HE CAN MAKE ME DO ANYTHING

LEXIE’S POV

I wish I could tell you that this is the typical love story where the guy comes and sweeps me off my feet. But it is not.

If you are here for that, then I suggest that you leave.

I fucking hate my life.

As I clung to the pole, I could feel every set of eyes in the room burning into my skin. I could tell that they all knew I was doing this totally wrong.

The music thumped in my ears, but my movements were clumsy. Tacky, if I’m not mistaken. I just wrapped my legs around the pole like a pair of tangled earphones or a wet cat stuck in a tree.

I shouldn’t be here.

But then I couldn’t afford not to be here. Jenny threw this sweet offer at me.

“Listen, it’s just one night. And you need this money.” She assured me. “I’m not even asking you to fuck them or anything, but big men would be there. I’m not talking small business class; I’m talking rich ass business moguls that wouldn’t mind throwing cash at you if you played your cards right.

I hesitated; the words to resist barely made it out of my mouth at her mention of cash.

“If you add the huge tips along with your paycheck, then you can get your mom the treatment she needs. At least for a new week, her chemo is every week, right?” She arched a brow.

“Yeah...” I replied, my throat dry.

My mother had been battling cancer for two years now; I had exhausted the trust fund saved up for me to finish college, and I was at the point where I would even owe health insurance because the one we had wasn’t enough.

My uncles weren’t responding to my calls anymore; one told me to call back when I needed to make funeral arrangements. They believed there was no need to save a dying woman, but I still wouldn’t watch her die.

My dad wasn’t in the picture; I’ve never even met the guy.

So my mom and I only had each other to take care of, and she did a really great job. Though it was a hassle for her not to take her anger out on me sometimes, she was still a good mom.

I couldn’t watch her rot away on that hospital bed; I couldn’t watch her die. In fact, I wouldn’t.

My eyes remained glued to the flyer. Jenny stretched towards me; she didn’t utter a word, but her eyes said everything I needed to hear. They were pushing me to say, “Say yes.”.

I wondered if it was just the universe testing me and that maybe later everything would be better and I would have the last laugh.

But life just keeps finding new ways of messing with me, always having the last laugh at my expense.

It was a certified fact at this point; you’re just a joke, Lexie.

As if the universe heard me rambling in my thoughts, my heel caught on the platform, and I felt my balance slip away.

My hand missed the pole, and I crashed to the floor in a heap. The music screeched to a halt, and the room fell silent for a moment.

I thought no one saw that until...

“Get off the fucking stage, newbie!” Someone yelled, and the booing began with mocking jeers.

It was almost like my head was spinning; everywhere I turned, I only saw laughing faces.

This was life’s response to me, constantly reminding me that I was a pawn and that he was the one running the chessboard.

Humiliation burned through me as I kicked off my heels and scrambled to get off the stage.

“Make a run for it, little bitch.”

The catcalls and taunts followed me, a harsh chorus of my constant failure at any attempt to better my life.

I bolted for the dressing room; tears blurred my vision. How could I have thought this was a good idea? Fuck Lexie! My desperation for money had led me into a trap set for my embarrassment.

From the start, it was clear that I wasn’t cut out for this. I could almost cuss out Jenny so loudly, but she didn’t force me to take the job. She wanted to help me, but I should have said no.

This wasn’t my turf; it was for tough girls like her.

In the dressing room, I collapsed onto a chair facing the dressing mirror, burying my face in my hands. The tears I had struggled to hold back came pouring like rain; I failed.

I’m sorry, mom. I’m so sorry. I failed again. Just like I always do. I couldn’t do anything right; I couldn’t finish college; I couldn’t hold a job; and I was no closer to getting the money my mother needs for chemotherapy.

I couldn’t take care of her, and yet I’d still be the death of her. This had been my last hope; I really put my mind to it, and I had blown it so spectacularly.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a bang. Here comes the worst. I looked up to see the man in charge of the place—technically, my boss. Jenny had warned me not to get on his nerves, but I couldn’t afford not to do that either.

“What the hell was that out there? Are you trying to give me a bad name?” He shouted, his voice echoing in the small room.

It brought me back to when I lost the ushering job I went for last week. I had tripped and poured wine all over a guest. My boss then yelled at me the same way he’s doing now; I could see the pattern.

It was starting to look like a curse now.

“You think this is some game to you? People pay good money to see a show! If you can’t dance on a fucking pole, then strip! Flash your boobs, flex your body, or something goddamnit!”

“I’m sorry,” I stuttered, my voice shaky. “I tried, but...”

“Save it; you didn’t even put effort into it. You just ran off the fucking stage.” He cut me off, waving his hand in a dismissive manner.

“You’re lucky I don't want to throw you out right now, but trust that you’re getting a lower pay check. Anyway, it seems you’ve got someone interested in you.”

I blinked back. The mascara that watered down my face suddenly dried as my tears vanished and confusion overwhelmed me.

“Someone…interested?”

“Yeah, you bagged yourself a VIP. Although, for the love of God, I have no idea how you did that,” he said, his tone still sharp.

“Maybe he has a fetish for freaks like you.”

“But he wants to see you, so pull yourself together. Now listen carefully.” He stepped closer to me, and I gulped.

“You had better treat him right; I’m not losing a VIP because of you. And unless you want to owe me along with your paycheck, then don’t screw this up.”

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

What could a VIP want with me? Why would he be interested in me? How am I even sure it’s a “he"? It could be a “she.”.

So many questions wandered aimlessly in my head. The room was empty—at least for the past five minutes I had been standing here.

But it was lavishly furnished with plush couches, a large ornate mirror on one wall, and a king-sized bed. A low table held a selection of expensive-looking drinks and a pack of cigarettes, but that wasn’t surprising as much as the black annex credit card sitting pretty on it.

Who would leave a credit card with no limit laying carelessly aside? Should I grab it?

I really needed the money, but then I’d be a thief. I’m not a thief. I held my arms back strongly; it was enticing, but what if it’s a trap?

Stealing from a VIP? That’d be even more stupid than when I agreed to take this job. .

“I can almost hear your inner conflict.” A voice said, smooth but yet deep.

I turned my attention to where it came from. The man with the voice stood in front of the bathroom door. His presence immediately engulfed the room; it was commanding.

He was strikingly handsome; his piercing green eyes looked like they could tell me to do anything, and I would do them with no questions asked. They were impossible to look away from.

This was the man who asked for me? Even more shocked, he was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Stunned? It’s expected; what’s your name?” He asked with a devilish smirk.

“L-Lexie..”

He started moving closer to where I stood, and my body just froze up. It didn’t try to move back; it was just... still.

He palmed the back of my head with his hand; his other fingers found their way on my face, tracing every detail, almost like he was studying my features, trying to get familiar with them.

“Lexie...” he echoed in my ears, and I shivered.

“W-what are you doing, sir?” I swallowed, trying to find my voice.

“Strip for me, Lexie.” He commanded,

There was a way my name rolled off his tongue that sounded so intoxicating. I just wanted to do everything this stranger said so badly.

"II can’t do that….I’m sorry.” I declined politely. Why was I still scared? Why was I worried that I would make him mad?

His cologne hit me like the harsh smell of cigarettes mixed with the sweet, savoury scent of vanilla. His tattoos covered his left arm, which beautified his rippling muscles. Such a dangerous combination.

“I won’t ask twice.” His nostrils were on my neck, inhaling my scent as we both stood in the same position I froze in.

“Or do I have to ask you to name your price?”

I needed money. My mother’s life depended on the money; I could do this. If he would pay, just this one time, I would do anything a stranger wanted because I was that desperate.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I knew what he wanted, but the inner conflict I was having with my mind didn’t want me to acknowledge it.

“I told you, strip. You already made me ask twice; how do you intend to apologise for that?” He stepped back from me, and I got even more terrified.

“I-I can’t…”

For a split second, my eyes darted back to the annex card on his table. And trust that he was fast enough to catch me.

“You want it, don’t you?” He smirked and stepped back to pick up the card.

“Here, take it.”

He stretched it towards me. Was this like a game to him? He was fucking with me; there was no way he could just hand over a black annex to me. He had to be crazy.

“Take it from me, Lexie.” It was an order now; I didn’t have a choice.

I obliged; my shaky hands held the card tightly before my eyes darted back to him.

“I can’t take this, sir.”

“But you already did.” He stepped towards me again. ,

“You are one interesting little thing.”

“You don’t have the guts to ask for the things you want.”

He was reading into me, too much so that I felt he would find out my secret. Even if I had any, he was getting to me, and I would let him.

I wanted his money, and maybe even him. So what’s the big deal, Lexie?

“Tell me what you want.” He whispered in my ear.

"II want money...”

He smiled softly. “Then strip...”

My hands hesitated, but I needed the money, and this was the only way I could get it. My bra fell to my feet as I unclasped it, and my pants rolled down my legs.

I stood naked and vulnerable to a man that I had never met—a man that seemed like he could ruin me but yet got me to open my legs just with his words alone.

His hands encircled themselves around my waist.

“Beautiful…..”

His compliment instantly got me soaked between my legs.

“Ahm…” A loud gasp escaped my lips when his hands found their way in between my legs.

His fingers went deeper, and I instantly grabbed onto his shoulder involuntarily.

I was ready to have sex for money, but I forgot one little detail.

“You’re a virgin, Lexie?” He sounded surprised as his eyes found their way to mine.

“Y-yes, sir….”

In a matter of seconds, I lost balance when he lifted me off my feet and onto his shoulders.

“Even better…..”