Elena;
The words were out of his mouth before he realized. Cause as soon as he uttered them, he clamped his mouth shut.
“What exactly are you sorry for?” I asked, but on second thought, I simply shook my head, “You know what, just shut up.”
I ignored him, as I turned, making my way into the restroom. As soon as the door shut behind me, my knees gave out as I slid down the door, the tears falling uncontrollably down my cheeks.
I dared to wonder what course of direction my life was bound to take, henceforth. Hell, my father had sold me over to him.
There wasn’t a way out, even if I were to try. He would find me. This is my home and I have no one else. Nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
I knew what awaited me as soon as I stepped out the door, and I dreaded it. It wasn’t enough that he had made me feel so filthy, I couldn’t bear to look at myself in the mirror any longer.
Composing myself, I freshened up and made my way out of the room. Dominic was still standing at the doorway, but I simply walked past him, making my way towards the main arena.
The usual slow music sounded across and I recognized some of my colleagues who were on the strip pole, giving the audience a show.
Glancing around, I could also recognize some of Angelo’s men, in disguise. They sat at different tables, but their gazes were on me, ever so subtlety.
I sucked in a deep breath and walked over to the stage when someone bumped into me.
“Hey, watch where…” The voice spoke, but it stopped abruptly, as I raised my head.
“Elena?” It was Jenna, my closest pal here. She stared at me head down, her gaze resting on my face momentarily.
“Damn, girl. Where have you been? We missed you here.” She said, as she quickly immersed me in an embrace. For a moment, I let myself wish I could get lost in her arms.
I was still, but I turned my gaze to the side, noticing the look I was getting from Angelo’s men.
Jenna pulled away, staring at me warily, “Ok, what… what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Jenna. I need to get on stage.” I simply said as I made to walk past her.
“Get on stage?” She laughed, and I turned to her, “Girl, you know Michael. That man is so pissed at you right now. I don’t think he might give you a listening ear, not to talk of a chance on the stage now.”
I shrugged, “He would, Jenna. I have to go.”
She held my hand, pulling me back, “Girl… I know you like I know my titties. What the freaking hell is going on with you. What’s with the dazed look?”
For a fleeting moment, I wished I could confide in her. But it wouldn’t be in either of our favor.
“I don’t have time for this, Jenna.” I pulled my arms away from her, leaving her with a confused expression on her face.
I knew he was watching me, so I headed straight to work. Spotting Michael at the far end of the hall, his eyes met mine and he nodded. Well, that simply meant he must have been filled in.
A waiter passed by me, and I grabbed a glass of whatever was in it, taking a large sip to calm my nerves.
Just then, the music stopped abruptly, and the girls on the pole ended their show and stepped down the stage, eliciting groans from the men around.
A different sensual music came into play, making me smile ruefully. Micheal sure knew my tastes.. the stuff that gets me in the mood. But at this moment, I wasn’t feeling up to it. Not at all. But I know I had to get through it.
Making my way to the stage slowly, a hush fell on the club. My heels clinked on the floor as I stopped right in front of the pole, letting the music wash over me as I subtly gazed at the target.
I just had to get through this. And the only way–which had always worked for me was shutting out every other damn thought in me, and just focus on the music.
Ever so slowly, I began. Stretching my hands up at the pole as I went down with it. My heels clinked, as I slowly stood, and took some steps forward until my back was facing the crowd.
I let the beat lead me, never forgetting the rule of staring the men in the eyes as I performed. Well, this time, though, my eyes were set on just one person.
He sat on a couch just a distance from the stage, surrounded by his men, I would suppose. He was leaning at the backrest, but his gaze wasn’t at all what I expected.
Rather than being filled with want and lust and desire, his, was hard and unfeeling as they remained fixed on me.
I knew I was doing a good job, judging from the hollers and the amount of dollars being thrown my way. I mean.. there was a reason I was the Club’s golden girl. Only that Michael would never admit that. Some of the girls too.
But, as much as I knew this, I knew I needed to up my moves, or I would be at the receiving end of what Angelo had planned for me.
In no time, I had completely lost myself to the euphoria of the beats, sashaying my hips as I moved seductively up and down the pole.
All the while, I kept eye contact with him. Even as the beat came to a halt, his gaze remained on me. And that was my cue, to get off the stage and make my way to his table.
My hands grabbed a glass of… something from a waiter and took a sip. And with my glass in hand, I sashayed to him.
He was sitting alone on a couch. While his men, I presume, sat at different corners beside him, but on a different couch.
One of them, a bulky man with a star tattoo at the side of his neck, stood the moment I came closer, his hands slowly moving to his pants, revealing a pistol.
He held a warning gaze, as he blocked me from moving further. But I ignored him, my head tilting to the side, locking eyes with the Boss himself.
The bulky man in front of me turned slightly and the Boss motioned a hand in the air, and he quickly moved away.
I walked to the couch as seductively and elegantly as possible. Sitting beside him, I took a sip of the wine and placed the glass on the table before him.
He was in a dark short-sleeved shirt and dark jeans. Muscular anAandfit. A few buttons were off and I could see the faint lines of a tattoo as it disappeared down his chest.
As slowly as I could ever be, I crossed my legs and his gaze fleeted down, resting on them. I had long beautiful legs and I knew it might serve as a little form of distraction as well.
And then, in what I desperately hoped to be a seductive voice, I whispered, “You look like you need a little bit of saving.”
Running my hands down his shirt, to his chest, feeling his abs, until he grabbed a hold of my wrists so hard, I felt it might crack.
Abruptly, his other hand grabbed my hips, pulling me dangerously close to him as he whispered lowly, “I love the way you think I am as stupid as you are, love.”