Chapter one

Mira

The zipper of my heels always gets stuck whenever I’m nervous.

Fuck it.

But tonight, it has refused to move at all.

“Come on…. I don’t have strength for Mrs Chloe.” I hissed under my breath, tugging harder until it finally slid up with a sharp zzzip!! “Thank goodness,” I exhaled, strengthening myself before my eyes landed on my reflection in the locker mirror.

And I scowled

Sexy outfit. Glittering skin.. my lips moved, forming a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

This is me every night, the Infamous… BLACK CHERRY!

I inhaled sharply to hold myself together, my chest felt so heavy tonight.

Theo’s face wouldn’t leave my head. The way his small fingers curled around mine this morning, his voice soft and weak, “Mummy, when will my chest stop hurting?

I didn’t answer him

Because I didn’t know how to lie anymore.

I sniffed but… Immediately I sensed someone walking into the locker room, I quickly blinked back my tears and put on a wide forced smile. I grabbed my robe, tying it loosely as I stepped out of the locker room, heels clicking softly against the tiled floor. The bass from the main stage thumped through the walls, familiar and numbing.

Just another night. Just another dance.

Just–

“…..Five hundred thousand dollars,”

My steps slowed instantly.

The voice came from the VIP hallway, low and careless like the number doesn’t mean anything.

Five hundred thousand what?

I stilled

Infact, my breathing stopped.

“….cash. I don’t want transfers, that would be too traceable.”

Then came another chuckled voice. “Relax. It’s already here,”

And something in my chest tightened.

I haven’t even heard of such a large amount of money close to me, talking about seeing them.

“Five hundred…. hundred—“ I kept stammering, my body shaking.

“Theo’s heart is getting worse each passing day. He needs medical attention and if delays, he might lose his life this time around,”

I swallowed, my shaky fingers unconsciously curling into the edge of my robe. That kind of money might not cover everything but it would surely go a very long way. I can’t let Theo die, he’s my only hope and strength in this worthless world.

Tears tried to slide down but I bit my lips.

No matter how much I strip, dance, work… I can’t cover his surgery.

But with that amount…..

Theo couldn’t have to wait anymore.

He wouldn’t have to keep asking me questions I couldn’t answer. And the next few minutes, I felt my legs moving on their own, closer and closer to the VIP until I reached almost to the door.

I shouldn’t have moved

I knew that but…. that amount was too tempting to resist. So quietly, I carefully leaned in closer to the slightly opened door.

“…..after tonight, we’re done.”

BAM!!!

I flinched instantly at the dull heavy thud of something solid hitting the table.

I held the door carefully and peeped inside and my eyes almost bursted out.

“Of course… that's the boss's order too. Clean job then clean transaction, win win.”

“Cash… cash… that’s the cash,” I murmured, and my heart started beating fast. Not normal fast, but dangerous fast. My body was so shaking that I have even forgotten that I have work to attend to.

They need me on that stage

To entertain them… to have my ass giggling to their faces.

So foul but that’s it.

Taking in a sharp breath, I closed my eyes… fighting every ounce of that temptation.

This is crazy

I should walk away.

Go dance. Earn my tips if any tonight then go home and pretend that I didn’t hear anything because this is not who I am.

“Yes. Yes,” I muttered under my breath with a forced nod. About to look away, boom…. Theo’s pale face flashed again, twisting my heart. The fear of losing him breaking every restraint I have inside me. I stared back at those men then around and my face hardened. “That’s it. For Theo, for my son.” I hissed and without a second thought, I turned on my heels and walked straight to the services station. My hands move faster than my thoughts. Nothing else was going through my head except that money… Theo’s health and a huge burden to get off my shoulder.

So I quickly reached out and grabbed a tray, five glasses and a bottle.

Unzipping my purse, that one voice that I hated most cuts in from behind, hitching my breath.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Bianca asked, eyeing me with so much disgust.

Well, it’s mutual.

Here, you only survive being tough.

I licked my lips, and turned, forcing out a small smile. “VIP called.”

“You are supposed to be on stage!” She snarled. I shut my eyes and sucked in enough air to calm myself, especially with how nervous I was now. “Yes but…” I cleared my throat and continued. “It was an order from Mrs Chloe,”

I felt those hateful eyes bored at me for long before she rolled her eyes and hissed, “Whatever,” walking away.

Once she was out of sight, I let out a sigh of relief and turned back, looking down at those glasses… my heart was drumming faster again. Then with a shaky hand, I opened the wine.

I hate that I’m doing this but…..

I poured the drinks when staring at the clear liquid like it might stare back and tell me to stop. My reflection in the glass looked unfamiliar.

“You’re really doing this?” I whispered to myself.

And my throat felt dry.

“I’m.. I’m sorry,” I added under my breath, though I didn’t know who I was apologizing to. Them… or myself.

Then my eyes fastly roamed around the place as I studied everywhere before slipping my fingers into my small purse and pulling out the tiny vial that I had sworn never to use again after that previous night.

“For one last time. Only today,” I whispered. “Just enough to make them sleep. No harm, yes yes just sleep.” My hand hovered for a second

Then tilted.

A drop.

Two

That’s it.

I quickly set the vial back, picked up the tray before my courage could disappear, and walked back to the VIP room.

Every step felt louder now.

Every breath, heavier.

I pushed the door open with a soft knock, my smile already in place.

“Your drinks, sir.”

They looked so powerful that the space around me suddenly felt small, even the heavy smell of their expensive cologne made my steps a bit unsteady.

None of them looked at me twice.

Good… infact, much better

“Leave it there,” one of them ordered, his eyes still on the man across from him.

“Okay,” I stepped in, and placed the glasses carefully on the table. And that’s when I saw it… so CLEAR!!

The bag.

Black. Unzipped just enough for stacks of cash to peek through.

And that sight was enough to have my pulse spiked so hard it almost hurt.

No. No, Mira don’t stare.

I cleared my throat and quickly turned, walking out like nothing mattered. Like everything is normal.

The door clutched shut behind me but I lingered around, hiding and impatiently waiting.

One minute ticked.

God…!!

I groaned, pacing around aggressively. My heart was still beating fast.

Then two minutes.

My palms were damp now. I kept wiping them against my thighs. Each second was suffocating.

Three

God pleas—

Bam…. My thoughts cut off as I heard the sound of a chair scarped inside, then followed by a low curse and my heart jumped.

Now, I started inching closer, back to that door again.

Four minutes

A thud

And that was enough cue

Without thinking again. I instantly pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Seeing the scene in front of me, my eyes widened. Three of them were already slumped over the table. The fifth one barely holding himself up, his eyes were struggling to focus.

“Wha—“

Too late.

I moved fast. Faster than I ever have in my life. Exhaling deeply, I grabbed the bag, the weight of it almost pulling me down for a second.

“God. This is real.”

My heart pounded violently as I turned and snuck out fastly before running.

Not walking.

I ran.

Through the hallway. Past the lights, the loud music, then I moved through the club back door and instantly fled down a taxi.

“To the hospital, right now!”