The host's excited voice pulled my attention back on stage,

" Ladies and Gentlemen, Please welcome Mr.Arnaldo King."

The crowd clapped thunderously, welcoming the man who had never paid his attention to me. He wore a grey suit today. Even in his early sixties, he walked with that dominating aura. His presence brought a stiff aura in the party as he climbed on the stage, facing the crowd. His second wife followed him closely, setting a plastic smile on her face. I knew her real face for a long time but she was too good at hiding. I remembered the day when I ran to my father to tell him that I saw her, giving money to strangers. He didn't believe me a bit instead I was slapped hard in front of servants. From that day, I believed that I was no longer important in his life.

Nana held onto my arms tightly. I could feel her tense muscles. I knew that she was worried about me. Even though, Leonardo was also her grandson logically, she never accepted that family. My mother was like a daughter to her. Her demise left a great impact on her mentally. She wanted me to have all the rights that I deserved. I hated to become the reason behind her stress and did everything to make her happy. Nana was already too old and didn't deserve this mental pressure in her poor health.

My father held the mike in his hands, staring and smiling at the crowd to maintain his perfect man face. His voice bounced against the top walls, pitchy and clear as he spoke through the speaker,

" Thank you, thank you for coming everyone. It has been a glorious year for me to see the pinnacle success of our company. I know, you all are anticipating the next successor in my position and I have something to declare about that today. But let me begin with that I am proud of my both sons. I believe that they can work together to make King a better Enterprise. But I have a lifetime plan for this business. So I have a wish to confess that my position will be shifted to my son who bears the first junior successor of this family so that I can die in peace. Now, the answer is only depending on the future as one of them is still unmarried. No more questions today. Please enjoy!"

|| Lorenzo's POV ||

" He did on purpose, Nana! He knew that I wouldn't be fucking married ever let alone child!", I slammed the glass down, breaking into pieces. The announcement shocked all of us to death. I could guess that it was that witch's plan. She knew that her son wouldn't be chosen by father ever. Hence, she played this cheap trick to snatch the empire from me. Leonardo was already with wife and they could try for the baby anytime. But I had none not along with a girlfriend and marriage, love was out of my subject.

Luka and Nana exchanged meaningful glances as they had nothing to console me. They were equally shocked like me. A successor? A grandson? Does this man want to rule for eternity?

Luka came behind me, placing his hand on my shoulder,

" Calm down, Lo. We will find a way."

Nana finally spoke, marching through space,

" I should have guessed it from the beginning. That bitch has played this trick. She knows that you don't want to get married. How did I give birth to this moron son? He can't even notice her acts. Pity!"

I blurted, my chest falling up to down in rage,

" I am not going to tolerate this man. I am going to fucking tell this man that how his wife actually."

Nana stopped, blocking my path with a sullen expression,

" That won't work, Lo. You tried it already. You will be misjudged again."

Luka agreed to come onto my side,

" Nana is right, Lo. I think, it's better that you get married fast."

" No way!", I shouted instantly, dragging my feet to the other side of the window. I had lost my faith from love. Love is now a toxic thing for me. There is no such thing called love except wanting and personal needs to me.

The room fell silent and Nana finally suggested, walking behind to put her hand on my back,

" Lo, why don't we try calling Nina once?"

" Never, Nana!", I shouted back, jerking away from my hand. In a splash of moment, my memory drifted back to the bitter memories that I buried long inside my mind. Turning around, I continued speaking, laughing out loud bitterly,

" Do you think that she will return because I need someone to marry now? No, Nana! She left me for her precious career. How can you even think that she will bear a child for me?"

Nana looked away, hiding her tears. Only she understood the pain inside me. After building my own happiness, it was hard to move on with my life.

The room went silent again and all I could hear was my heavy breaths. Memories were hitting me hard and I, no longer wanted to have this conversation. My eyes found Luka who was staring at me pitying. I mumbled, heading for the doorway,

" Let's get some fresh air tonight, Luka."

***

We were driving in silence all the way towards an unknown place. Luka took the driver's position and I was pretty much sure that he had something in his little brain to boost up my mind. The car halted midway, snapping back my attention on the road as I saw long lines of vehicles.

Traffic Jam!

Luka stared up at me nervously, surprised to find that I was still in my sober mood. He opened his mouth after a deep sigh,

" Look, Lo! I know that you are angry. But listen to me carefully. I think, I have gotten a better solution for you. Have you heard about surrogacy?"

My brows knitted together thoughtfully. I heard about surrogacy a lot but Luka knew more about me. He was from the medical field, a world famous doctor who had to travel a lot to perform most critical surgery. Though I still had primer ideas about surrogacy, still I was a bit confused.

I hummed, paying my full attention to him,

" Hmm! What's wrong with that?"

He smiled cheekily, placing his elbow on the driving wheel,

" That is your solution, buddy. You don't want to get married but want an heir, a child of your own. Surrogacy is the best option for you now. You will just have to spend some money."

I put his words inside my mind, deeply considering. I finally had my answer. That was a brilliant idea to solve my problem. I stared back at his face, smiling widely at his brilliant thoughts. A smirk grew from the corner of my lips as I replied, smacking on his shoulder,

" You are so fucking awesome, man. That's it! But where can we find such a girl? I mean, I don't want any risk. I need a perfect woman to become my child's mother, a beauty with a brain."

Luka nodded with a smile. He spoke, stepping on his wheel to restart the car,

" I am a little bit concerned about that, Lo. We have to pick women wisely."

I spoke as he began to ride again,

" But where are we going?"

He blurted, taking an u-turn swiftly,

" Darknight Bar! "

****

I wiggled my eyebrows in disgust after Luka guided me into the VIP lounge. Darknight bar had always been famous for shabby things, smuggling and women. People went there for entertainment more than drinking or killing their time. My eyes travelled on the stage, a bright bulb illuminating through space. Our VIP zone was at the southeast corner, away from the typical zone. Curiosity sparked within me as I spoke, pointing my chin at the stage,

" What will happen here?"

Luka chuckled, passing the wine glass at me,

" Stripper show!"

I laughed in disgust. Stripper business wasn't allowed everywhere in the city except a few bars whose owner had a big influence in the dark world. The bars that I often used to go to didn't have any place for Strippers as they counted them as a restricted business.

I scoffed at shooting Luka a glare,

" I asked you for refreshment. Here, you brought me for a naked show, really?"

Luka winked at me, shoving the piece of chicken into his mouth,

" They are sexy, trust me."

Despite my unwillingness to watch the show, I restrained myself from leaving the bar. I knew that if I went back to my place, I would have thought about smashing things. Arnaldo King had finally set his mind to demolish me from his clan. But I was my mother's son. I couldn't let anyone else get something which belonged to my mother in reality. Perhaps, she wasn't here among us but I was there to get her every revenge on that family.

Flashlights fell onto the stage, brightening the place as someone was making her way into the stage. After a while, more and more people were gathered around the stage, whistling and anticipating something eagerly.

I couldn't understand the reason behind their excitement and all I did was lazily watch them. They were looking like they couldn't take their hands off their pants.

What morons!

Not long after that, a woman in her late thirties walked into the stage seductively. She was moving her hips more than necessary. She threw a flying kiss at the men before taking the mike. I guess, that's what they did, seducing these men to get their money.

She watched the crowd leisurely. After fixing her hair, her voice echoed playfully through the crowd,

" Sorry, boys. My baby, Valentina can't come tonight."

The men immediately burst into commotion as they yelled at the woman, muttering different things which was audible to me. I muttered Luka curiously,

" Who is Valentina?"

Luka replied gulping liquor from his wine,

" A famous stripper from here, a virgin one."

I choked, shooting him a glare of disbelief,

" Are you kidding me? A stripper and a virgin?"

Luka nodded his head seriously, referring to the stage smirking,

" I was shocked to hear like you but indeed she doesn't sell her body. She comes sharp at 11 to perform her show and then leaves after collecting money. I heard that people die to steal a single glance of her. Usually, not many men come here but especially when they come here for her show. She is called the dark queen."

I hummed idly and teased Luka,

" Bad guy! Too much information about a stripper isn't good for a doctor like you."

Luka laughed throwing his head back as he leant against the couch, huffing,

" But she is too hot, Lo. Her thighs are famous for being long and sexy."

I didn't have time for a stripper's story but I was definitely wanting to see the famous stripper as the men went crazy literally. The woman from the stage finally disclosed the truth with a hilarious laughter,

" Calm down, guys. How can my queen upset you all? So ladies and gentlemen, please welcome VALENTINA on the stage."

|| Valentina's POV ||

My phone vibrated consistently when I started to make my way for the stage. It was Emily again as she kept calling me to notify me that we needed to pay the rent tonight. I pressed on the answer button, annoyed beyond words,

" Emily, I told you that I would pay off tonight."

A whining sob came from the other side, freezing at my track. I spoke, pausing in the middle of my way,

" Emily, are you crying? What happened?"

Emily mumbled between her sobs,

" Val, the owner..she has kicked me out of our apartment. She won't let me enter until we give her the money."

I clutched my phone tightly, anger boiling inside me. It was already so late at night. How could someone kick out a girl from her shelter? What if something bad happens to that girl? Is there no morality left inside humans?

Hussing her to stay quiet, I assured painfully,

" I am sorry, Emily. I shouldn't have put us on risk. Please stay somewhere else for tonight. I will return with money, trust me."

Emily sutured, agony lacing out from her voice,

" Did...did you go to the bar.. again?"

I didn't want to talk about this right now. Being a stripper was the best job for me right now. I tried a few jobs earlier. One was at a restaurant and the second was at bar staff. I was harassed in both places and had to leave the job to save my virginity. Being a stripper had priveileges. No one tries to harass you as they think that you will give yourself to them naturally for money.

I ended the call, muttering back quickly,

" I will talk with you later, Em."

The call was disconnected before Emily had anything to say more. Emily never liked my job since it had a huge risk. If the college learnt about my secret job, they would ban me from the institution. But an empty stomach never listens to your logic.

I watched my look in the mirror one last time, making sure that I looked like a whore literally. Well, that's what they called me, slut, whore and a lot more. I checked my outfit one last time closely. I was wearing a strapless bra, a mini skirt that barely covered my ass. Most of my body parts were visual for those hungry eyes. My breasts were extremely big which made my dance more attractive and sensual. The makeup artist used extra oil on my skin to glaze and appease those eyes more.

Tearing my eyes off from my pale face, I began to walk into the stage, shaking my hips sensually. The crowd chirped, uttering my name,

" Valentina! Valentina!"

I blew them a flying kiss and they erupted into growls of hunger loudly. They wanted my body not me! There weren't a single eye that looked at me in appreciation. Honestly, I liked this job since it was a long time journey in this sector. Besides, I was getting pretty comfortable in this environment.

Shaking my boobs a few times, I walked into the center, clutched the stripper pole to perform. The whole crowd watched in awe as I began to play different sensual moves. Some of them already whined and put out some dollars from their pockets. I walked back to the brown haired man who had the most money in his palm.

Dropping my weight on the stage, I crawled towards her, offering the inner view of my chest. He swallowed hard and mumbled lowly,

" You are sexy!"

He put the dollars inside my bra with shaking hands. I flashed him a grin, standing up to target my next customer,

" And you are rich, Sir."

The old man gave a grumpy smile as I headed for the younger boy beside. He offered me 10 dollars only which was why he just got a single kiss from me. Coming back to the poll, my eyes randomly skimmed around to stop at the VIP area. A sudden chill ran through my spine as I met those eyes, a grey one.

That handsome guy was wearing a navy blue suit. A glass in his left hand, he was looking like the pure piece of heaven's creation. I was surprised to see his nonchalant expression. He wasn't thirsty like other men and boringly watched me. I tried to smile at him seductively but he looked away, giving me zero damn.

Scoffing inside, I went back to perform my regular, spreading my thighs wider to let the man watch me evidently. My thighs were famous among men. They called them extremely sexy and attractive.

The bell rang loudly, notifying me that it was my time to get down from the stage. Every stripper had only one hour to collect their money. I earned not too well today but at least, it would pay the rent's bill for this month. Relief took over my soul as I went on the exit line to head back into my room.

Someone blocked me in the middle, towering over my height as I bumped onto his chest heavily. I gasped, stumbling a step back and looked up to find Mr.Harvey, the man who offered me to spend the night yesterday. I ran off midway because I couldn't tolerate his dirty eyes.

Mr.Harvey was the owner of a small company. He was our VIP customer but I didn't give a damn since he was targeting my body repeatedly. He spoke angrily after grabbing my arms,

" You cheated me, Valentina. You were supposed to spend the whole night with me."

I scoffed back, jerking his dirty hands off from me,

" I don't fuck, Mr.Harvey. I am pretty much sure that you were thinking that all the time."

He glared down at me, eyes emitting fire literally,

" What are you so proud of, bitch? For who, you are saving your virginity? Do you think that someone will marry a stripper like you? You guys only know how to serve at bed not at home."

I lost control of my anger. He was being too disrespectful which I never tolerated even if I had to fight till my dead end. Lifting my left knee, I kicked straight into his groin. He let out a loud groan, rolling down from the stage as other men laughed at his poor skill. I looked back, laughing along with them when my eyes subconsciously travelled on the zone.

That man was smirking! The same man who rolled his eyes at me!

I scoffed at him eternally, and turned around to leave for my restroom. Men are all confused!

****

I changed my dress into a pair of jeans and a short shirt. As I began to sprawl through my bag, the door burst open, appearing an overexcited Julie. Julie was the woman who managed us. She grinned while shooting me a mischievous grin,

" Guess what? Lorenzo King wants to see you."