Chapter 5: Working At The Club

LANA

I felt a sudden tug on my arm, jolting me from my daze. I turned to see it was Bernardo, my stepdad, gripping me tightly. His warning glare sent a shiver down my spine, and memories of his past violence flooded back. Even my mother had turned a blind eye to it.

I quickly lowered my gaze, trying to make myself invisible.

Maximum, the leader of the group of men, suddenly stopped and looked directly at me. His piercing gaze felt intense, and I couldn’t help but notice how strikingly handsome he was up close. A rush of excitement coursed through me, igniting a desire I hadn’t felt in a long time.

But just as quickly, he walked away, leaving my heart racing. I was smitten.

As I daydreamed, Bernardo’s grip on my arm tightened, and I hissed in pain. "Um, you’re hurting me," I managed to say.

Bernardo shot me a fierce glare. "Do you know who that man is? He’s Maximum, the most feared man in the country. He could kill you without a second thought, and no one would ask a question. Stay away from him."

His words barely registered; my mind was still lost on that gorgeous man.

Once Bernardo finished his lecture, he yanked me forward with anger. "Come with me. We’re going to see Manager Sam."

He knocked on a door, and a deep voice called from inside, "Come in."

As I entered, the thick scent of smoke enveloped me. The dim lighting made everything appear hazy, but I could still make out the outlines of the room. I was curious to explore, but Bernardo pulled me back, forcing me to focus.

He bowed slightly and said, "Manager Sam, this is my daughter. She’s very pretty and an excellent dancer. Take a look at her and see if she meets your criteria for a stripper."

My eyes widened as I glanced at Bernardo, bewildered by his words. We hadn’t agreed on any of this—why was he sounding like a salesman? 

When I felt Manager Sam’s gaze on me, I turned to face him. His expression was hard, the knife scar on his cheek adding to his menacing demeanor. A thick cigarette dangled from his dark lips.

“She looks good,” he said in a deep voice.

Then, his arm disappeared beneath the table. He pulled out a file and slid it across to Bernardo.

Bernardo flipped through the documents in silence. I leaned in, trying to read the words, but they were a blur. I had never been to school; I had grown up on the streets, focused solely on survival and finding my next meal.

After a moment, Bernardo looked up, a wide grin on his face. “Lana, we’re rich! We’ve made it!”

I blinked in confusion. How could a few pages make us rich? Was it really that easy? Doubts swirled in my mind, but I kept them to myself.

“If you’re satisfied with the arrangement, you can sign, and she’ll be taken to the dressing room. Since tomorrow is Christmas Eve, we need her on the pole, so let’s make this quick,” Manager Sam said, drumming his fingers on the table.

Bernardo placed the file down and pulled out a pen. I was surprised to see him with one.

But instead of signing right away, he asked, “Does that mean my debts are written off?”

“Yes,” Manager Sam confirmed.

I stood there, unsure of what to say; the atmosphere felt too intimidating, and I couldn't bring myself to ask the questions weighing on my mind.

After my stepdad signed some documents, Manager Sam picked up the phone and made a call. A few minutes later, a mature lady entered the office.

She wore a skimpy dress that revealed her cleavage and arms, her face adorned with thick makeup, and she exuded sophistication with her excessive jewelry.

"You got me a new girl?" she asked, her gaze locking onto mine.

I felt her sizing me up as Manager Sam responded, "Diana, treat her well; she looks good."

Diana nodded, seemingly agreeing with Manager Sam. After a moment, she approached me, taking a thorough look at my body. She even touched me, making me feel awkward and uncomfortable.

"Perfect height, nice breasts, and a soft ass; she’s meant for the pole. Come with me," she said, turning and walking toward the door she had just come through.

I followed her, prompted by a nod from Bernardo. We walked down a hallway, and she led me into the dressing room.

Inside, I saw five other young ladies, all naked and moving about. One was applying makeup while another smoked casually.

I had never seen a place like this in my life. Diana clapped her hands and gathered everyone around. "Girls, we have a new sister among us. Let’s treat her well, make her feel comfortable, and welcome her as one of us. We are family."

They surrounded me, showering me with compliments. "You are so pretty!"

"Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to make men happy."

"Are you a virgin?"

I felt shy as they bombarded me with questions. Suddenly, a disgruntled voice interrupted, saying, "All of you are so noisy. Get busy with your dressing mirrors so we can go out and entertain."

I turned to see who had spoken—a woman who hadn’t said a word since I arrived in the dressing room. To my surprise, no one challenged her; they all hurried off, including Diana, who stayed silent.

"She’s our money tree," Diana explained to me. "She can be a bit arrogant, so just avoid her, and you’ll be fine. This is your dressing mirror. Tomorrow morning, report early; I’ll coach you on how to make men go crazy using your body."

After showing me around, she suggested I watch the others perform. When I stepped out of the dressing room, I saw Bernardo looking around. Our eyes met, and he quickly approached me, handing me a glass of wine.

"Drink this," he urged.

I took a sip; it was delicious.

"Finish it all. I need to return the glass so we can leave," he said impatiently.

I complied, but a few moments later, I felt unusually hot. My eyelids grew heavy, and my vision blurred. I sensed his arm around me as he said, "I’ll take you to the room I booked."

That’s the last thing I remembered before I felt the softness of the bed. I was overwhelmed by heat and restlessness, my hands exploring the room. Then I caught a glimpse of flesh and, throwing caution to the wind, I pleaded, "Please, just fuck me."