Chapter 2

 /-Octavia-/

Six Years Later.

I ascended the stairs with a small bag resting on my shoulder. The loud music blazing from the speakers was almost deafening. 

It wasn't hard to spot Axel in the VIP section with a couple of men. I headed towards him, and his eyes lit up on seeing me. 

"There comes my Queen," he smirked, and the men's attention shifted to me. The lustful gazes that penetrated my skin didn't bother me. 

I was in nothing but lingerie and a bra, so it was expected for them to lust after my body. The scars that my father had inflicted on me were concealed, of course. 

I dropped the bag on the table and sat on his lap. He handed me a cigarette and lit it for me. 

"The package is already here, as you can see. You can unveil and have a taste of it if you want," Axel said, then turned his attention to me. 

I dropped my head and kissed him. 

The bag was opened, and the bags of cocaine were taken out. One of the bags was powered, and a small amount of powder was displayed on the table. Each took a taste, and the satisfied groans they gave made my skin crawl.

Six years of watching them, and I could never get used to it. 

"Want a taste, sweetheart?" Axel asked, and I shook my head quickly.

"No thanks. I'd rather hang on the pools," I responded. 

"Go then; the crowd always seems eager to spend when your sexy ass comes in view," he muttered, pushing his head into my boobs. 

My bra was off in a second, and he took the hard pink nipples in his mouth. My body stiffened as I stiffled a moan, blinking rapidly to contain the liquid brewing in my eyes. 

He moved away from me, and my shoulders eased with relief. 

"You should give them a show tonight. Take off those pants and give them a glimpse of how pretty that pussycat is," he said, and I tried to keep the panic off my face. 

"I... I can't just hang naked on the poles for a bunch of people. None of the other strippers do that." I said. 

His eyes darkened as he pulled my face down gently to plant a kiss on my lips. 

"Are you by any chance trying to disobey me, sweetheart?"His tone was soft, but I knew the real demon behind that voice. 

If I said no, he would smile and pretend it's fine, then take me to the red room and have me hung upside down for unbearable torture.

While I thought my father was a demon, Axel was the devil himself. An innocent charming smile with a dark heart as cold as ice. 

"No," my voice came out small. "I will get on the poles."

"I thought so too," he smiled. "Don't worry if they try to touch. None of those touches will go for free."

I fought back the tears and smiled.

"Of course."

I stood from his lap and pulled off the pants before him and his quests. I handed it to him, and he pocketed it with a grin. 

As I turned, he smacked my ass, and I forced my hands to my sides, resisting the urge to punch him in the face. 

One would think that I had already accepted the fact that Axel Black was my hell, yet, no matter how hard I tried to get used to it, I couldn't stop the occasional flinching or pounding of my heart anytime he demanded something obscene from me. 

At least I was allowed to strip only in VIP and VIP sections. I couldn't imagine myself getting down into the crowd to strip for a bunch of horny new adults. 

I got on the poles as the music slowed. My skin crawled with disgust as several pairs of eyes shifted to me. 

The other strippers left to the poles to give me the spotlight rather than have me steal it anyway. The crowd began to gather, and I tried not to tremble.

While there was a no-touching policy protecting other strippers, Axel made me an exception. They could touch me as much as they wanted as long as they were willing to pay.

I didn't dare flinch or stop dancing as a couple of them got up the platform. My breasts were fiddled with while the daring ones played with my pussycat.

Axel was just leaning against the pillars, watching with an unreadable expression while smoking. A gasp fell off my lips as a finger penetrated me. 

The inevitable was finally here. The very thing I dreaded more than death. Being fucked before an audience. 

My eyes rested pleadingly on Axel as fingers drove into me. I was disgusted, frightened, and deeply ashamed of myself.

"That's enough," Axel stepped in finally, and relief washed through me as the fingers slid out. 

He crushed his cigarette and stepped in front of me. 

"You don't get to touch my Queen however you want. If you want to fuck, go pay some other strippers," he said."But before then, you're going to have to pay for every time your fingers slipped in her and, of course, playing with those gorgeous boobs."

I got off the poles, desperate to get away from the crowd and everybody else, but Axel caught my hand.

"Where are you going? The fun isn't over," he said sweetly, and I just wanted to yank my hands from him and run away. 

"Please..." Tears stung my eyes. "Please let me go..."

"I can't possibly do that, Hun. Someone already booked you for the night. They are supposed to be three, but this gentleman paid for all three slots, so you see, I can't afford to disappoint him," Axel responded.

I knew for certain it wasn't any of the men before me.

"If someone already paid, why did you make me strip then?" I asked him. 

"There's nothing wrong with making some extra cash, love." He flashed a grin, and I averted my gaze to hide the fury brewing within me.

What I would give to see this bastard burn in hell!

After receiving payments from everyone, he took me to the VIP room, where there was only one man present. 

My breath hitched as the piercing shade of blue rested on me. 

He wasn't a regular, and he certainly didn't look like a clubber. With jet-black, high cheekbones and a chiseled jawline, this man had a refined beauty to him. 

One that contrasted with Axel's rough handsomeness. He was just about the same build as Axel—tall, lean muscular, and dressed just like him. 

Black shirt tucked neatly in tailored trousers, a customized wrist watch, and polished Italian shoes. 

He was nothing like the men I usually spent the night with. 

"Nile," Axel grinned, shaking hands. "I see you haven't changed. No cigarettes, no alcohol."

"I wish I could say the same for you. Still the miscreant from high school," the rich, deep baritone retorted with a hint of a smile on those thin, pale pink lips. 

"Still arrogant, I see!" Axel huffed. "Here's your package."

He shoved me forward, and those blue pools racked through me. I felt like he could see through my soul. 

"What is your name?" He asked. 

I hesitated for a brief second. 

"Octavia," I responded.

"Octavia," he tested the name on his lips. "That is quite lovely."

My cheeks heated up. No one had ever bothered to ask about my name or complement it with such sincerity. 

"I will leave you both to have fun. She's yours for the entire night," Axel said and walked out. 

Once he was gone, the tension in my shoulders vanished. Although the man before me made me nervous, it wasn't half as frightening as Axel.

The soft background music helped me relax. 

"Do you care for a drink?" He asked, walking towards the couch, and I followed timidly. “I don't take alcohol, but if you want, we can get some for you."

My eyes shifted to the table. They were assorted types of wine, but none of them were alcoholic, just as he said. 

"I'll have what you're having," I responded quietly, and he poured me a drink. 

He took off the three buttons off his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. I sipped my drink, watching him intensely. 

His gaze held mine with a higher intensity that forced me to avert my gaze. I didn't think it was possible to feel more naked than I already was. 

A small chuckle fell off his lips, drawing my attention to him once again.

Was he laughing at me? Did he think I was shy?

I finished my drink and talked to him. I took the glass off his hands and climbed on him.

His eyes searched mine deeply. I sat on him, ready to rock him, when his hands held my waist firmly, forcing me to stay in place. 

"I didn't pay for sex, Octavia," his words stunned me, but my heart fluttered at how smoothly my name rolled off his lips.

"Why then, did you book me for the entire night?" I asked. 

"I told Axel I needed company. When he brought you in, I could see how frightened and exhausted you were," he said, and my heart skipped a beat.

Did I lose that much control of my emotions that everyone could see through me? Axel would kill me if this man decided to lay a complaint. 

"No, I'm not exhausted... I can handle you, I swear. Please don't..." His finger rested on my quivering lips, signaling me to keep shut. 

My eyes stung with tears. I have already endured enough humiliation tonight just to make sure I don't get punished, and he was going to let all that go down the drain. 

"You don't have to do anything. If you feel guilty about the money I paid, just drink with me."

"What is the catch?" I eyed him suspiciously. "You can't book the entire night just to drink and talk. Frankly, I prefer we just have sex and go our separate ways."

Those blue eyes searched mine again.

"Fine then, get on your knees."