The Masked Stranger
1195 Words
Still in my suit, I watched her step into the room. The lighting made it hard to see her face, but her body… it commanded attention. Her lingerie clung to her curves, showing off her chest and hips in a way that made my pulse quicken.
I slipped off my heels and unclasped my chain, moving slow. My hands went to my neck, tugging the strap of my lingerie until my chest was bare.
Lucian leaned forward, impatience in his eyes.
“What is this? If you’re going to strip, do it properly. Don’t waste my time.”
I swallowed hard.
“Sir… I know you’re paying a lot, but I can’t take off more than I already have. I’m not a regular stripper. I just…” My voice cracked, and I stopped before the tears spilled.
His tone turned sharp.
“Are you doing it or not?”
I stayed silent, shame and fear twisting in my stomach.
“You know what’s pathetic?” Lucian said, eyes cold. “Trying to act pure when you’re already living dirty. Stripping for men who see you as nothing but a body.”
The words cut deep, and my tears fell before I could stop them.
“Sir…” I whispered.
“Go get a life,” he snapped. “If you can’t even strip right, you don’t belong here.”
I blinked fast, trying not to break down.
“I’ll do it,” I whispered. I needed the money. Desperately. Thoughts of what was waiting at home pushed me forward.
But he straightened his suit and said, “Too late. I’m not interested anymore.” And with that, he walked out.
I stood there for a second, stunned, before heading back to the dressing room.
Sophia eyes went wide when she saw me.
“Isa? What the hell are you doing here? Do you even know what you’re getting into? This isn’t the life I want for you!”
“Sophia, I couldn’t just sit by. He was going to throw my family out of the house,” I said. “I don’t regret it… not yet.”
She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward her car.
“Did he touch you? Hurt you?”
“No. Dominic said he paid $5,000 just to talk to me. He wanted me to strip, but I couldn’t. And when I finally got the courage… that arrogant bastard walked out after tearing me apart with his words.”
“Did you see his face?”
“No. But he had a strong build and piercing eyes. His mask covered the rest.”
She gave a small laugh. “When a man wears a mask here, it means he’s powerful and doesn’t want his name in the gossip columns. But… Isa, did you sign anything at the club?”
“Yes… I wasn’t thinking”
“Sh*t!” she cursed. “You shouldn’t have done that. Now you belong to the club. Stay away for now. I’ll talk to Dominic. I’ll find a way to get you out.”
“I love you, Sophia.”
“I love you too, my best girl.” She pulled me into a hug, and I finally let the tears come.
Later that night, the landlord called.
“I saw the money. Glad you came to your senses, dear. I’m off your back,” Mr Carter said smugly. I hung up without a word.
I went straight to the shower, crying as the water hit my skin.
“He called me dirty… that man called me dirty,” I sobbed.
When I stepped out, Alejandra was waiting in my room.
“What is it, Alejandra?” I asked, startled.
“Dad said you paid the rent. The landlord informed us. So… can you also pay for my dance classes?” she asked softly.
“Alejandra, I know you’re a teenager, and after what happened with Mom, you don’t”
“I don’t want to talk about Mom,” she cut in. “I want my dance classes. Can you pay or not? Why do we have to be so poor?”
Her words hit hard. “We’re poor because that’s life! Stop making things harder for me! I’m losing myself, Alejandra. Stop it!” I shouted.
“I hate it!” she cried. “I hate that you and Dad lie to me! I hate that you kill yourself trying to make things work while I do nothing! And it hurts that I hate everything about life!”
“I want to give you the best. This wasn’t the plan…”
“Mom left us! And I know the truth. I hate that you hide it to protect her.”
“You were too little”
“I’m still little, Isa. And it’s not my fault I can’t be happy,” she whispered before storming out.
I sat on my bed, tears blurring my vision.
**At the Monroe Mansion**
Patricia stepped out of the bathroom in a silk robe, lighting a cigarette.
“Leo, massage,” she ordered.
“I asked Zeus to come tonight. What’s going on with my nephew?”
“He’ll arrive soon, ma’am.”
Zeus walked in.
“Aunt,” he greeted.
“Leave us, Leo.”
“I got your message, but I don’t understand why you’re obsessed with finding a woman for Monroe. He’s only in his thirties. He’ll settle down eventually.”
“When? He’s more hostile than ever. The bond between him and his brother Lucas is ruined. And Martin’s circling the family fortune. The only way he can’t take it is if Monroe marries and produces an heir before the year ends,” Jessica said, pouring wine.
“Does Lucian know you and Martin had an affair”
“Heavens, no. If he found out… it would destroy him. He adored his father. I sacrificed so much to raise those boys. I won’t let that man ruin everything.”
Patricia tossed a folder onto the table.
“Find me one of your club girls. Not famous. Someone easy to control.”
Zeus flipped the folder open, frowning.
“That’s dangerous. Why not just convince him to marry?”
Patricia’s eyes narrowed.
“My son, Lucian Monroe the one I brought into this world looked me dead in the eye and said he’d rather die than give me an heir.”
Zeus leaned back. “Funny thing… last night, I heard he paid to see a girl at the club. Didn’t touch her though. She wore a mask.”
Patricia’s lips curled into a slow smile.
“That’s the one I want. Make her mine. Use whatever she cares about against her. If she’s from a poor family, even better.”
“Aunt…” Zeus hesitated.
“We’re the Monroes,” she cut him off. “We own the law.”
Zeus let out a resigned sigh. “Consider it done.”
Patricia took a slow drag from her cigarette, the smoke curling around her face as she smirked.
“Interested in a stripper? How low, Monroe… how very low. Which makes it perfect.”
- Writer
