Chapter 2: Stepping Into The Unknown

In my 21 years of life I never thought I would be this nervous going for a job before, but this was not just any job. I havd to work in a freaking strip club, saying the words alone made my insides turn, taking me way out of my comfort zone.

Standing in front of my mirror, I looked at my reflection for the ninth time, the girl staring back at her didn't seem like the Aliana of years ago. This Aliana looked sad, hopeless, eye bags underneath her eyes , skinny with her collar bones poking, the only thing covering all that is the minimal makeup she put on. Dressed in a wine button up shirt , black office pants and hair brushed into a ponytail. I looked at the time, saw it was half past 6 and told myself “girll you can do it, it can't be that bad. You just have to calm your nerves” , and so she breathed in, waited for five seconds and let it all out in one go, it felt like I let go of a lot of things at that moment.

I fixed my shirt one more time , that was the only shirt that looked good enough to wear, carried my tote bag off the bed and walked towards mom's room to say goodbye.

I suddenly paused outside the door before entering and realized I hadn't told mom about the work and especially where I was working. I hate lying to mom but I have no choice to do so. I knocked softly on the door and opened slightly after hearing a faint “come on” from mom.

I opened the door and entered the room, seeing as mom was trying to sit up on the bed , I rushed towards her , held her back and said “mama lie down back, you don't need to be using much energy”, mom decided to listen because trying to say otherwise will just get her a full blown lecture. She then noticed my dressing “ Ali dear where are you going all dressed up by this time”

“I’m going to meet Lyra,” I said carefully, forcing my voice to sound casual. “She thinks she can help me find a job.”

Mom smile widened just a little. “That girl has always been good to you. I hope she’s right.”

I kissed her forehead, my heart getting filled with guilt. “I’ll be back later. Don’t worry, okay?, just get some rest and please don't walk around mama.”

As I left the apartment, I kept on repeating the lie to myself. It’s just work, just a job, just one night, if I hate it, I’ll leave.

The bus ride to the city felt longer than usual, I only went to the city to visit Lyra at the cafe or when I tried applying for jobs. I kept my head low, staring out the window as streetlights blurred past the bus one by one, clutching my tote tightly, my palms started sweating, imagining the kind of people I would meet. Would they laugh at me for being nervous? Would they know I didn’t belong there?

When the bus finally stopped near the city center, I stepped off and found myself surrounded by tall buildings and flashing lights. The streets buzzed with energy, cars honking, people laughing, couples mingling by the corner, music spilling out of bars, it was starting to get overwhelming as this time around I came for a different purpose.

Lyra was waiting for me beside a restaurant across the road, dressed in her usual stunning style. A short black dress, high heels, and her makeup perfect as always. She waved excitedly when she saw me. I crossed the road and went to meet my best friend.

“There you are!” Lyra grabbed my hands, gave me a big hug, looking at me up and down. “You look cute! Don’t be so stiff. You’ll be fine.”

I forced a small smile. “I feel like I’m walking into a lion’s den.”

Lyra laughed. “It’s not that bad. You’ll see. Just stay close to me tonight. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

We walked together down the street until we reached the building. From the outside, it didn’t look like much, dark walls, a neon sign glowing red and green above the door, two bulky men standing guard at the entrance, the bulky men nodded at Lyra and they both walked in. As soon as the doors opened, music and light spilled out, heavy and overwhelming.

My heart raced as I stepped inside. The air smelled like perfume, alcohol, sweat and smoke. The music hummed through the floor, loud enough to make my chest vibrate.

Lyra noticed that I had stopped walking, she walked backwards a little, grabbed me by the shoulder and said “Ali we don't have all night, I have to get you to the manager and do the necessary introductions, by the way don't get offended by anything the manager says she's always mean and doesn't care about people emotions” .

I snapped out of it and continued walking, as we were walking we heard someone calling out to Lyra few feets from us “Lyra is that the girl, you should have been here ten minutes ago”, we walked towards the source and Lyra whispered “that's the manager, Lisa”

As we got closer to Lisa , I noticed her features, an average height woman , a little shorter than me but wearing heels to look taller, she is thick and has a mean girl face on . Lyra apologized as they reached Lisa “ sorry Lisa we got held up”

Lisa scrunched up her face and said “excuses as always”.

She turned towards me saying “you must be Ariana” , I cut in “no ma’am it's Aliana”

“Well does it look like I care whether it's Ariana or Aliana, you don't look like what I expected but I guess desperate time calls for desperate measures and we have to make use of you for now” Lisa said

I was hurt by what she said but didn't let it show on my face, I just kept on repeating in my head “it's all for mama, you have to bear with it”.

Lisa passed a nylon bag to me, rolled her eyes and said “go get changed quickly you've five minutes, we still have to get over the rules “

Lyra led me into the restroom and gave me some room to change. I opened the bag, brought out a folded white long sleeve shirt with a mini skirt, my eyes almost bugged out because of how short the skirt was , it reached mid thigh but thankfully there was a net stocking, but that will still do nothing.

I changed into the uniform, walked out of the restroom towards Lyra and said “is this what everyone wears, I feel exposed” both the shirt and skirt hugged my body and I felt so uncomfortable.

“ After a while you'll get used to it, you just have to take it one step at a time” Lyra said to me.

We both walked back towards Lisa and found her angrily tapping her feet on the floor, she saw us approaching and said “ how many hours will it take you to put it on “ , I apologized “I'm really sorry it's just that I don't feel comfortable wearing the skirt it's just too short”

“ Well if you're not comfortable wearing it the door is right there, you can leave” Lisa said while eyeing me.

“Now there are some rules you have to abide by, one wrong move and you're gone, firstly I'm the one in charge here since the boss is on a trip and you're to obey all I say.

Secondly on no account am I to find you not doing your job

Thirdly the customer is always first and right, you're to please them and serve them properly, I must not hear any complaint, IS THAT CLEAR”

“Yes ma’am “ I responded just wanting to leave her presence.

“ Now get to work “, she looked around as if searching for someone.

“Mia “ Lisa called

“Yes ma” a young looking lady responded

“This is Aliana, she's a new waitress, you're to show her how things is done” Lisa said

“Okay ma’am “ Mia said and asked me to follow her.

As Lisa was walking away she turned back and said “Lyra get to work and get dressed, it's almost show time” then walked out of sight.

Lyra hugged me “bye for now I've to get ready or Lisa is going to have my head” she said jokingly and walked off .

“What have I gotten myself into” I thought as I followed Mia.