PLAYTHING OF THE ALPHA PREDATORS

                                        APRIL

I almost gagged in disgust at the sheer display of stupidity. The men were banging the glass, some were licking it, most had their hands inside their trousers, some even had their dicks out in the dimly lit room and they were rubbing them so vigorously to the movement of my body.

The twirl, shake, flatten, and twisting of my body as I became one with the pole. I closed my eyes firmly and tried to ignore them, tried to ignore the chant of Red, my nickname. It was utterly appalling and disgusting and I wouldn't be here if I didn't need the money.

I couldn't even rush through my routine. I was the best stripper here. Those animals paid a lot to watch me strip for them and I have to satisfy them.

I didn't finish too fast enough and when I finally did, I sprinted out of the box to the inner rooms while the groans and chants of Red trailed after me. I relaxed when I got to the hallway. I couldn't wait to get to my assigned room, shower, and scrub away the filth of what I'd been up to for the past hour.

I turned the corridor that led to my room and...

"Hey Red," the suddenness of the voice startled me. I instinctively put my hand on my chest when I saw that it was Louis, the manager. The corridor was dimly lit but I could see the hunger in his eyes as he looked at me and practically undressed me with his eyes. I flattened my palm over my exposed cleavage.

"My name is April," I corrected him, just like I do every other day, "I've told you to stop calling me Red."

He grinned, a lewd and predatory one.

"I pay your money so I'll call you whatever I want to."

"I work for the money. I'm the best stripper here. If you don't want my service anymore, I can always go somewhere else."

"Eeeh, come on, April, I was just joking," my threat did the trick like it always does. I didn't even not her replying to him. I just sidestepped him and started to walk away.

"Someone wants a private show."

I didn't stop walking, "you know I don't strip for private audiences."

"Yeah, but he insisted and he's waiting."

"He'll wait forever then."

I got to my door and was about to turn the doorknob.

"He offered to pay 20k." I stopped. "And that's without the club's charges. If you say yes, I'll transfer 12k to you now and 8k when you're done serving him."

I swallowed hard. 20k was a lot of money. With 20k, I would be able to pay more than half of Dad's debt, and with 20k, I'd be able to cut down on my work rate here. 20k was a lot of money.

But private shows weren't my thing either. It never ended well for the girls who do private shows. I've heard of the obscene things that were done to them and I couldn't risk that.

But 20k. It'd change my life. I imagined a life where I wasn't hassled by loan sharks, where I didn't spend my days worrying about if the loan sharks would take me, how they'd threaten me; whether it was to sell me into a sex ring or to harvest my organs. It was a horrifying life, one that I couldn't wait to get out of, and now, the 20k was offering me just that.

"I told Anita about it and she's considering the offer so if you're not interested..."

"I am!" the words left my mouth before I could think it through, "I'll do it."

"Good!" he sounded relieved and happy and I knew whatever his percentage was, it must be high, "I'll wire the money to you now. Freshen up and your client wants you to wear the deepest shade of red."

                                             *****

Almost 30 minutes later, I entered the private room, dressed in red lingerie and a red mask. The room was starkly dark except for the din light shining from the poll and I could faintly make out the outline of a man sitting on the chair.

I sashayed my way to the pole.

"Good evening sir, I'm Red, and I'll be stripping for you tonight."

He raised his wine glass to me as if in a toast and I took my position around the poll. I flattened my body around the pole, twirled, twisted, and gave my best performance yet this man didn't move a muscle.

He remained unmoved as he sat on the seat, casually sipping his drink as if he was watching an unimpressive performance.

It bothered me. Even though it shouldn't bother me. I was going to collect my money and I was doing it for the money so whether or not the audience was impressed by my performance, it shouldn't get to me.

But it still got to me. It made me try harder, twist harder, and shake my booty harder. He still didn't show any reaction. I was the only one that seemed to be reacting to this; mentally because I was stressed that he didn't show the reaction that I was used to getting from men and physically because my panties were sticking to my core.

And it wasn't because of sweat.

It was because of the intense, dark, and unblinking way he had been looking at me since I started.

I finally landed on my feet. I folded my hands on my stomach and I curtseyed.

"That will be all."

I turned to walk away but his voice stopped me.

"I must say that I'm impressed," he started and I felt chills break out on my body. His voice sounded familiar, like a voice that I'd heard over and over before. But I couldn't place it. Maybe because I was too tense to process anything.

"Student President by day, erotic stripper by night," the mockery in his voice was so evident that it chilled my blood. He was no stranger. He knows me. He knows that I was the Student President of Enigma College. If this secret comes out, I will be dead.

I'd be expelled with no option of getting into another school. The legacy I've fought so hard to build will crumble. All the midnight candles that I burnt to get this far will be for nothing.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I managed to whisper. My whole body was trembling and shaking. I could feel an onslaught of a panic attack. I made for the door, desperate to escape and leave this nightmare behind me.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," there was a stillness to his voice that chilled my blood. I stopped just as I heard rustling sounds. He was rising from the chair and walking towards me.

I managed to turn around, dread, and anxiousness, raging a tornado within me

The closer he got to me, the more I could make out his facial features, and by the time he stopped in front of me with a wicked and devilish grin on his face, I instantly recognized him.

He was Xaden Davenport, one of the three Alpha Princes who ruled the school.

I got him and the other two princes suspended last semester because they were a breathing example of everything Enigma wasn't. They all hated me with passion.

Xaden was a mortal enemy who promised me vengeance when he was suspended last semester.

He was also the son of the man Mother is currently married to.

And he just found out my darkest secret.