I closed my eyes nervously, exhaling and inhaling. Even though I knew I had been doing this for some weeks, my legs still felt too heavy to walk me. I had danced several times, I practice ballet and I was absolutely incredible at it but tonight I was going to be dancing as a stripper in front of men old enough to be my father.
I felt knots tie in my stomach and I wanted to puke. I wished I could be anywhere but here but I just couldn't make my wish a reality. It took every self restraint in me not to cry out in frustration and anger. Ever since our parents died months ago, it has just been only I and Anabel, my younger sister fending for each other.
Life was extremely tough especially when we had to settle a debt of seven hundred thousand that was loaned by my gambling father from a crime boss.
When he was alive, he never brought us peace and now he was dead and we still don't have peace as we are left to cover up his disgusting tracks.
I just wondered why mum had to join him in death.
Anabel was the only family I had, I took up this job to fend for her and myself and also pay of our father's debt but time was running out and so did our anxiety increase. By the day I worked in a ballet hall with my crew, dancing decently and performing for people and by night I worked as a stripper. I had applied for so many other well paying jobs but I was never employed. Even though, I had been in this stripper occupation for weeks, I truly couldn't believe the sort of occupation I had to engage in to make ends meet and pay off my father's debt.
"Why aren't you ready yet princess?" Betty, my work colleague called out to me snapping me out of my reverie as she entered into the dressing room.
I didn't even realise I was alone in the magnificent dressing room and I wasn't also ready to do the work I had to get accustomed to.
I gave her a faint smile. "I'll soon be ready"
The red haired lady gave me a broad smile and pinched my cheek slight.
Out off all my colleagues she was the nicest.
"Look darling I know you didn't want to be in this sort of business but you just have to come to terms with it. Food aren't goanna fall from heaven you know. You got to stand and work. Now let me help you put on some make up" she said with a grin.
I allowed her work her magic on my face. By the time she was done, I looked so radiating that I could barely recognise myself whilst I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
"You are really so talented Betty" I complimented. She flipped her hair and winked at me.
Suddenly the door swung opened roughly and two other lady walked inside, perspiration covering their tanned skins.
"Mirabel , what are you still doing here? The men are eagerly waiting for your performance" Claire, one of the ladies, chided before taking off her wig and slumping down on a king-sized sofa.
For a strip club, I had to admit this place was oozing pure luxury. The building was magnificent, sometimes I wondered who owned it.
"Boss is here today and there must be no mistakes and sloppy performances" Violetta, the second lady, chorused as she eyed me from up to down like I was infected with leprosy.
"Chill bae!" Betty said with a sigh.
"Mirabel has never messed up and she won't. Stop being so hard on the poor girl" Betty added with a frown.
"Mirabel!" she began turning to face me.
"You will do great ok. Go over there and show them what you are made off"
I truly liked Betty.
I took in deep breaths trying to calm the torrents of nervousness coursing through me and stared at my appearance in the mirror. I stared at my nude self from my laced underpants to my white lingerie and dagger heels. Then my eyes darted to my face and the breath-taking make up Betty applied on it.
Yup. I truly looked like a certified stripper. My one wish was that Anabel wouldn't join this line of profession with me.
"Once you go out there baby, free your mind and relax. You look so tensed. Do your thing and get the money flowing" Betty urged with a chortle.
I gulped and nodded my head.
I opened the door but not before giving her a soft smile whilst the other two girls exchanged glares at me.
I truly had no idea why they didn't like me.
I began walking down the narrow walk way .
Loud defeaning music and the rush from the crowd could be heard from the hall.
I approached it briskly. Once I got to the wine coloured closed curtains, I took in deep breaths and tried relaxing myself.
Soon enough the curtain were pulled opened revealing a hall bustling with life. Loud music was blasting from all corners of the hall. Some men were dancing shamelessly with multiple women and endless swarm of waiters buzzing around filled the entire atmosphere with the stench of sex, drugs and alcohol.
I had no time to stop and think as I was already on the stage with poles sprouting out of them.
A new song was played by the dj and the crowd went noisy, cheering and expecting me to dance whilst feeding their eyes on my body. The men were yelling for me to strip myself naked. I felt like running back but I couldn't.