Trixie's POV

"Get your hands off me," I said as I swatted the hands that were on my waist as I slid down the pole.

"I'll be right back." I lied through my teeth as I climbed down the stage.

"You're killing me, baby. Come back." The customer grabbed my wrist. "Let me slip a fifty in your garter."

I jerked away from him. I had to swallow all this to earn enough for my student loan payments and also send them to my mom.

The asshole could have offered me a million dollars and I'd still have jerked away.

I didn't need him touching me. He'd paid to watch. Not a fucking touch. I'd have taken that money, too, but not with him thinking he had rights.

I was done for the night and I backstage to collect my tip for the night. The manager, a guy called Tiny, backstage stage with the bouncers.

"Good job tonight, Trixie."

"Thank you, sir," I replied. I reached for the envelope on the table in front of him and he grabbed my hand.

"How about a little extra tonight?" He asked. I knew exactly what he meant and the answer was no.

"No, thank you," I replied. I didn't want anybody's sweaty body on mine. He was always forcing me to dance for an extra payout.

The problem was, when he did it, there was no guarantee that he would increase my pay.

"Don't make me angry, Trixie."

"Then don't try to force me to work extra, I am done for the night".

I moved into a room to change back into my normal clothes. As I pulled my sweater over my head, I heard a voice. So much for some privacy.

"You were very good out there, Miss Starr."

I looked around to see a man standing by the door. I hadn't seen him before and I'd been in this business for two years now. "Thanks, I guess. You are not allowed backstage"

"I was hoping we could talk."

"What do you mean?" I asked. I knew exactly what he meant, I could see it in his eyes. He wanted a private dance and I wasn't doing it. I couldn't trust any man.

"A private dance, nothing more."

I laughed. "Sorry, no can do. I'm done for the night and I've no desire to strip down for anyone, much less a stranger."

"Chill girl, I have no interest in seeing you naked. You are a very pretty young woman. I am sure you have men lining up at your door to see that pretty little body."

"No," I said with a chuckle. I proceeded to move but he moved close to me and put his arm out to block the door.

I had no idea who he was and what his game was. I was ready to get the hell out of the club.

"I need a favour."

"Not interested."

"Oh, you are going to want to hear me out, Miss Starr. It involves a job and a lot of money."

I looked him up and down. How did he know my surn... never mind. I have to get out of this place right now.

I was already fidgety. I assessed his outfit.

He was wearing jeans, a tee shirt, and a leather jacket. This wasn't exactly a suit-and-tie kinda of guy. "Yeah, I'll pass." I tried so hard to sound cool.

"Do you know who I am?"

I looked him over once more. He was tall, muscled up with blue eyes. I shook my head no. He wasn't the first guy to approach me like this and it wouldn't be the last.

"I want you."

"Like I said, not interested."

He follows me out of the door and I walk out faster than normal.

I needed to sleep early and be at the hospital as early as possible to check on the stray cat.

When I made it to the parking lot, I turned around to look at him.

"Please leave me alone."

"I will, as soon as you hear me out."

"Fine, spit it out."

"Come home with me and I will tell you."

"Fuck no," I said, shaking my head. I started to walk away from him and he grabbed me and pulled me against him.

His lips were so close to mine, I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

I struggled against him. "Let go of me," I demanded.

Someone takes him off me before my fist makes an impact on his face.

The man who saved me was the bouncer, Big Jake. He had the asshole pinned on the ground.

“She asked you to let go of her, didn't she?” A voice said behind Big Jake.

“Who the hell are y…” The man was punched by the stranger who was prevented from delivering another punch by one of the bodyguards that came from the other side of the club.

"Are you okay?" Big Jake asked.

"He won't leave me alone," I cried out. I just answered whatever

"Get off me," the guy demanded. "I'm a paying customer."

The stranger looked down at him. "Not anymore, you aren't."

"What do you mean?"

"You're banned. Get the fuck off the property." The anger in the stanger's voice was so fierce.

The man stood and dusted off his jeans. "Till we meet again Trixie.”

"Fuck off," I screamed. I hated when men tried to take advantage of me. I'd been a stripper for two years. Two long, hard years.

He proceeded to move but was taken away from the club by a cop car that pulled up.

I picked up my bag that had fallen and called a cab to take me home.

I had to be at the hospital very early tomorrow.

The cab pulled up and I opened the door to enter.

“Do not worry, My driver will take you home” I flinched and moved away from him.

"Thank you," I murmured with a weary smile, not lingering for his reply before slipping into the cab. I was shaking and I needed to go home and sleep.

As the cab pulled away, I couldn't shake the exhaustion weighing on my shoulders. Climbing the stairs to my apartment felt like scaling a mountain, each step heavier than the last.

Inside, the silence enveloped me, broken only by the hollow echo of my footsteps. With the last can of tuna in hand, I indulged in a solitary meal, the taste of loneliness mingling with each bite.

Rain, my best friend wasn't home which meant that her date was successful. Her dates usually failed as she was always set up by her mum with weird men.

After a hot shower, tears flowed freely, a release for the emotions I'd bottled up all day. With heavy eyes and a heavier heart, I surrendered to sleep's embrace, hoping tomorrow would offer solace amidst the turmoil.

****

Alexander's POV

I was engrossed in watching the stripper on stage as I waited for my friend Samuel, the owner of the club. He had to go backstage to attend to whatever.

The girl on stage was beautiful and had the prettiest body I had ever seen.

Her long legs were muscular but soft. Her stomach was tight and her tits were firm. The woman on stage was stunning and I was ready to see more.

I hadn't seen her here even if I frequented this place.

Samuel returned and sat beside me and I turned to him.

"Who's the new girl?"

"Trixie, she's not new."

"I'll take her for a spin." I wasn't interested in anything except a spin. I signed off relationships after the last serious one I had was a disaster.

“No, you won't.” Sam replied as he scrolled through his phone.

I returned my gaze back to the stage.

The sexy girl slid down the pole with such grace. She was perfect and I wanted her.

I watched her as she swatted the man's hand. So much sass for a pretty girl. She moved backstage and I saw one of the customers follow her.

“What the hell? Sam, aren't customers not allowed backstage” I turned to Samuel but he already had his phone to his ear and he told me to hold on.

I beckoned Big Jake to follow them when I saw her come out with the customer hot on her heels. She looked so scared.

I followed Big Jake out of the club and I saw that the man had Trixie pressed to him as he tried to kiss her.

I saw red and moved to get him off her but Big Jake was faster and removed the man and pinned him to the ground.

“She asked you to let go of her, didn't she?” I said behind Big Jake. I looked at Trixie and saw that she still looked so scared and got angrier.

Why did I even feel like I should protect when I didn't know her?

“Who the hell are y…” I didn't even know my fist had collided with his nose until I was prevented from delivering another punch by one of the bodyguards.

"Are you okay?" Big Jake asked Trixie.

"He won't leave me alone," She said. Fear laced in her voice. She just answered without thinking. I wanted to protect her with everything in me.

"Get off me," the guy demanded. "I'm a paying customer."

I looked down at him. "Not anymore, you aren't." I said to him. Sam didn't take care of his workers or Tiny did all this behind his back.

"What do you mean?"

"You're banned. Get the fuck off the property." I said

The man stood and dusted off his jeans. "Till we meet again Trixie.” I felt like strangling him.

"Fuck off," Trixie said to him.

He was taken away from the club by a cop's car that pulled up. I had called the cops.

A cab pulled by to pick her. I didn't want her going home alone.

“Do not worry, My driver will take you home” I said to ner. She flinched and moved away from me. I felt so angry and sad.

"Thank you," she said as she slipped into the cab with a weary smile.

As soon as she departed, I made my way into the club. Sam had just finished his call as I took a seat, recounting every detail of what had transpired.

"Seriously? Tiny's getting fired tonight." Sam's expression darkened with anger, his resolve evident as he marched towards the backstage area, determined to address the matter.

I passed my hand through my hair. A habit that I had began.

I needed to get laid tonight. Trixie could wait.

I moved into the VIP section and after I was settled a knock came and a girl came in. She knelt and unbuckled my belt.

I suddenly stopped her and she looked up at me with a questioning look on her face.

"Leave, now," I said to her. My voice was very low and tired.

"What? why? Are you serious right now" She gaped at me with confusion written all over her face.

"Yes, now go!" I said firmly.

She stood and stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind her.

I knew that she was angry but I just lost whatever it was that I had. I rushed out to my car and headed home.

What ran through my head was the fact I needed someone to go with me to my family's yearly gathering. I had to find someone and very fast.