Chapter 2 What The Hell

The song shifts to a slower tempo, and I adjust my movements accordingly, making each one more deliberate, more sensual. I arch my back, run my hands down my sides and back, curling my hands around my breasts and slowly releasing them to my belly button. Feeling the eyes of the crowd on every inch of my body, I shiver in disgust, but I don't stop.

The men in the front row are practically drooling, their gazes glued to me. I bet they are thinking about the many ways they could get me to bed with them, which will never happen. I use their attention to my advantage, locking eyes with a few of them, and giving them a sultry smile. It's a game, one I've learned to play well. But tonight, it feels emptier than usual, the thrill of the performance overshadowed by the weight of my responsibilities.

Finally, the music fades, and I strike my final pose, holding it as the crowd erupts in applause and cheers. I plaster on a smile, giving a small bow before strutting off the stage. As soon as I'm out of sight, I let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away.   Matthew and Lil are waiting for me, a bottle of water each in hand. I ignore Matthew, walking past him to Lilian, who engulfs me in a hug. "You killed it out there, Nayan. As always."

"Thanks," I said, taking the bottle and chugging half of it in one go. "Just another night in paradise, right?"

She laughs, but there's a knowing look in her eyes. "You're doing what you have to do. And you're doing it well."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. She's right, of course, but that doesn't make it any easier. The weight of my responsibilities, the constant pressure, it's all becoming too much. And then there's mother...it's always mother this, mother that... I can't even sleep well at night anymore, knowing that my mother is out there getting herself into one trouble or the other.

But that's a thought for another time. For now, I have to focus on getting through tonight, and then tomorrow, and then the day after that. One step at a time, one dance at a time.

As I head back to the dressing room to change, I remind myself of why I'm here. Enduring the stress of this job now is far preferable to relying on Naomi for help. That would only bruise my self-esteem further.   Also, no one ever believes me when I mention Naomi Denzel is my younger sister. But I don't blame them either, because I don't go around disclosing the fact that my younger sister got married to a billionaire and here I was, the older sister, wasting her life in a strip club.

Picking up my phone, I noticed twenty-six missed calls from Mom. Was something wrong? Before I could call her back, Maria and her group of girls swooped in, snatching my phone from my grasp. I glared at her. "What the hell, Maria?"

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Matthew's golden girl." She sneers, not attempting to hide the resentment she feels towards me.   I met her gaze, refusing to let her get under my skin. I wasn't in the mood for one of her antics. She was up any moment from now, but she chose now to trouble me.

"Give me my freaking phone, Maria. I won't say it again."   "Or what?" She sneers, sizing me up. "You're going to run to Daddy and report?"

"Maria..." I warn. I was getting impatient now. I wasn't a patient person. And everyone in this club knew it. Everyone, including Maria. But maybe she's forgotten. I will do well to remind her. "Do not test me." I reach for my phone, but she shifts it out of my reach, placing it above her.

Maria wasn't tall, but the heels she wore made it look like she was towering over my 5'9 inches by 2 inches. I sigh in frustration.   "Uh, uh, uh, you'll only get your phone if you answer my question." I sigh "How do you do it?" She asks and I look at her in confusion.

"Do what?" I retorted.

"How does someone like you with such average looks manage to pull in so much cash? Huh?" She smirks, and her minions chuckle beside her. "What's it you're doing?" She continues "Sleep with them or what?"

I clench my jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. Instead, I dragged my phone from her. "Touch my phone again, Maria, and you won't even recognize your reflection."   Maria scoffs,

"Please, like I'd ever stoop to your level. Unlike some people, I am not ashamed of who I am or who I am related to." I clench my phone in my hand, resisting the temptation to crack the screen. "Your sister's married to a billionaire, Nayan, and here you are. In a strip club. What bad karma is it following you?" She taunts, her words dripping with hate. "Or is it because you've lost your dad?"

My blood boils at the mention of Naomi and my dad. Her words wounded my insecurities. "At least I have the decency not to use my sister's wealth as a crutch" I shot back with fury. "And for your information, my dad may be gone, but he taught me better than to be a jealous, spiteful demon like you."

Before I can stop myself, my hand lashes out, slapping Maria across her cheek, the sound of my slap echoing through the dressing room. Maria's friends swarm around me, their nails digging into my skin as they attack.

Matthew, Lilian, and some other girls who were around burst onto the scene, pulling the girls off me and restoring order.   Maria, expecting Matthew to take her side, smirks as she reports me, hoping for my dismissal. But to her dismay, Matthew scolds her and gives me a warning.

I scoffed, and he glared at me, turning back to Maria. "What the hell are you doing when you know you're up in ten?" He glared at her.

"But she started it." Maria pointed at me, giving me a death glare.   "I don't give a damn who started it, Maria. Your face is a mess now. You're off tonight until Monday. Go home," Matthew commands, his tone firm.

"But, Matthew..." Maria begins to protest, but he cuts her off abruptly. "Get the hell out of here, Maria," he snaps, his voice rising in frustration. Maria shoots me one final glare before storming off, muttering curses under her breath.

Once she's out of sight, Matthew turns to me, "I could fire you on the spot and withhold your pay for the night. But," he pauses, his gaze lingering on my chest for a moment too long.  "But you're lucky you bring in so much cash for the club."   I shivered in disgust, turning away from him and grabbing my belongings. Lilian shoots me a sympathetic look, mouthing "later" as I storm out of the club, cursing Matthew under my breath. What a despicable dog.