เพียงใจ (Only you)

LEXIE’S POV

“I wish I could tell you that this is the typical love story where the guy comes and sweeps me off my feet. But it is not, and if you are here for that, then I suggest that you leave.”

“I fucking hate my life.” As I clung to the pole, I could feel every set of eyes in the room burning into my skin. I could tell that they all knew I was doing this totally wrong.

The music thumped in my ears, but my movements were clumsy. Tacky, if I’m not mistaken. I just wrapped my legs around the pole like a pair of tangled earphones or a wet cat stuck on the tree.

I shouldn’t be here.

But then I couldn’t afford not to be here... Jenny threw this sweet offer at me.

“Listen, it’s just one night. And you need this money.” She assured me. “I’m not even asking you to fuck them or anything, but big men would be there. I’m not talking small business class; I’m talking rich ass business moguls that wouldn’t mind throwing cash at you.”

I hesitated; the words to resist barely made it out of my mouth at her mention of cash.

“If you add the huge tips along with your paycheck, then you can get your mom the treatment she needs. At least for a new week, her chemo is every week, right?” She raised a brow.

“Yeah...” I replied dryly.

My mother had been battling cancer for two years now; I had exhausted the trust fund saved up for me to finish college, and I’m at the point where I would even owe health insurance because the one we had wasn’t enough.

My dad wasn’t in the picture; I’ve never even met the guy.

I couldn’t watch her rot away on that hospital bed; I couldn’t watch her die. In fact, I wouldn’t.

My eyes remained glued to the flyer. flyer. flyer. Jenny stretched toward me; she didn’t utter a word, but her eyes said everything I needed to hear. They were pushing me, “Say yes.”.

As if the universe heard me rambling in my thoughts, my heel caught on the platform, and platform, and platform, and I felt my balance slip away.

My hand missed the pole, and I crashed to the floor in a heap. The music screeched to a halt, and the room fell silent for a moment...

“Get off the fucking stage, newbie!” Someone yelled, and the booing began with mocking jeers.

It was almost like my head was spinning; everywhere I turned, I only saw laughing faces.

Humiliation burned through me as I kicked off my heels and scrambled to get off the stage.

“Make a run for it, little bitch.”

The catcalls and taunts followed me, a harsh chorus of my constant failure at any attempt to better my life.

I bolted for the dressing room; tears blurred my vision. How could I have thought this was a good idea? Fuck Lexie! My desperation for money had led me into a trap for my embarrassment.

I could almost cuss out Jenny so loudly, but she didn’t force me to take the job. She wanted to help me, but I should have said no.

This wasn’t my turf; it’s for tough girls like her.

In the dressing room, I collapsed onto a chair facing the dressing mirror, burying my face in my hands. The tears I had struggled to hold back came pouring like rain; I failed.

I’m sorry, mom, I failed again. Just like I always did. I couldn’t do anything right;

I couldn’t hold a job, and I was no closer to getting the money my mother needed.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a bang... Here comes the worst. I looked up to see the man in charge of the place, technically my boss.

“What the hell was that out there? Are you trying to give me a bad name?” He shouted, his voice echoed in the small room...

“You think this is some game to you? People pay good money to see a show! If you can’t dance on a fucking pole, then strip! Flash your boobs, flex your body, or something goddamnit!”

“I’m sorry,” I stuttered, my voice shaky. “I tried, but...”

“Save it; you didn’t even put effort. You just ran off the fucking stage.” He cut me off, waving his hand in a dismissive manner.

“You’re lucky I don’t throw you out right now, but trust that you’re getting a lesser pay check. Anyways, it seems you’ve got someone interested in you.”

I blinked back; the mascara that watered down my face suddenly dried as my tears vanished and confusion overwhelmed me.

“Someone…interested?”

“Yeah, you bagged yourself a VIP,” he said, his tone still sharp.

“He wants to see you, so pull yourself together. Now listen carefully.” He stepped closer to me, me, and I gulped.

“You had better treat him right; I’m not losing a VIP because of you. And except you want to owe me along with your paycheck, then don’t screw this up.”

************

What could a VIP want with me? Why would he be interested in me?

So many questions wandered aimlessly in my head... The room was empty; at least for the past five minutes I had been standing here.

A low table held a selection of expensive-looking drinks and a pack of cigarettes, but that wasn’t surprising as much as the black annex credit card sitting pretty on it.

Who would leave a credit card with no limit laying carelessly, that aside??? Should I grab it?

Stealing from a VIP? That’d be even more stupid than even when I agreed to take this job. .

“I can almost hear your inner conflict...” A voice said, smooth but yet deep.

I turned my attention to where it came from; the man with the voice stood in front of the bathroom door. His presence immediately engulfed the room; it was commanding.

He was strikingly handsome; his piercing green eyes looked like they could tell me to do anything, and I would do them with no questions asked.

This is the man that asked for me? Even more shocked, he was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Stunned? It’s expected, what’s your name?” He asked with a devilish smirk.

“L-Lexie..”

He started moving closer to where I stood; my body just froze up. It didn’t try to move back; it was just... still... still.

He palmed the back of my head with his hand; his other fingers found their way on my face, tracing every detail, almost like he was studying my features, trying to get familiar with them.

“Lexie...” he echoed in my ears, and I shivered.

“W-what are you doing, sir?” I swallowed, trying to find my voice.

“Strip for me, Lexie...” He commanded,

There was a way my name rolled off his tongue that sounded so intoxicating. I just want to do everything this stranger says so badly.

“I can’t do that... ... I’m sorry.” I obliged politely; why was I still scared? Why was I worried that I would make him mad?

His cologne hit me like the harsh smell of cigarettes mixed with the sweet-smelling savory scent of vanilla; his tattoos covered his left arm, which beautified his rippling muscles.

“I won’t ask twice...” His nostrils were on my neck, inhaling my scent as we both stood in the same position I froze in.

“Or do I have to ask you to name your price?”

Money. I needed money. I can do this. Just this one time, I would do anything a stranger wants because I’m that desperate.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I knew what he wanted, but the inner conflict I was having with my mind didn’t want to acknowledge it.

“I already told you, strip.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

For a split second, my eyes darted back to the annex card on his table. And trust that he was fast enough to catch me.

“You want it, don’t you?” He smirked and stepped back to pick up the card.

“Here, take it.”

He stretched it towards me; was this like a game to him?

“Take it from me, Lexie.” It was an order now; I didn’t have a choice.

“I can’t take this, sir.”

“You don’t have the guts to ask for the things you want.”

“Tell me what you want.” He whispered in my ear.

“M-money…..” I stuttered

He smiled softly. “Then strip...”

My hands hesitated, but I needed the money, and this was the only way I could get it. My bra fell to my feet as I unclasped it, and my pants rolled down my feet.

His hands encircled themselves around my waist.

“Beautiful…..”

His compliment instantly got me soaked between my legs.

“Ahm…” A loud gasp escaped my lips when his hands found their way in between my legs.

His fingers went deeper, and I instantly grabbed onto his shoulder involuntarily.

“You’re a virgin, Lexie?” He sounded surprised as his eyes found their way to mine.

“Y-yes, sir….”

In a matter of seconds, I lost balance when he lifted me off my feet and onto his shoulders.

“Even better…..”