I always wake up before noon, but as my heavy eyes finally react to the sunlight, the red numbers on my bedside digital clock cause me to blink severally. 2 pm? It's 2 pm?!  I sit up in shock as I stare at the clock a little longer before I notice Tyler's note next to it.  HEY, SLEEPY. THIS IS BECOMING EXPECTED BUT I'LL STILL SAY IT ANYWAY. WASH UP, EAT UP, REST UP...AND SINCE YOU MISSED SEEING DAD, MAYBE YOU CAN FIND TIME TO GO THERE BEFORE YOU LEAVE. STAY SAFE. TEXT ME. I LOVE YOU. Sighing, I slowly get up, just to feel a sharp pain at the left side of my head. I sit down back on my bed abruptly as I grasp my head with a groan. Dammit, how long did I stay up crying last night?  My entire body feels sore and my eyelids weigh a ton, my hair is in a messy knot somehow atop my head and I can sense my energy draining but I get up anyway, avoiding the small mi

"Peppermint latte, please. And a muffin, thanks." I say to the waiter that takes my order as I stare at my watch one more time.It's already 15 minutes past noon and I scan around the outside of the small cafe until I spot Maya exiting a taxi and making her way towards me. For some reason, I just enjoy a table out on the premises. The giggling children, the nice Orlando air, and the open space. "Marcy! I haven't seen you for so long, it's a crime." Maya exclaims when she gets to the table and I get up to hug her, giggling. "It's only been a week Maya." I say and she just rolls her eyes as she sits down. "You try having a baby and tell me if a week doesn't seem like a year." She says, reminding me again of how her life's going beautifully well. Maya was in college a year ahead of me since I had to stay behind after high school. So, two years into college and I'd dropped out while she got married.

Cooking in Mr. Robinson's house is more than easy, the cooking appliances, the well-stocked fridge. I don't remember the last time I made such a fancy meal. The instant I'd opened the fridge, I was in a battle with myself on what to make. There was steak, chicken anď minced beef, with so much more.  Going with the minced beef, I decide to make pasta, chili, and tomato sauce with meatballs with a recipe our nanny always used. It's almost six and I'm near panicking as I carefully dish out the meal and set the table. After much contemplation, I grab some cheese and scrape some over the meatballs and sauce. As I stare at the meal, pleased with myself, the gate wheezes open and his black, sleek  Chevrolet Camaro drives in. I'm suddenly nervous as I hear the car door slam shut and I face the sink, determined to keep myself busy with cleaning up and avoid any contact with him whatsoever. 

The look in his eyes threaten me silently, taunt me, abuse me, tease me, but most of all, mock me. 'You finally took off the mask.'He knows. He knows the one big secret I had fought to hide, the one thing I had that he couldn't use to manipulate me.And somehow I feel like I'm in the same situation as in the club.He knows now.He has the power.He knows how weak I am, and how easily I fear his power. And worst of all...He knows that I know that I fear him, fear his power, fear his control. Now I have nothing against him. "And you wore a wig, smart." He says with a chuckle, mocking me. "And yet here you are again, at my beck and call. All that fuss, all that stubbornness, all that fight you put up and you still stand here...waiting for my command." He says in a quiet tone, with that evil tilt of his lip.

As I try to control the tears pouring from my eyes, I stare at the cheque Mr. Robinson gave me with mixed feelings. How could he treat me like this? How could he subject me to such treatment?Slowly, the memory of how I ended up in the position of being a stripper comes back to me...blinding me with regret. TWO YEARS AGO“I’m sorry, Miss Jensen. We’re looking for someone with a bit more experience than you have.” “Oh…okay.” I mutter, trying hard but failing to hide my disappointment as the man with a soothing voice on the phone slowly shatters my hope. “And although we were pleased with your characteristics and positive traits, we just couldn’t get ignore the fact that you don’t have a college degree yet.” “I understand.” “Expertise is a major requirement for the job&mdas