CHAPTER 1: Mr. Billionaire

TYSHA

“Miss Clifford?” When someone called me, I turned around. A doctor and a nurse entered the hospital room as the door opened. I greeted the doctor back with a smile. 

It seemed like it was time for them to look at Mama's condition again. It had been three days since we unexpectedly brought Mama to the hospital. She experienced another episode of her condition.

To concentrate on what they were going to do with Mama, I shut down my laptop and watched them. 

“How’s my mom, Doc?” I asked the doctor after they checked my mother. I watched their reactions closely, trying to get a hint if they would tell me bad news or not. 

Fortunately, the doctor smiled at me. I felt relieved. 

“As of now, she’s doing great. But there's still a possibility that her condition might worsen. It's better if you let her stay here for days to monitor if she will have any improvement,” she stated which increased the burden on my heart. 

Oh gosh. 

Still, I nodded slowly to the doctor.

I don’t think we can go home anytime soon. And staying here means bigger hospital bills.

I shook my head, trying to shake off my worries. 

Stop worrying, Tysha. You’ll get through this. What’s important is that Mama is doing great as of the moment. 

I tried to convince myself when I was starting to dwell on my unending problems again. 

As the nurse and the doctor left us again, I took that chance to hold the hand of my sleeping mother. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought about our situation. 

After all my savings were taken away by my jerk ex Bryse, it felt like I was becoming an additional burden to my father who was working hard as a car dealer and earning just to pay for our debts. 

Damn it. 

WHEN my father came after his work, I went outside for a moment to think. I could not afford to stay chill knowing that my father was trying his hard to provide for me and my mom. It felt like I needed to do something; I needed to earn instant money. 

Since I had no other friend who could help me aside from Barra, I messaged her to ask for some help. 

Me: Barra, are you free tonight? Can I meet you?

I bit my lower lip as I waited for her reply. I was not sure if she would lend me some money this time because I still had not paid her for my old debts. Terrible! 

But I felt like I needed to provide something too, just to help my father from shouldering the weight of our problem. So, I swallowed my pride. 

It took an hour before my friend replied. 

Barra: Money again?

She knew right away. 

Damn. 

Still, I decided to stick to my guns.

After I got her reply, I immediately typed another message. 

Me: Can I borrow sum? It’s just that… my mother was hospitalized for days again. Promise, I’ll work hard to pay all of my debts!

My palms were sweating. With the amount I owed her, I doubt she would ever lend me money again. Even so, I tried my luck.

And my friend replied right away. 

Barra: Meet me at my work. ASAP.

As I read her message, my eyes twinkled. 

Yes! 

Her reply only meant one thing: she would lend me some money. 

Me: Thank you so much, girl! You’re the best!

So, without hesitation, I went to Barra’s workplace. I did not even bother to change my simple shirt and pajamas. 

As I got out of the bus, the facade of Eventide Cabaret greeted me. It was already glowing in the dark because of the neon lights surrounding the name of the strip club where Barra was working. Based on rumors, only wealthy people could enter this strip club. It was obvious because of the luxurious cars that were in its parking lot. 

Somehow, my heart ran faster. 

This would be the first time I would go inside a strip club, especially a club for VIPs. Whenever I borrow some money from Barra, she usually meets me in her condo but this time, she ordered me to meet her here. 

I tried to pull myself together. 

Okay. Calm down, Tysha. You’re not here to work as a stripper anyway. 

I examined the people around me. Most of the men were wearing formal attires as if they were businessmen or even mafia bosses. A lot of women wearing daring outfits were also outside, flocking those arriving men.

To be honest, I was amazed. It seemed like the rumor about Eventide Cabaret being one of the most exquisite strip clubs where millionaires and billionaires usually visit to waste their overflowing money was all true.

In front of the cabaret's door were bouncers with rock-like bodies and intimidating faces. 

Despite their looks, I mustered up my courage and approached a bouncer to ask.

"Er… I'm here for Barbara Moore. Is she inside?" I asked. 

When the emotionless man darted his eyes at me, I got goosebumps. 

Terrible! His gaze was so intimidating that I could imagine him snapping my neck for bothering him. 

Okay. I'm overreacting. Gosh!

The man stared at me for a moment. I could not help but gulp because of nervousness. 

Damn! 

"Your name?" he asked me back using his cold voice. It made me feel at ease.

I was pretty sure Barra talked to them about letting me in.

"Tysha Clifford."

"Get in."

When the bouncer finally let me in, I did not hesitate. 

Inside the club, the dizzying neon lights greeted me. I could hear shouts, cheers, moans, and laughter. The inside was such a busy place. On the other hand, a mixture of smoke, beer, and vape enveloped my nose. 

For someone like me, it was unbearable. But I endured it all. 

On the stage of the cabaret, there were poles and three girls with spunky outfits were performing an exotic dance. All eyes were on them, especially the eyes of the men. Everyone had their own bet. Others were throwing them dollar bills. 

I examined the expressions of the performers. I tried to find hesitation in their eyes but all I saw was passion and dauntlessness. They were so professional in making their body moves like waves, never minding the eyes that were glued to them. 

Then I wondered… 

Is this really the life they want to live in? Or they are just stuck in a hard situation where the only choice to continue living is to do this?

I was stuck in deep thought when a man in the VIP loft caught my attention. Girls were surrounding him. A girl was sitting on his lap. Two girls were beside him, touching his body and intentionally pressing their big bazongas on him. 

“Mr. Billionaire, come on. Show us what you got,” a flirtatious voice of a woman said to the man in a formal suit. 

Mr. Billionaire, huh? So, the man was that wealthy? Maybe, that was also why the girls were flocking to him to get some dollar bills. 

But unlike other men in the cabaret who kept enjoying the night, the guy in a formal suit seemed to be having trouble. It looked like he enjoyed nothing in the girls’ company. 

Weird. 

“No thanks. I’m fine. Just… get off me,” he said in a respectful manner. His voice was as handsome as his face. 

Despite him, being in a place like this, he seemed like an ethical man. He kept avoiding to touch the body parts of the girls who were grinding at him. 

As I examined the sight, I compared them to moths being drawn to the flame. The moths were the women while the flame was the man. But unlike the normal scenario of moths and flame where moths got burned by the flame, it seemed like the guy in a formal suit was more likely to be in a difficult situation. 

For the nth time, I stopped observing when the man darted his eyes at me. It made my heart jump. 

I then saw him mouthed, “Save me.”

My eyes widened because of that. 

Huh?

My lips parted in utter disbelief. 

Is he talking to me?

I looked around but no one else was looking at him but me. So, it confirmed that he was actually talking to me. I cast him a skeptical look. 

“Please,” he added frustratingly without a voice. It seemed like he did not want the girls around him to notice he was asking for help from me. 

I blinked several times, not knowing what was the right thing to do. 

Like… what should I do? Should I help him? But how?!

You can’t make a problem here, Tysha. You have no money. As long as you can, avoid trouble. 

Because of what I thought, I hesitatingly looked away from the man. There was guilt in my heart but I neglected it. 

I have more important things to do here. I need to find my friend. 

So, I continued to walk around looking for Barra. As I did my exit, I heard ‘Mr. Billionaire’ called me. 

“Hey!”

I was pretty sure he was calling me but I did not glance back at him again. I acted as if I heard nothing. 

Sorry, but I can’t help you right now, Mr. Billionaire. 

Damn. What is he doing here if he’s that innocent to take all of this? 

Okay. That’s kinda contradicting on my part. But still! I’m not here for work or to be a client. I’m here to borrow some money from my friend. 

I just sped up my walk to get away from the VIP loft. When I got away, I looked at the poor man again.

He remained to look troubled. I could not help but laugh a little. 

He’s kind of cute though.