, arms wide. “Don’t waste my time. Come strip for me—it’s part of your job, isn't it.” I took a small step back. Just then his voice rose like thunder, making my body flinch in fear almost falling to the ground. “You bitch—why the hell are you scared of me? Isn’t this part of the job you signed for? You are mine. Mine until that debt is repaid. Do you understand?” I nodded frantically. “Yes… I understand,” I whispered, lips trembling. I walked over to him and slowly lowered my ass onto his lap. My body was stiff, frozen in fear. I stayed still for a moment, unsure what to do, not that I can't twist my waist or do as he had requested, but because I lost almost an entire way to do it, it was as if I wasn't in control of my body anymore. Suddenly, his palm slapped hard across my ass, then pressed it aggressively, making me feel pain. “Don’t make this boring, dance for me, make this interesting and make it satisfying, if not you are not leaving this room Alife.”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