CAMILA
~^~ ‘ …Like you, like you, like you, ooh. Found it hard to find someone like you…’ The music trailed off as I gripped the pole once more. Feeling the heat of the moment, I pumped myself up and swirled around the pole for the fifth time. My head came downward and I roamed my fingers from my chest to my knees. I was feeling the moments. They could all feel the moment, and I was satisfied with the feeling I gave them. This was my life, I was a pole dancer at the Please and Pleasure Night club. I pleased men with my body in exchange for cheers and money. But Nick being my boyfriend and my boss, things weren't going well for me. ‘…I can’t sleep no more in my head, we belong and I can’t be without you…” My feet came down again and I let myself lay flat on the floor. My eyes fluttered as they roamed around the hungry crowds who couldn’t stop cheering and throwing money at me. Yes. I needed it. The money was why I was here and it was what excited me to move more. ‘…Why can’t I find no one like you?…’ I had been in this position many times to know what they desired. It was almost like seeing through their souls. These miserable hungry souls. Silly men with hungry wives and horrible homes, spending everything to get a glimpse of my show. How pathetic. ‘…thought I needed something else and acted like I was okay…’ Although I was happy about this lifestyle of mine, I was never satisfied. it always felt like I was lacking something, something decent in my life. I had a sister to take good care of and she was my driving force in this lonely world now. Anna was my last blood, the last person I'd call family. ‘… damn pappa you a rare breed, no comparing. And it’s motherfucking scary…” I dragged myself on my knees seductively towards the hungry audience. They needed a good view for their money and I would give them one. I laid flat again and moved my fingers through my tummy to my panties. The crowd cheered for more. Stupid dumb people. ‘…I’ll put the ring on when you’re ready, we play our fantasies out in real-life ways…’ My eyes caught a dark figure among the crowds. I couldn’t get a clear glimpse of his face because of how rowdy the crowds were. But I could feel his stares at me. He was in a suit. Who wears a suit to a fucking stripper club? ‘…you give me energy, make me feel light headed…’ He was staring right at me and I couldn’t take my focus off him. I moved back to the pole and swirled around it with my eyes still on this mysterious figure. The blue and white lighting couldn’t make me get a clear vision of him but I could tell from his countenance that he was handsome. Some handsome hungry idiot who loves a good show. And damn, was I going to give him a good show. ‘…and baby had to pull me out, ohh…’ I moved seductively towards him as his eyes didn’t flinch from mine one bit. The crowds divided, allowing me to move freely to him. My fingers found his chest easily as they roamed through his suit buttons. The crowd couldn’t stop cheering and throwing money at me and that was the motivation I needed to bring this man to his knees. ‘…you give me energy, make me feel lightweight…’ I sat on him and gently rode him as my fingers kept moving around his chest. He didn’t stop staring and he gave no emotion. He was as stiff as a rock. This man was resisting me… and I was not one to be resisted. I took my time to study the titan I was on. His hair was tousled around, his jawline thick and sharp as they kept clenching with each movement I made. I couldn’t tell the color of his eyes but they were dark and hungry. ‘…when other bitches tryna get with my dude, and when other chickens tryna get in my coop.’ His hands suddenly gripped my butt, and he gave them a sharp spank as I gasped. My eyes caught a smirk from him. He gave my butt a quick squeeze. Well, he wanna play? Two can play the game. ‘…I find it hard to find someone like you. Like you, like you…’ My right hand shot out to his neck as I gripped them with little force. I felt his Adam's apple pop as a gulp escaped him. I could feel the music inside my head and the effect of the whiskey I had taken earlier before I came on stage. I could feel the effect I was having on him but he was in denial. His hands on my butt gripped harder but I didn’t back down. His fingers trailed up my ass to my spine with a tingling sensation, then he moved them downward to my pantyhose as he grabbed and released them making them slap against my skin. ‘…send your location, come through…’ My mouth came to his ears and I whispered the song to him slowly, seductively, in a very sexy manner. I felt his grip on my butt loosen as the song was coming to an end. “What’s your name?” His voice came out hoarse, demanding, and delicious. “Miss,” I muttered as my left hand gripped his tie, moving away from him, I used his tie as a swing, swirling around him as the rhythm of the song trailed on. My ass landed on his lap once more and I whispered into his ears, “Miss nobody.” The music ended instantly with the crowds cheering and I tried to pull away but he was holding me so tightly that I couldn’t move. His eyes flared with lust and desire. He wanted me, but I wasn’t ready. His right hand moved from my ass to the pocket of his suit. He brought out a golden card and handed it to me. My eyes moved between his and the card. I released my hand from his shoulder and took the card from him. Just when he thought I was going to leave, I squashed the card between my fingers and pushed it back to his chest pocket. “I don’t do service,” I smirked. ~^~ “You did what?!” My best friend and coworker, Abigail squeaked out. She was chewing on her gum loudly and it was annoying. We were changing into our regular clothing in the dressing room. “Yeah, I squashed the card and I pushed it back to his pocket,” I said as I grabbed a bottle of water from the table close to me. “Oh, and the crowd was unbelievably more active than before.” I chugged on it as I stood in front of the mirror in our dress room. I was done for the night and I had to change to go home. “Yeah, but we’re not talking about the crowd. Why did you do that?.” She asked with a little pout as she slumped on a chair close to me. "And I was even there to see the look on his poor unfortunate face!" “If you wanted, you would have taken my place for the night.” I shrugged as I removed the fake wig we had to wear from me and picked up a pack of wipes to clean my face with. I glanced at Abigail who gave me an unbelievable look. “What? He went past the rules!” “Well, you sat on him! What else did you expect him to do? Smile at you and watch you rub your almighty ass on him? I heard the new men are from some mafia gang or something.” She said as she swung her arms around. “Whatever,” I muttered, not letting the thought of the mysterious man get to me. “Come on, change, we’re done for the night.” We changed into our regular outfits and as we made our way out of the room, I stumbled upon two men with dark shades and a suit. “Miss,” One of them nodded and passed a card in my direction. “Boss wishes to speak with you.” It was the same card the mysterious man gave me. I knew for sure the boss in question was the mysterious man I just had a lap dance on. Though I had an idea of the concept of the meeting, I wasn’t in the mood for anything. “Well, tell your boss that I’m done for the night,” I pushed his hand with the card back at him. “Padrino insists you come with us,” Another voiced from behind the first one. “He can link with any of the other girls, I don’t accept any more favors for tonight.” I finished and pushed past him but was held in the elbow by the second man. “You will listen to Padrino, Suka.” He growled as he moved his shade for me to get a clear view of his face and pushed the Card at me. “He requests you be brought in now.” oh. well, fuck shit.CAMILA...I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor as my thoughts kept coming like a storm I couldn’t control. I had barely slept all night, my mind kept replaying the events at the party, the way King’s lips had pressed against that woman’s, the softness of his gaze when he looked at her, the undeniable familiarity between them. The mocking look on Katherine’s face telling me she was his fiancée. His real woman. The one he had been kissing in front of everyone while I watched like a fool.I felt the burn of shame in my chest all over again as I fell back into the bed and gripped on a pillow for comfort.How could I have been so stupid? How could I have believed, even for a second, that he might have actually cared? That the kisses we shared meant anything? That the softness he showed me in private was something special?It wasn’t.And the worst part, the part that kept clawing at my insides, was that I had slapped him straight in the face.How messy could I possibly get
CAMILA...The ride home was so painfully quiet that it felt like the tension between us could break glass. King sat on his side of the SUV, his phone sitting on his lap, his fingers were twitching like he wanted to say something but didn’t know how to begin. His jaw was clenched, sharp and unreadable as always, but this time I didn’t care to study him.Because I was seething.I was fucking mad as hell.I kept my eyes fixed on the window, watching the city lights blur into golden smudges as we sped past them. My chest felt too tight and my hands fisted in my lap. Every second in that car made me feel more and more like a fool.A damn fool.He had kissed me, held me like I meant something, painted me like I was his muse, whispered things that crawled beneath my skin and made me believe—just a little—that maybe I wasn’t just a contract to him.But tonight… the kiss. That… that woman. The way his mouth met hers like it belonged there.Fiancée.The word tasted bitter in my throat.“You
CAMILA...I got into Marco’s car without thinking twice. Marco’s car was warm, with low jazz humming from the stereo, a stark contrast to the cold, stinging silence that had been sitting in my chest since I left the ballroom. I sank into the leather seat, hugging my arms to myself as he pulled out of the driveway.He didn’t say anything at first, he just drove with one hand on the wheel, his eyes occasionally glancing toward me like he wanted to speak but didn’t know how to start. I wasn’t in a hurry either. My mind was still unraveling the chaos of the past hour, King’s kiss with that girl and Katherine’s smug reply like she knew this would happen.Minutes later, Marco finally broke the silence. “So… want to talk about it?” His tone was gentle, like he wasn’t trying to dig into the issue, just offering.I stared out the window, the streetlights blurring past the street. “Not really,” I mumbled, but then I sighed. “Actually… I don’t even know where to start.”Marco chuckled faintl
The night went one quickly with King talking to almost everyone. I didn’t know he was this popular. All the time he was talking, I stood beside him, trying not to shift in these ridiculous heels that made my feet scream.I felt like a misplaced puzzle piece. Everyone else gilded around like they belonged: laughter all around gatherings, women in beautiful dresses moving from one gentleman to another. And I was just… there. Wearing a dress King picked out and pretending I knew how to breathe in it.After a while, King excused himself from me. Work call. Of course, he had said.“Five minutes,” he said softly, his hand brushing the small of my back before disappearing into the crowd.It was probably meant to be reassuring, but his absence hit like a chill. I stood still, unsure of where to go, pretending to admire the chandelier like I understood anything about crystal.A table caught my eye, small pastries arranged on it like art. I drifted over and reached for something flaky and dus
CAMILA . . . I stared at myself in the full-length mirror, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me. Claire fussed behind me, pinning a few loose curls and adjusting the delicate neckline of the deep emerald gown king and I picked hours ago. “You look like a dream,” she said, standing back to admire her handiwork. “Seriously, Camila, King is going to lose his mind.” I swallowed hard, my nerves tying themselves tighter inside my stomach. The dress hugged my body like it was made for me— the elegant, flowing, side slit, v back dress Mr. King had picked out for me earlier when a certain thingy had happened during the picking. Ehem. I dare not remember what happened at the dress room. Claire noticed my flushed cheeks and laughed heartily. “I see someone likes what she sees.” I do, ma’am. I most certainly liked how I was looking in the mirror. I had never worn anything like this in my life. I tugged anxiously at the fabric, trying to cover more of my leg but Claire sla
CAMILA...It had been half a month since I came to King’s house. Half a month since the night he almost kissed me, half a month since Katherine and her Leonard packed up and left the next morning with barely a word.Thank God to that because I couldn’t stand her for one more day.Half a month of living in this enormous, beautiful house with just myself, King and Claire.King wasn’t much better, he only appeared for breakfast or the painting sessions, and even then, it was like being near a ghost. He was always keeping a wall between us no matter how much I tried not to think about the moment in the art room.Sometimes I caught him staring when he thought I wasn’t looking, but the second my eyes found his, he would vanish into himself again.Claire had been my only true companion, her laughter and bubbly energy filling the emptiness I was beginning to feel in my heart, but even she had other places to be. Other friends. Other life even.I was going crazy with boredom, loneliness was