Page 10 of Anastasia

“What time is she coming in for her audition?” I raised a brow.

“Noon.”

“Is she a natural blonde?” I asked curiously. There was nothing more I disliked than woman who tried too hard to be something they weren’t.

“I believe so, sir.”

Good. She was different, and I’d be a liar to say she didn’t pique my interest, which meant she would easily grasp the attention of every man in my club. With a smirk, I allowed myself to look at her one more time before handing the file back to Valerio.

“What’s her name?” I asked.

He smiled gently before taking the file from my hand. “Anastasia.”

Anastasia

“Where are you going?” Alex asked.

My sister had a gift for telling when someone was lying, but that didn’t stop me from filling in every blank with a fib. I knew telling her the truth would tempt her to try to talk me out of it. So, with all of that in mind, I plastered on a fake smile as I leaned down to kiss her on top of her head.

“I have a job interview today,” I answered.

Alex nodded her head slowly just as I was beginning to pull away. What she didn’t know was that I was wearing lacy pink lingerie under my outfit. Janice had let me have it since it was too small for her, and it served as a reminder of what I would have to do.

“Why are you getting a different job? I thought you liked working at the diner. Lord knows I miss the food you always used to bring home,” she said, laughing slightly. I looked down at her and tried to conceal my every emotion. As much as she tried to hide it, she looked drained.

“I want a second job,” I muttered.

“What? I thought you were going to go back to school and work on a degree. I hope you’re not getting a second job because of me, Nana. I promise that as soon as I am done and out of here, I’ll help pay for everything. I’m tired of you having to sacrifice so much for me and Mum,” Alex said, a sternness shedding off her tone.

I was sure she didn’t want me to notice how her eyelids drooped, blinking long and slow. I knew she was drifting off to sleep.

“Go to sleep, Alex. I’ll be back,” I told her.

She was nodding her head slowly. I gave her one last sad smile before walking out of the hospital room.

The first thing I noticed was Alexandria’s oncologist. He seemed busy talking to a family, but then he momentarily made eye contact with me. It looked as though he had something to tell me, but he was forced to turn his eyes back to the couple.

Walking out of the hospital, I hurriedly made my way to my car. I didn’t want him to follow me because I was too afraid of what he might tell me.

* * *

Lookingaround the dimly lit club, I quickly noticed that it wasn’t packed with too many people. A girl was dancing on the pole in nothing but a pair of panties, and a few men were standing around watching her. My face flushed I was watched them, wondering if that will one day be me up there. The music was soft and the sound of glasses clinking together echoed through the room.

I turned back to the bartender. She had her black hair up in a high ponytail and lips painted in red lipstick. I could only watch as she began to walk toward me.

“Anastasia?” she questioned, a smirk lifting the side of her face as she gave my body a once-over. I watched as she nodded her head in acceptance of my physical appearance.

“I’m assuming you’re the woman I spoke to on the phone,” I replied.

“Yes, the name’s Kayla. Walk with me, I’ll be taking you to the employment director,” she declared. Kayla didn’t even provide me with the chance to say anything as she turned around and began to walk me backstage. I hurried behind her, just before the automatic door could close. The hallways seemed to last forever. It took a good couple of minutes before we finally made it to a door. She twisted the doorknob and opened it up.

“Valerio, it’s that new girl we were talking about,” Kayla said.

I stepped into the room to see a man with chestnut blond hair. The room was empty for the most part. A stripper pole was centered in the middle of the room with a few seats and couches surrounding it. I was sure the room was used for parties. I glanced up toward the stripper pole. My heart sank at the realization that I was actually going to do this.

“Okay, Kayla, you may leave,” he urged her.

She sent a small smile my way, whispering lightly, “Good luck.” I gazed at her until the door shut, leaving us inside of a room all by ourselves.

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