Chapter 1

Available

A loud call made me bolt up from the bed. I immediately ran to the door and saw Heather, my friend, all dolled up for work. She’s wearing a skimpy dress—one that reveals a little more than what she should.

“Why are you not yet ready?” she asked me while placing her hands on either sides of her waist.

I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock hanging on the wall before realizing how grave the situation is. It’s already eight in the evening and our work starts at nine!

I scrambled back to my room and prepared at a lightning speed. I wore my black collared shirt and an orange mid-thigh skirt—my uniform for tonight. I applied light make-up and a touch of light red lipstick. Placing my hair in a messy bun, I was done.

Heather let out a breath of relief when she saw me getting out of my room. It’s quarter to nine. We’re just on time if we ride a cab now.

She gave me a sharp look. “You seemed to have slept over the limit today.”

I sighed. “I slept late. My mom gave me a long ass lecture…” I replied as we waited for our Kakaotaxi.

Heather gave me another look. “She wants you out of this?” she asked.

I exhaled heavily as I fixed my duffle bag. “What’s new?”

She chuckled. “You’re a college undergraduate, Janice. You should be eligible for some secretarial jobs. Why don’t you try to apply?” she asked.

Heather has been my friend since I was in high school. Both of us were from Warthad who tried to seek our fortunes here. The only difference is that Heather stayed in Warthad to work while I went to college through a full-ride scholarship in Salem National University.

I was really happy when I got the scholarship that when it was taken away from me, I felt like my whole world crashed down. I couldn’t think of myself working in the corporate world anymore.

“I’m done with that,” I replied. “And besides, it doesn’t pay as much as this work does.”

Heather looked at me and sighed. “It’s just really disappointing that your intelligence is going to a waste.”

I raised my brow. “It’s not wasted in the club, Heath. It’s actually useful because I can think well when a man tries to make a move on me.”

She rolled her eyes at me. She still doesn’t like me working as a waitress in the club she is working at. She says it’s not for me because it is a dangerous place and I have a lot of responsibilities to take care of. But what she doesn’t think of is how much I need it because I have a lot of people depending on me.

“I don’t know about you and your thinking. You’re too…I don’t know how to say it…” She sighed so hard like she’s so disappointed and frustrated at the decisions I had made in life.

I ignored it like how I do it every single time. Mom always scolds me about my past decisions. Somehow, she has grown a talent to insert my bad decisions in everything we talk about. It’s kind of amazing, sometimes how my mother can do that. She’s amazing.

The cab arrived and both Heather and I are on business mode. This club is a messy place so we always have to have the right mindset.

Men come here to have fun and we, women, are always on the losing end.

Brixon, the bartender, nodded at me as he saw approaching. Heather was already in the backstage, getting ready to perform.

“You’re almost late,” Brixon chimed.

I sighed in relief. “I woke up late!”

He chuckled. “That’s the first time I heard of you waking up late. Heather always says that you’re always three hours early.”

I laughed at him. He might be right, though. I am not always late. In fact, I have never been late. I hate tardiness. And I hate tardy people more.

“Today’s an exception, I guess,” I shrugged as I put on the black apron that we always use.

I looked around. There seemed to have been more people inside the club today. Word had must been out that Lora, the resident pole dancer is back in town. She’s been out for six months because of an injury but now, she’s back on business.

“Lora’s back,” I raised my brow at Brixon.

His face started to become serious and I couldn’t help myself to chuckle.

“Move on, dude!” I patted his shoulder.

Brixon and Lora dated for about a year before ending it in a very chaotic one. I could remember Lora terrorizing every single woman who is linked to Brixon. It ended after a few months though because Lora seemed to just didn’t care about him all of the sudden.

He glared at me before rolling his eyes. “Just go get orders,” he said, dismissing me.

I laughed and shook my head as I got my pen and the order form, placing them both inside my pocket. I wore the bunny headband that the management obliged us to. I hate the headband though. I find it really childish but I couldn’t do anything against the rule.

A group of men who seemed to be in their early twenties called me. They are laughing and are really rowdy as they spat their orders. I can even see one of them looking at me like I’m some fucking dessert.

I tried to act professional and started to jot down their orders no matter how confusing they are.

I immediately left the table after taking their order. I gave the order form to the kitchen so they could prepare while I cater some other clients as well.

I never liked working here. It’s dangerous. And it’s what Heather is always telling me. But this pays well so I could give more money to my family in Warthad. All of them are leaning on me and I couldn’t let them down.

“Hi, Miss Sexy!” I heard someone whistle the moment I walked past their table.

I pursed my lips in a thin line. I am used to this. I have been catcalled and even called worse by the customers but I don’t really care anymore. I am already immune to this.

“Can I take you home tonight?” another one asked.

Ew. Never in this lifetime.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I can do this. I can endure this for another night.

It’s what I am always thinking because in this business, it must always be mind over matter. If you don’t use your brain and just let your emotions set in, you will never grow. You will never succeed.

And since this is the path I chose, I must stand by it. I should keep choosing it.

“What was that?” Brixon asked as he nodded at the direction of the middle aged man calling me to come to him in a hotel.

That’s gross. I could actually vomit now.

“Nothing,” I replied as I fixed my bunny headband. “Just another pervert in the life of Janice Lawson.”

Brixon chuckled as he started mixing drinks for the customers. “You’re always in demand.”

“I hate it,” I replied.

He shrugged. “I don’t know, Janice. All of the other waitresses don’t get as much attention as you do. Maybe you can do better if you were an escort.”

My eyes widened at what he just said. “Escort? No!”

If there’s one thing I promised myself not to do, it is to become an escort. I have heard lots of stories about the women who escorted filthy rich men. It’s dirty. It’s all about skinship and sex.

That’s not really for me.

Brixon laughed at my reaction. “Your expression is really priceless whenever I open this issue,” he started. “I almost forgot how much of a man-hater you are.”

I frowned at him and rolled my eyes. “I am not a man-hater.” I clarified.

Brixon puckered his lips, trying to suppress another laugh that almost about to burst out. I have known this man since I worked here and I somehow grew friendly with him. He’s the safest among all the guys here to befriend with because he’s not in love with me.

He’s in love with the woman pole dancing right now.

“Have you talked to her?” I asked him.

He looked at me and smirked. “Do I have to talk to her? We’re done.”

I have him a knowing and meaningful look. I know about his drunken moments when they broke up. Heather and I got him out of the precinct numerous times because of several charges like destruction of property and public disturbance.

He gets wild sometimes—when he’s drunk—but he’s almost always so serious. Oh, the duality of Brixon Choi.

I shook my head at him. “Bitter,” I muttered before taking the trays and delivering the orders to the customers.

A louder music blasted and I can barely hear anything that the customers are telling me. I am getting a little help on lip-reading though. But then again, I am not an expert to that.

“Janice!” Pia called me and pointed at the new set of gentlemen who just arrived and sat at the table near the stage. There are about four of them. They are wearing formal attire like they are from the elite class.

I immediately walked towards them but stopped when I recognized a face so familiar with me.

My system seemed to have experienced a massive error because I can barely move from my spot. My hands are trembling and I almost dropped the things I am holding.

I gulped.

His deep set of eyes, his tall nose, his thin lips and his perfectly chiseled jaw came into my view and I couldn’t be anymore thankful that he is not looking at me. His long and large hands are stretched on top of the back rest of the couch while he spoke with his companions.

A host went to their booth and sat close to him.

My eyes narrowed and I was so determined to go nearer when his gaze caught me. I can see that he stilled for a quick moment before leaning down to the girl beside him, whispering something against his ear.

I scoffed mentally as I gathered all of my courage to walk towards them and take their orders. I stood there and acted normally as I write their orders down.

I was already doing a good job until his turn came.

“Can I order you?” he asked. “I’ll buy you whatever cost it takes me because I am Clarkson Peters and I can afford you and your whole being.”

My jaw dropped at what he said. I slowly looked at him and saw him with furrowed brows.

He smirked at me. “I hope you’re available on sale, Miss Janice Lawson,” he said in the most menacing and taunting way possible.

Fuck.