By the time Hailey was done performing, she had already started to feel exhausted. She wasn't sure if it was because of lack of energy, or because she'd just bared herself in front of strangers.
Either way, that exhaustion immediately disappeared when she heard the whistles and uproar from the audience and cash raining like confetti. She was tempted to pick them up, but Stella had told her no matter how big the money was, she shouldn't.
Don't touch it. Not even a bill. You touch it, they'll think they can buy you. His voice rang in her head.
But if she didn't… it would bruise their egos. And bruised egos paid more to mend their pride.
Killian's gaze followed Honey Viper until she disappeared behind the stage.
"You've been looking at that stripper since we got here. Are you interested in her or something?" The man from earlier, Eduardo, asked Killian. "Well, I must say she's hot. They brought a goldfish in the midst of sharks."
"I didn't come here to get laid. Any word yet?" Killian questioned, scowling at Eduardo.
Eduardo paused for a second. "Your brother is clean. Too clean in fact. I tried digging up something about his past, maybe some illegal business or transaction. But nothing. He's way too careful for someone who's not supposed to be hiding something."
"I knew it," Killian gritted out as he took another sip from his glass. "He must be ecstatic about the CEO position; he doesn't want anything to be dug up against him."
"That's right," Eduardo agreed. He quickly winked at a lady who was serving drinks and Killian glared at him. As if sensing his gaze, Eduardo instantly turned to Killian. "With the way things are going now, especially with your father stepping down as the CEO. He already favors Nicholas. If you're not fast enough, your father is going to give that CEO position to him. You only have what, a year, to get yourself a wife or child at least. That way the board members will take you seriously," Eduardo concluded.
Killian was already well aware of everything Eduardo was doing. But picking a wife from out of nowhere especially when he wasn't romantically involved with anyone at the moment was harder than he thought. He didn't want to result in picking some stranger from the streets and signing a contract with them. It sounded too cliche, but anything for that position he worked hard for.
"I'll get someone as soon as possible," he replied, his gaze lingering at the stage where the stripper had just performed, her absence obvious.
Hailey was in her makeup room, completely shaken which she wanted to hide, but with Julia standing right behind her, she knew she wasn't pulling up the perfect facade.
Julia was about to say something but Stella immediately interrupted her while his heels clicked inside.
"Hailey," he sang. "Someone's here to see you." Stella winked at Hailey and gave Julia a knowing look.
Immediately, Julia understood. "It's a client and they want you."
Hailey watched from the corners as Julia made the transactions with the client. She couldn't believe she was getting a client on her first day. Was her performance that good? She couldn't help but wonder. Either way, it was a good thing. She could finally make some deposits for Aiden's treatment. He'd woken up that morning before she left for the strip club, and his voice had been so weak.
Julia had told her a night was much more expensive than performing on stage and Julia was willing to give her all the money she earned.
"How much for one night? I'm willing to pay fifty thousand dollars for her."
Hailey's jaws dropped.
The man was wearing an expensive suit from a luxurious brand she recognized. He looked like someone who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth so spending fifty grand on one night was probably nothing to him.
"Mr. Silbetto, that's a good offer but I'm sure you can offer more. I saw the way you were looking at her. She captivated you, hmm?" Julia cooed, trying to convince him to pay more.
"You know how to get to me, Julia. Alright, fine, I'll pay sixty thousand grand for one night with her. She looks like someone with experience, I can tell," said Mr. Silbetto.
Hailey's jaws dropped even further down the ground.
"It's a deal, make the transaction, and I'll get her ready for the night," said Julia. She smiled at the man and shook his hand.
Mr Silbetto noticed Hailey behind Julia peeking from the door, he gave her a wink and then licked his lips in anticipation.
Hailey resisted the urge to recoil. But she forced herself to smile and wink back at him.
A few hours later, Hailey was in the hotel room with Mr. Silbetto.
"You know, you smell just like honey, darling," he teased, kissing everywhere on her body as he tried to undress her but Hailey immediately stood up from the bed.
"I have to use the bathroom," she said but Mr. Silbetto held her tighter.
"Later," he whined.
"I need to look and smell clean for you. You paid so much money to get me, and the last thing I want is to disappoint you. So, let me use the bathroom," she said, a grin on her lips. The man released her. "I'll be right back." She pecked him on the cheeks and left for the bathroom.
As soon as she got inside, she held her chest. It had been easy when she was saying she would be a stripper and sleep with a stranger for money, but now, it was becoming more difficult than she thought it would be.
Hailey took a deep breath. Julia had already sent her the money, including the cash the audience had thrown at her which led to a total of sixty-five thousand dollars.
"I can do this," she told herself.
When she was about to open the door, she suddenly heard the entrance door of the room pushed open so forcefully.
"What are you doing here?!" She heard Mr. Silbetto's voice, shaken with fear. "Did he send you? I can't believe that bastard would do such a thing!"
Hailey carefully opened the door, enough to sneak a peek. Thankfully, the intruder's back was turned to her. However, she was able to see the viper tattoo on his wrist when he scratched his head.
"You were asking for it when you became greedy. You should have seen this coming." A few gunshots followed right after, as the door closed. The room became silent as if no one had just barged in a second ago.
Hailey waited a moment, her body trembling in fear but she forced herself out of the bathroom.
She stepped into the room, and there it was, a pool of blood with a corpse laying on the bed.