The day ended quicker than I expected. We had woken up at around noon and cleaned the apartment together, then we did the laundry. Later, we went out for groceries, and I stopped by a small shop to buy a new phone, replacing the one that had been destroyed.
When we got ready for work earlier than usual, Jade had settled in the living room with the television playing softly. I leaned against the kitchen counter, scrolling through my step sister's social media.
Life had gone well for her. She was now a popular fashion designer, posing in photos with celebrities. I moved from her page to her twin brother's account. Danny. It looked like he was running the company alongside my father. No. Not my father. That title died the night he kicked me out and watched me leave with my life packed into suitcases.
That man had chosen them over me, and the result was the hell I lived in now.
I locked my phone and set it aside, my jaw tightening. If I ever made it out of this place, I would not leave my fate in the hands of karma. Life had already taught me that karma waited too long.
If I wanted justice, I would deliver it myself.
*********
"You'll be the one driving to work from now on," I told Jade, holding the keys just out of her reach. "You keep getting drunk every night, and I'm done driving us back and forth like your personal chauffeur."
She laughed and snatched the keys from my hand. "Relax, Cathy. No need to cry about this."
I followed her out of the apartment, locking the door behind us before rushing down the stairs and sliding into the passenger seat. She started the engine, already grinning like she had won something.
"I heard Harry will be coming in tonight." Jade pulled out a cigar as she spoke, tapping it against the steering wheel.
"Don't you dare smoke in the car." I shot her a warning look.
She cursed and shoved it into the dashboard. "I just hope he doesn't end up beating the shit out of us like last time."
My stomach tightened. Harry usually showed up at the end of the month to collect his money, but this time he was coming early. He had been here just two weeks ago, and the thought of seeing him again made my skin crawl.
"I wish I could just kill that bastard." Jade gripped the wheel harder as she pulled onto the road.
I turned my gaze toward the window, watching high school students walking home in groups, laughing, bags slung over their shoulders. People were heading back after long shifts, tired but free.
"Do you think he has a family?" The question slipped out before I could stop it. "Harry, I mean."
It was a pointless thought, but it lingered anyway. There was a tiny chance he had a wife somewhere. Maybe even kids. A very small chance. Still, I doubted it. Men who treated women like disposable property usually did not know how to love.
Jade snorted and blew a bubble with her gum, taking a sharp left turn. "Now who would agree to share a bed with that?"
I let out a laugh at her words as I pulled out my cherry lip gloss and applied it slowly, watching my reflection in the side mirror.
We pulled into the club, and because it was Friday, people
had already begun trickling in early, eager to claim the best seats before the place filled up. The bass thumped faintly through the walls even from outside, a low promise of the chaos waiting inside.
I tucked my hair behind my ear and peeled off my hoodie. It was hot outside, but the moment I stepped in, the heat doubled.
Jade had stayed back at the parking area, and I made my way toward the changing room alone. I half expected Marie not to be around. She usually never showed up when Harry was expected. Smart move, really. Once I changed into my work clothes, I dropped into the worn chair in front of a mirror smeared with too much lipstick, fingerprints layered over old stains. No one ever bothered cleaning it properly.
"Hey, Gem," a voice drawled from behind me. "I heard you spent the night with a hot hunk. Did he live up to expectations?"
I didn't bother turning around. I already knew who it was. I usually never spoke to this bitch. She was the least of my favourites, always hovering around Marie, always desperate for approval. She thought she was better than all of us just because Harry fucked her.
"I could barely walk," I replied calmly, meeting my own eyes in the mirror.
The lie slipped out easily, heavy with implication. Leaving the possibility of me having sex with the man. In reality, I would rather die than let any of the men here touch me. I had no interest in treating whatever crazy infections they probably carried, no matter how much money was waved in my face.
I dragged a pink lipstick across my lips, then added another layer of cherry lip gloss on top. Sweet shine.
"On to the stage, girls. Chop chop!"
The woman standing in for Marie clapped her hands sharply, her heavy accent cutting through the noise backstage. I slipped my lip gloss into my bra and fell in line with the others, following them out toward the stage.
The moment we stepped onto the poles, the crowd reacted—whistles, cheers, the low hum of anticipation rolling over us. It always happened like that, like we were part of some rehearsed performance they never got tired of watching.
I caught sight of the girl who had been spraying money on me the night before and gave her a slow wink. She was pretty, I'd give her that. Too bad I wasn't into girls that way.
The music kicked in, loud and pulsing, vibrating through the floor and straight into my bones. I wrapped my fingers around the pole, letting instinct take over as the lights washed over us.