A Poledancer's Revenge

##Chapter 7 Amy Brain

"Yes?" I tried to be humble.

"Nothing. Take these," Wayne said as he handed me some packed clothes.

I shook my head, "Forget it. These don't suit us. We'd better get going."

I then went out of the shop together with my brother.

It was getting dark and almost at dusk.

Will was still in those torn trousers. I sighed and smiled at him, "Will, let's go somewhere else."

He nodded. At last, we chose a place that looked friendlier. Will bought a white T-shirt and jeans, while I bought a long dress.

After going back home, I was going to return to my room for some rest but was stopped by Will.

I don't know why he looked confused, but I could nearly guess what he wanted to ask.

"Who's that Mr. Fox today? Why did he call you... darling?" Will stared at me. I felt a little embarrassed.

William was far from stupid. Wayne wasn't anyone ordinary, and people like us shouldn't ever have the chance of knowing someone like this. I had a hard time thinking about how I can explain this to him.

"Mr. Fox was my client, and we have met with each other several times. Today he deliberately said that he is my boyfriend, and I shall thank him later. Don't get this wrong." That wasn't completely a lie - Wayne was indeed the client at Paradise Lost, and I did meet him several times.

"I see. I was wondering why you never told me you've got a boyfriend."

"Alright, silly Will. It's bedtime. I'll let you know for sure if I have one," I was relieved that I didn't expose my job and urged him to sleep.

After Will got back to his room, I also returned to my room in relief.

I always felt like a thief in front of my brother. I had to hide everything from him.

In my bedroom, That jacket Wayne offered me that night was still hanging on the wardrobe door. Looking at the jacket, Wayne's handsome face appeared in my mind.

That pretty face and that mysterious smile he wore all the time...

I shook my head and tried to forget him. Why would I think of him?

Buzz-

My phone rang again. I pulled it out.

Of course, it was Anna again.

"What's the matter?"

"You're up, sweetie," said Anna with a tone of command.

"Please cut me some slack today," I said in a cold tone. Paradise Lost was the last place I wanted to go, but it was also the place I had to go to every day.

"Jo Jo, you gotta be here today. Wayne asked for you."

I went silent for a moment.

We had met today. Why did Wayne ask for me? I had a bad feeling about it, but I could not refuse him. He was a man of higher status, and he saved me twice. If I refused him, I would be ungrateful.

"Hello? Are you still there, Jo Jo? You should feel lucky Wayne asked for you. Don't you do anything silly," Anna pressed on.

"Okay, I got it."

I hung up the phone and frowned.

It was six o'clock in the evening.

The vanity mirror showed me my entire skinny figure. It felt as if all the malnutrition long ago, working nightshifts, and terrible appetite were staring back at me. I sighed.

Heavy makeup covered up my original look, and fancy clothes eliminated who I was.

I walked to Will's door, "Will, I have to go to work now. I've got something coming up."

"Yeah. Take care," Will's voice came, and I felt relieved.

I took a taxi to Paradise Lost. There parked rows of fancy rides since it was high time for the club.

I worked here and had seen way too many customers. They could look different, but all of them were hypocritical.

Men were destined to be hypocritical. All of them came here for some dirty fun, but none of them stopped trying to look like a gentleman.

I watched them go for a moment and then went to the back door. Girls who worked there were not allowed to go in from the front door.

"What took you too long? Anna was looking for you just now," a girl's voice came as I entered.

It was Amy Brain. She and I knew Anna on the same day, and of course, we were close.

"Alright. I'll get rolling now," I smiled at her.

"You always act as if you never care about anything. Kids these days," Amy sighed and went away.

I was different from her. She once said she wanted to wait here for a rich man to take her away. I laughed at her for being too silly. Why would a good man ever come around here?

Speaking of which, she was also a poor person born in a village in the mountains. She was forced by her family to marry an old man, and she had a childhood sweetheart who eloped with her to Garol on their wedding day.

They started as a happy couple, but later that childhood sweetheart blew all their hard-earned money on drugs and gambles. Later, some gangsters got him, and he was nowhere to be found again.

Those gangsters kept going after her, so she had to come to Anna for refuge.

I didn't trust men, especially those around here. And I had seen too many deserted poor souls to know their ruthlessness. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life here in the dark.

As for Amy, I did what I could to stop her from becoming a stripper. I told her all I had to say, but she still had to make such a choice.

I went to the lounge upstairs. Anna was busy roasting another dancer.

"What was that? You can't even handle that..."

"Being angry makes people old," I suddenly said.

"Who..." Anna was about to lose her temper. But she held it back as she saw it was me, "so you're late again."

Anna treated me well, and I knew her. Except for the guests, she was always strict with people. But she never beat or scolded me.

Although I always worked her up, I kind of took her as a mother. I would have dinner and go shopping with her on holiday.

"Well, of course, I should dress up well. It's my honor," I mocked her.

"Shoo. Go get ready. You're up," Anna urged me.

I took a leisurely look in the mirror, then got my clothes and put them on. Anna stared me down the whole time, but I still kept my smile.

As I left the lounge, Anna's voice came again.

"How could you be so stupid?"

As I walked slowly to the front, the scolding faded away.

It was just another night of dancing to these zombies. Well, maybe I was nothing better than any one of them.