Chapter 1

" Your bail is here. "

Standing I smile at the young handsome police officer who also happens to be my friend with benefits.

Jack was an intern police officer who came to Los Angeles a month ago. We immediately hit it off after I spent a few times getting arrested.

 Pouting, I say. "Already?... I just got settled in."

Unlocking the door to my cell, Jack chuckles. "Can I stop arresting you for once?"

 "That is if you stop interrupting my place of work." 

Walking past him, I go to the front where I see my dad sitting in the waiting area clad in his blue, expensive suit looking completely out of place in a police station.

Noticing me, he stands up without a word and walks out of the station.

I am not going to hear the end of this one. 

"Let this be the last time Haley," Jack shouts after me as I leave.

Winking, I smile. "Not making any promises."

Outside I find the car parked in front. Once sitting in the back next to him, he nods to the chauffeur Pete, we drive off.

A side glance at my dad, the hard expression tells me to keep my mouth shut, so I  look out the window as we drive home. You must be wondering why I just got bailed out of jail by my dad. It is not what you think. I am not a thief, I wasn't caught with cocaine or anything illegal, it is just something simple. I am a stripper.

And lately, the police have been raiding the bar I work in, my dad bailing me out is nothing new.

Yes I am a stripper, I love what I do. I grew up dancing, ballet was my favorite. My dad supported me of course, I graduated from the best prestigious art university. Being a stripper is the best thing to ever happen to me whereas my dad, the wealthiest man in Los Angeles and the US, it is said to bring dishonor to his name and whatnot. My father, the famous multi-billionaire, Charlie Clover just had to have a daughter who is a stripper. It doesn't paint a good picture of his image. So yes, I left everything to be a stripper, and FYI because I am a stripper doesn't make me a prostitute and I don’t sleep around for money. 

"Ma'am....we have arrived. " I hear Pete say.

Looking outside, I notice we are home and my dad is already out of the car.

"Thanks, Pete," I say, getting out.

In front of me stands the Clover mansion, a house too big for us, but hey, it is the good life they say.

Looking at the night sky, it was probably around 9, dark and cloudy, and it would start raining soon.

Going up the steps I take a deep breath before opening the door. Walking in, I immediately go for the stairs to my room but stop in my tracks when I hear my dad's booming voice.

"HAILEY!" He calls out.

Yep. I was not getting out of this one that easily.

Going to the lounge my mom is sitting in one of the chairs, she smiles at me warmly while my dad standing by the fireplace looks as though he is about to explode.

"You called?" I ask putting on an innocent smile.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" He shouts. "Don't you have no shame with what you do!"

"There is no shame in doing what you love, father," I say, earning a glare from him.

"You're a fucking stripper, child! Do you think it's something to be proud of!"

Clenching my jaw, I ask "Are we done here? because I want to get to bed because I am tired." I was really done with having this conversation with him everytime.

"What in the world happened to my little girl?" he asks and I notice his shoulders slouch a little.

"She grew up, dad," I say with a sigh.

"Exactly grew up. You're twenty-two Hailey! So act like it, be responsible once in your life!" He yells. "What haven't I given you huh? I let you do ballet instead of doing an actual course... You got your masters in ballet and I said I would open that ballet studio you've always dreamed of when you were little but now you're working in fucking strip clubs!"

"I love what I do okay!" I find myself yelling. "So you have no right! Tell me what to do!"

"I have every right because you are my daughter!" He flares. "This is the last straw Hailey....you won't be leaving this house till you change your act!"

"What?..." I look at him in disbelief, he must be joking.

"From tomorrow I have hired a bodyguard for you and you won't be leaving this house, you hear me!"

Seething with anger.I yell. "You can not do this to me!"

"I can do this and so much more, so don't try me.." He threatens.

"Have you for once thought of what made me happy?.... All you fucking care about is your stupid image!"

In a split second, my he was in front of me with his hand connected to my cheek in a slap.

"Charlie!" My mom gasped from where she was sitting.

"You will not speak to me in that manner." He says, his hard glare fixed on me.

Clenching my jaw I say. "I'd rather die than let you keep me locked up in this house."

"Am not done talking to you!" He yells when I turn to leave.

"You don't have to anymore because I am leaving this house..."  I say and my mom immediately stands up and comes to my side.

"Hailey, what are you talking about?" She says in her soft voice while holding my hands in hers.

Forcing a smile I say to her. "It's time I move out mom"

"What?... Baby you don't have-" she's cut off when dad says.

"If you dare walk out that door you will no longer be called my daughter."

Clenching my jaw I don't even glance at my dad instead I smile at my mom and kiss her forehead.

"Bye mom," I say. "Take care of yourself okay."

Without looking back I leave my parents and head for the door. 

"Hailey?..."

Behind me stands my seventeen-year-old little brother Alex. 

"Are you leaving?" He asks. "You'll be back though, right?"

"Not this time," I tell him. "Take care of yourself and mom okay?"

Nodding he says. "Take care of yourself too."

Smiling at him I nod and finally walk out the doors of the house I grew up in. 

Outside it did start raining and I just stood there letting the rain soak me. Taking in a breath I start down the long driveway, when I reach the gate a car pulls up in front of me.

"Get in ma'am," Pete says from inside the car.

"Go tell him I don't need his help getting anywhere."

"Your father did not send me, neither did your mom." He tells me. 

"I wouldn't forgive myself if I let you walk alone at this time of the night," he says. "So please get in."

Sighing I get in the passenger seat, giving him the direction of where I was going he just nods and we drive off.

Pete is like family, he's been taking care of me since I was little, growing up he has given me rides that my dad never had to know about so he means a lot to me.

When we reach the apartment building I gave the directions to, I face Pete to say.

"Thank you." I smile. "Don't tell anyone at home though."

Nodding he says. "I know ma'am." Pete looks at me, his eye lining with tears and it now makes me sad.

"This time around it feels like you won't be coming back home." He sniffs.

"Pete, come on don’t do this..." I say. "I'm going to miss you too." I hugged him.

Getting out of the car he tells me. "Take care of yourself Haley and don’t forget that I am always one call away."

Closing the car door I say. "I know Pete."

Going into the apartment building I take the elevator up to the fourth floor, then make my way to apartment number 306.

Taking in a deep breath I knock on the door.

A few minutes later the door opens to reveal a sleepy half naked jack who is only in his boxers with his hair in a mess.

Smiling I say. "Hey, jack."

"Hailey?..." He says, in his sleepy state. "What are you doing here at this time?"

"Can I crash here for the night?"

Rubbing his eyes he opens the door fully to let me in. I just stand there in his living room looking at my feet, the tightness in my chest now feeling heavy.

I have been in this apartment a lot of times but today I just didn't know what to do.

"Let's go to bed." Jack takes my hand and leads me to his room.

Taking off my clothes I lay in bed with him and he pulls me close to him in a cuddle.

I needed this.

"Did something happen at home?" He asks.

"Got in a fight with my dad."

"Don't worry he'll come around, he always does."

"Not this time jack," I tell him. "This time I am not going back."

Sighing he says. "Well, you can stay with me for as long as you like."

Smiling, I kiss him on the lips. "Thanks."

"Sleep now." He tells me pulling me closer, my back aganist his chest and so I close my eyes snuggling close to him.

Jack has always been good to me and I like him for that. He always wants us to have a real relationship but I don’t want to be in a relationship right now and he understands that so we just hook up for sex and are always there for each other when needed.

Cuddling closer to him I fall asleep thinking of what to do with my life now.