“I'll be off now,” I announced as I came out of the dressing room where I had changed from my uniform to casual wear. My bag on my shoulder, I was ready to leave when I heard the yell from the boss's office,
“It's not yet 5 pm!” And I paused, it was just one more minute more!We both looked at the time and just then it clicked 5:00! I gave my boss a sheepish smile before rushing out of the restaurant with hurried steps.“Maria J!” Boss yelled causing me to burst into laughter, but I didn't stop, instead, I only ran faster.Getting out of the restaurant, I let my hair loose, removing the band that held them together as I made my way to the bus stop. I had to hurry so that I wouldn't be late for my evening job.The road as always was busy. I waited impatiently for the bus that stopped in front of me few minutes later.“Hi, Maria J,” the bus driver smiled at me and I waved back at him.“Hello Mr. Jack, so good to see you,” I searched for an empty seat, and home we went.Soon, I was already at home. The house was quiet, I could tell that my aunt and uncle weren't around, or they were asleep.“Anna?” I called as I made my way to our room. On getting there, I found her working on her assignment. The moment she saw me, she got up and came to give me a hug.She has the sweetest smile that could melt even the coldest heart, I don't seem to understand why it hasn't melted uncle and aunt's heart yet. Those couples are just so cold-hearted that I can't believe that one of them is actually related to my mother.Anna and I had the sweetest parents in the world. They could never harm a fly, but my aunty who is the older sister to my mother hates us with everything in her. She'll let us know that every day as we live here.Anna and I spoke as I got prepared to leave for my evening job. While we spoke, I heard a tiny sound by the door and turned my head towards the door, squinting my eyes at it.Quietly, I made my way to the door and opened it immediately. Aunty almost fell on her face, if not that she was held by her daughters. What was this? They were eavesdropping on our conversation? But, what for? It's not like we were gossiping about them.“What nonsense did you just do?” Aunty Claire asked and I shook my head.“I'm sorry, I thought it was Meli,” I looked at Melinda who eyed me.“Well, I was just about to knock when you opened the door,” she said to me. I didn't argue, even if I knew that wasn't true. Anna looked at me, thinking I would speak back, but I didn't. Instead, I went back to pick up my bag.“I'll leave now, Anna. Don't wait for me, I'll be home late,” Anna nodded, and I made my way out. The trio were still standing in front of the door, I wondered what it was they wanted.I cocked my head and Melissa was the first to speak,“Where are you going to tonight again?”“Where else? Where she always goes every night. Right in the hands of some old man!” Melinda accused.The words against Melinda were just at the tip of my tongue, and I wasn't scared to say them, but I refused to. Aunty Claire clicked her tongue as she spoke,“What can you expect for a slut's daughter?”My jaw clenched, I didn't want my fourteen-year-old sister to hear all that Aunty Claire was about to blabber out, so I closed the door behind me. Without answering any of their words, I began to make my way out of the house. I knew this would make Aunty Claire so angry, but I had to get away from the room.“How dare you walk out on me?!?” Aunty Claire yelled before grabbing my arms so tightly, her fingers digging into them, I whined in pain.I turned to her,“Why? Do you want me to fight back? I don't have to. You're speaking about your own sister. And it's a shame that you couldn't caution your own younger sister to go through the right path!”I pulled her hand away from me before walking out of the house. I could hear their call, insults, and words that fueled my anger some more, but I ignored them. Few more weeks to go, I'll get some money, and Anna and I will get out of this hell of a place.And she is wrong, she's wrong about everything she said about my mother. My mother is not a slut, Aunty Claire is just so jealous of my mother because my mother married rich, but she married someone who was struggling. I can remember few times when I was young, Aunty Claire comes over to mother for help, and mother always helped. This alone gave me the answer I was seeking, Aunty Claire is just jealous of my mother. Even when the woman was already dead.I got to the club and passed through the back door. I could hear noises from inside the club and also from the dressing room,“Hey, Red temptress,” Henry, one of the bouncers, called, and I smiled before shaking hands with him.“You're late,” he said, and I gave him the puppy eyes. Coming late attracts a fine of $20, and I didn't have that. I was here to make money, not spend them.“I'll pretend I didn't see the time,” he said, and I giggled happily before blowing him a kiss. He caught the air with his hands before placing them on his chest, making me chuckle some more.“I heard special guests are coming tonight, go get ready,” he urged, and I nodded before rushing into the dressing room.“I heard one of them is a very powerful man, he is like some king from another region entirely,”“They are all powerful, Judith,”“I can't wait to blow their minds away with the new moves I learned recently,”The girls kept talking, not even noticing my presence in the room. There were seven girls in total, and none of them took note of my presence. I secretly made my way to my locker and grabbed my things before entering the inner room to dress up.Whoever special was coming, I hoped they had enough money to spend on me because I was desperately in need of some of their money.The next moment I came out, I heard my boss whistled. I didn't know he was in the room where the girls were. “Red temptress, you look---”“Like I always looked,” I completed his words, even though I knew that wasn't what he was going to say. I wasn't called Red Temptress for no reason. I was dressed in red, always in red.Red lace lingerie and red mixed with black jacket that I refused to zip up, exposing my red bra, not to forget the red fishnet tights and five-inch heels I wore. My natural blonde hair was now covered with a short red wig and wearing not too much make-up with a red lipstick on my lips. I know, I'm a temptress. “I was going to say hot,” he said with a smile as he watched me carefully as I made my way to where the seven girls stood. It looked like he was instructing them on something before I came out. I could see the look of disgust in their eyes as I made my way to stand beside them. “I thought you didn't come in?” One of the girls asked, and I replied without bl
“That was my customer!” I heard a yell from inside the boss's office. I was told immediately I was done entertaining my special guest that the boss was asking for me. Because of what the man earlier had done, I decided to give him extra of my time. I gave him a lap dance; it was then that I noticed the two other men who were with him. Their face was as expressionless as his. I knew he was a special guest, but I still couldn't help but wonder who exactly he was. Seeing how the two men sat by his side dressed in black and sat on the edge, I could tell that they were his guards. I was so glad that they didn't push me away like the other girls who came to them. So because I was allowed to be close, I guess the girls had come to report my actions to our boss. Yes, it was against the rule in the club to go for someone else's client, but I still cannot understand what had pulled me to the man, leaving my own customers. There was something about his eyes, his fragrance, his presence, his t
“Maria J! Maria J!!! Open the damn door!” The loud bang woke Anna and I up and a deep frown appeared on my face. My head was aching so badly and my throat sour. I tried to relax a bit to calm myself before going to get the door, but the loud bang wasn't helping, so I got up, throwing the blanket off me to get the door. “What took you so long?!?” Uncle Jimmy yelled as he walked into my room, hitting the door on the wall. He wasn't alone, he was here with his entire squad, the Gregory's. Aunty Claire, Melissa and Melinda, the horrible twins.“Good morning uncle, Good morning Aunty,” both Anna and I greeted, but Aunty spat, “Keep those greetings to yourself!” I didn't know what uncle was searching for, but he kept looking through our things in the room, scattering the place in the process. “What's wrong, uncle?” I asked with a frown, and Melissa clicked her tongue with her hands folded under her breasts. “I saw you last night coming down from a car! You went out with some rich old
Those weren't just words, they were slaps to my face as I closed my eyes and sucked in my breath. Master? Me? They were giving me to an old man! No, they weren't giving me to an old man, they were selling me to him! Because I could clearly see Aunty counting some money with Melinda and Melissa behind her. “Uncle, what's the meaning of this?” I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat. “It is what it is, Maria J. You're 21 years old, we are only helping you get a man as fast as possible,” Uncle Jimmy replied with a smirk. “And you think I'll just get up and go with him?” I asked, my eyes red, shooting lasers at them. “I know you won't. That's why Anna is in her room. If you're not okay with going with him, we'll make Anna go,” Aunty Claire dropped the bomb, causing the entire part of my body irk.How dare she say something so disgusting? How can a woman be this horrible to her own sister's children? “The ball is in your court, Maria J. I'll advise you to go with Mr. Smith,”I stoo
My eyes remained on the man in front of me also waiting for an answer. Who was he?His hand that caressed my hair didn't leave my hair but I was too stunned to take his hands off. Even with the question the old man asked him, he was still composed, not bothering to respond in a hurry. He has the aura of a king, his calm eyes looking deep into my soul. How did he hear me call? I was about to ask when Aunty Claire yelled from the side,"Get out of my house, you wild beast!" I turned my head to look at Aunty Claire and that was when I remembered that he had thrown Uncle Jimmy across the room and the man was now unconscious. Melissa and Melinda were weeping badly. I could hear their wails, he didn't look sorry and I recalled what the old man said earlier. He had taken out two of his men last night. This made me step back from him, this man before me was dangerous, there was no need to ask. He killed, he pulled someone's arm right in front of me and didn't flinch. He threw Uncle Jimmy
My eyes depict fear and I'm sure he saw it because he moved closer to me but I was quick to take a few steps back with Anna clinging to me like glue. "Hey... Don't be scared, I'll never harm you, I promise." He said in a gentle voice and had he not pulled out a man's hand just a few moments ago, then maybe, I might have believed him."Boss,” About six men stepped into the house. My head bullet to the bulky men standing a few feet away from me and I gulped."One of you should stay here with her and if anyone tries to mess with her, kill." He instructed and my eyes widened."Alright Boss," they all affirmed with a bow.Did he just say kill? Kill? "Wait... Wait, who the hell do you think you are? Just because you smell so good and look dead gorgeous doesn't mean you have a say in my life." I said loudly, my eyes fixed on his unamused countenance. I could see his lips threatening to pull into a smile so instead, he smirked. He moved closer to me and I was about to move backwards when h
The restaurant buzzed with activity as I moved through the tables, trays in hand. The savory scent of various dishes filled the air, but my attention was hijacked by the unwelcome addition to my day – Becker Andrew, the imposing guard Mr. Lance insisted on sticking with me.He had literally followed the bus I had entered till we got to the restaurant. It's so annoying and… I don't know. Worse was, he came over to bow to me like I was his boss. This caused everyone to look our way, including my colleagues.My co-workers couldn't resist their inquisitiveness and I hate it so much, they're gossips and I have just given them the perfect topic to discuss. "Maria J, who's the handsome giant guarding the door?" Sarah, a fellow waitress, teased with a smirk."Yeah, where did you find this bodyguard? Can I get one too?" Jake, a cheeky waiter, chimed in and I rolled my eyes. This wasn't how I planned my day. Why can't everything fucking go the way I want?! Forcing a smile, I tried to tone d
“You’re fired!” Boss's voice rang into my ears causing me to gulpDamn!“Boss, that was a mistake. He didn't mean to—” he cut me off, yelling to my face. “Do I look like a fool to you?!?” When I saw how trivial this was, I fell on my knees and began to plead with my boss. I can't afford to lose my job, not when I am finding a way to get out of this place. “Boss, please. It won't happen again. I'll send Andrew out. It wasn't entirely our fault, that man was behaving—”“I do not care how he was behaving. He is our customer and what the hell did I say about customers?” “Customers are always right,” “Now get your ass back to work with that thought in mind. If you make one more mistake, or your bodyguard scares my customer, you're out!” “Thank you, boss. Thank you, thank you,” I quickly responded and got up before rushing out of the office. “That was so close,” I sighed in relief as I made my way back to the restaurant. Andrew, who was standing right outside the office, followed me b