The Billionaire Stripper's Bargain

"Dear, I'm entrusting into your hands the responsibility of taking care of your mother. Never let her shed a tear, she's the only family you've got now...." Andrew's quivering voice lingered in the room as he struggled to breath.

Tears coursed down Sophie's cheeks as she held her father's hand even more tightly.

"Dad, please stay with me. Don't say that, you're still here with me. You'll be fine" Sophie encouraged her dad but it almost sounded like she was trying to make herself believe he would survive.

Andrew's face split into a dry smile, "Honey, I've fought enough. I'm tired of fighting, my body seeks peace."

Sophie shook her head in disagreement, "No dad. You can't stop fighting now, you have to keep trying, please."

Andrew's opened his mouth to speak but all that came out were coughs.

The huge sum of money he had spent to cure himself of pneumonia amounted to nothing as he was now on the verge of death.

"Mom..Mom, stop crying and come see, dad won't stop coughing." Sophie called the attention of her crying mother.

Maria rose up quickly from the couch, "Andrew, Andrew, are you okay? Shou.. should I call the doctor? Please talk to me."

Observing the situation, Sophie's instincts wouldn't let her be, "Doctor! Doctor! Please come check what's wrong with my dad." She yelled while dashing out of the room.

Sophie arrived immediately with a doctor.

Andrew's cough was reducing, but this would have been good news if blood wasn't dripping from his nose.

"Mr Young. Hang in there." The doctor said as he placed his stethoscope on Andrew's pale body in a fit to hear his heartbeat.

Maria and Sophie stood by in silence, while trying their best to stay positive.

Andrew took one last inhale of air before going silent. He finally succumbed to the cold hands of death. Andrew Young lived no more...

The doctor's sad bow said a lot but Maria relied not on her assumptions.

Gulping down hard on the lump that formed in her throat, Maria asked, "Doctor...What's wrong? How's he doing?"

The doctor lifted his gaze to Maria's, "I'm sorry Mrs Young. We lost him."

Maria was overwhelmed by shock that she fell on her knees without realizing.

Sophie was struck by shock as well, her eyes bulged out so much in fear.

Were her ears working fine or did she just hear the most heartbreaking news?

"Dad, wake up!!!" Sophie screamed at the top of her voice as she turned to look at her father's corpse.

*****

"Ring!!" The doorbell blared through the living room.

"I wonder who that is." Maria thought as she removed her hand from the dough she was kneading.

"Ring!!" The doorbell rang again.

"I'm coming!" Maria replied in a sing song tone while trying to wipe off the flour on her hands.

"This will take too much time, I'll just have Sophie get the door." She muttered to herself before yelling her daughter's name.

"Alright mom, I'll get the door." Sophie called while walking down the stairs.

Sophie twisted the door knob open to meet unfamiliar faces at the door.

"Who..who are.."

"Hello ma'am. Are you Maria Young?" A lady dressed in a cooperate fit asked Sophie just before she could finish her sentence.

Sophie hesitated before responding, "No. She's my mother."

"Alright, please go inform your mother of our presence." The man standing by his female colleague instructed.

With a subtle nod, Sophie yelled her mom's attention to the door.

Maria appeared at the door with a towel in her hand, "Hi, how may I help you?"

"We're from the citizen's bank. Apparently, your husband, Late Mr Andrew Young loaned some amount of money from the bank and he used this building as a collateral, he also made you his guarantor in case of his absence or inability to pay up." Michael explained.

Maria was utterly speechless.

She had barely recovered from the death of her husband and now they're faced with another problem? That too much, such a difficult one?

She sighed as she tried to gather her thoughts, "Umm, i actually never knew about this until now. I'm currently not working, I and my daughter feed on the little that I am able to provide, so please give me some time, when I find a good job, I'll sort out this loan." She finished while scratching the top of her nose to ease the helplessness she felt.

"I'm sorry ma'am but unfortunately we won't be able to give you enough time. You have to pay up the loan of three hundred thousand dollars or else we'll have to ask you to evacuate the building." Marilyn declared in an assertive tone.

Sophie felt embarrassed on her mom's behalf, she knew she couldn't just stand there without trying to placate the situation.

"She said she would sort it out. If she has a job, paying the loan wouldn't be a problem, please understand." Sophie implored but the officials stood firm on their words.

"The loan's already overdue. We can't give any more time."

"How much time is left until we're asked to evacuate the building?" Maria inquired.

Sophie, who stood behind her mom opened her mouth in surprise, what's mom asking? She wondered.

"Seven days. After that, you'll be forcefully evacuated from the building." Marilyn said.

"Such a short notice? This is unfair." Maria complained.

"Not paying a loan in the due time is also unfair ma'am." Michael retorted.

Maria pursed her lips, "I understand."

"We'll take our leave now. The ball is in your court. Good day." And with that, the officials turned on their heels and exited the compound.

With the officials out of sight, Maria closed the door gently.

The tears she had been fighting back began to flow freely, seeing her mother in tears, Sophie drew her in for a hug.

"Mom, please don't cry. Don't worry, everything's going to be fine."

"Ever since your dad's death, life became terribly difficult for me. We can barely afford good food and now I'm supposed to pay up a loan of three hundred thousand dollars?" Maria sobbed even harder in her daughter's arms.

Sophie patted her mother on the back softly, "We'll surely find a way out...don't you worry mom."

******

Samantha took another look at the book in her hand, "The only job available is that of a garbage collector."

"No. I can't do that." Maria refused immediately.

Samantha raised a brow,"Aren't you the same woman who crawled in here begging desperately for a job? You really got preferences on this?"

Maria frowned, "Just because I'm in desperate need of a job doesn't mean I'd take any kind of job."

Samantha scoffed, "Would you look at that? So much pride from a lowlife?"

Maria's eyes widened, "Samantha! Mind your language." She warned with a pointed finger.

"Wow, I'm over here trying to look for an available job and you talk to me in that manner? Get out of my office." Samantha declared angrily while gesturing towards the door.

"Fine. Silly woman." Maria hissed.

"I got a job for you." A voice said by the door the moment Maria stepped out.

"Sophie, I'm home!" Maria's voice echoed through the living room after the door slam.

"I'll be down in a minute!" Sophie replied from upstairs.

"Just come down already, I want to discuss something with you." Maria sighed heavily as she took a seat on the couch.

Hearing that, Sophie dropped her books and headed out the door, curious to know what her mom wanted to talk about.

Sophie ran down the stairs, stopping in front of her mom.

"I'm here mom. What did you want to talk about?" Sophie said.

Maria started, "So I went to Samantha's office to have her help me look for a job around but she talked rudely to me so I left her office."

Sophie pursed her lips in disappointment, "Does that mean you didn't get any job?"

"Well, I wasn't going to take the job of a garbage collector from that silly woman."

"Anyway, I managed to get a job."

"Really? How?"

"On my way out of the office, I met a man, from his appearances he seemed like a wealthy man. He told me there was vacancy for a nanny at his billionaire's friends mansion and I should apply for it." Maria explained.

"A nanny?" Sophie asked surprisingly.

"I know dear. I also didn't want this job but I don't really have a choice now do I? We have so many bills to pay." Maria said, her voice dripping with frustration.

"No no it's fine. I mean it's the best option we can take right now." Sophie tried to encourage her mother.

"We'll be moving too. My job requires me to be in the house throughout the day so I have to live there."

Sophie wasn't ready to move but she wouldn't tell her mother that.

"Alright mom, I'll go anywhere as long as you're there." She smiled.

"We should probably go and start packing our belongings." Maria suggested as she rose up from the couch.

Sophie lifted a brow, "Wait, we have to leave so soon?"

Maria turned to Sophie, "Of course we do. I'm resuming in two days. And remember we had just seven days to evacuate."

"What about school?"

"Dear, your school isn't far from the mansion at all, you'll go to school from there."

Sophie hummed, "okay, cool."

Maria smiled, "Of course it is."

*****

"Why does this tea taste so sweet?" Russuo asked, annoyance evident in his tone.

The chef trembled in fear as he tried to stammer a quick response, "I..I added sugar to it sir."

Russuo glared icily at the chef, "Since when did I start having tea with sugar?"

The chef lowered his head to avoid Russuo's angry glare, "I..I didn't know whether to make the tea like that or add sugar sir. I'm the new..the new chef sir."

The chef's reply only fueled Russuo's anger, "Excuses. Did you think the manual in the kitchen is some irrelevant book?"

The chef shook his head from side to side, "No no sir"

"Then why the hell didn't you make use of it?" Russuo yelled.

The chef trembled there in silence, not knowing what to say to pacify his angry boss.

"I hate stupid mistakes a lot. If you make such a foolish mistake again, then I'll make you understand why you're the new chef." Russuo warned with a pointed finger.

If the chef heard him correctly, Russuo meant that he would fire him. But who fires someone the moment they hire them?

Russuo was such a strict and disciplined man. The way he treated his workers was enough reason for him not to have anyone around except that he was a billionaire. He could get as many workers as he wanted.

Maria stood rooted at the entrance door, "I don't think I want to go in there. This man might just devour me for nothing." She mumbled to herself in anxiety.

Russuo rose up from the dining table in annoyance, ready to leave for work when his eyes spotted the figure at the door.

"Who's that?"

Maria's nervousness increased knowing he already saw her at the door.

"It's...It's Maria Young sir." Maria replied from the door.

"Am I supposed to come meet you and welcome you into my house?"

Russuo's rhetorical question was the cue for Maria to walk in, she wouldn't dare risk her chances at this job.

Maria's steps towards the dining table were careful and precise, "Go.. good morning sir." Maria stuttered with a smile.

Russuo's indifferent expression made her smile disappear.

"The nanny?" He asked without even throwing a glance at her.

Maria nodded softly, "Yes sir."

Russuo rubbed his chin, "Upstairs, Room 8 on the left side. Get to work."

Russuo's words almost sounded like gibberish in Maria's ears because she barely knew her way around.

"But..but sir, I just got here. I don't even know my way around and..." Russuo's icy glare made Maria's mouth snap shut.

She swiveled her heels in the direction of the stairs and went up without a word.

"Now you.."

"Beep!" Russuo's phone saved the chef from an incoming scolding.

"Speak." Russuo ordered.

"Sir, the actress we hired isn't doing her roles properly and it's affecting the movie." The voice said from the other end.

Russo smirked, "Seems she doesn't like her job then."

"Should I lay her off?"

"No. Put everything on hold until I'm there." That was all Russuo said before disconnecting the call.

*****

"Alright students, where did we stop in our previous class?" Mrs Rose asked.

"We stopped at gas laws." A student replied.

Mrs Rose took a seat in front of her desk, "Great, so who can do us the honors of recapitulating what I said about gas laws?"

Seeing that nobody was willing to, she looked through the room to find someone.

"Wilson. Please explain what you understand by gas laws."

Wilson stood up in surprise, "Ma'am.. actually, I wasn't in class."

Mrs Rose frowned slightly, "That's just an excuse. Even if you weren't in class, you've had the scheme and you know what we're supposed to do in every class."

"Yes ma, I do. But I was ill and that's why I missed classes." Wilson explained.

"So what illness was it?"

"The flu?" Mrs Rose asked before Wilson could reply.

"Yes exactly. The flu." Wilson nodded.

"Silly boy. You can't even lie properly, it's way past the flu season but for some reason, you had the flu." Mrs Rose words made the class break out into laughter.

"Sophie Young. Please report to the principal's office." A voice blared through the speaker at the top edge of the room.

This made the laughter in the class disappear.

Sophie rose up while staring at Mrs Rose, she was trying to seek permission without using her words and Miss Rose understood it.

"Yeah, sure you can go."

That was all Sophie needed to hear before leaving the classroom.

"Good morning Mrs Nicole." Sophie greeted warmly as she walked into the principal's office but the woman wasn't really in the mood for pleasantries.

"Take a seat."

Sophie sat down across the principal.

"Dear, I've got bad news for you." Mrs Nicole declared.

"Bad news? What do you mean?" Sophie asked with curiosity tearing at her face.

"I'm afraid, but you won't be graduating."

Sophie felt her heart sink.

"Mrs..Mrs..Nicole what are you saying?" Sophie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mrs Nicole adjusted her glasses as she started, "You heard me right Sophie. Listen, I can't allow you study here anymore. You're yet to pay your outstanding tuition fee and I'm very much aware that you're planning to do the same thing semester."

Sophie swallowed hard, "Umm, Mrs Nicole, I promise I'll pay up my tuition fee, i just need a little more time. Things are just difficult for my mom since..."

"Since your dad's death right?" Mrs Nicole cut in before she could finish.

Sophie nodded sorrowfully.

"Dear, this is the same story. I understand how greatly the loss of your father has affected your family financially but I can't keep allowing you study at the expense of the school's financial stability." Mrs Nicole said in a sympathetic but firm tone.

"I understand. I'll surely pay my outstanding bills and this semester's in a few weeks." Sophie promised, feigning a smile.

Mrs Nicole sighed, "I really hope you keep to your promise this time."

Sophie rose up gently from the chair, "I will."

And with that, Sophie exited the room.

As the door slammed shut behind Sophie, she felt the burden of her debts fall upon her.

How am I going to raise the money in such a short time?

I don't even have a job. How will I fulfill my promise?

Ugh, I can't even ask my mom, she's using her salary to sort out dad's loan.

Sophie sighed heavily in a fit to snap herself out of her thoughts as she approached her classroom.

"Sophie!" Amanda yelled.

Sophie slid a palm down her face, "Why the hell are you yelling my name like that?"

Amanda took her books off the table for Sophie to sit.

"Why'd you take so long in the principal's office? Mrs Rose's class already ended."

Sophie rounded her arms around her chest as she took a seat on the table.

Amanda noticed Sophie's demeanor, "What's wrong? Why'd you look so sad?"

"It's nothing. I don't look sad. I'm just having a mood swing." Sophie lied.

Amanda narrowed her eyes, "You're not even good at lying. I'm your best friend Sophie, I can tell the difference between your sadness and your mood swing."

Sophie pursed her lips.

"Talk to me Sophie. What's wrong?" Amanda asked softly.

"Mrs Nicole said I won't be graduating." Sophie said, sadness evident in her tone.

Amanda's lips curved sadly to the side, "Is it about your bills again?"

Sophie nodded.

Amanda rose up, patting Sophie softly on the back.

"I understand how painful this must be for you but don't worry, we'll find a way around this okay?"

Sophie turned to Amanda, "How? I don't have a job, my mom's salary is being used to pay the loan? How am I going to get out of this?" Sophie asked while trying to fight back the tears.

"Sophie, just calm down. We'll figure something out. I could ask.."

"Buzz" Amanda's phone blared, cutting her off mid sentence.

Amanda picked up her phone to see a notification.

"Oh my god!" Amanda screamed as she stared at the image on her phone.

Sophie turned to Amanda, "What is it?"

"It's a post from Blair Hill."

Sophie rolled her eyes, "Big deal?"

Amanda passed the phone to Sophie, "Oh it's a big deal alright. She just made a hundred thousand dollars in one night."

Sophie stared at the phone in astonishment, "How did she do that? Who is she?"

Amanda leaned in, to avoid being heared by her classmates.

"She's a celebrity stripper on tweetflash." Amanda whispered behind Sophie's ears.

Sophie gasped softly. "Woah."

"I know right? Sometimes I wish I could get all that money too but I can never see myself working as a stripper. It's too immoral." Amanda said.

"Yeah, I could really use that money."

Amanda smiled, "Don't worry, we'll search for an online job together or an after school job or something."

"Thank you" Sophie appreciated before drawing Amanda in for a hug.

Right after that, the geography teacher walked in.

They had two more classes before calling it a day.

Sophie's walk home was filled with a lot of thinking.

She couldn't get her mind off the stripper she has seen on Amanda's phone, particularly because of the money she made.

Considering her current situation, it would cover a lot for her.

How can I get that much money? She wondered.

Sophie suddenly stopped in her tracks, she took out her phone from her bag and searched online for available jobs.

And then an idea popped up in her mind....

*****

Maria passed the broom and napkin to Sophie standing by the door, "Dear, can you help me clean up this room? I want to assist the chef downstairs with his chores."

Sophie smirked "Mom, you're already passing the broom to me so how can I possibly refuse?"

"Silly girl." Maria chuckled as she made her way downstairs.

Sophie walked in to the room, "The place isn't even messy yet she wants me to clean it up."

Sophie took a look around, the room was quite luxurious.

From the pictures on the wall, she could tell it was a male's room.

How come I've never seen him around? Sophie thought.

"Well, I leave early for school so maybe that's why." She muttered to herself as she moved towards the small bookshelf by the window.

Sophie dusted the books and then moved to the table to clean it.

She was about to sweep and then she realized she didn't have the dustpan with her.

"Mom must be with it." And with that she walked towards the door.

Sophie noticed a stain on her shirt and was trying to wipe it off when she bumped into a guy.

"Hey, watch where you're going." Scott called in an annoyed tone.

Sophie raised her head to see who she bumped into, "I'm so so sorry. I didn't see you coming."

"Obviously." Scott said as he walked in.

"Who are you and what were you doing in my room?"

Sophie felt nervous but managed to answer, "I'm..Sophie. The nanny's daughter. My mom asked me to clean up the room and that's what I was doing."

"Alright. That's enough cleaning. Leave my room." Scott ordered.

Sophie scurried away like a scared child.

"He's so rude, jeez." She complained as she walked down the stairs.

Sophie headed towards the kitchen with the broom and napkin in her hand, she almost forgot they weren't the only ones in the building.

"Mom, I'm done with..." Sophie stopped herself immediately she saw her mother's eye signal.

She quickly moved into the room close to the kitchen.

"Phew, that was so close. If Mr Russuo had seen me trying to enter the kitchen with these things in my hand, he would have given me an ear full for sure." Sophie whispered to herself.

Sophie stood in the dimly lit room for some minutes and was finally ready to step out.

She peeked her head out and suddenly heard a noise coming from inside the room.