chapter 4

9:00pm

September 11th

Emily:

I arrived home , and I was surprised to find Natasha at home ,she was in the kitchen when I arrived,I dropped my bag on the couch in the living room and went into the kitchen to join her .

"Somebody is cooking something nice "I said as I walked in

"You back "she replied me,backing me and stirring what she was cooking .

"You need any help"I asked her,

"Nop Emily ,all I need is for you to go into your room, take your clothes off and wash out the sweat off you ,then you come back and eat your food "she said to me,this time turning around to look at me .

"Thanks dear,I will do as you say"I replied with a smile for the first time today ,I rushed towards my room and I was surprised with the way my room was looking,

Did Natasha help me to tidy up my room,I remember before leaving the house this morning my room was looking like a garbage,

After I finished cleaning up,I changed into something comfortable,I went back to the kitchen to meet Natasha .

She had already finished cooking and setting the table . I sat down on the chair opposite her and we eat out meal

"Nice ,you the best when it's come to spaghetti "I complimented her

"Thanks you aren't bad either "she replied me.

Then we continued our meal again in silence.

"What wrong Emily "Natasha asked breaking the silence.

"Nothing "I lied

"You can't tell me nothing Emily ,you left the house without locking the door,you left your room so dirty ,look at your eyes,is as if you haven't slept for days "she said to me with concern all over her face

"God,I must have thought I lock the door ,am sorry and thank you for cleaning up my mess,""I replied her without looking at her

"Tell me Emily how is your mother,is she ok"

I was hesitant for a while before I open up to her and tell her how my brother called to tell me the doctor needs more money or else he will stop my mother treatment.

"How much"she asked

"1 million Naira Natasha ,where the fuck will I see that from "I said with tears already forming in my eyes "I went to my boss to borrow me some money but she said she doesn't have "

Natasha thought for a while before she spoke up again

"I know someone you can asked,he can help you "Natasha said

"Who"I asked with curiosity written all over me

"My boss Stefan,he is rich,I learnt he borrows people money with little or no interest,am sure he can help us ,"she said

My eyes narrowed "little or no interest,Natasha am in,take me to him please "

"Ok dear I will ,tomorrow I will take you to him "she said to me, as she stood up from her seat and walked round to meet me and hug me.

Natasha had always proven to be a trusted friend and I would never let her down,I will repay her for all her kindness she had shown towards I and my family.

**********

5:00pm

September 12th

Emily:

I closed from my workplace earlier today because Natasha had asked me to come home early so she could take me to the club to meet with her boss.

I arrived home and I met her already dressed waiting for me ,

She asked me to change into something nice ,I changed into a pair of blue jeans and a black shirt.this are one of my favorites.

We boarded a taxi and we were stop at our location,I stepped out from the taxi and my eyes met with the big white billboard "de velvet lounge,enter at your own risk "

She asked us to enter inside the clubs ,she greeted the body guards as we walked in,I wasn't familiar with such environments and thank God is still empty ,only the staffs that were around .

"Hey is Mr Stefan around "Natasha asked a guy which I later learnt his name is jack.

"Yes he is "he replied her,with his eyes fixed on me

With that Natasha held me by my hands and drag me towards the back of the club,we stop at a wooded door and she knocked on it,a male voice asked us to come in.

""Hello my pretty Berry,"Stefan said smiling sheepishly at Natasha

"Hi Stefan,meet my friend Emily "she said to him as she dragged me forward

"Is she here to Join us "he asked her

"Nope "I rudely said "am here to asked for a loan "

"Wow wow wow ,I like your gut,"turning to Natasha "you can leave us now,I wouldn't bite your friend "he said to Natasha

"Ok Stefan I trust you"she replied,patting me on my shoulder "you will be fine Emily ,you will get the money here"with that she left me there alone with this horrible pot belly man.

"Are you a virgin " he asked

"What as that got to do with me asking for a loan"I said with a grin on my face

"You see my dear,this is my office ,and you are asking for my money ,so it will do you a lot of good if you are been polite and answer my question,I asked again are you a virgin "

"No " I replied

"How much do you want "he asked me

"1 million Naira"

"Jess ,what do a young girl like you need it for ,that a high sum of money "

"My mother medical bills "I answered sharply

"How old are you"he asked me,with his hands rubbing against his neck

"20" I answered with a simple tone

"And you shouldered This amount of responsibility,what about your dad"he asked

"He is dead "I answered,yes to me my father is dead and if he is alive he should never come back to us again

"Poor thing "he said to me "well I can't give you that huge amount of money when you don't have a standard work to repay me"he said this time around he stood up from his chair and walked towards me "you are a very beautiful girl,I need a replacement here"

"Sorry Stefan I don't understand you,I promise to pay you back ,I will never run away with your money "I pleaded with tears

"Work for me ,"he said with a smile

"As what "I asked him

"As a stripper for one year "he answered with a straight face.

"What "I yelled

"You can't strip "he asked me

"Please I can work as a waitress or bartender not to strip " I pleaded

"That where you can be able to pay me my money quickly and moreover are you better off than the girls that strip "he asked me,as he walked towards me.

I hesitated for a while before replying him

" I will "I answered him

"Alright,you will get your money tomorrow morning,you lived with Natasha right "he asked

"Yes "i replied him,the thought of getting the money tomorrow put a little smile on my lips.

"Good girl "he replied me as he patted me on my back "come let me introduce you to the girls "

He lead me away from his office through the back to the dressing rooms,

"Hi girls "he greeted them ,pulling me forward "here meet Emily she will be joining your team"

My gaze met with Natasha and I could sense the surprise look on her face

"Will she be performing tonight "as a light skimmed lady which I later learnt her name was cherry .

"No she will be resuming tomorrow ,right darlings "he said turning to me with a grin on his face .

I reminded silent,was short of words to say to him

"Ok girls ,let me leave so you could prepare yourself for the night "he waved at them and tugged me alone through the hallway into the main club room.

It was getting busy inside here than it's was when we came earlier,

The blue light plastered over my face,smell of alcohol and smoke was all over the place.

"See you tomorrow honey ,don't be late "he said to me as he walked away from me into some adjoining rooms in the club.

I arrived home with a thousand and one questions popping up in my head.,I took my bath,brush my teeth ,didn't do dinner because I had lost my appetite,after talking to Ken on the phone ,assuring him of getting the money for mother treatment I drifted to sleep on my bed.