Chapter 1

Marie

I hesitated as I stared at the one story building that was my step mother’s brothel, slash night bar. 

Normally, I wouldn’t dream of coming here. But I didn’t have a choice. She was the only one who could help.

I blinked back tears as my heart skipped several beats in fear. I drew in deep breaths until I managed to calm down.

I had to do this. I must do this. I will save my mother’s life.

The bar was crammed with people when I got in. At the far end of a corner, a singer with a captivating voice performed with the assistance of a live band. I headed straight to the bar top where a familiar bartender was serving drinks.

“What can I offer-“ His smile vanished when he looked up and saw me. “Can I help you?” he snapped.

I shrunk in shame. Two years ago I had barged into the other wife’s office and yelled at her for making my mum cry. I missed classes that day, and almost clawed her eyes out when the bartender came to drag me out and threw me out of the brothel altogether. 

I cleared my throat and stood straight, which was nothing compared to his tall height. He was a pretty boy, but too bad he worked with the bitch. “I want to see Dolly. It’s urgent, family business.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, and then smiled coyly. “If you create a scene I can’t guarantee that someone ..gentle would throw you out this time. If you know what I mean. She’s up in her office.”

I ignored his sassy comment and walked towards hell. 

Dolly was a woman who liked to think of herself high and sophisticated. With short blonde hair and a faux long jacket, she looked like a washed out older wannabe version of Marilyn Monroe. 

I met her on a call leaning back on her oversized arm chair, a cigarette in between her chipped red painted nails. I waited until she was done and dropped the receiver on the telephone.

“Marie,” her matte red lips stretched into a feline smile as she took a drag of her cigarette and blew facing me. “Here to scratch my face?”

I hated cigarette smells. I hated her. I hated that I had to do this. “No, of course not. Can I sit?”

“Hmm,” she purred, her sultry bitchy voice aggravating me. She waved her free hand at me. “Nice to see you actually have manners. Yes, you may sit. How can I help you? If it’s about your father I have no idea where he is.”

I don’t fucking care about that bastard. I wanted to scream at her, but instead I said, “No, um, it’s about my mother.” I told her what happened and she kept quiet, the silence making me uncomfortable and itchy.

“What do you want me to do?” her voice was causal, no iota of sympathy as she observed her nails idly.

“I want you to lend me the money for her surgery. The tumors are obstructing her important organs and she needs this surgery, or else she could ..die..” I told her the amount and she laughed, mocking me without speaking words.

“You must be crazy,” she finally said.

I shifted to the edge of my seat, desperation in my eyes. “I’m serious. I know you have the money. I don’t care, I’m willing to do anything. I’ll pay you back, I fucking swear,” my voice broke and I could feel the incoming tears. “I’ll do anything to save my mum. Please Dolly.”

“Hmm,” she stared at me with what I hoped was pity while she twirled her cigarette. “I’ll make you an offer since you’re so desperate. One of my clients is looking to hire a sex slave for one night, with a generous pay. You’ll have more than enough money for your mum’s surgery, medications-“

She paused when she saw the horrified look on my face.

“Come now Marie, you don’t want your mummy to die do you?” her voice was firm. “You’re a pretty girl with a petite body most guys would kill for. You’re 19? 20? You’re done with high school and this is real life. He’s old. I’m sure you can handle whatever it is for just one night. So, what do you say?”

“I-“

“The key is pretending,” she cut me off. “Keep your eyes on the price, on the money. Then pretend to enjoy it even if you don’t. Picture someone else –maybe your boyfriend or crush or the last cute guy you fucked.” She lowered her voice and looked at me with what looked like compassion. “Do it for your mama.” 

 “But you said a sex slave,” I pointed out. “That sounds scary, Dolly. I don’t want anybody whipping me. I don’t want any physical damage to my body. The emotional one is enough.”

 “It’s just a fancy name,” she finally said with a smile that made me feel like punching her face. “This particular client only wants to have a good time, and he was specific with his demands. He wanted someone fresh. Someone like you.” 

I clenched my fists in controlled rage and frustration. Mum would –could never find out that this was what I had to go through to save her. It would break her. It would kill her inside.

“Mum can never know,” I told her with a shaky voice. My heart tightened in my chest and I could feel my incoming tears. “I’m serious, Dolly. Don’t you ever tell her anything about this.”

The silence between us was thick with tension, and anticipation. 

Dolly dropped her wine glass and leaned towards me. “I never speak to your mama, Marie. And neither does she. I’m the mistress, remember? I’m her worst enemy.”

I nodded, swallowing back tears. “And Dad? Will you tell him?”

Dolly leaned back into her armchair again and rolled her eyes. “I don’t give two shits about him. Now, you’ve already taken so much of my precious time. Are you taking this deal or not?”

I couldn’t believe I was about to do what I wanted to do. 

I nodded. 

I nodded again. Boldly this time, a feeble attempt to convince myself that I was really doing it. That I had no other choice.

“Good,” Dolly clapped in excitement, then poured another round of wine inside her glass. “You go in there and make him happy,” she stretched the glass to me, golden bangles jiggling on her wrists. “Drink,” she ordered. “Wine makes it easier.”

Room twenty-five was the ugliest room I had ever seen, and seated on the edge of the bed my client of the night. My ticket to saving my mum. 

He was your generic looking older white man, with blonde hair that was gradually turning white and a nose that was far too slender and long that made me wonder if he was even breathing properly. His mouth was another thing I didn’t like about him. It was too thin, like a line.

The worst of it all? He was already in his boxers, sitting expectedly and staring at me like I was prey, and he was a predator. 

I was disgusted, but once I remembered that my mother’s life was at stake, a smile appeared on my face like magic. I opened my mouth to talk, to say something to break the uncomfortable silence when he beat me to it.

“Strip.” 

I was taken aback. “Excuse me?”

“What? Are you deaf or something? Strip and let’s get started so I can get my money’s worth. And do it there, just in front of me so I can see you properly.” 

Fuck you. I wanted to scream at him. Instead I nodded and began to unbutton my shirt. I hated the way his gaze was on me, hungrily. Disgustingly. For a moment I wondered if this man was married. If his wife and kids knew that this was what he did. 

I shrugged off my shirt, leaving me in just my pants and bra. 

“Hurry it up, girl.” He snapped at me.

I paused, and then looked at him. Like I really looked at him. “Fuck you. I’m leaving.”

The look on his face was priceless. I wished I could take a picture, frame it and keep it forever. 

“What is this?” he yelled at me, standing up from the bed. But I was already on my way to the door. “You will regret this! I swear, you will!”

I scoffed, then slammed the door on his face. I would find the money somewhere else, in some way that didn’t involve me degrading myself.

I took a long swing of my beer, my eyes lazily scanning the bar. This one was different from Dolly’s. It was quiet, with dim lights, hushed whispers and frequent happy laughter.

I took another swing of my beer again. It was cheap, but effective that on my second bottle my head was beginning to feel woozy. I didn’t want to think. At least, not now –not yet.

“Drink this for just happiness,” a cup of drink slid to me on the table, interrupting my thoughts.

I looked and froze. There’s a man seated across from me. 

A man with black wild hair over blue eyes and deep powerful chiseled chin. Under the dim lights he looked like a fallen angel, beautiful and forbidden.