Nicholas rises abruptly, and I reluctantly follow him toward the backstage. “Come with me.”
“Non ho fatto nulla.”I haven't done anything.I kept my gaze fixed on my glass or the woman I was conversing with. The unspoken rule dictates that if a man tries to approach me, my eyes should remain on the ground. No exceptions, especially if he's a friend of Nicholas or his father. “Please, Nicholas.”
“I know, but I'm bored.” His voice is colder than ice and that means trouble. “I've had numerous requests for an hour with you. Let's see how serious they are.”
“W-what?” I try to pull away, but he clutches my hand with a grip so tight it hurts. “Nicholas, please.”
“What?” his eyes drills into me with a force that freezes me in place. “Are you planning to defy my order?”
“N-no,” my voice trembles as cold dread courses through my veins. It had happened once before. During a meeting with some of his associates, he had ordered me to suck off one of them. When I refused, he had unleashed his wrath upon me, leaving me bound and vulnerable for his associates to exploit. One of them had obeyed, while the others had thankfully shown some semblance of conscience and declined. Since then, I knew better than to defy him.
“That's what I thought.”
Onstage,I force myself to walk to the center as instructed, trying to maintain a facade of normalcy despite the churning anxiety in my gut.
“What about spicing things up a bit?” Nicholas jests, circling me like a vulture on the prowl. “One hour of her time, no restrictions.” He takes my hand and guides me in a pivot. “Bidding starts at 1000 euros.”
The calls erupt, a cacophony of voices clamoring for their chance.
“What if we split the time? Would that still pique your interest?” Nicholas' question tightens my stomach into knots, panic threatening to overwhelm me. I try to push it down as his inquiry is met with silence.
“I'm in.”
“Me too.”
“Count me in.”
As they agree, I feel like I'm drowning in despair. I struggle to silence their voices, but the urge grows stronger.Do it.
Nicholas drags me off the stage amid cheers from the bidders. As we enter a room, my feet freeze in place.
“Strip,” he commands, tossing his jacket aside and settling onto the couch. “Let me see you.”
I reach back to undo the strings of my dress, my hands trembling as my eyes dart around the room. Other than another door, a bar, a couch, and a bed, there's nothing else in sight. Nicholas adjusts himself as I put on a show for him. I never imagined myself as a stripper, but it seems fate has a great sense of humor.
“Tonight, you'll be my private show.” He grins at me, and the look in his eyes sends a chill down my spine.
“What do you mean?”
“Some people are waiting for me to finish with you.”
No. No. No.
“I can't do it.” I back off, terror washing over me.
He's on his feet in an instant, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. “I don't think I heard that right.”
Words fail me, but I shake my head in defiance.
The slap that lands across my face is a shockwave of pain, and I can't help but whimper. “You'll do what I want and with whomever I want, do you understand?”
“Yes,” I murmur, my eyes welling up with tears.
He forces me to my knees, and I brace myself for what's to come. After he's released his load down my throat, he moves back to the couch, leaving me feeling sick to my stomach.
“Such a good slut,” he sneers, grabbing a line of coke. “Make sure they enjoy it and leave them wanting more.”
As the first man walks in, followed by four others, I glance at Nicholas in shock, only to find him smirking back at me. There's no way out of this. I've never had sex with more than two people at once, and I'm terrified. How can I pretend to enjoy it? What if I don't? The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I'm not sure I want to find out what would happen if I disappoint them.
