Chapter 1 The Deal

• Ashley
• I stand in front of my full-length mirror looking at myself, I can't help but admire myself a million times. I got all the curves and beauty any young girl could ask for but being an undergraduate left me with no option than to live a street life. Fending for myself since childhood was not easy, I had to do different kinds of jobs but none of them was enough to pull me through, till I met a woman who was kind enough to introduce me to my current job, and that's something I'm not proud of, but having no other option I had to grab that opportunity, and since then I can proudly say that my life has taken a new turn.
• I don't have to worry about rent or food anymore as the money I made in a week is enough to cater for them. But I'm saving up as I plan to stop my current job and find something else. I'm already feeling disgusted with myself but I had no choice and I promised myself the moment I would save enough money. I will stop being a Stripper. Yes, I'm a stripper and one of the hottest of them as most of the customers that come to our club are all there because of me.
• Since my childhood, till now I haven't had a boyfriend and that's because I hate to mingle with people, to me they will always live at the end when they get to know the real me. I'm not proud of what I do, I know that most of the men that come to me for a relationship will always break up with me when they found out about what I do, some of them even come to me because of my body, that's one of the reasons why I shut people away from my life. Just the thought of that alone got my eyes tearing up but I blinked them back. Looking at myself in the mirror again I can't help but admire myself. I smile as I pack my long hair into a ponytail. I have been through a whole lot in life but thanks to God I don't look like what I've been through.
• I took red shining lipstick and rubbed on my lower lips as I smashed my lips together, making sure the two blended to give me the perfect view I want. I smile when it's all done. There is no doubt I'm a seductress but all the same. I'm a seductress who has been through thousands of pain and still living.
• I'm not supposed to be at the club today but my boss called to say that a special and rich customer of hers came today and she would like me to attend to him. I wanted to reject the offer but when she called the amount that's involved, Damn! It got my head spinning and I had no other choice than to accept with only one thought and that's, "After today when I collect this huge money, I'm saying goodbye to being a Stripper" This has been the anthem I keep singing to myself, more reason why I'm so eager to get this job done with.
• But I can't help but ignore the nagging feeling at my heart like something is going to happen. The feeling that says this night is going to be different from the other night. Still...I can't predict or know what the feeling is, I shrugged my shoulders. Deciding to keep every thought of negativity aside and remind myself that the pay is worth every risk. I stood at my window looking out of the city of Los Angeles, I feel the chills but I wave it off assuring myself that I have always done it and I'm still going to do it, I stood as I wait for my Uber driver to arrive.
• I was still in thought when I saw my Uber arrive, I took my pulse and walk of my apartment, with my stiletto making a clicking sound on the floor, I walk out and closed the door as I rummage through my purse and brought out my key, I locked the door properly and walk towards the Uber, I opened the door and slide in. I muttered a greeting to the old man and he responded cheerfully, he always acts like a father to me but each time I drop off at the Club there is always a hurtful look in his eyes which I understand, though he never spoke to me about it and I appreciate it like that though.
• I gave him the address of where I'm going and he nodded his head knowing it's my usual place he drove off. He's an old man and that's more reason I chose him. I hate it when people interfere in my private life. I looked out through the window while he drove off.
• I was unaware of when we arrived, he tapped me on the shoulder, "We are here dear" He said to me with a fatherly smile on his face, I sighed and manage to put up a smile on my face as I pulled out a hundred dollar from my pulse and hand it over to him, as I step down of the taxi….he made to stretch a change to me but I look at him and smile as I shake my head negative
• "I noticed you look worn out. What happened?" I ask him
• "No...nothing " He muttered, bending his head as I saw a tear slip from his eyes and fall. The man is already old and I wonder how he managed to drive at this age because he's old enough to be my grandfather.
• "My son who's forty years old has cancer, I don't have money to save him" He finally spoke up and I felt my whole world crumble, here I am crying over myself but look at this old man, trying to care for his forty years' old son. "What a fatherly love," I thought and suddenly wished I was opportune to experience much parental love.
• I sighed as I came back to reality and looked at the old man as he wiped his tears. I look into my pulse but nothing much is there
• I pulled out the two thousand dollars I have left and gave it to him
• "Here sir that's all I have on me for now, I hope your son gets better," I said, stretching forth the money to him.
• "Thank you, my child, thank you so much" He kept saying as tears rolled down his eyes, he kept holding onto my hand with his wrinkled hand, I smiled knowing that we will all grow old one day, and that's a good thing.
• "It's okay take care" I muttered and he nodded at me
• "God bless you," He said to me and drove off, still wiping his tears.
• I signed and took a deep breath looking at the club, "Would God really bless a sinner like me?" I ask myself, taking one last breath I started walking into the club.
• Unknown to Ashley….Nicklaus Baldwin stood in a dark corner with his guard as he watched all that transpired.