Chapter 5

Emma’s POV

Thinking about the next two months’ rent, food and transport fees, I need more money.

With little professional experience and a bad economy, three months' salary is not enough to support me have a normal life.

Suddenly my phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Emma? Where are you?" Roberta asks me.

“Home. I prepare to go to our coffee shop five hours later.”

"Okay..uh... there's a problem." She pauses. Oh, I know. Every time she feels pity about doing something, she always uses this tone.

I hold my breath, waiting for the bad news.

"Uh... My brother and I had a little accident, he broke his neck and we're at Vegas' hospital."

"What? Where are you? I'll drive my car and be there as fast as I can. Or do you want me to open the coffee shop alone?"

"Whoa, hold on! It's no biggy, I'm fine, just need to take care of my brother tonight."

"And...Emma, my brother and I need you to do something very important. We need your help. He owns a club, and every night he needs to go to the club. But he’s in a coma, and I can’t leave him.”

"Sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can help you with? "

“Yes, I’ve already sent you the address of the club, please work for a few days and my brother will give you a very high salary.”

I check my email and nod my head. “Got it. And what’s the name of this club?”

“Star Stripper: Gentlemen Fantasy Club.” She whispers in a low voice.

Holly shit. It's worse than I expect.

I respond disdainfully, “You want me to be a stripper?”

“No. Not serving customers, nor being a stripper. We need you to keep an eye on things at the club."

Are they crazy? I don't know how to run a stripper club, I am just good at making coffee and saving money in my pocket.

"Such a big club has managers and partners, right? Tell me why." I bite my lips and scratch my hair with my hand.

"They have some private issues, and can't be publicly associated with it."

"Look, Emma. My managers know how to do their jobs, I just need you to write down who gives money to you and what they use it for."

"Oh god, this is Vegas, a stripper club, I'm just a young student, can't you find someone who is more trustworthy?"

"Please, it's only for a couple of days, ten days. You're the only one I trust. And my brother is the owner of the coffee shop, if he gets angry and closes the shop..."

I would lose my job and be a homeless girl again.

"Hell." What should I say? Roberta helps me a lot, she's my friend, a family, and my only source of income. “Okay, I’ll go to the club tonight.”

She laughs, "great, thanks, Emma! My brother and I will give you 10,000 dollars as your salary this month."

She is my only friend in Nevermore, helps me pay my rent, and gives me food to eat. I can’t refuse her request anyway.

After pressing "end" on my phone, I sign and am torn between being disgusted with the new job choices and the kind of thrill that the salary is higher enough to live a normal life.

So this Friday afternoon, when my GPS tells me I'm reaching the right address, I look up at the sign and want to punch my head again.

I sigh again and decide to drive back home. Looking back at the sign again, it's ridiculous of having the words "gentleman" and "stripper" in such close proximity.

But before driving my car, I find out my phone is out of battery and I only have 50 dollars in my wallet. Working at a stripper club is the only choice.

When I walk into my "office room," I have to admit I make the right decision. This room is bigger than my small attic room, with a kitchenette, a wall full of TV screens, a bathroom, and a big refrigerator. I can ask a chef to cook food whatever I want.

I think I can hide out in heaven in my grey sweater, with a cash box and a notebook, and pretend I'm working hard.

It turns out, no such luck.

At nine thirty-eight, one of the managers, James Hope, storms into my office, saying nervously. "Emma, we have a problem."

He paced back and forth across the room, "our top star 'Viper Mistress' didn't show. Normally she should be there by now. She's the main stage at ten."

I glance at the stage full of girls dancing in a short dresses, "it isn't a big deal, choose one of these girls and let her dance on the stage."

He looks at me like I'm an idiot. "no, geeks love her. And Viper Mistress has giant booms and a big round ass. The costume is designed specially, most girls don't fit it."

I suggest to him, "how about making an announcement? She's not here tonight."

"An Announcement?" His jaw clenches, "some of these guys take a chopper and fly across half of the country just to see her. She's a star. She makes them beg for kicking their butts, they want it and need it."

My eyebrows frown, "James-"

"Last time we didn't have Viper Mistress, the club lost half of the customers."

Roberta left me in charge of the money, the one thing I need to take responsibility, and it can go to hell on my first working night.

Not on my plan.

"Tell me what can I do. Tell me her address so I can look for her." I grab my car key.

"Henry did that one hour ago, but he can't find her." He gasps, hitting his palm on the wall.

Suddenly, he narrows his eyes and opens his phone, "wait, your body size and face look like hers."

"Uh-huh?" Is his nerve breaking down?

"Look at this picture," he passes his phone so I can see it clearly.

He looks me up and down as though I'm a real Viper Mistress. "You're hot, young and pretty. Just what men like, put your make-up on and wear her costume."

“I don’t like this jock,” I say awkwardly.

“Emma, the boss trusts you, we all believe you can do it! You have Viper's body type, and with showing your legs and cleavage-”

"No, I won't do that," I say in a firm tone. "I'm a freaking college student, James! I not willing to go out half-naked and dance like a stripper in front of horny weirdos."

He practically cries, "you won't go topless, Roberta will tear me into pieces if I force you to do that. Just a fifteen minutes dance show, Please, we can't close the club, it will ruin our reputation, and rich men won't to our club anymore."

Fùck, fùck, fùck, fùck, fùck! "James, give me her costume and I need a custom lady." I sigh heavily.

****************************************************************

It's a disaster!

I stare at myself in a full-length mirror, my boobs are held up by a band that barely covers my titts, with the double cinnamon bun hairdo in a black G-string and open robe that exposes my full breasts.

"Bow to your Vaper Mistress!" James' voice commands.

I quickly walk towards the state. The mass of dry ice flows out on the state, and the lights crisscross around me.

My right hand holds a whip, I hit it on the ground, then the crowds start to cheer and bow their head.

What the heck?

“Woo-hoo!” Men yell go nuts.

James changes the music - like the soundtrack from a war movie. I lung forward with a massive fire whip which is 180 ft, and tries my best to extinguish fifty candles in one minute.

I keep talking to myself silently "don't burn my clothes and hair", and pretend to be a hot horny Mistress at the same time.

“Jordy, ”

His eyes wander up and down my body, stopping for another look at my mask.

"Emma, there you are. You did a great job, thank you so much!" I hear James sigh in relief behind me. I turn my head to him, he looks scared.

Something doesn't feel right.

"You're welcome." I scan his face with a frown.

"Emma... Uh, a man wants to see you, he is waiting for you in a VIP room. And he sends his bodyguards to bring you to him.”

Two hunk men smile at me and tell me they will lead me to the room.

My eyes widen in horror as I hear "a man", that man must be Jordy. This is bad, really bad.

"James, I don't want to meet any strangers. It's too late now, I need to go home." I grab my swear and pants and decide to leave.

"My boss will speak to the club owner later if needs be. But please, you're coming with us." One man politely speaks to me.

He’s threatening me, telling me they’d force me to see their boss if I reject their suggestion.

"Are you okay, Emma?" James asks in concern, noticing my pale.

I quickly wear a fake smile and ignore my thoughts, "I'm fine, just a bit puzzled. I will meet their boss right now."

He nods before leaving with concerned eyes.

I take a deep breath, pushing myself into a standing position, ignoring my nervousness before walking with these two men.

I grip my costume and open the door, then I hear the voice of footsteps, which tell me this secret customer is striding over to me.

The door closes, the room is dark, and the light turns off.

A man’s hand reaches out, grabbing hold of my bare arm. I feel my skin send an electric crackle down through my body, making me feel like my body might melt.

“Mine!” He growls.

He is so close I can smell the scent of his shaving soap, but all I can think of is the meadow, the smell of the flowers, the lake, and the warmth of his lips upon my skin.

I gasp, trying to push him away, but his right wrap around my waist and the left hand grazes my neck.

"You're mine." He fixes on me possessively, like he can't wait to pounce on me.

What?!

His thumb lift my jaw up, and my eyes meet with a stunning pair of glowing green eyes.

He is Jordy Antonakos!