CHAPTER ONE: I’m only a mole…not a stripper

Mia’s POV

“Get your hands off my butt Sir! I’m warning you.” I demanded, yanking myself free from his grip, disgust flooding my chest as I grabbed one of the nearby tables for support.

“What are you going to do if I don’t, Cupcakes?” He teased, pulling me towards his shoulder, his eyes crawling over my waistline like a hawk.

The charity event buzzed with lively chatter and rich laughter, as elegant guests mingled under sparkling chandeliers, oblivious to the chaos I was in. Soft jazz played in the background, adding to the vibrant, joyous atmosphere,

“Let…go!” I resisted, struggle reflected on my face, my eyes constantly breaking contact with the men seated around him; whose eyes gleamed in amusement, their laughter dripping with mockery as I managed to break free for the second time.

“I craved to feel this body the moment I stepped in here,” he growled, his voice low and strained. “What’s your price? I want to have you tonight.”

Without a second thought, my fist united with his chin as I couldn’t bottle up my humiliation anymore.

The laughter around the table suddenly faded, my eyes wandering across the hall, noting the few guests who were yet to leave. Luckily for me, none seemed to have noticed the altercation as they were all lost in their little world as the event finally came to an end.

I stood frozen, unwilling to break eye contact with the man whose body shook with rage. He wasn’t just angry; he was furious. And I knew, deep down, that this would cost me, but I forced myself to remain composed as any further action could ruin my mission.

“I’m so sorry Sir Cornell, please forgive Miranda’s silly mistake.” Our hospitality manager rushed in, attempting to soothe things over.

“Is this how your hostesses treat your guests?” He spat, his anger now directed at the manager, as he slammed his palm on the table, causing the plates to shake.

“Miranda, please apologise to our esteemed sponsor,” my manager insisted, his voice trembling with anxiety.

I stayed still, my mouth shut, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of hearing an apology.

“That’s her name—Miranda! Do you have any idea who I am? You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life,” he sneered, pointing his finger at me.

I rolled my eyes to his threats. My real name isn’t Miranda, nor do I have any intention of staying in Costa Rica long enough to worry about his empty promises.

“Miranda!… my office, now!” My manager commanded, signalling another hostess to replace me.

“That was a risky move Mia, are you out of your mind?” Xiang’s voice crackled in my earpiece, sharp and irritated. I could feel his anger even through the tiny speaker.

“I didn’t know I'd be dealing with perverts in a corporate setting like this.” I whispered, ducking into the nearest restroom to hide.

“Stay in character, Mia,” Xiang snapped. “We’re close to pulling off the blackmail with Madame Shirley. Do not ruin this.”

“How close is the driver?… I can’t stay here anymore,” the urgency in my voice, suppressing my throat.

“That shouldn’t be your worry,” he interjected. “You have his DNA samples intact right?”

“Affirmative, Boss.” I responded.

“Brilliant. Now, take an exit from the kitchen…your flight to New York departs in an hour, meet us at the address sent to you. Don’t be late.

I swiftly changed into a fresh outfit, swapped my wig, and covered my face with a scarf. With a new identity in place, I headed to the airport for my next flight—New York City, where my mission awaited.”

I want to sleep, but sleeping means shutting my eyes and sinking deeper into this nightmare. But matter how many faces I wear, how many lies I tell, I am still the same person inside.

**********************************************

Hours later, I stepped into the abandoned warehouse as instructed by Xiang, the group leader. The musty smell of rust from large metal pipes filled my senses. Every move I made echoed in emptiness as I drew closer to the small group of con artists seated round an old table.

The room was dim but the poor lighting cast a warm glow on their faces, making them identifiable.

“Here comes my beautiful Mia,” Xiang’s voice echoed from where he sat. “Why the long face?" He grinned.

“I think there’s not much time for smiles in my line of work” I retorted, approaching his sitting position.

“Well… we have a special assignment for you, a delicate one that will require your feminine skills, so, cheer up.”

“What is it about this time?” I snapped, my brows knitting into a frown.

“Easy tigress!” He reached for an envelope on the dusty table, pulled out a photograph and slid it in front of me.

Staring at my target’s face, I caught a glimpse of Xiang's sinister grin—I knew something was off.

Clearing his throat, Xiang continued. “That’s Lorenzo De Luca, an Italian business mogul. He’s known for spotting intruders, but there’s only one way to get what we need from him.”He paused.

“He frequents The Red Room, a VIP exclusive club. So you’ll go there, posing as a new stripper, follow him to his hotel room and steal that drive from his suitcase.”

“What?! You…you want me to seduce this man?”

“Actually …he’s rather a practical man, so it may take more than seduction to knock him out. Get prepared.”

“More?…”

A teardrop slipped down my pale cheeks but I blinked it away, refusing to let the pain show—crying wouldn’t change anything.

It’s been four years of working undercover, lying and deceiving people for survival but this? Giving away what dignity I have left…how can I escape this?

“Xiang…I signed up to be your mole, not a…a stripper. I’ve never done anything like this before,” my voice shook slightly.

“Yes Mia, you signed up to be my mole, not a princess. This? It’s just part of the job.Toughen up," his tone was hard and condensed.

My voice trembled, both fists clenched at my sides as I steadied myself, trying not to collapse under the weight of my own humiliation. “But… we can find another way around this, right?”

Xiang rose from his seat, approaching me slowly with a calculated stride.

“You see, Mia, Lorenzo has a peculiar taste for petite women, and you fit that description perfectly. If bedding him is the only way for us to succeed, then so be it."

“Wait…What if I bring my father to you instead? Would that settle it?” I appealed.

“And how long has that been?— Four solid years Mia. And even if you do find him, you really think he can pay back a hundred million in a day? Don’t be delusional.”

A sinister laugh escaped his lips as he returned to his seat. A chord inside me snapped, my knees buckled, bringing me to the ground.

"I've done nothing but serve you Xiang… please, be merciful," I whimpered.

A patronising grin spread across his face as he slowly brushed his beards with his fingers.

“Look here kid, I’m going to make you an offer,” his tone was resolved, as if he was touched by my pleas. “I don’t usually do this but, I’m moved today. Sundays are special aren’t they?”

“You can consider this a favour, " he continued. "If you can pull this off this time, maybe…just maybe, you can consider this your last task.”

The words hung in the air. A final task. My heart slammed in my chest. Could I trust him? Could I risk it? But the thought of freedom… I couldn’t ignore it. There was no time to overthink.

“Fine, I’ll do it.” My voice sprung out clear and sharp.

“Now that’s the spirit! You’re free to go now, you need your beauty sleep tonight. Rambo will come pick you up by tomorrow.”