Chapter 7 Test Me

• My blood burns in my veins at what I hear. Richard hasn't stopped talking since he mentioned the new changes, he hasn't stopped giving me smug looks either. He knows that I have always refused that, because in this club private dances were not offered, only the girls who accepted extra work and who he now has eating out of his hand, offered such services. And some more.
• But now the club's policy is changing and I can't do anything about it, other than stay silent.
• I have to swallow hard and take a deep breath to calm myself. In the end, he will get his way. I will have to bow my head and accept the new rules, but I won't make it easy for him to torment me either.
• Jessie and I stay in our places, just looking at each other, skeptical, while the other girls scream excitedly or look horrified at what they will have to do now. One might think, what does it matter, if we already dance semi-naked in front of a sea of deranged men. But the difference couldn't be understood unless one experiences it.
• In my position, where I hate doing what I do every night, I focus only on the music and the light falling around me, I don't look at the audience, I don't even dedicate a second to thinking about what kind of person is watching me. However, in a confined and private space, where there could be ten or there could be one, the conditions change completely. I know I would be aware of absolutely everything around me and I already feel too uncomfortable with the way I earn a living.
• There is also the role Richard plays in this situation. He has the upper hand and there is no guarantee that he can maintain my well-being. I have been refusing what he wants to exploit from me all this time and I have no doubt that he wants to make me pay for it all.
• "I don't like it, Amaia," Jessie whispers, almost without moving her lips.
• We both know that they are aware of our reactions. Both Richard himself and the other girls. Jessie and I are a bit privileged, if we can say it in some way, but we have earned that position through sacrifice. We hate what we have to do, but that is not a reason to get fired or do a bad job. With a love-hate relationship, we give our all to stay where we are. At the top of the night's popularity.
• Our choreographies are the best and we usually perform together on the busiest nights. While others focus on choreographing with too much erotic content, we include delicate figures, those that scream "look at me", but leave you wanting more. Although we don't intend to, we are the best.
• "You know what I think, Jess," I mutter, between gritted teeth and pretending to smile, "I don't trust anything that comes from him."
• "You're right, never do."
• We look at each other knowingly for a second and remain attentive to the others, not discussing the topic further. The commotion ends when Richard starts talking again. He looks at all of us as if we were dollar signs he wants to obtain and with a smile that is too perverse, he rubs his hands together.
• "Today we launch the first offers. The clients are not aware of the new service and will be able to get a taste of what's to come," he points to Amber and adds, "You will be the first. The rest will rotate throughout the week."
• He fixes his gaze on me again and I want to gag at what his eyes convey. A shiver runs through me, but I remain defiant. I even raise an inquisitive eyebrow, challenging him. I may be fearful of his plans, but I won't give him an ounce of satisfaction. He furrows his brow, first, then he extends a smile that freezes me.
• "You're not supposed to provoke him, Amaia," Jess murmurs, looking at me sideways.
• "He won't bring me down, Jess. He can't think for a moment that he has the opportunity to break me."
• "I know, friend, but don't walk straight into the edge of the blade. You must be careful."
• "Don't worry," I say and reach out to take her hand and give it a squeeze.
• When everyone gets up to go to the dressing rooms, we do the same, but we haven't taken two steps when I hear him calling my name. I stop, but I don't turn around. Jessie looks at me with concern in her eyes, but I smile at her to reassure her. I take a deep breath and turn around to see Richard right behind me. I feel like taking a step back when I smell his disgusting odor, but I stay put. I am taller than him and I want to appear, in addition to confident, that I am not intimidated by his presence.
• "I told you you would regret it, Amaia," he snaps his tongue and laughs heartily. He sounds like the typical villain who enjoys his evil plans.
• This could be worrying, if I can see in his expression the desire he has to mess with me, but it's not the time to think about what he is capable of. I must stand firm now, pretend that nothing coming from him scares me enough to even make me uncomfortable with his presence.
• "Richard, by now you should know that nothing coming from you matters to me," I murmur, with a serious expression and without hesitation. "Whatever you try to do, I will find a way to not let it affect me. Do you want me to give private dances? I will, it doesn't scare me, but by doing this you only show that you are so obsessed with subduing me, that you are willing to change the damn rules of the club."
• I smile sardonically as I see him narrow his eyes and his nostrils flare with contained rage. I move closer and his stale smell of sweat and tobacco makes me nauseous, but I hold my ground.
• "I will never be the whore you want me to be, Richard," I declare, in a low and powerful tone. I take a step back again. "Get used to it."
• I walk backwards, at least three more steps, I want him to see my expression as I challenge him. Of course, he says nothing, just watches me with a flushed face on the verge of exploding.
• Before turning completely, I shrug and make a proud face. I turn my back and walk to the dressing rooms. When I pass through the velvet curtains that separate both areas of the club, I breathe. I hadn't even noticed I was holding my breath.
• Hours wasted, for a simple whim. For an attempt at subjugation.
• In the end, the night went on like every Sunday. I left last, as the most anticipated act of the evening and the most applauded.
• Now I am back in front of my mirror, as always. I observe the green eyes that seem more dull every day and repeat the same procedure as always, I remove my makeup, take off my clothes, and leave the dressing room, ready to go home.
• But as always, I must pass by Richard's office first. And today, after everything I said to him earlier, I am even less eager to do so. I sigh, when no one is looking, before climbing the stairs. As always, his personal guards. Sometimes I feel sorry for rolling my eyes at the shitty job these two have, but today I do. That's how stubborn I feel.
• "Good evening, gentlemen. You know who I am and you know your boss is waiting for me, so if you'll excuse me," I say, looking at my nails.
• The gorillas step aside and I knock on the door. In my mood, I would easily feel like entering without knocking, but knowing the depravities of the aforementioned, it would not play in my favor.
• "Come in," he says, with a dry voice.
• With my head held high, I do the same as always, enter his office and leave the door open. But there is something different today. Richard is sitting behind his desk and looks at me for just a second before focusing again on the papers in front of him.
• "Here I am, you tell me."
• He extends a hand with the envelope of my day's pay and I almost hesitate to go get it from his desk. I am very surprised that he is not being a pain in the ass, despite everything I said to him earlier. However, I don't ask, much less provoke him, I must not declare victory yet. I take the envelope and when I pull, he resists. He looks up from what he was doing and stares at me, serious.
• "I want you here early tomorrow," he states, as if he were talking about any other day and not my day off.
• "No!" I assert, with a sarcastic laugh. "Tomorrow is my day off. You won't see me here."
• I press to take the envelope, but again, he holds onto it. "If you don't come early tomorrow, don't bother anymore."
• I release the envelope and stand still, hand extended.
• " What the hell are you saying? " I furrow my brow.
• "Easy," he says, raising his gaze and now, smiling, like someone who knows he has achieved what he expected "Either you come, or you're fired."
• I run a hand over my face, understanding the meaning of his words. I take a deep breath to keep my nerves in check in front of him.
• "So, you take away my day off and if I refuse to accept that, I'm fired."
• "You're very smart. "He smiles, unpleasantly.
• "You don't have another dancer like me, Richard "I declare, appealing to all my arrogance.
• As much as I hate being here, it is my livelihood and I cannot afford to be without a salary. I already live paycheck to paycheck.
• "Ah, that. " He snorts and waves his hand, downplaying it "No problem, today's experiment yielded good results. I'll find someone who is up to your level, princess."
• The mockery in his voice is evident. I bite the inside of my cheek to not show him how out of place I feel right now, but I decide to make a risky decision. I know that the club is profitable, mostly because of me. On several occasions I have heard from his own mouth how important my dances are and all the expectations that are created around me. I am sure he is testing me. So, I take the plunge.
• "Okay" I say and take a step back. His reaction is immediate. His eyes light up because he thinks I will fall at his feet due to the ultimatum. "Tomorrow I will come to collect my settlement."
• Instantly, the triumphant look turns to astonishment. I turn around and head to the door. Inside, I am praying that my bold and poorly thought-out plan will yield results.
• "Amaia" he calls, but I ignore him, until he touches my weak spot "How is your daughter?
• I turn instantly and glare at him.
• "Watch your mouth before asking about her "I warn, pointing at him with a finger.
• The raging heat in my body is evident. Tremors run through me, but not out of fear, but out of fury. I will not allow him to involve my daughter in this.
• "I imagine she's fine, right? "he ignores me "That lady who takes care of her seems to be a good woman. She must be completely trustworthy."
• I grit my teeth and clench my fists.
• "Leave My Daughter Out Of This."I mutter, with a low and threatening voice.
• "This is war, Amaia. Anything goes here "he assures and smiles provocatively "You said it yourself earlier, I'm so obsessed that I would change the damn rules."
• He laughs and I feel my head buzzing, chest tight, and breathing shallow.
• "You wouldn't dare "I assert.
• But his reaction is not at all what I expected. His smile intensifies.
• "Put me to the test."