The Billionaire’s Stripper

“I didn’t kill your parents so just let me be!” Those words echoed in Elena’s head as she crouched in a corner of her dorm room. Her mouth was covered with her hands, tiny sobs still managing to escape. She raised her head up to look around her. The room containing her and seven other teenage girls was currently dark. Luckily, all the girls were still sleeping- her sounds of pain hadn’t woken them up. Feeling numb in her feet due to crouching for so long, she tried to get up. Careful not to make a sound, she tiptoed to her bed. “Elena, is that you? It’s almost 2am for heaven’s sake, stop being so loud.” “I’m sorry,” Elena mumbled then bit her lip. She understood them. She was being loud. She was distracting. Everything about her was. Having both her parents tragically die, she had no choice but to move to the orphanage. She didn’t really come from the most loving household but she realized she was going to be moving to an orphanage, she at least hoped to feel wanted. Orphanages were for kids like her, weren’t they? Kids who were lonely and felt abandoned. Kids who didn’t have parents anymore. If that was the case then why did she feel different? Ever since her first day, the kids looked at her differently. They weren’t full of smiles when she was introduced to them. If anything, they looked totally unaccommodating and seemed to just want her gone. “Hello, kids. This is Elena. Her parents are dead so she’ll be staying with us from now on.” She recalled her dorm mistress words. Technically, they weren’t kids. She at least wasn’t a kid. She was fourteen and all the kids around seemed like they all belonged to the same age group. She remembered looking up to her dorm mistress with pitiful eyes. Her parents were truly dead but there was something about the way the dorm mistress put it that made her heart ache. The dorm mistress didn’t care though as she violently grabbed her by the shoulders and made her sit among the kids. That marked the beginning. Though Elena had never had to live in an orphanage or with kids she wasn’t familiar with, she expected the kids and her dorm mistress to be kind to her. However, it was the complete opposite as it seemed like everything she did managed to get on their nerves. Thanks to the structure of the orphanage, she spent most of her time in her dorm. They went to school together and on getting back, returned to their dorms. The dorms felt extremely lonely to her and having to spend most of her time in it, the loneliness grew on her. At school, she was the girl whose parents were dead. The other kids from the orphanage at school were just tagged as kids from the orphanage while she got the tag of the girl with dead parents. They teased her, made fun of her and didn’t want to associate with her. She could never forget the very first time she got into a fight at school. She was getting teased by a classmate and a girl from the dorm about having dead parents and it had gotten on her nerves. “So what if my parents are dead?” Elena fired at her. “Yours are probably just as dead too that’s why you also stay at the orphanage!” “Is that what you’ve been told?” the girl, Annabelle, replied. They were never friends but Elena never forgot her name. Annabelle laughed and moved closer to Elena. “Nope. My parents aren’t dead. My mum is ill and my dad is abroad for some business trip that’s taking a lot of his time and attention. That’s why I’m here not like you who is here because you killed your two parents!” Though her words stung, Elena wasn’t going to show it to her. “What?” Elena laughed. A laughter laced with immense sadness. “Is that what you’ve been told your whole life? That’s just a lie told to you. Your parents just like mine are DEAD but you’re too dumb to-” “NO THEY ARE NOT DEAD YOU MURDERER!” Annabelle yelled in response and grabbed Elena’s hair. In a few seconds, there was an uproar as both of them were pulling each other’s hair and screaming at each other. They were called to the dorm mistress’ office on getting back to the orphanage and as Annabelle cried cause of the supposed pain Elena inflicted on her during the fight, Elena cried because of the unexplainable pain she felt in her chest as she remembered her words. “You’re just fifteen,” the dorm mistress said. “Why do you keep causing trouble? Do you want to get yourself in trouble? Do you want to go to jail?” “She said I killed my parents!” Elena raised her voice. She never raised her voice when talking to her dorm mistress but at that moment, her emotions had taken over. “She called me a murderer!” “And you decided to prove it to her by almost killing her?!” “I-” Elena stuttered. She shut her mouth and gave up trying to talk on seeing Annabelle’s face. She was no longer crying. Her face now screamed pleasure with the dorm mistress all over asking about her non-existent pain. “Apologize to her this instant.” Elena could barely believe her ears. She was the one in pain, how couldn’t she see it? How could she not see the smile on Annabelle’s face? How could she not see she was just pretending? “This instant!” Her loud voice caused Elena to shudder. She looked up to see her dorm mistress glaring at her as she impatiently waited for a reply. “I…I didn’t do anything wrong,” she dared to say. “You did,” the dorm mistress replied her. “You hurt Annabelle. How could you say her parents were dead? Are you that jealous of having parents? That’s a very bad behavior.” “I-” “Just apologize already,” her dorm mistress looked away. “You should know your place.” She was fifteen but was smarter than her age. She recognized the look on the dorm mistress’ face as she uttered her final words. It was a look that wasn’t going to change. A look that meant her words were final. A look that meant she had lost.​ “I’m sorry,” head hung low, she finally said those words. Ever since then, it became a regular phrase to her. She apologized daily. She apologized for everything- For living with them, for existing, for everything. A tear slipped down her eyes as she recalled the memories she had desperately been trying to get out of her head. She rolled in her bed, her eyes catching the attention of the wall clock hung in the room. It was almost 3am. She watched the hands of the clock move and as she ticked along with the clock, she dreaded the next tick. In about four hours it was going to be time to get up and continue living in the dreaded environment. She clocked eighteen few hours ago. Not like anyone cared but it was soon going to be time for them to care. Once she clocked nineteen, she was going to be made to leave the orphanage. Her eyes flew open as an idea crossed her mind. She hated it at the orphanage. Her days were hell and her nights were torture to her as they were the only time she was able to breathe and yet they seemed so short. She mentally counted the hours she had till night during the day and at nights, she watched the clock tick into the day. Acting on the thought that crossed her mind, she got up from her bed. Her legs roamed the floor looking for her flip flops. She found them, put them on and turned. As she turned, her hip hit a table, a mirror falling to the floor with a loud bang. “Elena!” “I’m sorry,” she quickly said. Watching the girl grunt and then turn in her bed, Elena smiled. It was going to be her last apology to them. Not caring if she made a sound, she walked through the room and made it to the door. She turned the door knob, looked at the sleeping girls one more time and left the room. She walked down the stairs, confident everyone was going to be asleep. It was still midnight and thus, the only source of light illuminating the hallways was from the moon coming from the open windows. She was able to successfully leave the dorm building without anyone noticing. Not looking back, she proceeded to the orphanage’s main entrance. Not stopping, her steps doubled and in no time she was out of the orphanage. Leaving to never return. --- Life outside the orphanage wasn’t as Elena expected. It was hard. Harder than she expected but she didn’t regret fleeing the orphanage. There was no regular breakfast, lunch or dinner. She had no savings or money. It was just her left to find anything to eat and anywhere to stay. She was lucky enough to get a part-time job at a grocery store few days after fleeing. The pay was terrible but the owner was nice enough to let her spend the nights in the store. At night it became her Haven and during the day she roamed the streets looking for any means of survival. “Elena?” Elena looked up from the counter to meet the store owner walking in. Quickly putting the change she got from the last customer into the drawer, she wiped her hands and walked to meet her. “Good evening, ma’am,” Elena greeted Mrs. Williams, the store owner. She had told her several times to stop addressing her so formally but Elena just couldn’t. She was more than a boss to her. She was a savior. “I wasn’t expecting you today.” “I didn’t mean to come either,” she dropped her bag on the counter. “Just came to see you.” “Oh.” “Its 9pm already, isn’t it?” She turned to look at the door. “Isn’t it time for you to lock the store?” “It is,” Elena rushed to the door to flip the sign that said ‘Open.’ “I was just about to.” “Okay,” Mrs. Williams replied. “Don’t lock it though. I just want to talk to you briefly.” “Oh, okay,” Elena said slowly as she watched her take a seat on the only vacant bench in the store. She took the cue and sat next to her. “How are you?” Elena looked up to her. Though Mrs. Williams was an amazing woman, she rarely asked her that question. Maybe because she knew and dreaded the answer. “Fine,” Elena flashed a smile. It was fake but couldn’t be helped regardless. “Fine.” “How have things been going on with you?” Mrs. Williams asked, smiling in return. “How is everything? You’ve been working here for a while now. It’s been about three years, right?” Elena’s heart skipped multiple beats. “Yes, ma’am. It’s my third year now.” “Wow that’s a long time,” she playfully hit Elena on the shoulder. “I remember when I first got you to work here. It has been a while.” Elena simply nodded in response. “You were such a young and willing to work girl,” she continued. “And have being hardworking ever since.” “It’s all thanks to your kindness ma’am.” Mrs. Williams nodded then exhaled. “Um, how do I put this? Elena-“ Elena watched her struggle with words as she blinked continuously. Was that it? Was it finally time? “You said you were saving up, weren’t you?” Mrs. Williams changed her tone. “How has that been going? Have you been able to save quite an amount?” Elena shook her head and exhaled. She barely had any savings. All the peanuts she made ended up going to her feeding and well-being. She was broke. So broke she could barely afford a room apartment for herself to live in. “A little,” she replied her. She was being honest. It was a little. A very little amount. “Well,” Mrs. Williams placed her hand on Elena’s thighs. “You know you can’t work here forever, right?” Elena nodded in response. “The thing is, me and my husband are relocating and amongst our buildings that got sold is this one,” she finally dropped the bomb. “Meaning you’ll have to move out and quit working here soon.” “Oh,” Elena felt a heavy feeling in her chest. “That’s… sudden.” “Not really,” she squeezed Elena’s thigh. “That’s why I came here this late to tell you. I didn’t want it to be sudden so I came here to tell you immediately I found out.” “Oh,” a lot of emotions were running through Elena, she just couldn’t think of the right words to say. “Okay. So, um, until when do I have?” “About a month,” she replied. “There’s still close to a month for you to get yourself ready.” “Alright,” Elena nodded. “Thanks for informing me. Thanks. For everything, Mrs. Williams.” She was grateful. A month was a long time. It was going to be more than enough time for her to mentally prepare herself for her next time in life. Truthfully, she had no idea what she was going to do next. She had left the orphanage three years ago with no backup plan and had been doing just anything to survive. Her life wasn’t one with a plan. She just went along with anything life threw at her. “Don’t mention it,” Mrs. Williams flashed her a sympathetic smile and rose to her feet. “I have to go now, it’s getting late. Don’t forget to lock the store properly.” “Sure. Good night, ma’am.” Watching Mrs. Williams leave, Elena sighed. She turned off the store’s light, locked it and stepped outside. Elena sat on a bench few meters away from the grocery store. The store was located in one of the bubbliest areas of the city where night fell very late. The bench she sat on was also rarely empty. It always housed couples, college students and on days when luck was in her favor, Elena. Taking a swig out of the soda she got herself with the tips earned from the day’s job, she looked around her. She watched cars roam the busy streets. People were also scattered around it, some casually standing while some were busy walking around. There were street lights at the corners, teaming up with the headlight from cars and stores to light up the environment. It was a really lively atmosphere. “Hey, pretty!” Elena didn’t need to move an inch to know where the attempt to get her attention was coming from. In front of her was a black Mercedes pulled over. The window was rolled down and she could see a guy with dark shades on looking out. “Pretty?” “You do know you can be fined for pulling over here, right?” she leaned forward to reply him. “And that’s a fancy car you have there. I don’t think you want anything happening to it or you.” “This baby?” his arm went to the back of his seat and he pat it. “Nothing can happen to it or me.” “Great then,” she took another swig of her soda and looked away. With the corner of her eye, she watched him roll his window up and zoom up. “What a showoff,” she shook her head as she watched his car get out of her sight. She raised her can to take another swig, groaning as she realized it was empty. “Do you mind me replacing that?” Elena looked up to meet the guy from few minutes ago standing in front of her with arms stretched showing a new can of the soda she was drinking. “What?” “Your drink,” he gestured with his arms. “It’s empty. Don’t you want a new one?” “Why do you care if I want a new one or not?” “Because,” he sat next to her without her permission. “I could see it kept your company. And I don’t like seeing pretty girls lonely.” “What?” she was taken aback by his words. Pretty? Pretty girl? She had almost never been called pretty her whole life. With short brown hair, brown eyes and fair skin, she considered herself to be anything but pretty. She was in the most regular t-shirt and had moderately ripped jeans on. “Why do you look so surprised?” he laughed then placed the can of soda on the space between them. “Why?” “What’s your deal?” “Nothing extreme,” he seemed to have a way with his words. “Like I said earlier, I just don’t like seeing pretty girls lonely.” “Pre-pretty girls?” she almost stuttered. “Oh, please. And you seem to be mistaken, I’m not lonely.” “What are you doing here then?” he leaned forward to ask. “It’s quite late already. Aren’t you going to go home?” “Home?” she unconscious scoffed at the word. “I don’t have that.” “Oh, no,” she quickly said as she realized what she said. “Don’t mind me. That-“ “It’s fine,” he adjusted his sitting position. “Allow me properly introduce myself to you. I’m Tyler.” “Elena,” she eyed his stretched hand for a while before shaking it. “I’m Elena.” “So Elena,” he stared directly at her. “What can I help you with?” “What?” she asked. He was staring directly at her, not shifting his gaze. She stared back at him finally taking her time to observe him. He was dressed in a black suit with his black hair combed to shine. “Just name it,” he continued. “You’re an extremely attractive lady and it would be a shame to let you slip through my fingers just like that.” “What do you mean?” she was beginning to feel uncomfortable but at the same time couldn’t help but wonder what he really meant. “I’m a business man and as that I’m quite greedy when it comes to profitable things.” “Profitable things?” Elena was confused. “Oh, is this about the grocery store? I understand you guys have to buy it so you don’t really have to do much of explaining to me.” “Oh you’re about to lose your grocery store?” the corner of his lips slowly curved into a smirk. “Oh well.” “What is this about?” “Work,” he replied. “Business. I’m here to give you an offer.” Elena shifted in her seat. “What type of offer?” “An offer that will change your life forever,” he continued. “How much do you make from this grocery store? I promise you over a tenfold. All you have to do is work for me.” “What?” Elena almost stuttered. “Over a tenfold? What is that?” His gaze was unchanging. He looked extremely serious, confusing Elena. “You must think I’m a joke,” Elena hissed then looked away. “Go find someone else to tease. I’m not in the mood.” “You think it’s a joke?” he laughed lightly. “Fine then.” Elena turned to see if he had left only to watch him pull out a wad of cash from his pocket and slam it next to her. “There,” he said watching Elena stare hungrily at the wad of cash in front of her. “There. It’s all yours.” “What- What are you doing?” “And that’s barely half of the amount I’m going to be offering you if you agree to work with me.” Elena looked at the money in front of her. Her fingers itched to grab it. It was much. Much more than she’d ever set her eyes on. Much more than all her savings combined. “What’s… this job of yours?” “It’s simple,” he clapped his hands. “You just have to work in my club.” “Your club?” her mind was already far away. She was already thinking of a million things she could do with such money. “To work as waitress? Or a bar girl?” “Of course not,” he smirked. “I’m a business man. I try to maximize my profit in every manner.” “Then…what?” “You’ll work in my club,” he turned to look away for a while before returning his gaze to her. “As a stripper.”