Chapter 3

Hazel’s POV

“I just can’t do it, Alesha. Stripping in front of hundreds of eyes is against my moral standard.” I fumed as I paced about the sitting room.

Alesha had just gotten off from her shift and had told me her club was in need of a stripper, I know she saw nothing wrong with it but I do. I’m not just prepared to allow those hungry men see me naked.

“You don’t have to pull the whole thing off,” she explained and my eyes widened again, “you could still leave your bra and panties on if you’re not comfortable with pulling it all off.” She added and it was as though a bell was ringing in my head.

“JUST LISTEN TO YOURSELF, ALESHA. DO IT IF YOU WANT TO! I’M OUT!” I yelled as I picked up my phone to leave for my room. I really am desperate for a job but not that desperate.

“You don’t think I’ve tried? I work as a waitress there already, it’s not open for people like me anymore. Besides it’s going to be in the VIP room, no one is really allowed in there asides the big names.” She added and I stopped out of curiosity, I wanted to hear more.

“What do you mean?” I asked and she pulled me closer to her and made sure I settled down as she continued to explain.

“Yeah, you don’t have to do it in front of ‘thousands of eyes’ just a few billionaires that would pay shit ton of money just for that night.” She added as she hand-quoted thousands of eyes.

My interest started growing, I thought I was going to give it a try but that would be after I go for the interview I had the next morning.

The hospital has called multiple times and I know I just needed to do something to pay up, even if it includes stripping.

“Do you know how they pay?” I asked, my voice low as I got too embarrassed of myself. I couldn’t believe I was actually thinking of giving it a shot.

“I don’t really know but Shayne gets like a few thousands after just hours, if I could I would, that’s too much money.” She added and I felt a tingle in my ear as I swallowed hard.

That was indeed a lot of money, I told Alesha I was going to think about it as we both went to bed. I tossed and turned on my bed as I thought about Alesha’s proposal.

I googled how much strippers get per night and I didn’t get a real figure but all I saw on the internet were really juicy and I thought I was going to give it a try just for a few months to make enough money.

I picked up my phone as I took some pictures, dropping my phone, I closed my eyes as I rethink my decision but I knew I’d just have to do it if my first interview doesn’t work out.

The blaring sound of my alarm ringing woke me up from my deep sleep, I hurriedly walked to the bathroom as I brushed my teeth and had my bath.

I got to the office earlier than expected and it was still closed, I smiled to myself as I had a good feeling about it. The first staff came and she walked in, I followed closely behind her as I enquired about the job.

She’d asked me to take a seat first and after a while, I heard my name.

“Miss Hazel Wallace?” She called and I stood up at once as I signified that I was the one she’d called.

“That’s— that’s me.” I stammered as I adjusted my skirt with a smile.

“I’m sorry. The position you’re applying for is closed and I’m afraid there’s no other vacant spot for you to take. However, we’ll hold on to your resumé and give you a call when a spot opens up.” She explained and my heart sank.

I walked out of the building dejected, the good feeling I had about the job was no where to be felt as I walked to my car.

I hit the wheel and dashboard out of frustration as I let out a loud yell. I’d just have to give Alesha’s offer a chance.

I drove back home as I patiently waited for the right time to drive to Alesha’s club. I picked up my phone when my alarm rang again and I sighed.

I really was supposed to meet with Callum, I couldn’t help but think about how he’d feel knowing I’d missed his visiting hours for a few days, I scrolled through my call log to find tons of missed calls from the hospital too.

I made my way to my closet as I picked out a bright red shiny gown, it had lots of stones on it that made it shiny and it was strapless, perfect for the job I was interviewing for.

I smiled as I put it on and my mind drifted away to my ex boss, I’d wanted to change the dress as it could attract a lot of perverts but I shook the thought off as I brushed my hair.

I let it fall over my shoulder so it would be easier to tuck behind my ear flirtatiously, I looked through the pair of shoes I had and none of them seemed to fit with the gown.

I walked into Alesha’s room and I found a perfect shoe to match my dress, I smiled when I put it on and it fitted perfectly.

I put on a red lipstick to complete the look and I almost choked when I looked in the mirror, I looked completely different. I hadn’t looked like that in a while as I usually bury myself with work.

I drove to my best friend work and the stares I got made me rethink my life choices as I mentally slapped myself for picking a dress like this, I would occasionally try to adjust it even though I knew there was nothing to adjust.

“Alesha?” I called when I got to her spot and she gasped, her jaw dropped and the tray she was holding fell right out of her hand.

“Oh. My. God,” she gasped as she pulled me closer and spun me around to take a good look at me, “you look gorgeous.” She finished, her mouth was still open as she kept looking at me.

“I look like a cheap hooker.” I rolled my eyes and she stared at me as if to ask if I knew what I was talking about.

“Are you kidding me? Those men would spend their entire life savings on you and you really don’t have to strip!” She answered.

“Really?”

“Yeah, No, that was just to build your body confidence, you have to strip,” She answered and I rolled my eyes again, “girl, you look hot.” She finished as she pulled me over to the bar.

“Whoa!” The bar attendant gasped as he turned to find me and Alesha, “who’s your hot friend?” He asked and my chest tightened.

I already started hating being here especially like this and now all I wanted to do was go back home, back to wearing my comfortable pajamas without having these eyes tear me apart like I was some kind of chicken.

“Look at her like that once again, André and you’ll no longer have eyes to look at her or any other sexy looking woman.” Alesha threatened and André cleared his throat.

“Do you think you could walk her to the VIP? I heard the boss is around and he asks the strippers questions himself.” She continued.

“She’ll be stripping?”

“André!”

“Cool, Yeah. I can do that,” he answered with a smile, “follow me.” He gestured as he walked in front of me while I followed closely behind him.

We got to a more secluded place and it was as though that part isn’t really a part of the club I was in earlier, it was a little bit more silent and organized with men gambling and laughing and drinking. It’s looked like a more organized Casino, it was different from other casinos I was used to seeing.

I scanned the room and I found other strippers, they were heavily guarded and no one was allowed to cross, the men only threw their money in as the girls claimed them.

We finally got to a room and André explained to the guard at the door what I was there for and they allowed me in, restricting the access to André.

I could feel the men’s eyes on me and I tried to shake the feeling of my uncomfortableness off.

“What’s your name?” I heard an husky voice, it was familiar but I couldn’t fathom where I’d heard the voice before.

I also couldn’t see his face, he was standing in front of the red light and was also wearing a hat hence making it difficult for me to make out his face.

“H..Hazel,” I stammered, not sure how I was supposed to act, “Hazel Wallace.” I added.

“I don’t need your last name, woman. Strip.” He answered, his voice was cold, colder than it was when he’d asked for my name.

“What? Here? Right now?” I asked as I looked around and I could swear he smirked.

“You’re not ready to do as you’re told, you might as well leave. You’re going to be working for me, you would be making money for me and before I can trust you to do that, I need to see how you work.” He answered, his voice was emotionless and it scared me even more.

I’d wanted to leave but seeing the men throw money at the girls that were stripping when I’d walked in changed my mind.

I slowly pulled down my gown, revealing the red lingerie I had under, not knowing what to do next, I stood there as I waited for him to talk.

“Is that it?” He asked and I wasn’t sure what he meant. Was I supposed to do more?

He stood up to make his way to me, his cold palm touching my body made me flinch, he smelt like heaven and I find myself inhaling his scent even harder until the lights came on.

I gasped when I saw his face, I knew I recognized him. It was him, the devil from the club and from my failed interview.

“Definitely needs more work, you’ll be trained on how to act and appease the men. You’re hired.”

He was out of the VIP room before I could say anything else and I couldn’t help but stand there in shock. His name rang again in my head, that was really—

Damian Gray.