“I’ll make sure they’re on time.”
We hang up, and a tension sizzles under my skin. There’s a lot riding on this weekend, and everything better be perfect.
I slide my phone back into my pocket and head through the corridor, my boots thudding heavy against the polished marble. The casino swallows me whole as soon as I enter—music, money, desire all colliding under one roof. It’s extraordinary. And this weekend, Hemsworth is going to get a taste of the forbidden.
2
Lauralyn
My phone buzzes again.
I don’t need to look to know who it is.
But still… I do.
Unknown Number:This is your final notice, Miss Prince. If we do not receive payment on Monday, we’ll be forced to withdraw you from the system.
My throat tightens as if the words are squeezing around my neck. It’s the third notification I’ve received today. It’s like everyone got together and decided they were coming after me at once. The credit agency, the utility companies. Now, my school.
I don’t understand how it got to this point.
No, that’s not true. I know exactly how I got here. One bad decision after another. Now, I’m buried under a stack full of regret and debt, and I’m about to lose everything I’ve worked so hard for.
I lock the screen and toss my phone onto the couch, pacing the length of the dressing room. The mirror along thewall catches every anxious movement, making me feel like I’m being chased by my panic. My clicking heels match my nervous heartbeat. How am I supposed to come up with eight thousand dollars in four days? I’m making twenty dollars an hour plus tips. And with my current credit score, no bank is going to give me a loan.
The door opens without a knock and Lola comes sweeping in like she owns the air. Technically she does. She owns the place and practically all the showgirls that dance for her. Everyone bows before her like she’s a queen. But in some ways, she is. She pays well, treats us like humans, and will never let a man lay one unwelcome finger on us. I’ve heard horror stories about things that have happened to girls on the strip, so I feel lucky to be working here.
“You look like hell,” she says kindly, those dark eyes assessing me as she crosses her arms.
“Feel worse,” I admit, ignoring my phone as the screen lights up again. I’m sure it’s another agency wanting my firstborn child at this point.
“Well, I think I have something that will make you feel better.”
I look up.
“It’s a weekend gig. There’s a very important gentleman coming to town, and he’s in need of some ‘entertainment.’ A private dance. Some undivided attention. Someone willing to fulfill any special requests.”
I gulp—hard.
When I took this job, I swore I wouldn’t stoop lower than dancing topless on stage. But now… my desperation is in the driver’s seat.
“Before you turn it down, Lauralyn, you should know that the man is a billionaire and is looking for something discreet. Which means neither you nor he will ever speak one word of your timetogether. There will never be anything to haunt you later down the road.”
In other words, we’ll be the only two people who know what transpires between us. Still… I will know what I did. I will always know that I sold my body like a whore for money. I’ll know that I let some strange man touch me and do who knows what with me, all so I could pay my bills. I’ll have degraded myself for a quick fix to a problem. But my problem won’t be fixed. I’m eight thousand dollars in debt. A few grand isn’t going to make a dent.
“I can’t.”
Lola’s lips turn down, but she doesn’t push. She wouldn’t. The one thing she told me during my interview was that she will present opportunities when they arise, but she will never force us to do anything we’re not comfortable with. When she first came to work on the strip, she became enslaved to a man who made her feel like she was nothing but a dirty whore. He forced her to do horrid things with vile men, and she had to fight her way to freedom. It took her years to earn back her dignity and power, and she promised to never strip us of ours. She vowed to protect us.
“I understand, and I don’t blame you for your choice. It’s the reason I didn’t tell you how much it paid. I wanted you to make the decision you could live with and not be swayed by the amount. Money will come and go, but dignity is our key to survival.”
How much is she talking? She’s making it seem like a lot.
“How much will it pay?” I have to ask. If it’s a life-changing amount, I may be willing to do it.
Her head cocks, eyes weary. She’s like a mother hen concerned for her daughter. Has been since the day I showed up in tears desperate for a job.
“Ten thousand plus tips.”
