CHAPTER 1

CAROLINA:

The morning sunlight bathed me as I went out to search for a job. I wore a faded yellow top, an old brown skirt, and black shoes that had holes in them.

After an unsuccessful job hunt, I returned home and found my mother, Lilian Edmond, standing at the front door.

“Carolina, you are 26 years old. Yet you have no job or a boyfriend. You cannot continue to eat in this house with us. Take your things and leave!” Mom yelled, glaring at me.

“Good evening, Mom,” I greeted her, but her eyes narrowed at me.

My mother was a 48-year-old chubby woman of average height. She was fair-skinned with long blonde hair like mine and a curvaceous body, while I was slim-figured.

She wore a long blue night dress that hung loosely around her body, paired with black slippers.

Some neighbours peeked from their open windows, trying to see what the commotion was about.

“Carolina, you are not entering this house tonight. You better go back and search for a job. If you do not see any job, then do not come home again. If your father and I had known that sending you to the university was a waste, we wouldn’t have wasted our money and saved it for your younger ones. How do you expect us to continue to feed a grown-ass woman like you in this house? If you do not want to work, then remain outside there!” Mom yelled and went back into the apartment, slamming the door in my face with a deafening sound.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I knew my mother wasn’t happy that I didn’t have a job. I sighed, looking at the door that had been locked from within.

My name was Carolina Edmond, and I had graduated with a first-class degree in business management. So far I hadn’t been able to secure a good job in this city.

I grew up in a family with five siblings—two younger sisters and two younger brothers. I was the eldest, and yet I had nothing serious ongoing in my life.

I drew a deep breath and turned to walk back to the road. I knew that my mother shouldered all our family responsibilities, as my father was just present. He didn’t truly care what I did. He came home to eat, and we might not get to see him for days as he worked as a mechanic.

I stood by the roadside, thinking of what to do next, and how to get a job ASAP.

When I checked my phone screen, I saw it 7 p.m. I knew most of the agencies had closed. So what work could I get tonight?

I decided to contact my best friend, Lucy Campbell. She worked in a club. I was certain she could lend me money to take care of my bills for this weekend.

“Hello, Lucy,” I said as she picked up her phone.

“Hey, Carolina. What’s wrong?” Lucy asked me, shouting over the phone call.

I noticed she was at work. The loud sound of club music reverberated in my ears.

“I am homeless, Lucy. Can I come and stay at your place?” I asked her, knowing that she lived alone. I tried to fight back my sobs, but I ended up sniffing.

Lucy was my childhood friend. We attended the same college. But she didn’t have a troubling family like mine. She chose to live alone and work in a club.

“Why? What happened with your family again? Your mom threw you out?” Lucy asked, guessing the problem. “This is 8 p.m. How can she send you away in the night?” She was furious, and I tried not to cry.

“Lucy, I cannot blame my mother. The economic situation is too hard now and she's just trying her best to provide for us. I need to get a job to support her. If I can see any job for tonight, I do not mind doing it even if it’s prostitution,” I stated, sobbing at last. Lucy sighed.

“It’s alright, Caro. I am at work now. Can you come to The Blues Club? It’s the biggest club in this city, and they have a five-star hotel too. I will try to speak to my boss to employ you. But you must quit speaking locally and speak seductively like me. That way my boss can employ you and take you seriously. Similarly, you must be friendly with the male clients. You will have to endure their touch and how they interact with you,” Lucy declared.

“Really? I must do all this if I want to get the job. Will it involve kissing or what?” I asked her, my eyes widened in shock at her condition.

“No, Carolina. What is wrong with you? You will just have to put on a smiling face is what I mean. Well, you know that you’re a pretty woman. So some of the men might want to ask you out,” Lucy said, and I thought about it.

“Alright. I do not have any problem with that. What matters is that I earn money. Even if it meant selling my body. I feel like a failure right now,” I responded, sobbing again.

“It’s okay, Carolina. You are not a failure. Where are you? Start coming over. Do you have your transport fare or should I lend you some money? Though I do not have money to dash you right now. My elder sister’s wedding is next month, and I need to make preparations for it,” Lucy said, her tone unwilling and apologetic.

“Alright, Lucy. I will pay you back. Please, help me. You are the only best friend that I have,” I told her, and she laughed over the phone with her contagious laughter.

“Don’t mention that. I am sure that I am not your only friend. Anyway, I will send the money to you. Get here quickly,” Lucy gave me a final ultimatum, and she knew how I had been trying to get a job all to no avail.

I sighed, pacing about the road, and I got a message alert of five thousand and smiled. The money was more than I needed. But I knew that I had to pay Lucy back.

Looking ahead at the busy road, and the numerous cars passing by. I hailed a taxi and told the driver, “To The Blues Clubhouse.”

The taxi driver looked at me from head to toe. “Are you sure that you are going to the Blues dressed like this?” He eyed me suspiciously, and I frowned.

“Why? I am going there to meet a friend of mine,” I told him, and he shrugged.

“Get into the car. All that isn’t my problem. But your bill is one thousand and five hundred,” the taxi driver said, as I pulled the car door and entered into the back seat.

“Why? Isn’t it five hundred?” I tried to ask him, but his eyes darkened at me.

“You can trek. Why get on a taxi?” he said to me coldly, and I frowned.

“It’s fine. Take me to the club,” I told him, and he nodded and started the car and drove off to The Blues Club.

I reclined against the rear seat thinking about my fate there.