The Billionaire's Stripper Wife

Thomas's POV:

"For God's sake, grandpa! I am not ready to take the responsibility just yet." He yelled after being lectured for an hour about how he was an irresponsible man. He had just returned after an amazing night with the new girl he had met at a party. Now, all his good mood was down the drain thanks to his persistent grandfather: James Walker.

He heard his grandfather sigh as he sat down on his favourite chair. He was silent for a minute before speaking.

"Thomas, I have given you enough liberty to enjoy life the way you want. I cannot afford to do that anymore. I am not healthy like I used to be, so it is hard for me to run the company. I want to make you the CEO as soon as possible, and you have to listen to my order whether you like it or not." He said in a calm but stern voice while leaning back as if the deal was sealed, and he would not listen to anything Thomas had to say. But Thomas was his grandson. He would be damned if he did not fight for himself.

"I will not be the CEO, now and never. You can do whatever you like." He scoffed as he stood up and left the room in anger. He was serious about not wanting to become CEO 'now', but he could not change the 'never' part. It was not up to him to decide. He could not believe his grandfather. He had told him numerous times that he was not ready to take such a big responsibility. He knew that it was inevitable, and that he would have to become the CEO eventually, but it was too soon for him. He was twenty four and had just graduated.

Being the sole heir to a billion-dollar-business sucked just as much as it benefitted him. He had a comfortable life and every luxury he wanted but at the expense of giving up all his desires and wishes. He always wanted to sing and was also part of a band in high school, but his grandfather made him give up his dream just to take over the company.

He obliged as he was aware of the fact that his grandfather would not allow him to be in a band. But he decided that he would not listen to him this time. He wanted to have some extra years to live a normal life just like everyone else, without his grandfather dictating his every step. Was it too much to ask for?

He just knew his mother would not have let it happen if she was alive. He was the only child, and his mother took care of him like he was the most precious thing in the world. That was why he was able to make 'ordinary friends' like his grandfather liked to taunt him; joined the band that his grandfather despised so much but remained quiet just because of his mother. She belonged to a middleclass family and worked in their company as his father's assistant. They fell in love with each other and got married despite his grandfather's protests. He did not allow them in the house and kept his father away from the company for a year to show how mad he was that he had married a woman from a middleclass family.

He could not remain mad for long as he forgave them as soon as Thomas was born. His wish to see his grandchild was so strong that he called them to live with him, and acted normal as if he was not angry at them for one whole year. He also tried not to indulge himself with his mother. She was a very strong lady, and she also knew how to handle her father-in-law. Nobody could tame the James Walker though except the thought of having a grandson who would take over the company in the future. Thomas knew that his grandfather never had a liking towards his mother till the end.

Too bad, God snatched away his parents so soon.

He left the house feeling empty as the sad feelings hit him again. There was not a day passed when the memories of his parents did not hit him. After all, he was sixteen when they died in an accident. He remembered-he remembered everything.

Olivia's POV:

"Mother." She whispered quietly afraid of waking her up. She wanted to make sure her mother was resting comfortably.

She did not hear her response, so she thought she was already asleep.

She was about to leave her room when she heard her name being called. It was so faint that she almost did not hear it. She turned around and saw her smiling at her.

"Olivia, my lovely daughter. Come here." She spread her weak arms for her. It was always her way of showing her love for Olivia. She smiled going towards her bed and hugged her softly.

"I thought you were sleeping." Olivia said smiling at her mother. Her heart hurt at the way her once-strong and healthy mother was looking so weak. It was all fate. Nobody could change it. But God knows how much she wanted to change it--only if she could.

"I could never sleep before saying goodbye to my only child." Her mother tried to chuckle, but she choked. Olivia stood up in hurry to bring her a glass of water. Her mother kept choking until she brought her a glass from the kitchen.

"Mom! Mom! Are you okay?" She asked worriedly as she made her drink the water. Her heart was beating so fast. Ever since her mother fell ill, she would get scared so quickly. She was her only family left. Her father left the world when she was a kid. She did not even have clear memories of him. Her mother was all she had.

"I am okay. Don't worry, my child. Go to your job. It must be tiring working till late at night." She cupped Olivia's face and ran her fragile fingers through her cheeks. Olivia laughed.

"It is not tiring at all. I enjoy my job. Come on, mom. Now rest. I will come back before you know it." She tried to cheer up her mother and made her lie down and ran her fingers through her hair. Her mother closed her eyes and fell asleep soon while she sat there to watch her. She was glad that she fell asleep. Some nights, it was so hard for her mother to fall asleep, and she could not leave her before making sure she was okay.

That was why she chose the job. There were mainly two reasons why she worked till late at night: She would not have to work in the day and take care of her mother, and the pay was also sufficient to bear the expenses of her mother's medication.

Otherwise, she hated her job. There was nothing in the world that she hated more than doing what she did. She had tried for other jobs, but they did not pay enough. She had a sick mother to take care of.

She hailed a cab and soon reached her destination as there was only ten minutes of distance between her home and her workplace.

"Hi." She politely greeted the two big security guards that she saw every day. The guards nodded and allowed her without looking at her ID as she had been working there since a year now.

The strong smell of liquor and the loud noise of music hit her as soon as she entered the club. It was as packed as she had expected. It was a Saturday night, so it was a given that it would be houseful.

She made it to the changing room while bumping with the excited club-goers and saved herself from the glass of wine that was about to be poured down her head by some drunk stranger.

"Huh!" She huffed and sat down grabbing her head and taking a minute for herself. She was an introvert. It was still hard for her to cope with such busy and intense environment, but she had no choice. It was part of her job to not only bear the environment but to also entertain the crowd.

"Hey you! You are next." The head of the strippers, Laura, came to inform her briefly and went her way. She had been working there for 5 years-since the club was inaugurated. She was strict and not-so-polite with people except the manager who she was seeing besides the fact that he was a married man.

She sighed and stood up to get dressed. Normally, she would be dressed in a baggy shirt and jeans, but her work outfit was so different and revealing from what she always wore. Nobody could think that she was the same person who made the drunken crowd whistle and go wild with her performances.

She got ready within minutes and changed into the skimpy outfit for the night. It was more of a lingerie and less of a dress. The bright pink dress that ended just below her underwear had big holes everywhere. The only things hidden were her private parts. That too, because she had requested for a moderate dress from Laura. Apparently, that was the most moderate dress that could be found among the hundreds of other outfits for the strippers. The club took stripping part of the business very seriously.

She wore black stilettos and started doing her makeup. It was required from the strippers to do their makeup as loud and dark as they could. Laura appeared again, as soon as she was done, to cue for her turn.

She let out a long breath. She could never get used to the work however she tried. Yes, she had lied to her mother. She did not enjoy her job at all.

Putting all the sad thoughts aside, she left the room and feigned a big smile to face her crowd.

He entered the club that he used to go every weekend, but he had stopped going to that club since a year ago for some reason. The thing about the club was that there were many exotic dancers and strippers. It made his thoughts occupied when he had troubles to forget.

He ordered a glass of champagne and sat at the bar while the loud music graced his ears. He had not looked at the stage but knew from the cheers that a performance was taking place on the stage. It was a Saturday night. The packed atmosphere said it all. Thankfully, he was able to secure himself a seat at the counter.

Just then, his glass was in front of him. He poured the champagne down his throat in one go and ordered another glass.

Suddenly, the whistles and cheers got louder. He got curious as to what the hustle was about. He turned his head towards the stage and saw the most interestingly beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life...She was not just beautiful, but her aura screamed of confidence and innocence. It was a rare combination for a person to ooze of confidence but look so innocent that people find it hard to believe what part was the the actual personality of that person. At least, that was how he was feeling at that moment.

He felt enchanted. He could not remove his eyes. He saw her move her body with the beat and then against the pole. The piece of dress she wore highlighted her curves, and he found himself getting lost in those curves and the way her body moved.

She had an hourglass body that was tightly hugged by the revealing and short pink dress. Her black silky hair was let loose that reached her rear. He would say her height was about 5'4 without the stilettos that she was wearing. Lastly, her eyes were round and black.

He was busy analyzing her when she turned around and locked her eyes with him. He could only stare back without any expression while she kept looking at him every now and then. She then smiled and winked at him reaching almost the end of her performance. He came out of the daze and removed his eyes realizing that he had been staring at her non-stop. The wink got him out of the trance he was in for almost an hour since he got there and shortly after, her performance had started.

"Can I get you anything else sir?" The bartender asked him politely, and he nodded his head pointing at the champagne again. The champagne tasted extra good that day. And without realizing, he had emptied the bottle.

He got one last look at her before her performance finally ended. He was drunk now, but he could see her taking a bow and beaming at the crowd that had poured generous tips over her. The thing that left him perplexed was that she did not strip like most strippers would. Sure, she showed a sensual performance, but one would expect that a stripper would strip in between the performance. He did not know if he was glad to find that or disappointed.

He ran his eyes through the crowd that seemed satisfied-ecstatic even. The feeling he felt was unfamiliar. What was it to him if they were enchanted by the performance the pretty stripper had put out? The feelings were beyond his understanding.

While scanning the crowd, his eyes stopped on a familiar face. How could he forget him? He was the same reason Thomas had stopped coming to the club for the last year although they both visited the club together in the past.

Joe Williams. He did not know what he saw in him to make him his best friend. Even now, he was ogling the pretty stripper who was about to leave the stage. He saw lust and a lot of disgusting things in his eyes. He knew him enough to know about his dirty thoughts and intentions he must have been having about the stripper.

Joe had not noticed him. He felt disgusted at his sight and decided to leave the club leaving half of the second bottle. He paid the bill for the two champagne bottles and left a generous tip for the bartender. All in all, he was feeling dizzy to no end.

It was miraculous of him to get up, pay the bills and make out of his environment despite being drunk. He must have gotten immune to dealing with his troubles that way.

He was not aware though why he asked for the stripper's name from the bartender before leaving. He tried to remember the name the bartender had told him while making his way to the door. God, it was so packed. He was finding it hard to breathe normally.

'What was her name again?' He thought to himself when he suddenly remembered-or at least that was what he thought.

"Olaf...Yes, Olaf! Her name is Olaf. So cute." He mumbled to himself. Somebody bumped into him, and he was about to lose balance when he was caught.

"Sir, I am here to take you home." He heard a familiar voice.

"Did my grandfather send you to see how miserable I am?" He scoffed at his loyal guard who just shook his head.

"No! Let me please take you home. You won't be able to drive." He tried to make him see reason. He glared at him but nodded his head as he knew even his drunken state that he was not capable to drive himself home in one piece.

"Let's goooo! I hate you, James Walker." He yelled the thing he wanted to let out of his chest the moment he was in his grandfather's proximity. Unfortunately, he could not do that. He kept slurring on his words and yelling the same thing over and over as his personal guard dragged him out of the club and got him in the car.

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"Olivia, a man wants to meet you. He is outside." Holly, a bartender, peeked in the room and informed her. She got confused but nodded nonetheless.

She had just changed out of her work outfit and cleaned her makeup changing into her casual attire. She got out of the room and turned her head left and right to see who wanted to see her. And there he was!

She was cursing Holly in her head for not telling her his name. She was probably directed by him not to do so since she always avoided him. She never wanted to face him if she could.

"Pretty girl, I wanted to have a moment with you if you allow me. My lady!" He offered his hand to her while smirking. His way of showing fake respect always made her want to puke.

It had been a month since he had been on her ass trying to get into her pants. She could not do much to tell him off as he was the co-owner of the club.

She would always tell him off politely since she was afraid of losing the job. But she could not give him any ideas that she was interested in doing something with him.

"I am afraid I have to go. My mother is alone." She gave the same excuse as she always gave. It was not an excuse though. She really could not afford letting her mother be all by herself. She was always worried about her mother and tried to go home as soon as she could to be with her.

She saw him retreat his hand back. His expressions suddenly changed.

She could not understand why he was not getting the idea that she did not want anything to do with him. It was not like he was unattractive or something. In fact, he was a young and good-looking man with probably six feet height and prominent features. But she did not want to mix work with pleasure neither did she have any desire to sleep with anyone anytime soon. All she wanted was to take care of her mother.

"Look honey, I am not used to take rejections. I have been keeping up with your tantrums for a month now. Give in while I am being polite here." He smiled, but she could sense the threat by which he was trying to scare her. Her eyes widened with surprise.

It was the first time he was being so blunt and direct with her. Other times, he approached her with his usual fake gentlemanly behavior.

She had faced several advances during the year she had started working there. It was given considering the nature of her job, but she always refused to give in to anyone. Whatever a person does for living should not define their personality. It is their right to decide for themselves. It was what she believed. But people were not that good to believe and act on the agenda.

She was glad for her ringtone to save her from the situation as Joe Williams was still glaring at her low-key and waiting for a response. She avoided looking at him and received the call.

Now, she was not so glad for receiving the call as she left the club running, leaving a bewildered Joe behind.

"Aunt Mary, is she okay?" She asked her mother's best friend while panting heavily. Only she knew how she was able to reach the hospital after receiving the call that her mother's condition was not good.

Mary looked at Olivia and nodded her head. She herself looked worried to no end.

"I went to your apartment after you left, to check up on her and stayed for half an hour. She was sleeping peacefully, but when I was about to leave, she suddenly started vomiting. It was not normal. I had to call the ambulance and bring her here." She said with a bit of a shaky voice. Olivia would thank her profusely if she was in her senses at that moment. Aunt Mary was her mother's best friend from college and lived in the same apartment building they lived. She would often check up on her mother while Olivia was away for work. She could not have been more grateful that she was there with her mother.

"The doctor is seeing her at the moment." She informed patting Olivia's back. Olivia pushed back the tears that were threatening to flow like river. She had to be strong. Her mother needed her to be strong.

She was praying for her mother in her heart while controlling the emotions from bursting out. It always calmed her down a little and gave her a sense that she was not alone.

The doctor came out, and she rushed to him to ask how her mother was doing.

"Please come into my office." He instructed in a professional tone. Olivia went behind him and told Mary to go and sit with her mother.

"How is my mother?" She asked once she was seated in the office. Dr. Robert smiled at her a little probably noticing her fidgeting and looking anxious. He knew Olivia and her mother since they occasionally visited the hospital when her mother needed treatment as the hospital was close to their apartment.

"There is no need to worry. Mrs. Mary told me that your mother had her chemo session earlier today, so it explains her current condition." He told her in an assuring tone. She could not control herself anymore.

Her shoulders shook as she started shedding silent tears. She did not know if they were tears of happiness that there was no threat-at least for the time being or tears of sadness that she had to be tested against the only family she had in this world.

Dr. Robert offered her some tissues which she took thanking him in her hoarse voice.

"Ms. Olivia, you are a strong lady and so is your mother. These days will pass only if you know how to pull yourself together." The kind doctor said making her let out a sigh. He was right. She was given the situation, and now, she had to face it. Crying and slumping will do no good, she thought. She had to be there for her mother.

Her mother already worried a lot about Olivia more than her own condition. She should not show the weak side of her to her mother.

"I have written some medicines. I have also given her IV therapy for the time being. You can take her home after the process. And don't worry, little one!" Dr. Robert said giving her the prescription and told her teasingly. She chuckled at being called 'little one'. He was hardly in his mid-forties, and she was twenty one.

Neither his age nor hers could justify him calling her that. But she knew that he was trying to cheer her up.

"Thank you, doctor." She thanked him and left the office going to her mother. She was sleeping peacefully when Olivia entered. Mary was sitting beside her.

"What did he say?" Marry asked her worriedly. She put her hand over Mary's.

"There is nothing to worry about. It was just a reaction to her chemo." She assured her and looked at her mother who looked so peaceful. She wanted to take away all the pain and thought how she would do anything for her to look peaceful like she did at that moment.

"Thank God!" Mary sighed with relief.

"Aunt Mary, you should probably go and rest. I am here with mom." She said to Mary who narrowed her eyes at her in return.

She suggested that because Mary looked so tired.

"We will go together. The one who needs rest is you, Olivia. I know how tiring your job can be to entertain the crazy crowd." She shook her head empathetically. She did not like Olivia's job but neither did Olivia. She had told her aunt about the nature of her job but instructed her not to tell her mother. Her mother would have stopped her from doing so. She had no choice.

"I am okay, aunt." She refrained herself from saying anything else despite being disturbed about what Joe Williams said to her.

"Give me the prscription. i will fetch the medicine until she wakes up." Mary said getting up leaving Olivia with her thoughts.

It had completely left her mind when she came to know about her mother's condition, but it hit her again while she waited for the drip to finish so she could take her mother home.

He always made her uneasy with his words and actions, but this time, he was as bold as he could get. It was beyond her how a mature looking man could not get the idea that she was not a least bit interested in him. He was the co-owner of the club, and she respected him for that. That was all she thought of him.

"Olivia..." She heard her name being called with her mother's weak voice. She came out of her train of thoughts and looked at her mother who was looking at her with worry and concern. She had woken up thankfully.

"Are you okay?" She asked taking her mother's hand in hers.

"I am. I am." She nodded, "You look worried." It was not a question but a statement. It was amazing how she could decipher her feelings at a glance even when she was lying on the hospital bed.

She smiled at her mother.

"I am okay now that you are awake." She told her kissing the back of her mother's hand softly.

Amelia, her mother, smiled weakly with adoration in her eyes. She adored how her daughter had grown up to be so beautiful and strong. She even knew how to hide her pain from her mother. As much as she was proud of her, she was sad that she had to be the main reason for her misery.

It was a year ago that she came to know she had ovarian cancer. She always experienced sudden fatigues, bleeding, and diarrhea for the last few years, but she did not pay any heed. She was too busy trying to give a comfortable life to her only child.

Paul Anderson, Olivia's father, left the world in an accident when she was very young. He was a family man, but unfortunately, the nature did not give him enough chance.

And now, she was also sick. Her soft-hearted and innocent child was suffering because of her.

"You woke up." Mary smiled entering the ward, "The doctor said we can take her." Mary informed getting back with Amelia's medicines.

"Thank you Mary. And sorry for bothering you again." Amelia said weakly as she tried to sit up with Olivia's help.

"Don't be silly. Remember the promise we made in school that we would always be together." She tried to make light of the situation while remembering the good old days. Olivia laughed. Amelia also let out a hearty laugh, but it was easy to notice how hoarse and weak her voice sounded.

"I remember." She smiled as the nurse removed the IV. Olivia made her stand up, and they took her to the apartment with Olivia thanking the heavens that her mother was alright.

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"I think your phone is ringing." Amelia told her daughter while she was sitting on the couch, and Olivia was busy making dinner. She probably did not hear her phone ringing.

"Oh! Let me see." She went to her room to attend the call.

"Hello!" She greeted the manager of the club, Mr. Morris. She did wonder why he was calling though.

"Olivia, get to work in an hour!" She heard him bark orders in his usual pissed-off tone like he was against the whole world or the world was against him-she could not make out what his reason was for his behaviour.

"Why? I informed Laura I would not be able to make it today." She said in a confused tone. It was true. She had called Laura in the morning to tell her she would not attend to work the following night. Her mother was not in a good state. She had to wash up the bed sheets and all as there was mess everywhere after the last night's events when her mom got sick. She was also worried about her getting sick again. That was why she decided to take a day off.

"You are coming in an hour." He barked again and ended the call. No explanation-nothing. He was always like that to the workers and employees. If it was not for the money she needed for her mother, she would have not thought twice before quitting.

Her eyes pricked at the helpless situation she was in. She took a few seconds to compos herself before going out.

"Mom, there is an emergency at work. I have to go. Will you be okay?" She asked Amelia who looked at her worriedly.

"Everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah...They're short on the staff today, so the manager requested me to assist them." She made an excuse. Her mother seemed to buy it as she nodded her head.

"I will be okay. Don't worry about me." She assured her spreading her arms. Olivia shook her head with a smile before taking refuge in her support person's arms-her mother.

"I will be back shortly. If you feel something is wrong, there is the beeper." She laughed quietly as she heard her daughter say. She had insistently gotten it for her the same day. She was taking care of her like a child.

"Nothing will happen. Go!" She urged her after she saw Olivia narrowing her eyes when she saw her mother laughing.

"Let me bring you dinner, then I will get going." She said in a hurry as she poured some soup for her mother and fed her quickly despite her mother's protests that she could eat by herself.

"At least, have some dinner." Amelia shouted while she went to her room to change.

"I will eat at work. Don't worry." She came out of her room and kissed her mother's cheek saying her goodbye and left the tiny apartment consisting of two small rooms, a bathroom, a small kitchen and a tiny living room. They could hardly afford the rent.

She quickly hailed a cab and reached the club in no time. Mr. Morris had given her an hour's ultimatum. Thank God, she reached there on time and started her performance right after.

It was not packed like the previous night as people had stuff to do the other day-Monday. Despite the factor, she gave her all in the performance like usual. She still received enough tips.

The thing about the tips was that she had to divide it in half and give the rest to Laura. It was a rule that all the strippers had to follow. The club gave them monthly salaries, so they claimed a part in the tips the strippers received.

She gave Laura the half and retreated to change into her clothes to get to her mother. It was already late since she was instructed to give a longer performance for some unknown reasons. People were beginning to leave.

Just as she was about to get to the changing room, a strong pair of hands grabbed her and put one hand on her mouth to keep her from screaming.

The person had grabbed her from the waist while her back was touching his front, and dragged her to the dark hallway that was situated at the back of the club. It was mostly empty since there were rooms where they kept bottles of wine with some other materials.

She kept struggling and trying to yell but the person only stopped once he was beside a room and opened it with a key. She tried to kick him with her silver stilettos and succeeded in doing so as she buried her heels in his skin and started hitting him, but the person only flinched despite the fact that it must have hit him hard.

"Shh!!!" He whispered taking her inside forcefully and bit her left earlobe-not too hard but no too softy either.

She stilled as she recognized him.

Someone else had watched the scene unfold. Someone not too keen to find out how the man manhandled her.