Ariel Donald's Pov

 THE SURROGATE STRIPPER

      Ariel Donald’s POV

  We were silent for a while before my father cleared his throat and held his chin.

  “There are a lot of hidden secrets you are about to disclose. Fate is knocking at the door, no rush but be wise.” I was confused by his utterance.

  What he meant by hidden secrets, his words were deep and I failed to understand anything.

 I went closer to him and held his hands, looking him in the eye.

  “Father, please tell me. What is going on, What are the secrets?” I pleaded, he stood up without paying me a glance.

  He was pacing around, with his hands akimbo.

  “You will figure the puzzles at the right time, finding the truth would divert destiny and things may turn bad. Face life as it comes, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.” He explained and looked at me.

  “But dad..” He waved me off with the back of his hand, I gulped with a lump in my throat.

  He motioned to me to follow him in which I did. We came out from the bookstore and took a long lonely path.

   I walked behind him with quickened steps as he took long strides. We came over to a house that had overgrown bushes, the walls were almost falling apart and it looked like it had been deserted for ages.

  “This is my family house, I lived here with my father and my stepmother. My mom died and my father remarried, he got married to a divorcee who had a son from her earlier defunct marriage.

  I went through a lot of hardship, starvation, and neglect which was fueled by my stepmom.

  Her son was a good boy, he would often share his food with me but as time went by he became negatively influenced by his mother and turned arrogant, selfish, and rude.” He paused and wiped his cheek, I was lost in his story.

  I hadn’t realized he was moved to tears with everything he has passed through, I could remember my father to be a cheerful man.

  He was in good rapport with people he came in contact with, it was a shock to believe he was shot dead in his home.

   I knew something was fishy with how he died, I was too young to hunt the culprits and punish them with the law.

  He continued and smiled at me. “I could remember washing her clothes, going to various errands, I did every task she ever sent me. I would be rewarded with no food or a meagre portion of food.

 When I tried complaining she would beat me or lock me outside the house most times under the rain (cold).”

“That was wickedness, so didn’t your papa know of his wife’s evil misdeeds.” My blood was boiling with anger, I grumbled under my breath.

 “Father was rarely at home, and he was diagnosed with a strange illness. She’s the enemy. Be warned of a Wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

  What does he mean by that? I could barely understand what he meant.

  Then he added with a sad smile. “It’s time to go back.”

  “No! Father, please don’t Leave!” I screamed.

A blinding light radiated and swept me farther away from my father as darkness enveloped me and I heard a voice calling out repeatedly buzzing in my ear canals.

     (Present)

       “Ariel!”

      “Ariel!”

       “Ariel!”

   My eyes flung open begrudgingly as I felt a hand on my shoulder and a figure sitting beside the bed trying to wake me up. It turned out to be Eunice and she was crazily dressed in a transparent pantyhose, a boob tape over her nipples, and a white transparent lacy under boob singlet.

  I rubbed the sleep off my eyes and slowly sat up with a yawn. “Is it time yet?”

  “It’s 10:Pm idiot.” She laughs and provides an outstretched hand to help me off the bed as I stretch and stand on my feet.

    “I’m not going to the club tonight.”

    She looks at me like I’ve gone crazy. “Are you okay? You were excited about being a stripper. Why the sudden change?”

  “I don’t feel too good,” I mutter, not ready to go into details of the dream, vision, or trance whatever people might call it. I experienced. It felt so real and I need some time to think through it all.

    “What’s going on?” She furrowed her brows impatiently staring at her silver wristwatch.

    “I’m just tired for the day, don’t worry. I’ll see you later.” I walked into the bathroom without waiting for a response so she doesn’t talk me out of it as I leave her standing there gobsmacked.

  I heard the bedroom door shut loudly and I felt bad for not telling her what went on but how will she judge my tale? She would think I’m going crazy and the stress of what I’m going through was the result of my delusions.

      I shook my head, poured water on my face and neck, and wiped it clean with a towel. My honey brown eyes paled in front of the mirror and my hair lacked attention as it looked brittle.

      *Ring*

      *Ring*

      *Ring*

  The phone ringing was from my bedroom and before I could get to it the line went blank.

    *Ring*

    My eyes checked the caller and it was a strange number. What’s up with strange numbers this time?

 “Hello.” I pressed the phone to my ear.

    “Hello, it’s Anna.”

    My breath hitched with disbelief. “How did you get my number?”

   “Eunice filled in your details on your behalf. That’s the way you got accepted in our club.”

  “Where have you been?” She asks impatiently over the phone, the background was noisy so I had to pick only her voice in the conversation.

 What’s up with everyone acting impatient?

   “I’m home… I got a cold.” I lied.

   “Why don’t you heat a warm bath and get some drugs? You’ve been picked for the event and it’s by noon. You have to be here before we move the girls.”

   “What event?”

 “Silly you must have forgotten. It’s the businessmen party I told you about. You have to make it in time before the girls leave.”

   I took in a ragged breath, tilting my head to the side as my shoulders fell in defeat.

“Okay, I’ll be right there in a few minutes.”

  “Better hurry!” The call line went blank.

 I rushed to the closet, picked a bag consisting of my stripping attires, and hurried out through the door hastily wearing my sneakers and felt the texture of my hair that seemed spongy.

   Ugh!

 When I alighted the cab I ran straight to the changing room and with expectant eyes to see Eunice but she wasn’t there. I need to apologise to Eunice for hurting her feelings earlier. She’s the only support system I have and I sincerely appreciate our friendship.

     “Slut!”

    I turned to see where that came from and it was the rainbow-colored-haired looking lady with a scowl as she eyed me with contempt while I dressed unfazed by her foolery.

   “I’ll be hurt if it was coming from a saint but certainly sinners judge who they’re in secret.” I retorted while applying hair gloss to my hair and my fingers combed through.

 I was wearing a pink short gown that stopped at my ass cracks. It had a V-lined slit at the chest curves and an open back with slits to the side.

   It looks crazy. Crazy.

   I had a boob tape and put on my facial mask and then walked out of the dressing room and made my way to the club towards Anna’s office.

   Knock

  I pushed the door open. Anna was seated in her chair and was stopped amidst sentences when I walked in. There were four other ladies dressed in hot skimpy outfits and their faces covered in masks as Anna laid out instructions.

  “I’m sorry for coming late.” I apologised and sat down on a couch.

    “They’re about to leave so it’s not a problem,” Anna replied with a big smile.

         “Now it’s time to leave. Remember to make sure your clients are engaging, satisfied, and ready to pay. You’re to work with time as your primary focus.”

     “Yes, Anna.” We replied in unison before she left her seat, bounced her big ass, and opened the door while she led us through a hallway as we left the club.

   “Now let’s go in.”

     A limousine was parked in front of us so we got into them quickly as the driver drove out of the club to our destination, the businessmen’s party.