Him

I tore my eyes away from his, my chest heaving from fear. I tried to condition my mind to forget I saw him, to focus on dancing, but I couldn't. My body was moving out of rhythm and the frown on my pimp's face told me I was messing up. I needed to get myself together.

Taking in a deep breath, I managed to calm myself a little and kept my gaze away from him so I could dance better.

When the music came to an end, I couldn't stop myself from glancing at the spot I had spotted Stephan, but he was gone.

"What's wrong, Alina?" Berle tapped me gently.

I blinked as I looked at her, but before I could respond, I felt a large presence beside me.

"Alina, boss calls." He walked away as soon as he told me that. I swallowed upon hearing that.

"I'll talk to you later then," she said and turned into the dressing room.

When I got to her office, I met a man in a red suit sitting just opposite her. She smiled when she saw me.

"Mr Ruslan here requested you put on a private show for him in the executive lounge", she told me, her eyes looking so excited. Too excited.

I couldn't respond to what she said, I had signed up for this so there's no backing out. The rule was that I accept any card I'm dealt.

The man in question kept on raking my frame with his eyes, subconsciously making me pull at my robe. He looked to be in his thirties and has a striking appearance. His name sounded Russian, very close to home.

Rose, my madame's secretary, came into the office and lead us into a large, exquisitely decorated room. The man kept on stealing glances at me throughout our walk there and once we were alone, he finally spoke up.

"Strip, take it all off, then come and give me a blow job", he said, loosening his tie. His accent confirmed it, he is Russian.

I tugged at the neck of the robe I was wearing, and began shifting my weight from one leg to another.

"Why're you still standing there, didn't you hear what I said", he questioned, his voice gravely low.

" I don't know how to, Sir", I replied, coming out clean. I'm aware of various sensual terms but I've never engaged in any sexual act before.

I know it sounds impossible since I work in a strip club but I had made a personal decision that I entertain by stripping only. My boss had agreed to it and provided some girls to do the job whenever someone needed them, and till now, that arrangement hasn't been challenged.

His expression told he was beyond annoyed, I had ticked him off.

"I'm not here to joke around, do as I say, I paid so much to have you for the night", he said, his voice still the earlier tone.

I fiddled with my hair, unsure of how to tell this man that I'm far more naive than my appearance makes me out to be.

"I'm sorry, I really don't know how to...but there's someone who does", I replied, keeping my tone confident and tried to leave the room but he held my wrists.

When I faced him, his face held an unbelieving look and he studied me intently.

"When did you begin work here", he asked, a brow arched.

"I began rendering my service a few weeks ago ", I responded quickly and confidently.

"Alright, I think the question I need to ask is, have you rendered your service to a man in bed before", he questioned, taking off his suit jacket.

" No Sir, that's not part of what I offer, like I said, there's someone who does, let me go call her ", I replied and watched his face light up in disbelief.

"No, I don't want someone else, I want you, what's the point of watching if I don't get to touch", he queried walking even closer to me.

"That's not allowed", I replied, doing my best to keep my tone sharp.

A dangerous smirk unfurled on his face, making me for the first time that evening realise how handsome he is. I took several steps back until my back suddenly hit the wall, there was nowhere to run.

He placed his two muscular arms on either sides of me.

"Why not, you're not the only woman with an audacious body, I'm sure a lot of men have touched you before....

"No...man has touched me and it's not going to start with you", I cut in, and tried to wriggle my way out but couldn't.

" A virgin huh, in a strip club? I knew there was something different about you," he mused and held my chin, tilting my head until my eyes met his. He had sinister dark chocolate eyes.

"How much?"he asked, his eyes flicking between my lips and eyes.

"How much what?" I asked confused.

"How much do I pay to have to pay for your virginity", he asked and I felt my eyes go wide.

"I'm not selling my body, I've sold enough of myself as it is", I spluttered, my heart beating tremendously. This man has some nerve.

"Too bad", he said, a mischievious edge to his voice, "I don't take no for an answer", and with that he seized my lips with his. felt like punching him but I can't be rude to a client and at the same time, I can't let myself be laid against my will. All my skills in the art of self defense are useless now. 

My mind betrayed me however, instead of thinking of a way out, it focused on the weird feeling flushing through me as he drove his tongue into my mouth while tearing off my clothes with his free hand.

"Please, no", I begged miserably, feeling tears sting my eyes. This is how I get deflowered, against my will and by some rich hunk who thinks he can have his way as he pleased.

He didn't stop, he even lifted me off my feet and moved me to the bed. It was at that point he broke his kiss and I used it as an opportunity to escape.

In my attempt at escaping, I hit his jaw with my foot as I scurried backwards on the bed. This caused him to retreat, and when he looked at me, his eyes screamed murder.

I ran off the bed with as much speed as I could. He looked at me, anger evident in his eyes.

"I'll burn this whole establishment down for receiving such treatment from you and I'll make sure I'm the first man that ever gets into that underwear you treasure so much", he roared, picked up his jacket and stormed out of the room.

My heartbeat picked up its pace at the gravity of the situation. What on earth have I done? I ran out behind him, holding the pieces of the robe he had ripped. He took the elevator, leaving only one option, the stairs.

Thankfully, Madame Caryn’s office was just a floor below. By the time I arrived, he was walking out, leaving Madame Caryn’s spluttering with a pale look on her face.

My eyes met with the man's for just a second, then he walked past me leaving only me and Madame Caryn who had her face in her hands.

"You had one job, just one. Is it bad that I decided to aid your miserable life?” she said, all the while refusing to look at me. 

" Madame Caryn, I...”

" Not one word", she warned, raising her head to look at me, "do you know who that man is? He can burn this whole place down and the government would not be able to do a single thing about it,” she said through clenched teeth. 

"Just let him do what he wants, he paid so much to me to sleep with you for the night,” she said, making me realise one thing.

"You knew about this", I voiced out, "but I thought...", I said feeling my own anger begin to rise.

"Thought what? It's time to quit this, I've had enough of it, I've lost a lot of money trying to keep your wishes so far, he chose you out of all the girls we have, you should be proud, yet, here you are", she said and walked closer to me.

"I'll reach out to him now and I want you to apologise, tell him you were being stupid and you're willing now, hopefully he'd withdraw the suit he threatened to file against us", she ordered, pointing her long manicured finger at me.

I clenched my fists as I looked at her. She was shorter than me but the heel she wore made it look as though we were the same height.

"And make sure you don't forget, your cousin is still undergoing treatment", she said finally and walked towards the desk to pick up her phone.

Helplessness settled over me like a cloud. They're the reason I'm here, she knows that and she's using it against me.

I felt a tear slide down my cheek, wondering what I've been reduced to as I watched her engage the man in a conversation. She brought the phone to me and I had no choice but to dance to the rhythm of the song. 

The man sounded pacified and he promised to be back for what he claimed was his. I clenched my teeth in a bid to calm myself down but it wasn't working. 

Madame Caryn called Rose in and she led me the dressing room and offered to help with my makeup I had ruined. She almost never speaks to me but tonight she did, she encouraged me to not give up, that my saviour would show up.

I didn't know what she meant by that and I didn't care to know. I'm doomed for hell, no saviour is coming to die for my sins, or in my case, poor life circumstances. 

When she had left, I changed out of my torn robe into a new one. I mentally prepared myself for what was bound to happen. My body shook with anger and despair, I dislike not having control when I really want it.

I stayed in the changing room alone for a while, pacing, before I was finally alerted that he had arrived. 

Taking deep breaths to steady myself, I proceeded to the executive lounge with Rose and was left alone in the large room few seconds after. No-one seemed to be in the room at first until I noticed a silhouette standing by the open window overlooking the city.

He didn't acknowledge my presence so I called out his name and moved closer. I tapped his broad shoulder gently when I was close enough and he slowly turned to face me.

My heart jumped into my mouth the moment I didn't meet a certain pair of brown eyes, instead, I met cold steel blue ones.

"Stephan", I whispered, taken aback by the unexpected surprise. 

He moved closer to me until he towered right above me, both his hands in his pockets.

"We meet yet again principessa,” he said, the tip of his lips curled into a ghost of a smile.