Behind the mask

Chapter 3

the hospital. I spent some time with her and also gave her some words of encouragement so she won't have to be thinking. I couldn't tell her all Derrick had been doing because I don't wish to add to her predicament.

About leaving, the doctor didn't fail to invite me to his office as he urged me into searching for the money faster than before. Saying my mom doesn't have much time left.

The moment I stepped out of the hospital, I dialed Rolly's number. It rang for a while before she had picked up.

"Hey Bestie" She called from the other end.

"Rolly how's you?" I asked with a sly smile on my face.

"I'm good, Sydney. How have you been? Any news?"She asks.

"Yes..Rolly."I exclaimed as I felt so excited to disclose the good news to her.

"Really? I'm all ears, Sydney." Rolly replied with the same energy as mine.

"There's this lady I met at the grocery store in the morning. She gave me a card saying she got a job for me." I narrated while smiling brightly. I'm sure I haven't smiled this way in a while.

"Wow, Are you for real? When are you contacting her then?"

"There's an address in the card, She asked me to come to that address tonight." I replied.

"I'm happy for you baby girl. But first, You've got to know what this job is all about and the pay you're gonna be getting -so, we'd know if it'll be possible for you to gather up for your mother's treatment." Rolly said as I found truth in her words. I shouldn't be extremely happy yet since I don't know what job it is and how much I'll be getting.

"That's True Rolly. I'm heading home now from the hospital, let me prepare for tonight. there's not much time before darkness takes over."

"That's true. Get me updated once you're back."

"I surely will."I replied before hanging up.

~

At Night. (8:30pm)

I wore a black handless body fitted short gown, Packed my hair into a messy bun and then wore a wage black heel. I just felt like going with all black tonight as it suited my white skin perfectly. I carried my black hand bag and left my room. I'm sure Derrick isn't back from wherever he went and it's a good thing for me -I literally have no penny for him tonight.

I boarded the cab I came across the moment I came out of our house. I passed the card to the cab man. He ran his eyes at the address, then gave me a weird look.

"I know this place. hop in let me drop you off." he said, still giving me that look which I didn't find funny.

I didn't say a word as I quickly hopped in and he drove off.

~

The cab man drove into the compound which has a big building inside and a name was inscribed on it. "EMILY'S CLUB"

Hold on, Don't tell me this is a clubhouse. And was that the reason the cab man was giving me that weird look? I thought inwardly as I paid him off and dialed the number on the card into my phone. After ringing twice without an answer, The call was finally answered at the third ring.

"Hello" Came that sweet voice which I recognized as hers immediately.

"Good evening, Ma'am. It's the lady from the grocery store."I said hoping she would recognize me.

"Oh dear, been expecting your call. Where are you now?"She asks, which made me happy that she didn't forget about me.

"I'm outside, ma'am." I replied hoping I was at the right location.

"Really? Don't worry, I'll ask someone to come pick you up."She said before hanging up.

I just hope this job isn't all about being a bartender and getting rub by those drunk bastards. I sighed as I saw different beautiful cars drive in and some ladies who wore revealing clothes stepped out with some guys who I guess is their boyfriend. They were all giggling as they cat walked inside the building.

I was still busy watching all the boys and girls acting all lovey dovey and didn't see the guy in all black with his manly built chest approaching me.

"Hey, are you sydney?" I heard a deep voice asked beside me, making me flinch back in fright.

"Did I in any way scare you?"He asked in his deep voice.

"You didn't, I just wasn't expecting it."I said as I signed heavily.

"So, back to my question. Are you Sydney?"He asked and I nodded.

"Alright, I was asked to pick you up by my boss. come with me."He said, already leading the way to the entrance of the club where I've been seeing those girls pass through.

We got into the big hall, that's when I knew music had been playing all along. I saw girls dancing crazily and sexily on a pole, some girls and boys making out in different areas while some were drinking themselves to stupor.

My eyes ran into blue sexy eyes which I've never come across in my life. His eyes were so enticing and it kept drowning me that I just couldn't take my eyes off him and I didn't know the guy who had come to pick me up had been calling me.

"Sydney!"He called loudly this time around which jolts me out of my thoughts.

"What the hell! I've been calling. That's not the right route. This hallway leads to my bosses office."He said pointing towards an hallway with blue lights decorating it. You'd hardly know there's a door there.

We walked through that path and ended at the door. He knocked on it and when he heard a come in, he turned the knob to reveal the pretty lady who was seated behind her desk which has a frame of herself and some other files.

"Welcome, Sydney. please have your seat." She said with a smile. I took the seat opposite her and the Huge guy closed the door behind me without entering the office.

"Thanks Ma'am,"I replied.

"I guess you'd be wondering what the hell you would be doing in such a place. Am I right?" She muttered my exact thoughts and I nodded my head without saying a word.

"Well, I'm sure you saw some girls dancing on the pole on your way in. Well, they're all working for me and get highly paid by just dancing and satisfying my customers."She explained, making me cringe at the thought of getting naked and then dancing in front of those drunk fools-Can't do such.

"I could see through you, dear. I know you thought you could never do such and same as those ladies you had seen dancing right on that pole dear. I'm gonna be paying you 5000 dollars per night. Something other jobs wouldn't give you for a day." She concluded with a smirk. By now my eyes have grown extremely huge for just a night of dancing on a pole. Gosh!

"You will have everything you've ever wanted dear. you'd look good and also have some for other things."She further said, By now, I'm already calculating how many nights it's gonna take me to collect my mother's hospital bill.

Without thinking much on it, As far the money would help me in clearing off the bills for my mother, I don't mind taking the risk.

"I'm gonna work for you, Ma'am." I muttered as a wide smile spread across her lips.