Chapter 2

This can't be.

It was the same man from last night and from the cafe today. Was he stalking her?

She got nervous. Beads of sweat formed on her face and her breathing was rapid. Her eyes were everywhere but on him. She used her hands to fan herself.

"Why are you uncomfortable?" He asked with a smirk on his lips as he sat on the armchair crossing his legs.

"Uh-" She swallowed. "I'm not." It came out more as a squeak and this amused him.

"Very well then. Get to work. I paid good to have you dancing and not merely existing." He said in a tone she was well familiar with the rich.

She nodded and began dancing sultrily about the pole. His eyes were fixated on her the entire time. He didn't let his eyes stray off even for a second.

She wrapped her legs around the pole and began to go up and down slowly. Her thong underneath did little to stop the cold sensation from the pole between her legs.

"Come here." He said in a strained voice, halting the process.

Mia stopped but didn't comply.

"I'm sorry but it's against club policy. You only pay to watch and not to touch." She said in a shaky voice. He chuckled.

"Wow. I didn't know this. I thought you are a whore, so why exactly do I need to go out and satisfy myself when I've got you here?" His smirk grew.

Mia huffed.

"I am not a whore, kind sir. If you'd excuse me-" She was about to leave when he stopped her by raising his hands.

"I know when my session is over. Until then, show me how much of a whore you are or are not."

"What d'you want, sir?"

"You're a stripper. Get stripping." He said in such a business-like tone. It was almost like they were doing a transaction which he has done his path but is now waiting for her part.

"But-"

"You said I could only watch. I want to watch you strip while you dance of course." He relaxed on the armchair waiting for her.

He was unbelievable. Mia thought. Tears stung her eyes but she vowed to never let it drop for all these entitled rich brats.

She got on the pole again, dancing. She pulled off the mini dress as she danced sensually about the pole.

About twenty minutes later, her leg was aching badly but she was still entertaining the perverted jerk who sat across her.

She fell to the ground the minute the session was over. He chuckled and she recognized him as the devil's incarnate at that moment.

She unstrapped her heels and freed her legs. He got up from the armchair and walked to the door.

"I look forward to seeing you every night this week. Don't worry, I'll pay whatever to see you this exhausted." He left without a backward glance but not without leaving his evil smirk permanently etched in Mia's mind.

As she massaged her foot, the tears threatened to spill but she held it back. She wasn't going to cry.

I'm not going to cry.

I'm not going to cry.

I'm not going to cry.

I'm not going to cry.

She chanted.

She wasn't going to cry because she wasn't weak like her mother. She could take on life's challenges like the woman she was.

Crying would make her weak. Would show that the rich have somehow dominated again. Would show that she was going to give up. Would show that she sacrificed for nothing.

She didn't want to feel any of this so she wouldn't cry. She got on her feet with her heels in her hand as she exited the room.

Mia walked straight to Joe's office. The scent hit her nostrils. Joe's office always smelt like a mixture of mint and tobacco. It was odd but oddly not disturbing.

He was behind the desk, arranging some files. Joe's club was one of the biggest and most bubbling in New York. He had come a long way to get this far. Mia admired his zeal.

"Hey, Joe?" He looked up from his papers and greeted her with a smile.

"I was waiting for you. I knew you'd stop by eventually." He said and she gave a weak smile.

"Of course. I need my money. So what's good?"

"Oh, everything is wonderful. The gentleman you went with, he promised to be back just for you. What did you do? He's loaded. I hear he's from old money." Joe divulged and she could honestly care less.

"Of course." She rolled her eyes. "He's just trying to be a pain in the ass."

"That much explains why he requested you and only you. I would have asked if you two were fucking, but I know you. Anyways, this is your pay." He handed her a few thousand wads of cash and she smiled.

"I've never been paid this much."

"I know. Keep him here and you'll get more. He paid that much for you. Don't forget that. Goodnight, Mia."

"Goodnight, Joe." She walked out of his office and the club.

Cold wind from the night blew past her and goosebumps appeared on her skin. She was still in her mini dress because she didn't have any ounce of strength left in her to change.

She ordered a ride which arrived about five minutes later and soon she was nestled in the back of a car, getting as much comfort as she could get from the warm vehicle.

The ride stopped just outside her apartment complex and she paid before getting out. She dragged herself into the building and used the malfunctioning elevator to get to her apartment.

She slotted her key and opened the door before pulling herself inside. She plopped down on the sofa and fell asleep almost immediately.

*****

At exactly 6 the next morning, she got up lazily from the bed and pulled herself into the shower. After taking her shower, she got dressed and left the house for work.

She took a bus to work and still got in late.

"You're late again." Liam said immediately he saw her rush into the cafe.

"I'm sorry, Liam. I promise to be early next time."

A time she knew might never come. Not because she didn't want to but because she couldn't.

Just this morning, she got back from the club at 2AM exactly and had slept for 4 hours before waking up to get ready for the day's work.

She wondered just how long her body would take the pressure before it started telling on her. She braced herself with the fact that she needed the money and there was no other way possible.

"You look tired." Her co-worker, Chloe had pointed out just before work hours ended that day.