Chapter 2:

As he left the room, a lot of thoughts kept playing in his head. He couldn’t help but wonder who this woman is who not only took the initiative to seduce the president but was successful with it. Because right from time, Edmond has always known his boss to be very choosy, especially when he gets to his women. And not once have he gotten intimate with anyone because of his strange temper.

At first, when Edmond first got to learn of this fact, he found it hard to believe because he thought how a thirty-two years old man would still be innocent and never been intimate with a woman before. But after serving him for so long, he came to realize that it was the truth.

But today, that record has been broken. And never in his wildest dream did he imagine that Jason's first time would be broken this way! That's why when he heard the news, Edmond was so shocked that he rushed down very early this morning. And when he glanced at the bed, it was enough proof that what he heard was in fact true!

He panicked, his heart pounding as he trembled with fear that it felt like his hair was about to stand up. Neither he nor his men knew that when their boss gets drunk, this kind of thing would happen because of his strange temper that they all know he has.

And now, Edmond is perplexed because he has no idea what is going on through his boss's head, but from the look on his face he could tell that whatever it is, it isn't a good one.

*******

Two days later.

The carnival of the night show began, and every corner she turned inside the Cubana strip club was filled with people dancing to the loud music that was being played. The music was so loud that Mia was forced to cover her ears with her hands, as she lowered her body making her way through the crowds filled with sweaty people dancing as she headed backstage.

She never likes coming to such a place, and neither is she here to strip dance or watch others do it. She is here because of her best friend, Isabella whom she most times addresses as Bella. Isabella and Mia have been friends since high school down to college. They were classmates in high school for three years, and were also lucky to be admitted to the same college, and stayed in the same dormitory.

But although they were in the same college, their majors were different.

Mia studied costume design, while Isabella was a dance major. Back when they were in high school, Isabella has always loved to dance and never missed any opportunity to flaunt her dance moves. After graduating, she recently found a job in this club and she accepted the offer without hesitating because they pay well and she is in dire need of lots of money to pay off the gambling debts owed by her father.

Working in the Cubana strip club provides her with the money she needs without any stress to her because Isabella happens to be an expert in pole dancing and striptease, or any other sexy and hot dances you can think of..

A few days ago, Mia received a call from her. And over the phone, she was crying because her costume was very damaged. So Mia offered to help because she knows how important her job is to her and without her costume Isabella won't be able to work and that means no money for that day which is a huge loss to her, since her father owes a lot of money.

Being a major in fashion design, and working in a fashion design company, it was easy for Mia to cut and sew her dress.

Immediately she was done with the dress, Mia hurried over after work to give it to her because that's what she will be using to perform tonight that's why she is rushing to get backstage. Any moment from now, it will be Isabella's turn to dance.

When Mia finally got to the backstage, she saw beautiful women already in their costumes. Some had already performed, while some are still yet to. The backstage was filled with performers running around, some were applying their makeup, while some were still getting dressed.

After taking her eyes off them, she quickly glanced around searching for her friend but there was no trace of her. She decided to call her mobile number, but she did not answer her phone and Mia became worried because she did not answer her phone too when she was calling her earlier after she got off work.

At that moment, one of the dancers was coming towards her direction, so Mia decided to ask her if she had seen her friend today.

"Hello, please have you seen Bella anywhere?"

"Bella?" The dancer's eyebrows arch confusingly. "Who is that?"

"Sorry, I mean Isabella." She corrected herself immediately. "She works here-"

"Oh, Isabella. Yes I have seen her, but why are you asking?" She stared at her blankly.

"I'm her friend, my name is Mia and I came here to give her this costume she would be using to perform tonight." She raised the medium size bag containing the costume. "Please can you tell me where she is, it's very urgent."

"Oh," She purr, battering her extension lashes as she eyed her from head to toe as if saying 'someone like her is not meant to be in a place like this,' before slowing pointing straight ahead.

Mia followed her hand, and there she saw her friend who was lying on the make up table in front of a corner mirror in the dressing room.

She muttered, "Thank you." Before hurrying over to meet her friend.

Upon getting to her, she said softly. "Bella, I have brought you your clothes-" but stopped abruptly when she saw her weak appearance. Isabella's face was pale, and there were beads of cold sweat on her forehead, she became worried. "What's wrong, are you not feeling well?" As she spoke, her right hand extended forward to touch her forehead, she wanted to see if Isabella had a fever.

But Isabella shook her head and said weakly, "Mia baby, I'm glad you're here. And thank you for bringing my costume in time." She managed to smile but Mia could see how difficult it was for her.

"What's wrong, you look sick but you don't seem to have a fever."

"That's because it's my stomach that's hurting..." She said weakly.

At this moment, the man who ran the shift took the walkie-talkie, hurried over towards them, and said, "Doll, I said what's wrong with you! I have been calling you to get on the stage, you're next-" He stopped abruptly as he screamed in shock. "Ah! Why aren't you dressed yet? Hurry up and get dressed, you're next after her." He pointed towards another dancer who seemed eager to get on stage. Having said that, he left their side and ran to inform the next one.

But Isabella's face became whiter. And suddenly, she grasped Mia's wrist, and her eyes were filled with pleading eyes, as she spoke softly. "Mia, please can you do me another tiny favor?"

"Yes, sure, anything. Please tell me."

"Can you dance in my place-" Mia gasped, and subconsciously her hands slipped out of Isabella's grip.

"Please Mia, help me out. You know I can't miss one, otherwise, I won't get this month's salary according to the contract."

"But Bella, you know how I feel about doing this sort of dance-"

"Please, I'm on my knees. I wouldn't have asked you to fill in for me, but no one agreed to help me when I asked them. Right now, you're my last hope. Please say you will help me-"

"B.. But what if I make a mistake-"

"No you won't. I know you dance well, I have seen it with my eyes, and I know you know this too."

"Yes I do, but I don't dance in public most especially in places like this-"

"Please Mia, don't say no. I need this month's salary to pay off some of my father's gambling debts.”

When Mia heard this and saw the tears in her friend's eyes, her eyes were filled with sadness, her lips trembled, and she couldn't say no anymore.

Ten Minutes Later.

The light of the stage deemed, and on the dance pole appeared a young girl, wearing a small black dress with black long edges, revealing a seductive figure underneath, and under the illumination of the light, her skin like the white of her teeth revealed an inner beauty radiance, like a seductive luster.

As she appeared on the stage, her appearance triggered the attention of the audience. And when she began to dance, soft gasp erupted from their lips as she moved her hips seductively. Her dance move was hot and provocative, but what made it eye-catching was the purity in her moves as she moved effortlessly, with so much grace..

And everyone present in the audience could not take their eyes off her.

Mia became the center of attention as she danced. Yes Isabella was right, she does have a foundation in dance. And watching her friend dance all these years improved her dance skills because once she has seen a dance move a few times it is enough for her to learn. And Mia has watched her friend dance many times.

But as she dances to the slow music, she becomes self conscious because everyone's eyes are on her, and she doesn't like being watched by many people like this. And also she feels uncomfortable in the costume because it's too revealing for her liking, and as she moved it felt like it would fall off her body.

Feeling uncomfortable, Mia was tempted to stop dancing but her friend's face popped up in her head.

She remembered Isabella's earnest plea before she took the stage, and that made her change her mind. Then she decided to give it her all so that her friend will get paid for this month.

As Mia danced, she remembered what her friend had told her, that she had to laugh as she jumped. So although she was nervous, and very afraid and shy in her heart, Mia suppressed her feelings and she forced herself to laugh, making her look confident as she jumped, and danced on the pole.

As she danced, she could hear the audience cheering her on, and she kept laughing hard as she jumped. But Mia did not know that it was her beautiful smile that matched her flirtatious and provocative movements that was having a strong effect on them..

And then out of the blue, a man shouted. "Undress.." and she had no idea where it came from. So she chose to ignore, but soon everyone joined in and they said in unison.

"Undress! Undress!!"

When Mia heard this, she became flustered. Although her dance was hot and provocative, it wasn't stripteases and in her heart she knows this. But she thought the people were cool with it because they were cheering her on.

But as the audience voice became louder echoing the same thing, "Undress!" Mia panicked and her eyes were filled with shame as she kept on jumping but this time faster. She just wanted to finish the dance and get the hell out of the stage.

But the people did not stop shouting, "Undress!" Even when they saw how nervous she had become. Their voices only got louder and louder, but Mia chose to ignore them and it seemed to upset them because they became violent.

As they were about to start throwing things at her, a group of men dressed in formal clothes appeared from nowhere and surrounded the whole room starting from the stage with very fast and unified movements.

But Mia had no idea what was happening because she closed her eyes in an attempt to block the angry audience request from her head. She just kept dancing and dancing, waiting for when her time on the stage would finally be over.

"Get out of our sight and stop blocking our view!" The audience screamed at the men in black but Mia thought it was her their statement was directed at.

She wanted to obey their request but then she remembered Isabella's words when she said she is only allowed to leave the stage when her time is up. So she continued dancing, and didn't bother opening her eyes until she heard suddenly,

"All stand!"

Mia froze in fear thinking it was the cops. She tightened her eyes close, and her body started trembling.

"Now stand up, and turn. No one is allowed to look at the stage."

Upon hearing this, the people were shocked at first, but suddenly they started laughing after stealing glances at each other.

"Why, who are you and why will we listen to you? Get out of our sight!" They chorus in unison, all the while Mia kept trembling in fear and refused to open her eyes.

But when the sound of a gun shot was heard, loud gasps filled the room and then the audience understood that they were not joking and they were all in shock.

While the audience was still or in shock, another gunshot was fired, shattering one of the lights that was in the center of the stage.

Everyone present screamed madly, in chaos.

At this time, Mia had stopped the dance movements, and she stood stiff on the stage even more overwhelmed, with eyes wide open.

'What's going on here?' She glanced around in fear, taking in the strange men in black that surrounded the whole room.

And the low man's voice came again, "All turn your backs, not allowed to look back, and get out!"

This time, no one was questioning it. And they all left quietly, except for Mia who was still struck with fear.