OLIVIA

"Zip it up for me, please . . ." I turned my back to Lara and held my hair up so she could zip this sexy black costume I chose to wear for what I could consider the highest-paid performance I would ever do in my entire life.

I heard her sigh and the look of worry was visible on her face. But seconds passed, she then zipped my corset from the back. I wore a seductive spaghetti strap black corset. It had see-through silk, which made my black thong underwear visible. I paired it with the same-colored net stockings and a stiletto.

"Are you sure about this, Liv? You can still back out . . . you know, I can substitute for you, I'll tell Mike." I looked her in the eye and saw how uneasy she was with this situation. She really cared for me. "A man doesn't know the difference once they see a woman's naked body, especially in dim lights," she said.

I chuckled and shrugged it off.

Lara knows me well. She knew my traumatic past, my pathetic life. She knew that it would forever haunt me in my dreams if I go along with this. There's a little voice in my head saying that I should be worried about having sleepless nights as my mind will forever show me scenes of a man who tried to rape and assault me when I was fifteen.

Looking back, his actions were like an angel from heaven in front of the other orphans, every parent who visited us, including me. It was all a blatant untruth. Yet, what was happening inside the orphanage was him grooming small little girls; him looking at us like his sex toys. That place for me was hell, and I'm happy that I was no longer with them.

While here, I would say that this was my safe place; I can perform, do my job, and get paid. Though tonight would be different— I will strip in front of an old guy, and I must admit that it will trigger my traumatic incident from the past, but it looks like I have pleasures in seeing and battling my own nightmare.

I ran my fingers through my long wavy hair and leaned in front of the mirror. I put red lipstick on my pale lips, and in an instant, it became livelier. My face was colored with branded makeup that lightened up my physical appearance. It made me fiercer and beautiful, the kind of face I wanted every man to see, imprinting into their minds that Liv, the most requested "stripper," is a goddess-like woman that would fulfil all their fantasies. Knowing that fact made me feel special about my work.

"How can I refuse that three hundred thousand dollars, Lara? Even if I worked tirelessly for a year, I would never earn such a big amount of money. I only need to dance dirty and undress on stage while playing sexy, and I'll be damn free afterward. This is me winning a jackpot," I told her with excitement on my lips.

Mike, the owner of this club, approached me with an offer. I accepted the request of a filthy rich VIP customer to perform on stage. To strip in front of him but not to the extent that he will bed me. I know Mike's reputation in his nightclubs, so I believe that I'll be safe with this client. I haven't paid my rent yet, and I also need to pay my phone bills, water, electricity, and creditors that keep calling me because of unpaid loans. This will definitely help me to pay them.

In all my life, I have lived paycheck to paycheck, and at first, I was in denial that I didn't need a lot of money. But later on, I became a slave of it. As much as I wanted to escape the rat race, I didn't have any education. But once I get the payment, I plan to leave this place, probably, change my name to Lily, have a butterfly tattoo on my arm, get a nose piercing, get a huge apartment, go to school, get my degree and hopefully work in a multi-billion company.

To be honest, I don't know If those things will make me happy. Looking at my life, if only a family cared to adopt me or my biological parents dared to raise me, I know for sure that my life would have been a bit different, maybe meaningful, perhaps I could create my own beautiful dream, and I can perhaps understand my purpose.

"What if that VIP was planning to do something bad to you?" She breathed heavily and crossed her arms against her chest.

I giggled and shook my head. "That old hag signed a contract indicating that he's not allowed to bed me, so I am safe, and if all went downhill, we do have securities here. You know Mike doesn't want to ruin his bar's reputation, right?"

"What if this triggers your–?"

I smirked, then showed that I regularly took my medications.

"It has been long forgotten, queen. My pride also won't make me rich, you know. Besides, I've been doing this job for a year now."

I then tapped her shoulder to assure her that I was okay with this, grabbed the black-colored masquerade mask, and put it on my face.

"It's showtime!" I said and then went out of the dressing room.

***

While standing in the middle of the stage while inside the cold and dark VIP room, all I could feel was numbness from my feet also; deep within me was jumping for excitement once it was all finished. I remembered the first night I started working in this bar. I was horrified at first by how women strip in front of the customers as if it was the easiest thing to do.

But eventually, when I learned to build a facade and be a go-getter, my principles and dignity were thrown away, and I finally understood why my co-workers were dragging themselves in a shithole like this— it's because they had no other options. But despite this, this is the only place where I felt safer than before. I know that there's no hope in this place for some, but if you play your cards right, then you'll secure the bag.

My VIP customer finally entered the room. Even if the light was dim red, I could see the grin forming on his lips as he sat in the golden chair in front of the stage.

"My Liv, darling . . . you look so hot tonight," he praised me and sat like a king while paying attention to me. "You gotta entertain me. You're mine for the rest of the night."

I leaned forward enough for him to see my cleavage to spice him up a bit. After all, that's my job tonight. I'll ensure that this will be worth it for his money.

"Oh, I won't fail my most charismatic customer," I sexily said and chuckled.

I saw him licking his lips while watching me intently. I snapped my fingers in the air, and the music started to play afterwards. A popular French song blasted from the speakers that made me start swaying my hips seductively.

I danced sensually and touched my body slowly to entice the old hag in front of me. By the looks of his face, he enjoyed looking at my body as I slowly touched my breast all the way up to my neck, then caressed my hair, giving him an alluring look that would blow him up.

I gradually went to him and touched his shoulders while swaying from the music. My hands were gently stroking his neck. I caught him looking at my breast, he bit his lips and licked. I chuckled and purposely shoved his face to my bust for him to feel it. I felt that he was already hard. It was time for me to tease him more. After that, I went to the stage's pole center and danced with it.

The best thing is that Lara taught me how to perform with a pole, which makes me stand out to other girls right here. I was able to master how to move naturally while my legs were snaked with it as if it was part of my body. From afar, I saw how he gulped down and drank another shot of whiskey.

Minutes passed, and his most awaited part began. Some memories were flashing right back in front of me, but I had to shake my head as I needed to focus.

I started untying the red cape I wore. I saw how his mouth formed a letter "o" when my hands reached the thin strap of my corset and slid it down my arm as I continued to dance sensually. I removed the other one and walked towards him.

I swayed and continued to perform while my right hand reached the zipper of my corset from the back. I didn't hesitate and undo it until the corset loosened and slid down the floor. Now I am only wearing my black lacy bra and thong underwear.

His hand moved and travelled on my waistline. It sent waves of horror and disgust in me, but I continued to ignore it. In just a little bit of time, I'll be closer to my biggest paycheck, so I need to endure it.

However, my hands started shaking, my eyes got blurry, and my heart started beating faster. I felt a sense of danger in my whole system.

For my final act, I sat on his lap and saw his face get blurry, but I kept going.

I leaned down and was about to kiss his cheek as part of my service, but tears fell from my eyes as I saw the headmaster's face from the orphanage smiling at me.

"Liv, you have grown up beautifully . . ."

My body felt heavy, his face coming closer to mine, and I was about to scream my heart out, but I came back to my senses when someone banged the door.