I closed the door behind me, before turning and looking both ways...I had no clue where to go.
"You must be new around here?" I jumped slightly before seeing the girl who was stalking her way towards me. Her blonde hair was tightly wrapped around curlers on her head and she wore a thin pink silk kimono.
"is it that obvious?" I asked, trying to hide the fact I was terrified of what I had just signed myself up for.
"No... but Joey told me to come get you and show you around..." her face lit up "I'm Carly but around here I go by Angel" she looked at me expectantly
"Vanessa"
"you look like a Vanessa!" she chirped "do you have a stage name yet?"
"no... do I need one?"
"it's preferred.. plus you don't want some pervert knowing your real name." she turned around and began walking down the corridor, noticing my lack of movement she yelled over her shoulder "are you coming or shall I just leave you there like a lost puppy?"
---
"and this is the main stage" she pointed to the large wooden structure before us, a glimmering metal pole stood center stage with a large arm chair behind it. "they can change props.. they're really good about that!"
"so what's your...thing?" I asked leaning against the wall
"Suppose I'm their baby faced good gurl" she winked "let me guess... your my alter ego... dark, mean..."
"Apparently that's what they think I am" we both laughed slightly.
"let me show you to your room."
---
after what felt like 100 flights of stairs we finally found the corridor of bedrooms. and if I wasn't tired enough mine was at the very end.
My room was decorated with the same thick purple velvet from the corridor, the floor a black laminate.
"If you don't like it they can decorate it. There's a wardrobe over there and a bathroom just through that door. We eat dinner at 6pm usually but you can eat here if you want" she paused, her eyes searching around "oh yes!" she exclaimed "So now your part of the team you have to obviously work... there's a basic costume set in the wardrobe until you go and see Marcie the seamstress. Routines pretty simple to start with...I'm guessing you can sway your hips?" I nodded "good... that's basically it. so I've got to get ready I'm on in 30 minutes... see you round" she smiled before turning and fleeing the room.
As I closed the door I firmly placed the lock on the other side before sliding down onto the floor. What had I gotten myself into? I wasn't ready for this... I can't dance...I can't entertain!
I was trapped here and my only way out was probably in a body bag.
I skipped dinner that night, and went straight to bed, millions of thoughts ran through my head...but the important one... I'm fucked.
----
It had been a week since I had gotten here. Carly was right, being a stripper was easy, but what I didn't like was the burning stares of the seedy men which filled the room.
"your on in 20 Vanessa" A loud nock came from my door shocking me out of my day dream. I scurried off the bed before quickly getting changed into my costume. I had gone to see Marcie who had made me a beautiful black corset with black jewels and red detailing. I pulled the thigh high tights up securing them on the hooks which hung from the corset. I slid my feet into the platformed black heels which practically made me a whole foot taller. Running over to my dresser I applied a thick layer of makeup, my signature smokey eye with red hints and a deep ruby lip.
The lights on the stage were blinding. But over the week I had become accustomed to them and found them comforting as they blocked out the room. As I danced I could hear wolf whistles over my track which made me smile momentarily.
As I stepped off the stage I tried to catch my breath.... it was not as easy as it looked hanging upside down from a pole. I looked up only to meet Carly's eager eyes
"you were so good out there! The crowed loves you!"
"I'm not that good, but thanks"
"Well obviously your doing something right. Angelo thinks your ready for your first solo client... are you up for it?"
"do I have a choice?" I replied
"not really. but trust me if you please this specific customer, something good might come out of it... Maybe an even longer set or something"
"ok, who is it?"
"He prefers it if he remains a mystery, that's how he rolls I suppose. But I can tell you he's very important..."
-----
"How do I look?" I asked Carly as we stood outside the door.
"Stunning" she smirked "remember no sass in there... he's not a very nice man from what I hear but if you make him happy... we are all happy!"
"Angel it's your turn!" the mysterious voice echoed throughout the corridor
"that's my cue... good luck" she hugged me before prancing off down the hall.
---
The room was almost pitch black. The dim light which sat on a coffee table illuminated the thick smoke that hung in the room.
"are you going to move away from the door any time soon?" a thick velvet voice asked, a heavy accent behind it. I turned quickly trying to not look frantic at the same time. "you look afraid. Where did the fiery girl from the stage go?"
"I'm gonna be honest this is my first time, doing anything remotely like this. So I'm sorry if I'm afraid but you've never been in a situation like this before"
"have you ever been shot before?"
"no...."
"then you don't have to be afraid. move into the light so I can see you bellissimo"
I had to do this... And if I was going to do it, I'd give him a show he'd never forget. I stepped forward confidently, placing my hands on my hips. I had to stop my self from melting right there and then, I had believed Angelo was a perfect specimen of a man but I was wrong... Before me sat the most beautiful man I had ever seen. His chocolate brown hair sat perfectly styled on his head, his bright blue eyes standing out vividly against his dark tanned skin. His jawline alone could have cut through wood, but as my eyes traveled down I saw his rippling muscles busting against his tight white shirt.
"Like what you see?" a cocky look fell on his face as he figited in the seat.
"I've seen better" I lied. I completely and utterly lied.
"What's your name Caro?"
"Vanessa"
"The butterfly. I am Christiano" an awkward silence fell over the room
"so..."
"are you going to dance for me my little ballerina?" He bit his lip, his eyes meeting mine.
"I'm not a ballerina." I stalked towards him, before pushing him back in his seat.
"Angelo has good taste" he mumbled, his eyes fixed on me.
"shut up and just watch." his face fell into a scowl before a wicked smirk pulled at his lips. I stood before him swaying my hips to the music, I turned around bending forward slightly, I jumped when his cold hands made contact with the small line of skin between my corset and the underwear, he pulled me down onto his lap his arms pulling me tightly against his toned chest.
"your such a tease" he whispered in my ear before biting down on the lobe. A small moan escaped my lips, which I wish I could take back. What was going on? how did things get so heated so quickly?
"fůck" he groaned in my ear as I began grinding my hips against him to the music. "you better stop that before I take you right here and now"
I smirked, continuing the action that got so much of a response. "merda!" he exclaimed loudly "Last warning baby" he began nipping at my neck leaving a trail of very obvious marks.
"Boss!" a group of men barged through the door followed by a frazzled Angelo
"I tried to tell them you were busy!"
I awkwardly stood up moving away from the side of his chair.
"we'll finish this later baby" he stood up ushering me to the door.
all I could think right now was fůck he was coming back.
My meeting with Christiano had left me completely frazzled. I was in such a state of shock, that I completely forgot where my room was. I kept walking the hallways avidly looking for my door. Eventually I found the room, running inside I closed the door firmly behind me. I cannot believe what just happened, I had thought I had more self restraint than that but there was just something that made me trust him..which I knew was absolutely stupid because it would come back to bite me.I needed to sort my head out, was I actually beginning to sucombe to this lifestyle? After one of the longest shower in history I threw myself on the bed, allowing the soft silk covers to suck me in.----"svegliati baby" a vague voice echoed through my dreams. "'svegliati" a warm hand caressed my face, shocking me awake."what the fúck?" I blurted out, my heart racing inside of my chest"hey mind your language baby" Christiano stood up off the bed, straightening up his suit."why are you in my room? have yo
"Get what ever you want" Christiano looked up briefly from his phone before looking straight back down.He had decided that I needed to go shopping as it was a, and I quote "girl thing". "I hate shopping" I groaned, my eyes searching the racks of clothing before me."But when I brought Angel shopping she practically died on the spot" he looked so confused... "I thought all girls like to shop?""I am not a typical girl. Shopping is my last priority" I huffed loudly, trying to emphasise my boredom "you are trouble already." he tucked his phone away in his blazer pocket before turning and looking across the street "ice cream? please say you like ice cream" "i love ice cream!" ----Once we had finished the most chocolaty sundae ever Christiano took me back to the club. It was strange seeing normal people, living normal lives. Even though my stay had been short, my world had become completely different.As we walked back into the club the air was filled with shouting. "But I haven't b
3 weeks laterI can't believe they haven't found me yet.Me and Sam really hit it off, we tried being friends, that lasted all of 1 day. He is better than Christiano, kinder, gentler. He let me move into his apartment outside of the city and I actually felt safe here. I knew the were looking for me, I knew Christiano was going mad. But I had to keep hiding, I hoped they would eventually give up... eventually realise I hadn't gone to the police and just wanted to forget everything that happened. I got a job as a barista in the local coffee shop, and for once in my life things were starting to look up. ---I heard the chimes jingle above the door from the stock room. I placed the magazine I was reading on the table before walking through to the front of the shop. A short stocky man stood on the other side of the counter, clutching onto a smart phone. "what can I get you?" "Espresso please." he barely looked up but kept typing away on his phone. I felt like I had see him before somew
"Do you know who these men are Vanessa?" Sam's eyes burnt through me"Of course she does" Christiano grinned wildly"Is someone going to tell me what the fúck is going on?!" I stared blankly at Sam, he had seemed so calm before today, I thought he was different, I thought I was safe"Calm down blondie!" Angelo chuckled, leaning against the wall."All you need to know is that... that..." I didn't know what to say... if I told him who they were they would kill him and probably lock me away in a dungeon somewhere. "Let's say I'm her old boss." Christiano began pacing around the room, his hands placed firmly in his pockets."okay I get that... but why are you so desperate to find her? she quit get over it dude!" Sam shut up. "I think you'll find 'dude' that she didn't quit but in fact ran away" I could tell her was going to loose it, he began rubbing his hands over his face, the smirk falling into a deep set scowl."Are you seriously that desperate that you have to gather up your... you
"Get in the car" Christiano's tone was cold and harsh."You don't have to be so mean. It's not like I have a choice!" he laughed lightly... why does he find everything I say funny?"just get in baby" I sighed, before stepping into the long black car that waited outside. I shuffled over to the seat as far away from Christiano as possible. "I won't bite... unless you want me to" he winked"can you just be normal for 5 minutes""I am being normal. This is my normal" he smiled, genuinely he smiled. I was shocked, I didn't think he could smile... his face would probably crack if he smiled for too long.----The car pulled up outside of the club, a crowed of men stood around as usual. As soon as we stepped out of the car they all fell silent and nodded towards Christiano. I'd never stopped and actually considered what it must feel like to be so respected by so many people... I'd never had respect before, I wouldn't even know how to deal with it.As we walked into the club Christiano shut th
2 weeks later "That was terrible Gabrielle" Dom shouted from his seat at the bar. "That was the worst dance I've ever seen" "Dom I will kick your arse" Gabrielle stood at the edge of the stage, hands on her hips "Hey its not my fault you can't dance very well" he held up his hands "Dom give her a break" Sasha walked in and sat down at a booth near the center of the room "I'd like to see you hanging upside down" "what is going on?" Carly sat down on the booth next to me, passing me a glass of vodka."Dom just walked into the lions den" "poor man. Them two are crazy" she picked up her glass before taking a sip out of it"Why is everyone just sitting around?" Christino walked into a room, a group of men behind him"Dom is being mean again" Gabrielle said as she stepped off the stage grabbing her kimono and pulling it around herself. "Dom is aloud to be mean. That's his thing..plus we had this conversation before Gabrielle, you need to respect my men, they keep you and your $10, 0
"I know what just happened was probably scary for you girls but can you please be quiet?!" Angelo stood on the stage with all of us seated around him, the room fell silent. "Thank you" he cleared his throat before looking around the room "Obviously it's not safe here anymore. If the Russians know we are here then all of our enemies know we're here" "stating the obvious" Sasha muttered, crossing her arms over her chest"Sasha did I ask for your contribution?" he stared at her until she submitted, shaking her head. "good. now we need to relocate the club... and that's going to take some time. so whilst we do that you girls are moving onto the estate" "seriously?" Sasha shot up off her seat, excitement rushing through her"yes..." Angelo trailed off, obviously worried by her giddiness... But I was worried too... not because of Sasha... The location of the estate was a mystery, I've heard rumours the whole Italian Mafia in New York lives there...and that's a lot of men with guns. Plus
'"If you don't tell us, we'll just have to take you with us and have some fun with you..." the one behind me said letting go of my hair. But before I could run he grabbed me roughly around the waist, pulling me to his body. "we could have so much fun..." he bit on my ear lobe causing a loud scream to erupt from my lips." I shot up, sweat dripping down my face. I stared blankly into the darkness, tugging the covers closer to me. I lay back down, trying to steady my breathing."Vanessa?" Christiano's voice filled the room, followed by the sound of the door shutting. He shuffled over to the bed, before sitting down on the edge. "what is wrong? I heard you screaming." the dim moonlight illuminated his face, his usually perfect hair was messy and tousled and he only wore a set of checked pyjama bottoms that hung dangerously low on his hips. "I... it was just a nightmare" he rubbed his face, sighing loudly."The Russians?" "hmm... yes" I swallowed the lump which sat in my throat. he made