Chapter 4 Degrading Grins

TINA'S APARTMENT, 9 pm

Tina sat in front of her dressing mirror. She was putting on her makeup. She wore a short black gown and her lip was painted deep black which gave her a gothic look. She looked so hot like a black angel as her curves accentuated the gown which clipped to her body like gum. Brenda entered the slightly opened door.

"Where are you going?" Brenda inquired curiously and plopped on her soft bed.

"Club" Tina muttered in response. The event of the day was still fresh in her memory but this is her daily routine. She has no will and liberty of her own to take a break.

"Why are you going to the club for goodness sake! Are you addicted to this shitty work of yours" Brenda was forced to yell.

"Do not raise your voice at me" She voiced out sternly. She was in a bad mood.

"But must you go? Just sit down and rest for today. Take a break" Brenda said slowly and pouted like a baby. Tina turned to look at her and they both gazed at each other for a while without saying anything.

"Unless you want me into pieces in the next few hours" She muttered and grabbed her bag.

"He isn't giving you space?" Brenda asked. She looked at her knowingly.

"When has he ever given me space?" Tina scoffed and stood up.

"He should have known about what happened and told you to lay low instead" Brenda intoned.

"Do you know him?" She asked rhetorically and Brenda's hand shook slightly before she regained her composure.

"Why will I know someone like that? God forbid that I will ever meet him" Brenda snapped her fingers over her head to emphasize her statement.

"He's a beast. He's brutal. He doesn't have any feelings. I won't be surprised if he's not human" She rolled her eyes and grabbed her tiny fashion bag that contained nothing. It just blends with her gown, that's all.

"You look like a sexy goth girl" Brenda changed the topic and teased her which made Tina chuckle.

"Till tomorrow, Bren" She waved and exited her room.

"God bless" Brenda muttered and clasped her hands together tensely.

Tina got outside and flagged down a cab which slowed down as it got to her. She slides into the back seat slowly and and rested her head on the arm rest.

"Jiggle club" She muttered to the driver. The driver looked at her weirdly through the rearview mirror and drove off grudgingly as if he had made a mistake in carrying her in his car.

Soon, they arrived at the club and Tina alighted from the cab and paid the driver who wouldn't stop staring at her weirdly. She could see the irritation on his face as he snatched the money from her and zoomed off. The club was on as usual and the blinking colorful lights seeped out in a blurred contour through the transparent windows.

"I'm now the society's left over" She sighed and adjusted her gown. She masked her sad expression and put on her usual sultry and seductive gaze. She was about to enter the bubbling club when her phone rang. She checked the caller and dread ran through her veins as her legs wobbled on the high heels she was wearing. She picked up the call and placed it on her ear fearfully.

"Hello" She said in a jittery voice.

"You're one minute late" The usual voice boomed from the other side.

"I'm sorry. It was just"

"You will be punished" He interrupted her and Tina's eyes watered. Punishment means working overtime and serving those lewd men and letting them run their filthy hands all over her body but she never allowed them to have sex with her.

"Please, I'm sorry. It won't repeat itself. Hello..." She called frantically but the call had already ended.

"Wow" She muttered as if she couldn't believe her plight. She wiped her tears and fanned her eyes with her hand to keep the water from coming out. She arranged herself and walked into the Club on a perfunctory catwalk.

The smell of Sweaty swaying bodies hit her as she got in but she didn't flinch. She's used to the stench that has now become part of her life. The nauseating and sensual smell of alcohol hung in the air. Strippers walked by half-naked while shaking their gigantic backsides in the process. The dance floor was lit with a dull red light giving the room a sensual look. Some girls were rocking guys at the corner and some were on their knees giving fellatio earnestly.

As soon as Tina stepped foot into the club, all eyes turned to her. Tina was a popular stripper. She was well known for having mastered the act of stripping and she knew how to get a man to drool just by her sultry gaze. But the stare these people were giving her wasn't one of admiration or anticipation of her stripping prowess as it had always been. It was a hateful gaze. They loathed and resented her and she knew it.

"Hey, quick and change into your panties and stop acting like a dumb cat" A middle-aged woman yelled at her from behind. Her eyes were full of heavy makeup that was a lighter shade than her fair color. Her lips were painted blazing red and she almost looked like a vampire who just finished sucking blood.

"Good evening Madam Ann" Tina mumbled and bowed gently so that she would see since she wouldn't be able to hear her because of the music blaring from the speakers.

"I say move" Madam Ann yelled again. Her eyes shone with fury and Tina knew she was livid with anger about her leaked tape. She walked hurriedly to the dressing room and started changing. The strippers looked at her with so much resentment and some of them even hissed.

👥Here comes the global whore

👥 She dares video herself and uploads it?

👥Who does she think she is?

👥Filthy idiot

The strippers insulted her and her mouth itched to respond but she was curtailing the urge. When she couldn't take it anymore, she turned to blast them but Madam Ann entered in her usual hurry and fury mode.

"Shut up, all of you!" She yelled at them.

"Sorry, Madam Ann" They bowed their heads and clasped their hands together meekly. Madam Ann is the one in charge of the strippers here and everyone respects her. No one wants to get on her nerves for fear of being punished.

"Aren't you all whores? What happens if she takes hers Global? She isn't the one who made yours local. Now get on those fucking stages!" She yelled at them and they all scurried out in fear. Tina sighed out in relief and continued changing into her stripping dress.

"Hey" Madam Ann called. Her voice was calm now. She has always been calm with Tina but her frustration took a part of her earlier.

"Did you do it?" Madam Ann asked vaguely and stared keenly at her. Tina already knows what she's referring to me.

"No, I wasn't the one" She muttered. Madam Ann gazed at her for a few seconds and sighed.

"I run private stuff here. Politicians and billionaires patronize here and we've upheld a strict privacy policy that may jeopardize their career" Madam Ann stated. Tina nodded, not sure of what to say.

"I will plead on your behalf because you're my most trusted girl. Besides, I thought you were hell-bent on preserving that little barrier in between your legs" Madam Ann teased and Tina recoiled shyly. She remembered when she pleaded with Madam Ann to not send her to sleep with clients because she was not ready to lose her virginity. That was what made them close.

"It was a mistake. I was drunk" She looked down.

"Hurry up and get on stage and we can celebrate your not being a Virgin again later" Madam Ann prodded and left the dressing room.

"Ignore the stares and just do what you know how to do best. You will serve the men in the VIP room later, order from above" Madam Ann peeked through the door and left again.

"Order from above" Tina repeated. That had always been the words and she had no idea who the person at the top was to command so much power on her.

She looked into the mirror. She was only wearing a short red gown since that's the theme today. Her cleavages were showing explicitly that she feared that her nipples would pop out while swinging. She walked out to the stage and the same stares followed her again. She cared less and stripped her worries away.

On one side of the Club was Jake and Brad. Jake was in disguise with a black face cap on his head. He hung his head low so that no one would recognize him. He was staring blankly at Tina as she twisted on the stage like an expert.

"What are we doing here boss? This is bad for you" Brad panicked as he looked around frantically.

"Who says it's bad?" Jake didn't spare him a glance.

"If anyone recognizes you here, the public opinion might change" Brad explained.

"Who cares about public opinion anyway" Jake scoffed. He noticed that the people didn't cheer for Tina as they did the other day. He watched her leave the stage and head towards the VIP area.

"I can't remember the event of the other night" He muttered.

"What did you say, sir?" Brad inquired.

"Stay here" He patted Brad's back and scurried off. He walked amidst dancing and sweaty bodies and got to the entrance of the VIP area. He saw Tina heaving a sigh. She was about to go in when he held her right hand forcefully and started dragging her to a secluded place in the Club.

"Help!" She shouted but it was fruitless as the music clouded her shrill tiny voice. He pushed her back against the wall gently and caged her in his arms. She was shaking already.

"Who are you? What do you want?" she asked in perpetual fear. Jake slowly took off his cap and he watched her eyes widen in fear and surprise.

"Sir" That was all she could mutter.