Chapter 4 Club

Crystal POV

I fell asleep, but my mother woke me up. "Finally, my nightmare is coming true," I muttered, still half asleep.

My mother placed a box on the bed. I sat up, opened it, and found a revealing short dress and a pair of high heels. I quickly showered, put on the dress, did my hair and makeup, and presented myself to my mother.

"Perfect," she cooed, admiring me.

As I stepped out, my father stood outside the door, tears in his eyes. "Don't force her to do that, Lydia," he pleaded.

My mother reassured him, "Don't worry, baby, everything will be fine. You go rest." She kissed his lips, and we headed to the car.

My mother said, "Be happy for the exciting adventures you'll experience."

I responded with sarcasm, "Yayyyy."

My mother rolled her eyes. "I wonder where you got that attitude from, young lady."

I retorted, matching her tone, "From my mother."

We arrived at the club, a place I hadn't visited in a long time. As we stepped out of the car, my mother squealed with excitement. "Welcome home! Wish your father was here," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

We entered the club, and everyone greeted me as we made our way upstairs. I stood at the railing, taking in the scene below. Pole dancers performed, while men leered at them shamelessly.

My gaze shifted to the other side of the room, where a woman was giving an older man, old enough to be her father, a blow job. I felt disgusted.

Someone offered me a glass of wine, which I accepted. I took a sip, my eyes scanning the room with disdain. "This is where she wants me to find peace?" I thought to myself, incredulous.

I couldn't believe my mother wanted me to work in this environment. It seemed she was determined to corrupt me, or at least, expose me to the darker side of life.

My mother summoned me, annoying me further. I lazily walked to where she sat with Mr. Thompson, their business partner. My mother introduced us, and Mr. Thompson extended his hand. I looked at it, and my mother intervened, bringing his hand back down.

My mother explained, "He's going to show you around and how this place works."

I responded firmly, "Just show me yourself. You're my mother, and you brought me here."

My mother sighed and stood up. We walked downstairs, and she whispered, "I hate you."

I whispered back, "I know" smiling innocently.

We approached the bar attendant, Michael, and I offered a polite smile. SHe took me to Miss Milani, a woman slightly older than my mother, who supervised the girls and seems to hold the records here

I wondered why Miss Milani wasn't married. My mother introduced me to the waiters staff and dancers, who also worked as sex workers: Tiana, Sandra, Star, Beauty, Elizabeth, and Vean.

When my mother said Beauty's name, I chuckled, thinking her name was ironic, given her appearance. My mother cautioned me to stop, and I apologized.

My mother then took me to the rooms, presumably to continue my orientation.

I sat upstairs, observing the scene below. Eight rooms were empty, while two were occupied. My mother had left, leaving me to process my new reality.

"This is my life now," I thought, watching the girls dance and the men's reactions. I became lost in my thoughts, unaware of my surroundings. The music, the laughter, and the chatter blended into a cacophony of sounds that faded into the background.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "Hi, beautiful."

I jerked back to reality, spilling my drink on myself. I glared at the intruder, annoyed. He was a tall, handsome man with piercing blue eyes and a charming smile.

"Let me get you another drink," he offered, his voice smooth and confident.

I sighed, got up, and headed to the bathroom to clean up the drink stain on my dress. The cool water on my skin helped calm my nerves. I took a few deep breaths, trying to shake off the feeling of unease.

When I exited the restroom, he was waiting for me, staring. His eyes roamed over my body, making me feel uncomfortable and exposed. I frowned, unsure of what to make of him.

"What do you want?" I asked bluntly, trying to hide my annoyance.

He smiled, undeterred. "Just enjoying the view," he replied, his eyes locked on mine.

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Save it," I said, turning to walk away.

But he caught up to me, his hand brushing against mine. "Wait," he said, his voice low and husky. "I didn't mean to offend you."

I stopped, turning to face him. "You didn't," I lied, trying to sound nonchalant.

He smiled again, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Good," he said. "I'm Max."

I hesitated for a moment before responding. "Crystal."

Max stretched out his hand for a handshake, but I walked past him, ignoring the gesture. He quickly caught up to me and sat beside me.

"This is going to be a long night," I whispered to myself, feeling a sense of unease.

Max sat quietly for a moment before getting up. "I'll get us drinks," he said, heading downstairs.

I couldn't decline again, so I nodded slightly. When Max returned with the drinks, I accepted mine without a word.

He sat beside me, his presence both calming and unsettling. We sat in silence for a while, sipping our drinks and observing the scene below.

Max broke the silence, asking, "So, what brings you here?"

I replied nonchalantly, "The view."

Max raised an eyebrow. "Is that even possible?"

Irritated, I responded, "Stop asking questions and enjoy. If you want a girl, then go down and get one. We have plenty of rooms."

Max laughed. "I didn't mean to offend you, jeez."

I closed my eyes for a moment, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze. When I opened them, I smiled innocently at Max. "You might fall for me if you keep staring."

Max continued smiling. "You are beautiful," he whispered.

I shifted in my seat, creating some distance between us. "That's an old line," I said, trying to annoy him.

Max's smile didn't falter. "I could stare at you forever."

I looked at him, pretending to be creeped out. "That's creepy. Well, I have two long fingernails, and I'll gauge out your eyes."

Max smiled back, unfazed.

I glared at Max, my expression conveying that he was crossing a line. Undeterred, he attempted to move closer, but I swiftly poured my drink on his face.

"Move back," I warned, my voice firm.

Max cleaned his face, momentarily retreating. However, he soon shifted closer again. I pointed two fingers directly at his eyes.

"I think I'll take that risk," he repeated, unfazed.

I raised an eyebrow. "It's either you're brave or very stupid. I'd choose stupid."

Max smiled, retreating slightly. "Feisty, I like it."

"Begging for a death wish, I love it," I retorted, matching his tone.

Max's smile grew wider. "Let's go to a room, and I'll make you feel good. I'll take you to the moon tonight."

I narrowed my eyes, disgust etched on my face. I spat at him, a clear indication of my disdain.

Max's expression didn't waver, but I noticed a fleeting glimmer of surprise. He wiped the saliva from his face, his smile returning.

"You're a wild one, Crystal," he said, his voice dripping with amusement.

Beauty sashayed upstairs, her eyes fixed on Max. She sidled up to him, bringing her lips to his in a hungry, intense kiss. Max's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes burning with a mixture of challenge and desire.

I stared blankly, my expression neutral, neither disgusted nor intrigued. Max seemed to be gauging my reaction, his eyes never leaving mine.

When the kiss ended, Beauty whispered seductively, "Let's get a room, sir."

Max's response was low and husky. "Not too fast, baby." He brought his mouth to Beauty's ear, his eyes still fixed on me.

The air was thick with tension as Max's gaze held mine, a silent understanding passing between us. Beauty seemed oblivious to the undercurrent, her focus solely on Max.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as Max's eyes continued to bore into mine. It was as if he was trying to convey a message, one that only I could decipher.