I narrowed my eyes in search of a bouncer, finally finding one tucked back against the wall on the side of the stage. He was watching the men with clear interest in what they were doing. Excited interest. Like he was getting off on her being fondled.

Wasn’t there a hands-off-the-entertainment policy here?

My hand tightened on my purse strap and a shudder wracked the frame of my body at the thought I might actually get pawed at while performing. The dancing didn’t bother me, and I knew I could get past being mostly naked once I did it a few times. However, there was no way I could be comfortable with being free fodder for any horny man that walked through the door.

“Hey, sweetie?” The bartender called from my side, just as I was about to turn tail and run.

I spun around quickly, probably looking like a deer caught in headlights.

“Can I get you something?” she asked, leaning her forearms on the bar top.

“I—” Clearing my throat when my voice was low and croaky, I tried again. “I was hoping to speak with management.”

She gave me a skeptical once over. “What do you want with management?”

The man next to her snickered and took a sip of the amber liquid in his tumbler.

I squared my shoulders and told her, “I’m looking for a job. I was hoping for an interview.”

Her eyebrows flew up in shock. The man out and out laughed at my announcement. The bartender cut her gaze to him, and he choked back his laughter under her glare.

“Nice girl like you? You don’t want an interview,” she informed me, her eyes shifting from him back to my face.

“Yes, I do,” I said. My words holding a thread of steel in them.

She stared at me for several moments likely thinking I had lost my mind. It didn’t say good things about the place if this was her reaction.

“It’s your funeral then,” she mumbled, and gave a meaningful look to the man sitting in front of her, which he returned. “I’ll go get Dick.”

I watched her walk away, my bravado leaving my body. With hunched shoulders, I stared at the opposite wall and waited as a terrible sense of foreboding took over.

This was a bad idea. I could still leave with my pride and dignity intact. Only problem was, pride and dignity wouldn’t put a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. I was never going to forgive Kevin for this. No loving husband or father would leave their family in this predicament.

“Reanna was just trying to help you,” the man at the bar’s words took me from my thoughts.

“Getting this job is what will help me.” The words came out a little snider than I intended, and I found myself apologizing. “I’m sorry. I have a lot on my mind.”

“You’re about to have even more.” His cryptic words sounded like a dire warning, but I couldn’t worry about what he said because Reanna was coming back. Her face, which was pretty earlier, now twisted into a grimace.

“Dick will see you. Down that hall,” she gestured to where she just came from and continued, “second door on the left.”

“Thanks,” I croaked out. My throat suddenly dry.

“Good luck.” She nudged me towards the door, and I forced my feet to come unstuck.

The whole walk across the floor and down the hall, felt like a journey towards a really big guillotine. As if impending doom lingered behind the door.

“You can do this,” I whispered to myself. My hand slowly reached out. A fist forming. I took a deep breath and knocked on the metal.

Within seconds, the door flew open and my breath left my body in a whoosh. The man standing before me looked shady and sleazy as I took in his thin and balding hair, his paunch beer belly, and his cheap suit pants.

His eyes devoured every inch of my body as I stood before him. The oily smile he gave me had my skin crawling. I fought the urge to run the other way and stuck my hand out towards him.

“Hello. My name is Alyssa.” My voice trembled, but I didn’t think he was paying any attention. His eyes were fixated on my breasts as he ignored my proffered hand.

Letting it fall back to my side, I cleared my throat and tried again. “You’re Dick?” I asked in an attempt to get the man’s focus on my face and not my chest.

At the sound of his name, he looked up momentarily and gave me a creepy smile. “Sure am, honey.”

He stepped back and held his arm out, gesturing for me to come into the room. I hesitantly moved past him and took in my surroundings. The walls were banged up and dingy. Various posters of naked women were pinned up around the room. A wooden desk sat on the left side of the room, papers covering every available surface. And on the wall opposite the door was a large, red couch. Its cushions stained and off kilter.

Dick closed the door behind me, and I heard the click of a lock. My heart raced at the realization I was now alone in a locked room with this man. I spun around, my hands clammy and my throat closing on me.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?” He trailed a finger down my arm. I shivered and not in a good way at the feel of his skin on mine.

“Alyssa,” I repeated, my earlier suspicions that he wasn’t listening confirmed.

Oblivious to my distress, Dick undid the top few buttons on his shirt and settled on the couch. “Come. Sit,” he demanded. His hand patting the cushion next to him.

“Um…” I mumbled. There was no way in hell I was sitting on that monstrosity next to him. From the looks of it, I’d probably end up with an STD just from sitting on it. Problem was, I didn’t want to alienate him. For as bad of an idea as this was turning out to be, I still needed the job. My options were limited, and I was determined not to leave until I gave it my best effort.

Dick’s lips curled in a jokerish smile. “Ah,” he said. “You’re one of those girls. Want to get right down to it. I like that.”

My forehead creased in confusion. One of what girls? My question was answered soon enough, when Dick unzipped his pants and pulled his small erect penis through the opening. His fingers gave it a quick tug before holding it upright.

The blood drained from my face, and my eyes bugged out of my head. When I didn’t move, but rather stared in horror at him exposing himself to me, he said with no small amount of annoyance, “Well let’s go. Sit on it already.”

“I’m not sitting on that!” I cried out in repulsion.

“Suck it then,” he shifted tactics.

“Are you serious?” The words flew out of my mouth. This guy had to be delusional. I might be desperate, but I still had some self-respect. It wasn’t much at that moment, but I clung to it like a lifeline.

“Of course I am. Take your tits out first. They look real and I want to come on them.” His fingers resumed tugging his pathetic excuse for a cock, and my lips curled in disgust.

“Not going to happen,” I mumbled, spinning on my heel and making haste towards the door. I fumbled with the lock, giving Dick enough time to make his way to me. He pressed himself against my back. I could smell liquor, and what suspiciously smelled like tuna fish, on him. My stomach lurched at the combination.

“Get off me,” I shouted, trying to shrug off his hands that were groping at me. When they closed around my breasts and pulled me flush against him, tears sprung in my eyes.

“You’ll take what I give you. You want to dance out there, you’ll damn well put on a show for me in here.” I felt his dick poking at my behind, and I knew this monster was going to take advantage of me any way he could if I allowed him to.

Slamming the heel of my shoe down on the arch of his foot, I elbowed him in the gut. His howl of pain made an evil grin spread across my face. His first mistake was underestimating a petite woman like myself. I learned early on how to protect myself, once I found myself in foster care.

With great satisfaction, my knee connected with his groin, and he went down like a giant sack of potatoes. That was going to hurt.