Their Submissive Assistant

Just have a little faith

LEILANI

It’s been one week since I was fired from Lustrous.

One week of hitting the streets of New York daily without fail, in search of a job. With every rejection, and my growing need for money, I was a step away from losing it.

After a long day of job hunting and interviews, I decided to visit my mother in the hospital. I stepped into the hospital feeling exhausted with life in general.

“Leila!” I heard my name from the lobby and stopped.

One of the nurses who attended to my mother approached me with a smile. “I was wondering when you’d show up,” she said. “Martha’s not the same without you.”

My heart wrenched at her words, and I tried to put on a smile. I always visited the hospital to read to my mom, but ever since I lost my job, I’ve been caught up with other things.

“I’ve been around,” I said with a tired smile. “Thank you for looking out.”

“I hope you’re not being too hard on yourself, child,” the elderly nurse, Carol, said to me. “The last thing your mother would want is her baby getting too worried and stressed.”

I pursed my lips, not saying a word.

“I just want you to know that if you ever need anything, I’m here for you.” I smiled, nodding at her words.

“Thank you so much. I appreciate your concern.”

I was about to leave when she suddenly pulled out an envelope.

“Here you go,” she said, and I felt my heart chip at the sight of the envelope, guessing what was contained in it. “Your mother will be so proud of you, child.”

Nurse Carol left with a pat on my shoulder, leaving me to my business. I took the elevator ride to my mother’s ward, grasping the envelope tightly in my hands until I got to my mother’s ward.

I spent the next hour seated by my mother’s vending machine and reading to her from a novel, believing that one day, she would respond to my questions - and return to me.

My mother was my only living family member, and for a long time, I wondered if I was making her suffer by refusing to let her go. I shook away the thoughts and left the hospital, feeling the weight of the envelope in my bag.

I was headed towards a pay date for my mother’s hospital bills, and I had nothing. No job, no money, nothing. I walked home, which was a good thirty minutes’ walk away from the hospital.

By the time I got home, Jasmine had yet to return from work. I looked around, making sure the coast was clear before picking the keys from the mat and letting myself into the house.

Jasmine’s home was a well-put one-room self-contained apartment. I slept on the couch every day, grateful to have a roof over my head as I tried to sort things out.

I sat on the couch with a sober look on my face as I stared at the blank screen of the small television when the door clicked open. I turned around and Jasmine walked into the house, dressed impeccably in her work clothes.

“Hey, baby girl,” she greeted me once she saw me. “How was your day?”

I shrugged, trying not to be a negative Nancy. “Nothing yet,” I said, and her face turned sober as she sat beside me. “I am thinking of visiting other strip clubs, to see if they need one more on the team.”

Jasmine tutted. “I know you need the dough, but I must tell you that as shitty as Lustrous might be, they literally give the best contracts for we girls.”

“The rest of the lot do not give a s**t about the girls they hire, nor do they pay half as much as we get in Lustrous.”

“But I need to work, Jas,” I said frustratingly. “I need to get my life together. No one is hiring a graduate with a first-class degree and no experience. The bills won’t pay themselves.”

“I know, I know,” Jasmine said, taking my hand in hers comfortably. “Trust me, I know what it feels like. But I need you to know that there are many other safer options than the nightlife.”

I pulled my hands from hers, but she took it back. “Listen, listen, okay?” she implored. “Just one more week, okay? Let’s wait one more week and see what turns out.”

“I don’t know, Jas,” I responded weakly, but she wasn’t having it.

“Do it for me, hunny,” she said. “You are a sweet, beautiful girl with an amazing future. I don’t want you to settle for less.”

“I put in some words with some of my friends to see if they could hook you up with something and sent your resume,” she said, grabbing my attention. “I have a good feeling about it, love.”

“Just have a little faith.”

Jasmine’s phone beeped while she was still speaking. She pulled out her phone midway, swiping her screen. I watched her eyes widen as she read what I believed to be a text.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Jasmine said in excitement, almost punching the air. I blinked confusedly, brow raised in question.

“Oh, Leila. This is good news,” she said, getting up from the couch and dragging me up with her. “You need to freshen up and get dressed,” she ordered.

“What?”

“I’ll do your makeup,” Jasmine said. “Hurry up.”

Jasmine pushed me into the room, urging me to get in the shower, but I held my stand. “What is this about? You’ve not said anything to me,” I said with a confused expression on my face.

“Remember when I told you I talked to a few people concerning you?” she said, and I nodded. “One of them just reached out to me. There is an audition for a role in one of the film studios around town.”

My heart melted as soon as she let the cat out of the bag. I was not an actress. Hell, I couldn’t act if my life depended on it.

“No, no, no,” Jasmine tutted. “Don’t give me that face.”

“It’s a body double stunt. You just have to play the role of a stripper, do a few acts, and get paid. Your face won’t even be on the show,” she explained. “It’s an in-and-out job with good cash.”

I felt my heart getting swayed by her words.

“If you get the role, you can use it to get the dough rolling until you get a better job. It’s better than returning to the nightlife.”

I stared at Jasmine, wondering why she was so against me returning to the nightlife when she was in it herself. I knew she was working towards getting herself out of the business, and it warmed my heart just how much she cared about me.

“Okay.” I heaved a deep breath. I had nothing to lose. “How much are we talking about here?”

A genuine smile bloomed on Jasmine’s face. “Five grand.”

My eyes widened, and she added, “Per shot.”