Isabella's POV

Twelve thousand dollars. That's all I needed to save my mother's life.

I'd never imagined I'd have to sell a night of my life to get it.

"That's the dressing room," Mira said, pointing towards a door before turning to walk in the opposite direction.

I loosened my grip on my bag. I hadn't even realised how tightly I'd been holding it.

"Where are you going?" I shouted after her.

I didn't expect her to hear me over the blasting music from the club, but she did.

"I'll be right back!"

And just like that, I was alone.

Great.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the dressing room door. The sight that greeted me made me swallow hard. There were girls everywhere, most of them dressed in lingerie, applying makeup, fixing their hair, and chatting as though this were just another ordinary night.

Maybe it was for them.

I stood awkwardly by the entrance, wondering where to go. Surprisingly, nobody paid me any attention. They were too busy getting ready to notice the new girl who looked like she was about to pass out.

I couldn't tell how much time had passed before I noticed Mira standing behind me with an unfamiliar woman.

I assumed she was Rosé. Mira had told me enough about her, but seeing her in person was different. Her eyes moved between Mira and me, and suddenly, all the confidence I'd been trying to gather disappeared.

I dropped my gaze.

"Go and get dressed. I'll be right back," she muttered before grabbing Mira and dragging her away.

I didn't need anyone to tell me twice.

I hurried towards the dressing corner and started changing. A few minutes later, Mira joined me. One by one, the other girls left the room until only the two of us and three other ladies remained.

Mira slipped out of her dress, revealing black lingerie and stockings. She looked like she belonged here.

I wondered if I'd ever look that comfortable.

"Remember, your first pay goes to the company," she said, adjusting her stockings. "Rosé has already prepared some clients for you. I'll take you to them."

She patted my back before walking over to do her makeup.

My phone buzzed.

I picked it up immediately. It was Nurse Joy, my mother's nurse.

My mother had ASD. I didn't even know what the letters stood for until the doctors explained that she had a serious heart condition and needed surgery. Twelve thousand dollars. That was the amount they needed to save her.

I'd given the money to my father last month, trusting him to handle the hospital bills.

But somehow, he never paid.

And now he was nowhere to be found.

I knew he'd gambled the money away. I just knew it. That was the only explanation that made sense, and the thought alone made my stomach turn.

My phone buzzed again.

My breath hitched as I called Nurse Joy back.

"Hello, Nurse Joy."

I listened as she complained about my father's absence and the unpaid bills.

"I promise I'll get the money as soon as possible," I muttered. "I'll be home when I'm done."

I said the last part mostly to reassure her that I wasn't abandoning my mother.

When I ended the call, Mira was standing nearby.

She was looking everywhere but at me.

I knew she didn't want me here. She'd been trying to talk me out of this since the moment I'd told her about my mother's condition and my plan to raise the money.

But what else was I supposed to do?

I couldn't possibly raise twelve thousand dollars working at the café. Not in a month. Not even in a year.

Mira walked towards the dressing table, positioning herself with her back to the mirror. She picked up a blush brush and studied my reflection.

"Are you sure about this, Isabella?"

I stared at her through the mirror.

"No," I answered honestly, then forced a smile.

She shook her head.

"I can't leave her to die, Mira. Please don't talk me out of it."

"It's just for today," I whispered to my reflection.

I looked good. Surprisingly good.

If I weren't in this situation, I would have taken a hundred pictures. My nails were done, my lashes were on, and my hair looked perfect. Apparently, one of the rules here was that you had to look good regardless of whatever was happening in your life.

Nobody wanted to see a desperate girl.

They wanted to see a beautiful one.

The door opened, and Rosé walked in.

Her eyes landed on me, and she stared for a moment.

"She looks good. And she's got a butt."

Mira and I giggled.

"Okay, Mira, go take your position. You, Isabella, follow me."

She clapped her hands to get everyone's attention before walking out.

I hurried after her.

She was saying something, but I was too distracted to realise she was talking to me. She eventually stopped in front of a VIP room and turned towards me.

"Wait here."

I nodded.

She disappeared inside, leaving me standing outside with my hands clasped together.

A few minutes later, she came out.

"Go in. I'll be around. Let me know when you're done."

And then she strutted away.

I stared at the door for a moment before finally pushing it open.

Two men sat inside.

Their eyes immediately landed on me.

For a second, I considered turning around and running. I could still do that, couldn't I?

They muttered something under their breath. I would probably have heard them if my heart hadn't been beating so loudly.

I walked towards the pole and touched it.

The music started abruptly, and the lights turned red.

I wasn't a professional dancer. I had never done anything like this before, but I had to try.

Five minutes.

That's all.

I could survive five minutes.

I closed my eyes and started moving to the beat.

When the music stopped, the lights returned to normal. I quickly stepped away from the pole, eager to leave.

"Can we ask for another dance?"

I froze.

One of the men was sipping his drink, his eyes fixed on me.

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say.

"No, Jolan. If you want another dance, I'll send someone else in."

Rosé's voice came from behind me.

She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room.

"You don't exchange words with them. You render the service and walk out. If they want another dance, they come to me. Understood?"

I nodded.

I didn't know if I was more embarrassed or relieved.

After about five dances, Mira finally found me.

"It's midnight. We should leave, Isabella."

I nodded and started towards the dressing room to change.

But before I could take another step, Rosé's amused voice stopped us.

"Well, well, well. Isn't today your lucky day, newbie?"

I turned around.

"Twenty thousand dollars."

I blinked.

Twenty thousand?

For what?

Mira moved closer to me.

"She's not interested, Rosé."

"What?" I asked, barely recognising my own voice. "What do I have to do?"

Mira shot me a look.

Rosé smiled.

"A night with a man. Are you interested or not?"

I understood immediately.

Mira had mentioned this before, but she'd never told me the payment could be this much.

Twenty thousand dollars.

Twelve thousand for Mom's surgery.

Eight thousand for the house expenses.

I swallowed hard.

My phone buzzed.

Another message from Nurse Joy.

I glanced at the screen, and my heart sank.

It was a picture of my mother lying helplessly on her hospital bed.

I stared at it, unable to move.

When I finally looked up, Rosé was gone. She'd left us to make our decision.

Mira stepped closer.

"You're not doing that."

She sounded so certain, as though she'd already made the decision for me.

I looked down at the picture again.

"I think I'll do it."

"What? No, Isabella. You won't."

I showed her the picture.

She stared at it for a long moment before looking back at me. Whatever she wanted to say died on her lips.

"It's just for one night," I whispered, trying to convince both of us.

Mira closed her eyes.

"You know what? I'm interested."

I forced a smile.

She walked away to inform Rosé of my decision. When she returned, she took me straight to the dressing mirror.

"Let's do your makeup."

I sat quietly while she worked on my face. I was still trying to process what I'd agreed to when Rosé returned.

"Are you ready?"

No.

I would never be ready.

But I nodded anyway.

A few minutes later, I was outside, waiting for the car that would take me to wherever this mysterious man was.

A black car pulled up in front of me.

I opened the door and got in before I could change my mind.

The driver greeted me politely.

The ride was silent, apart from the occasional question about whether I was comfortable or needed anything.

He was weird.

Very weird.

I stared out the window, trying to make sense of my life. A few hours ago, I'd been a girl working at a café. Now I was sitting in a strange car, on my way to spend the night with a man whose name I didn't even know.

After what felt like an endless drive, we finally arrived.

I looked outside.

A huge building stood before me.

To my surprise, it was a restaurant.

I was escorted inside and shown to a table. Nobody joined me. I was simply told to eat while I waited.

And I did.

God, I ate.

I hadn't realised how hungry I was until the food arrived. For a little while, I forgot about the club, the money, and even the reason I'd agreed to come here.

Then a woman approached my table.

"You're Mr. Dawson's guest, right?"

Mr. Dawson?

That was the first time I'd heard the name that night.

Still, I nodded.

"Please, come with me."

I followed her towards the elevator.

As the doors slid open, something caught my attention.

A familiar logo was engraved on the wall.

An S and a D, enclosed in a circle.

I'd seen the same initials in the car.

Interesting.

I loved the hospitality. Everyone was polite, the restaurant was beautiful, and nobody treated me like the girl who had just danced for strangers.

For a moment, I almost forgot why I was there.

The elevator doors opened, and the lady led me down a quiet hallway before stopping in front of a door.

"Your room, miss."

I nodded.

She opened it for me, and I stepped inside.

But the moment I turned around, she was gone.

I looked around.

It was just me.

And a room that looked far too expensive for someone like me.

My eyes eventually landed on the bed.

A red lingerie set was carefully arranged on top of it.

So this was it.

I moved towards the bed and ran my fingers over the fabric. The lady had told me her master would arrive any minute.

My heart began to pound.

I picked up the lingerie, staring at it for a moment before letting out a shaky breath.

This was going to be the longest night of my life.

I was about to turn towards the bathroom when I heard a sound behind me.

The door.

Someone was coming in.

I quickly dropped the lingerie and turned around.

A tall man walked into the room, dressed in a black suit. He loosened his tie as he entered, barely sparing me a glance.

"You're late," he said.

I blinked.

Late?

I hadn't even known what time I was supposed to arrive.

"I'm sorry. I—"

"Turn around."

I froze.