Chapter 5

Isabella’s POV

I didn’t know if I had made the right decision.

Accepting Mia’s proposal felt like stepping straight into the lion’s den. A small voice inside my head kept asking if I was making the biggest mistake of my life.

But the truth was simple.

I needed money.

And this was the only paying job anyone had offered me since I came to New York.

So the next morning, I woke up early and got ready quickly. I slipped into a light yellow floral dress and tied my hair into a neat ponytail. I wanted to look presentable, even though I wasn’t sure what Dan, the club owner, would expect from me.

Mia had promised to introduce me to him today.

And I didn’t want to miss that opportunity for anything in the world.

When I walked into the living room, the apartment felt strangely quiet.

Too quiet.

I looked around, confused.

Usually by this time, Aiden would already be in the kitchen cooking breakfast or humming softly while making coffee.

But the kitchen was empty.

I frowned.

Was he still upset about my decision to work at the club with Mia?

The thought made my stomach twist slightly.

Pushing the thought aside, I walked toward Mia’s room.

When I opened the door, I found her sprawled across the bed, still fast asleep.

I blinked.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I walked closer and called her name softly.

“Mia.”

No response.

I tapped her shoulder.

“Mia…”

Still nothing.

After several gentle taps and still no reaction from her, I finally lost patience.

“MIA!”

She immediately jumped upright in fright.

“What the hell!” she groaned, glaring at me with sleepy eyes. “Why are you screaming like you want to bring down the entire building?”

“It’s your fault,” I muttered, folding my arms.

“Didn’t you promise to take me to the club today? You said you were going to introduce me to Dan.”

For a moment, Mia stared at me.

Then suddenly she burst out laughing.

Not just laughing.

Laughing hysterically.

She laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach.

“I’m sorry,” she gasped between breaths. “I just couldn’t help it.”

I stared at her in confusion.

“What’s so funny?”

She wiped tears from the corner of her eyes before reaching out and pulling me down onto the bed beside her.

“Honey… my sweet little Bella,” she said gently.

“Clubs don’t start until late at night.”

I blinked.

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” she chuckled. “I still have a lot to teach you.”

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.

“So if we go now… the club won’t be open?”

“No,” she explained. “The club will technically be open. But nothing exciting will be happening yet. Dan only shows up when the club is fully running at night.”

She studied my curious expression.

“But if you just want to check the place out, we can go now.”

My eyes lit up instantly.

“Yes! Let’s go.”

Mia groaned dramatically.

“You are way too excited about this.”

Still, she dragged herself out of bed and went to get dressed.

Not long after, we were already in a taxi heading downtown.

During the ride, my stomach twisted with nervous excitement.

I had never stepped inside a nightclub before.

I had no idea what to expect.

When the taxi finally stopped, my eyes slowly lifted toward a bright neon sign above the building.

PARADISE

The word glowed boldly in pink lights.

I stared at it, completely mesmerised.

Before I could say anything, Mia suddenly appeared beside me.

“Welcome to Paradise, baby!” she announced dramatically.

She spread her arms wide.

“Yeah, Isa,” she continued proudly. “This is Club Paradise. The place where people’s fantasies come true.”

I swallowed nervously.

Everything about the place felt overwhelming.

The building itself looked mysterious and intimidating.

“Don’t just stand there,” Mia laughed, grabbing my hand. “Let’s go inside.”

She pulled me toward the entrance.

The moment we stepped inside, my heart started beating faster.

The interior was unlike anything I had ever seen.

The club was dimly lit, with soft purple lights glowing across the room.

Velvet couches surrounded a large stage.

Several silver poles stood beneath bright spotlights.

The bar stretched along the far wall, filled with rows of colourful bottles.

Even though the place was quiet during the day, the atmosphere felt heavy.

Almost electric.

“Am I really going to work here?” I whispered to myself.

Before I could sink deeper into my thoughts, Mia called out to me.

“Isabella! Come on. Let me introduce you to the girls. They’re rehearsing over there.”

She pointed toward a group of women practising dance routines on a stage-like platform.

I nodded nervously and followed her.

“Girls!” Mia called out.

The dancers stopped and turned toward us.

“This is Isabella,” Mia said proudly. “She might be working with us soon.”

Then she began pointing to each of them.

“And Isabella, these are Candy, Lola, Crystal, Brandy, Kitty, Bambi, and Starr.”

“Nice to meet you all,” I said nervously, raising my hand in greeting.

“You’re really pretty,” a blonde girl said with a warm smile.

I remembered Mia mentioning her name earlier.

Candy.

“Thank you,” I replied shyly.

“Can you dance?” she asked curiously.

“I… I…”

My mind went blank.

Luckily, Mia stepped in immediately.

“Don’t worry,” she said confidently. “I’ll teach her everything she needs to know. In no time, she’ll be dancing like the goddess she is.”

The girls laughed and immediately started showing me a few simple moves.

I tried to follow them, but my nerves made me clumsy.

Just then, a voice spoke behind us.

“Ladies.”

We all turned around.

A middle-aged man stood there with a confident smirk.

“Dan?” Mia said in surprise. “What are you doing here this early?”

“Yes, ladies, I know you’re surprised to see me here,” he said smoothly.

“I had a few errands nearby, so I decided to stop by and check on my beautiful ladies.”

The girls giggled and smiled.

Then his gaze landed on me.

“And who is this beautiful queen standing here?” he asked.

He stepped closer and gently took my hand.

I opened my mouth to introduce myself.

“I’m.... ”

“This is Isabella,” Mia interrupted quickly. “She’s looking for a job.”

“Well, I already have enough waitresses,” Dan replied.

Mia leaned closer to him.

“I was thinking she could work here as a dancer.”

Dan’s eyes slowly scanned me from head to toe.

The way he studied me made my skin tingle.

“Turn around,” he ordered.

I hesitated for a moment before slowly spinning.

“Can she dance?” he asked Mia.

“I’ll train her,” Mia replied confidently. “She’ll be ready in no time.”

Dan studied me again.

Then he nodded.

“Alright.”

My heart skipped.

“She can work here at Club Paradise.”

Relief spread across Mia’s face immediately.

“She’s beautiful,” Dan added. “The customers will love her.”

Mia squealed in excitement and threw her arms around me.

“It’s official!” she said.

“You’re now a Paradise Angel.”

I stood there quietly, unsure how to feel.

Excited.

Terrified.

Hopeful.

But one thought echoed in my mind.

At least… I finally found a job.