CHAPTER ONE

~STATES 2014~

~JESSICA~

“What?” I asked, shocked, and she shone the diamond ring on my face.

“You need to clear your vision to see the ring,” she said, sounding kind. 

My eyes were blurry due to tears, so I wiped away my tears, and that’s when I realized she wasn’t lying to me. I knew the ring well because it was the same ring I wore just a week ago. 

“How long have you been married?” I finally gathered the courage to ask, although it sounded broken.

“Just five days; do you need anything else? As you can see, we are still on our honeymoon.” She said, not carrying off what I had just told her. I scanned her and realized that she was wearing his shirt, the same shirt I’ve worn here at his apartment.

“Can I talk to him? Please,” I pleaded.

“No, he’s busy. I already told you he was my husband and showed you my wedding ring. What more do you want?” She asked; it was not her fault; she was just played as me.

“Do you know that is the same ring I wore a week ago, when we got engaged?” I asked, hoping it could mean something to her.

"Yes, but I have it now, so it doesn’t mean anything. Do you have something important to say apart from your whining?” She asked; I understood her irritation but I was hurting. This must be a prank.

“Yes, I want to talk to Jade, and I’m not leaving here until I do,” I said, meaning it although I sounded not confident, she realized I was not going to leave as I stood firm by the door while she blocked the entrance.

"Alright, fine, but don’t make it long, honey; someone is here for you!” She sweetly called out to him; she even had the audacity to call him a pet name.

Then the bastard appeared; he was cooking, I could tell from the apron he had on. He didn’t wear much, just the apron and jeans. Even at this moment, my knees felt weak seeing his six-pack. He didn’t seem surprised or shocked to see me, he kissed his wife’s cheeks before greeting me.

"Jessie, you’re here; how are you?” 

“Can I talk to you privately, please?” 

“Private? I see you’ve met my wife; anything you want to say, you can say it right in front of her,” he said.

“I insist.”

"Alright, honey, it’s fine. I am going to watch our pot before it burns; don’t be long,” his wife said as she kissed his lips right in front of me while he smacked her ass before leaving the two of us.

“You have five minutes,” he said, turning his attention back to me.

“What? Five minutes, really?” I couldn’t believe this; he was my fiancé. “You owe me more than five minutes, Jade; I’m your fiancé.”

"Was, I’m married now," was his response. I couldn’t believe my ears. Was this some kind of joke?

"Listen, if you’re playing a prank on me, you better stop it because it’s not funny,” I shouted this time.

"Hey, hey, lower your voice. Do you want the neighbors to hear? listen I know I gave you false hopes, but what were you really thinking? That I would marry a prostitute seriously.” 

“I’m not a prostitute; I’m a stripper,” I corrected.

“Still the same thing; my family will never accept you as their in-law.”

“But you never cared; you said that yourself.” 

I remembered the time we met and how I told him I was a stripper, and he said he didn’t care.

“A man will do anything to get into your pants; I can’t believe you fell for it. I thought you were smarter than that.”

“For three years?”

"Yes, it can even go on for twenty years. Listen, Jess, I’m not saying it’s the end of our relationship.”

“Then what are you saying?” I sounded desperate.

“My time will be limited, that's all; otherwise, I’ll see you at times.”

“You promised to marry...”

“As I said, we men do anything to get into your pants, and besides, I can never marry everybody’s property. Jess, as you can see, I’m busy with husband duties. I’ll call you okay; you wait for me to call first,” he shamelessly said and shut the door in my face.

I was about to bang on the door and cause a commotion, but I saw the neighbors come out of their apartments. People loved drama and Jade being from a respectful family that could go viral on social media. We have been together for three years—three good years—so I still cared for him. I gave up and walked away.

He never cared that I was a stripper; he always told me he understood my situation. I needed to pay for my college fees and rent, having just lost my parents in an accident and having no family to fully rely on. Things were extremely difficult. I only had my aunt. She couldn’t manage to pay for my college fees, rent, and food. She had her children to care for, too. So when Loren introduced me to the job, I went for it with no thoughts; I had the skills and a body for it. I worked with the hope of quitting one day and living a peaceful life.

Today was supposed to be my graduation day. I had received a letter from the college telling me my graduation was canceled because someone reported to them that I was a stripper. They didn’t condone such a lifestyle, especially for law students. I had come to my fiancé’s apartment for support, only to be met with his wife. 

He was my hope; he had promised to get me a job as soon as I graduated, as his family was influential in the industry. I never met his family as he kept waiting for the right time, which was supposed to be this weekend, as I had just quit my job to follow his instructions, and now I had lost my job and fiancé, life was really playing a joke on me.

I stopped a cab to drive me back to my apartment, as I needed to be alone and think straight. He didn’t initially break up with me; he just got married. I blinked away tears, which the driver noticed.

“Are you alright?” He sounded concerned.

"Yes, I’m fine; just keep driving, please.” I responded, I didn’t want anyone to pity me. 

After I had paid the driver, who shamelessly asked for my number, I headed inside my small apartment. When I was inside, I took a bottle of whiskey and gulped it down my throat as I was better off drunk than having eye bags—it wasn’t good for a stripper because, like it or not, I still had to go and beg for my job.

Even if I tried to look for other jobs, I knew I couldn’t be hired, as now I was blacklisted as a stripper. I’m sure I’ll be in newspapers and everywhere. I just prayed my aunt wouldn't see it.

I grabbed my phone as I dialed my boss’s number. I knew I would get my job back, as I was the most liked  stripper, and I brought him money. He didn’t even want me to quit when I did yesterday; he offered to double my salary, but being stupid and thinking it was for the best, I refused and quit.

“Jess, how are you? Have you thought of my proposal?” He asked immediately as he picked up. He offered that I be the head just so I wouldn’t quit. 

“Yes, and I accept it; just don’t forget to raise my salary,” I said. I thought I was going to beg for my job. Lucky me.

“Good, trust me, you’ll make more than lawyers,” he sounded happy.

“Can you come to work after your graduation, or will your boyfriend not allow you?” He asked—I explained that part of the reason I was quitting was because of my boyfriend.

“I will be there shortly,” I said before I ended the call.

I was not going to sit here and cry—maybe later, but not now; I had to secure my job first.

****

“He can’t take his eyes off you,” Loren whispered in my ear as she pointed at a man who was seated on the VIP table with his friends, but his eyes were on me. He sipped on his glass of wine and licked his lips in a teasing manner. From far away, I could smell his money; there was no doubt he was a millionaire or maybe billionaire.

“And guess what?” 

“What?”

“He has just moved into town, so that means he’s single,” she said. Loren was my trusted friend. I already told her what happened with Jade as soon as I got here. I was still waiting for my boss, so we discussed the deal as he had left for a family emergency. 

“Can I go say hi for you?” She insisted; she really wanted me to be happy, but I was not ready. My heart has just been broken. I needed to heal. When she saw I was hesitant, she added, “a one-night stand could help you heal faster.” 

She knew I never slept with just any man, even when I was a stripper. I don’t even know why she thought I could ever do that.

“Loren?”

“I’m just saying, and besides, it will be payback because, guess what?”

“What?”

“He’s Jade’s uncle,” she lowered her voice.

“What?”

“Yes.” 

“You’re kidding.”

"No, I’m not.” 

I knew she wasn’t lying as she was the investigator here; besides strippers, we also had prostitutes, so she was responsible for knowing all the clients here. Well, now I was interested, it would make me feel better to fuck his uncle. Maybe I will send him a picture.

“Watch me,” I said as I made my way to his table. He was with two other men who were occupied by ladies. 

“Hey stalker?” I teased as I sat on the chair just across from him. He was intrigued by my confidence; I could tell as he placed his glass on the table and turned to me.

“My friend saw you staring at me; were you or was she just trying to get me to talk to you?” I playfully asked, and he licked his lips again before responding.

“Maybe,” he sipped on his glass, his voice hint that he was enjoying my tease.

“So you’re not sure? Do you need a little push? Maybe to be sure.” I seductively teased as I pushed my chest out, making my breasts look even bigger.