The Blue Genie

Chapter Two- The first Night

Nadia’s POV

Hours later, I was clean and refreshed, sitting in a room they had assigned to me. I had also been assigned a handler.

Cindy tried her best to be as patient and welcoming as possible.

“So, this is your room, and these are your clothes,” she said, gesturing toward the almost-empty room and an even emptier wardrobe.

“What clothes? All I see are lingerie, panties, and bras.”

“And that’s all you need,” she replied.

“All I need? Do I have to remain naked all day because I’ve been condemned to this miserable life? The life of a stripper?” I asked, genuinely angry.

Only two decent gowns hung in the wardrobe. Just two!

“First of all, I’m tired of telling you that we’re not strippers. We’re exotic dancers.”

“What’s the difference?” I interrupted, rolling my eyes.

She continued, ignoring me. “And secondly, life as an exotic dancer isn’t as bad as it sounds. All you have to do is shake your booty and get paid for it. Throw in a few favours here and there, and you get paid even more.”

“I understand, but this life isn’t for me,” I replied, feeling dejected.

“I know. I see girls like you walk into this place all the time. Girls who had bright futures and better lives out there but, for whatever reason, found themselves down here.” She paused before continuing. “And my only advice to you is to accept this as your new reality. Also, don’t even think about escaping until you’ve paid them back in full. Otherwise, they’ll find you, and whatever you think is bad right now will definitely get worse.”

I listened to her, but I didn’t care much for her advice. What caught my attention was her mention of the money. How did she know about it when I hadn’t said anything? Had Adrian told her because she was one of his close confidantes, or was it simply because she was my handler?

I shelved that question for later.

“Anyway, it’s high time we went down to the entertainment floor.”

“Wait, will I be dancing today?” I asked, interrupting her once again.

“Of course not. Calm down, tiger,” she said with a laugh.

“No, you’re not dancing today, but you have to watch how the other girls do it and get accustomed to your surroundings,” she said, pulling me to my feet.

A few minutes later, we walked into the club, and it felt as though I’d been shoved underwater.

I looked around and wondered what I’d gotten myself into.

Club Blu was glamorous, expensive, and carefully designed to impress.

Blue lights danced across the room as music boomed through the speakers. On the centre stage, dancers twerked and twisted seductively, displaying their scantily clad bodies to customers who sat around tables, drinking and making lewd remarks about them.

As if to make matters worse, the air was thick with the smell of cheap perfume, alcohol, vomit, and God knew what else.

I felt sick.

Cindy, seemingly oblivious to my discomfort, led me through the crowd in search of a seat.

Although I wasn’t wearing the revealing clothes the dancers had on, I still felt exposed as we made our way through the crowd.

I could feel men looking at me. Some were curious because I was new. Others seemed to look at every woman who entered their line of sight.

Cindy, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease.

“Sit here and wait for me. I have to go and get ready,” she said.

“Wait, get ready for what?” I asked.

“I’m going onstage next, after these amateurs,” she replied.

I nodded. “Okay. So, these girls are amateurs?” I asked, gesturing toward the dancers onstage.

“Of course they are,” Cindy replied.

If they’re amateurs, then what am I? I thought, my stomach twisting with dread.

After Cindy left, I took a moment to really absorb my surroundings. The loud music, flashing blue lights, and chaotic movement made it difficult to concentrate.

A moment later, I took a deep breath and managed to calm my nerves. Slowly, the chaos around me faded into the background, and my mind began to clear.

Finally, I could observe everyone around me with clarity, from the patrons scattered around the stage to the performers vigorously shaking their asses and t**s.

The thought that I’d soon be one of them almost broke my concentration, but I refused to let it. I couldn’t afford to lose focus again.

Taking a closer look at the dancers, I noticed that a few had sharper eyes, despite their seductive expressions. Their bodies were more toned and muscular than those of their colleagues. Most tellingly, they moved with the silent grace of professional killers.

I knew because I was one.

Genies.

I marked three of them.

Then I turned my attention to the audience.

Drunk men and a few women sat around the club, spraying money and behaving as raunchily and lewdly as possible.

Some touched and grabbed any unfortunate woman who wandered within their reach. A few were even brazen enough to take out their c***s and pleasure themselves while watching the dancers onstage.

But beneath all that debauchery, I noticed a handful of patrons who seemed too uncomfortable to relax. Some watched the dancers and other customers with barely concealed apprehension. From time to time, they glanced at their phones and watches as though waiting for a call.

Requesters.

I marked six.

As I continued observing those around me, I developed the nagging feeling that someone was watching me in return. I tried to shake it off, but the feeling persisted.

Eventually, I looked up toward the gallery.

And there he was.

Watching me.

Adrian Thorne.

He sat on a throne-like chair high up in the gallery. Beside him sat a beautiful redhead who was desperately trying to get his attention, but he seemed completely oblivious to her.

His eyes were fixed on me.

But why was he staring at me so intently? I wondered. Had my cover been blown?

I immediately looked away, redirecting my attention to the stage. I pretended to be as awestruck and naive as any newcomer would be, watching the performances with wide-eyed fascination.

Fortunately, that part wasn’t difficult.

My heart thumped against my chest.

Had he been watching me the entire time? Had he noticed me slipping into detection mode just now?

And why was he staring at me so intensely when he had a beautiful woman sitting right beside him, practically begging for his attention?

This was beginning to seem far more difficult than I’d anticipated.

The Blue Genie might already be on my trail.