DESPERATION IN RED

Tori**

The cab slows to a stop the moment we stop at the address Mia texted to me earlier. 

“Here we are, Miss.” the driver says casually.

“You can do this, Tori,” I mutter to myself as my fingers tighten around the strap of my bag. I close my eyes and take a shaky breath, then I open the door. 

The night air hits my face as I step out of the cab, by the time I reach the entrance, my pulse is racing. I swallow hard and push the door open.

The moment I step inside, everything changes.

Music vibrates through the air—low, deep, vibrating through my chest. Followed by the scent of perfume and alcohol that fills my nose instantly.

“Hey girl!”

I turn at the sound of a familiar voice to see Mia.

She’s walking toward me with a confident stride, dressed like she owns this entire club. “Perfect timing, I was just about calling you.”

“Mia… I—” the words get stuck in my throat, but I force them out. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”

She waves a hand dismissively.

“Girl! Relax. There’s a first time for everything.”

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.”

“You will soon,” she replies casually, grabbing my wrist and pulling me along. “Come on.” I barely have time to think as she leads me through a hallway, and into a quieter section of the building.

After what feels like forever, we finally stop in front of a door. Mia knocks once, then pushes it open.

“Boss,” she begins smoothly. “The girl I told you about is here.”

A huge-sized man sits behind a massive desk, wearing a tailored suit that clung to his physique like a second skin, a gold chain glinting at his throat. In front of him was a clipboard labeled Don Bosco.

“Mia said you needed work,” he looked up, eyes narrowing as they roamed over me—slow, deliberate, like he was pricing livestock.

“Y…yes sir I do.” I nodded in response, my throat dry. 

“Turn around.”

Heat flooded my face instantly, but I turned slowly. When I faced him again, he gave a single nod. “With curves like that? You’ll do just fine.”

“Mia will dress you, teach you the basics,” He taps a pen against the desk. “I hope you already know that I take twenty percent off every dime you make tonight. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, go get her ready for tonight.” He waved us out like we were flies.

Without hesitation, Mia pulls me out of his office, leading me down another corridor into a large dressing room that smelled of perfume and hairspray. 

Mirrors were lined one wall after another; racks of makeup filled the other. At the other end were sequined dresses, lace, leather—most of it barely qualified as clothing.

“Strip.”

Mia says the moment the door shuts behind her.

“Tori.” Her voice turns serious now. “We don’t have all night, do you want the money or not?”

My hands shake as I begin to take off my top, then my jeans. Standing in my plain bra and panties, I felt exposed in the most humiliating way.

Mia rifled through a rack and pulled out a red dress…more like lingerie, then she threw it at me. 

“This color should fit you perfectly.”

“I can’t wear that.”

“You can…and you will.” She snaps back, “Look, I get it. This isn’t your thing, but all this morality and decency crap won’t pay your mama’s hospital bills. You said you needed cash fast. This is fast.”

I step into the dress without thinking twice, and it clings to my curves like a second skin. She sits me down and begins to work on my face—foundation, contour, smoky eyes, blood-red lips. 

Every few seconds she’d pause and compliment something: “These cheekbones are perfect,” or “Your eyes are going to kill them tonight.”

The moment she finished, she spun me toward the mirror.

Holy shit!

I don’t recognize myself anymore.

The red made my skin glow, the slit cut exposing every curve I usually hid under baggy sweaters. The girl in the mirror was confident, sexy. Not really who I truly was though…but maybe she could be me for a few hours.

“See?” Mia’s voice shatters through my thoughts as she stands behind me. “You’re a knockout.” 

She hands me a pair of sky-high stilettos, “You’ll have to walk in these tonight. Keep your ankles tight, hips loose…and smile like you own the whole damn place.”

The music hits louder as we step into the main room. Holy crap! The entire club is packed with men, talking, drinking, watching on stage as different girls dance under flashing lights.

And then—

They notice us.

Or rather…

They notice me.

“Who’s that?”

“The girl in red—”

“She should dance!”

Voices begin to rise from different directions. 

“Girl?” Mia turns to face me, surprised. “Can you dance?” I hesitate for half a second, forcing a slight smile on my lips as I open my mouth to respond.

“Yes.”

The stage feels like a goddamn battleground the moment I step on, but the instant the music starts…something snaps inside me. 

I move.

At first, carefully.

Then naturally.

The rhythm takes over my entire body, and for the first time tonight…

I forget everything.

My Dad’s cold words this morning.

That fuckin annoying smirk on Dylan’s lips when he threatened to deal with me earlier at school, it all fades away. 

A few minutes later, I don’t even realize that the music has stopped. Until the entire room begins to erupt in applause, and cheers. 

“Where have you been hiding that?” Mia squeals, rushing to meet me at the bottom of the stairs as I step down.“You’re incredible! I had no idea you could move like that.”

“Cheerleading,” I whisper, letting out a quiet laughter. “I dance on my college’s cheerleading team.”

“Girl! You’re a natural. Come on…now is when the real money-making starts.” Before I can open my mouth to ask her what she meant by that, Mia hands me a tray of champagne glasses.

“Serve the guests over there. Smile and flirt with them, but don’t promise anything, and never leave with anyone unless you tell me first. Treat them like kings… but protect yourself. Always.”

I nod instantly and begin to make my way to serve. The first few tables were easy—compliments, light touches on shoulders, generous tips slipped into my cleavage. 

I laughed when they laughed, leaned in whenever they whispered flirtatious words. It felt… almost fun. Like playing a role in some movie.

Then I reached table seven.

A man in his late forties, tie loosened, eyes glassy from too many drinks as his eyes began to rake all over me like a lion seizing its prey.

“Champagne, sir?”

He smirked as I set the glass down. Before I could realize anything, his hand cracked across my ass—hard enough to sting through the transparent fabric of the red dress.

“Don’t touch me!” I snap, turning to face him.

“Relax,” A short, mocking laughter tears out of him. “Relax baby…I’m just appreciating the view in front of me.” He reaches for my ass again.

Before I can stop myself—

I grab a glass of wine.

And throw it in his face.

“You little!”

He lunges forward to hit me, but Mia steps in front of me instantly.“Hey! Back off, Mister!” she snaps.

“Enough of this fuckin drama!”

Don Bosco’s voice cuts through everything as he steps in, calming the situation with practiced ease. Then he turns to us.

“I want both of you in my office. Now!”

********

The silence in the office is suffocating by the time we step inside.

“What the hell were you two thinking!” Don Bosco Snaps.

Mia flinches at the tone of his voice. “Boss—“

“I told you to bring me someone who can work,” he interrupts her coldly. “Not a goddamn child.”

“I’m sorry, Sir.” I don’t wait for him to utter another word, instantly falling to my knees. “Please—“

“You’re both done,” he cuts in.

“W…what?”

“You’re both fired!”

“Please, sir,” I beg, “At least pay me for tonight—“

“Security! Get these two bitches out of my office!”

Minutes later, we’re outside. Thrown out like pieces of garbage. I turn to face Mia, but the look on her face makes my stomach drop.

“Do you realize what you’ve just done?! Her voice echoes through the main road.  “You just cost me my job.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Just stay the fuck away from me,” she cuts in before I can finish my words. “Delete my number cause we’re done. You hear me? Done!”