Chapter 5

It was 9 pm, and I was in a cab going to the club that was said to be hiring. Once I got there I was led to a dressing room where a bunch of girls getting ready. The club was already in a full partying mood as music blasted throughout the club. Already in my two-piece outfit waiting to be called. The hiring was going to be judged by customer satisfaction so I was going to go out there and show what I've got.

"Hie." A redhead comes to sit next to me as she applies lipstick looking in the mirror.

"Hey."

"You're here for the job too?"

"Yea.."

"Knock 'em dead." She pats my back before walking away.

Smiling, I looked into the mirror and my reflection told me I looked okay, I wasn't that much big on liking makeup so I just had on a little.

Glossing my lips, I hear my name being called out.

"Hailey!.." Someone calls out. "It's time to get out there!"

I go to where I am being called and it's a short balding man.

"Here," I say.

"Go down that aisle, your pole is there."

Nodding, I take a deep breath and walk out. I wasn't all that nervous but the way this club was packed set in some jitters.

When I was at my pole there was no one so I guess it was time I brought attention to myself. Working my pole I got with the flow of the music playing. Tough crowd, I think to myself as my spot is still empty except for a fat guy who's smiling at me. Picking up my act I put my all into it. Minutes later my spot feels up, men howling and whistling at me as they throw money at me. 

This only hypes me up.

When my time is up I sway my hips as I walk back to the dressing rooms.

Once at the back, the short man comes to me smiling.

"You've got the job sweety." He tells me. "Your shift starts tonight." With that, he walks away.

Yay!... A broad smile finds itself on my lips as I dance inside.

Turning around my smile grows bigger as I walk back to my pole.

It has been a week now since I came to Vegas and it's going great!

Over the week my booth was the most packed as I was liked more. The more the audience the more money I made.

Tonight was a busy night, taking a small bathroom break. I was drinking some water when I bumped into someone in the corridors leading to the backstage of the club.

"Am sorry." I immediately said to the man.

"Watch where you walk.." He says.

As I try to walk past him he blocks my way.

"Uhh. Excuse me." I say but the man just gives me a sly drunken smile.

"I've seen you up there." He tells me. "You're amazing..."

"Thank you...now can I go."

He grabs my arm in a tight grip, pushing me against the wall as he gets close to me.

Putting his head on my neck he sniffs me, licking my neck. Ugh! I hate these drunks.

"Let go of me," I say through clenched teeth, trying to get away from him.

He only tightens his grip. "How about we have some fun." He says and I can feel him hard on me.

Spending time in clubs taught me how to deal with scumbags like him.

Jerking my knee up I hit him where the sun doesn't shine and he slants back touching his groin.

"You bitch!" He seethes

My attempt to get away from him fails as he recovers quickly and grabs me again. He slaps me so hard that I fall to the floor. He gets on top of me, I struggle to get him off of me but he just tightens his grip on my hands. 

"You bought yourself a night with me." He slurs, lowering his head he starts to savagely attack my neck with sloppy kisses.

Wriggling beneath him I try to free myself.

I hard slap my cheek again. "Stay still."

No. No. This can not happen. I won't let this happen.

"Get off her." Someone says.

The man on top of me scoffs. "She's mine." He says. "Go away."

I hear chuckling then abruptly the man on top of me is flung against the wall.

I don’t get to see the face of the guy who just saved me cause he's kneeling in front of the drunk jerk, his back to me. He continuously throws punches at the man.

"Now that's where you're wrong, she belongs to me." He tells him.

Panic immediately sets into me as I recognize the voice of the guy who just saved me.

No no no no no. It can't be him.

He punches the drunk guy knocking him out cold.

I slowly start to back away on the floor, my feet failing me as I fail to stand up.

Standing up straight he finally faces me and my heart drops.

"Hey Cupcake." He smiles. "I've missed you."

I just look at him eyes wide, as he approaches me.

"It's been a long time since we last saw each other."

"Sta...sta...stay away from me." I stutter. Fear grips me.

"I can't do that." He says kneeling in front of me. "I love you, cupcake. And we're finally together again."

Taking me off guard he picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing. I try my best to free myself, hitting his back but he just grips me tighter.

No. Tears fell down my cheeks. My heart is racing with fear. This can't be happening, not again. 

Am scared.

Sean Woods. The only guy to ever turn my life into a living hell. My abusive ex-boyfriend, whom my dad had to get a restraining order to stay away from me. I dated Sean for a year while in college, he would always hit me and threaten me every time we broke up. He is a psychotic stalker who I thought was out of my life for good but I guess some nightmares just never seem to leave you alone.

Entering some room, Sean throws me on a bed.

"I've been keeping an eye on you for a week now Hailey." He says walking towards a desk.

"And today just proved that you're not safe on your own." He tells me. "So I am going to keep you safe."

He comes back to me with a syringe in his hand.

"You're never going to leave me again, cupcake."

Tears stream down my face as I say. "Sean you don't have to do this....just let me go, okay."

Chuckling he grabs the hair at the back of my head pulling me close to him.

"This is my club, so don't worry you'll be safe." He says. "And since you love the pole that much you can work here for as long as you want and never leave."

With that said he plunges the needle into my arm.

Immediately I start to feel drowsy, my eyes slowly closing.

"Wha...what...what did you...just put in me," I ask.

"A little something to keep you grounded, cupcake." He says and crashes his lips on mine.

My body feels numb, I can't move, and I can't push him off of me. Help me.

Help me. Someone.