Chapter 22

The curtain opens, and I see men siting everywhere. I swallow a lump in my throat as I hold back tears that are threatening to come out. I hear them whistling and wanting me to start. I had to focus so that I didn't black out, I took a deep breath and got into a position.

I spot Axel and he is reclined on a chair, drinking whisky and laughing with the other men to my horror. The music starts, and I pull myself together and I start dancing, my heart is in my throat when the time for me to strip comes.

I do it and I see men whistling, when I'm stripped till my, lingerie the music stops and the curtain closes. I hear the men shouting that they want more, I sink to the ground and I cry, as I shudder. A lady comes to me and she looks sympathetic, "get yourself together the men want to meet you."

I get up shakily and I'm led to the room full of men, I see other girls and I stand by the corner, hoping to not be noticed. "what's your name?" I turn to see a handsome guy he is well polished, and he smells nice.

"Talia" as I say.

"That's a beautiful name Talia, I'm Styles" as he reaches his hand out. I take it and he kisses it. I blush a bit as I thought he was going to just shake my hand

"Come Talia lets go talk outside."

He leads me outside and I was craving for fresh air from the crammed room. I shiver lightly as all I'm wearing is lingerie. He takes off his coat and he drapes it around me. "You can take off your heels, they look painful" I do that hesitantly, we find a bench to sit by and we sit.

I notice that I have blisters on my feet and I feel all the tiredness weighing down on me. I started to wonder if Axel was with other girls and had he completely discarded me, I felt the lump building up again in my throat.

"You don't look like you belong here Talia."

"Oh" as I don't know what else to say.

"Not in a bad way you know, you seem young, innocent and delicate."

I don't respond as I don't know how to.

"Sorry" I turn, and I look at him quizzically. "what are you sorry for?"

"This type of life you were bought into, you look drained, don't you have dreams for a better life and future?"

I don't say anything because I want to be in control of all the emotions that I have kept in till now. "Not really, life is what it is"

"So, do you plan on spending the rest of your life like this?"

"No, I take one day at a time"

He tilts my head "Your eyes tell me a different story Talia, you look broken"

"In what way?" as I blink a couple of times.

"In all ways"

"You just saying that" as I try to lighten the mood.

"No, your eyes are not bright and its as if they are losing all hope" I just sigh.

"Why are you being nice to me? Do you want something from me?"

"No Talia" he takes a deep pause before he continues, "You remind me of my late wife" my eyes flicker to him and I see a streak of sorrow which vanishes in an instant. "I'm sorry"

"Don't be" as he smiles at me.

He carries on "Its mainly your looks, age and innocence that remind me of her, and I don't like seeing that broken look on your face."

"Oh, she seems lovely"

"I will" as I take his words seriously. He seemed like a genuine person.

"Don't lose your spark Talia, use this as an experience to better yourself" it was refreshing to here a word of encouragement and a ray of hope and sunshine.

"You can do it" as he smiles at me warmly and that's enough to break my barriers that I had built up and a huge lump comes about.

I hold back my tears until Styles puts his arm around me. I start to sob and shudder uncontrollably, as I can't hold it in. Styles pulls me more into his arms and it felt good to be held in such a caring manner.

"Everything is going to be okay, you will make it through Talia. There is always a silver lining, just promise me you will be strong and make it through."

I nod against him.

I feel myself being yanked away. I see Axel fuming "DON'T YOU TOUCH MY FUCKING WIFE STYLES!"

"Why is she stripping then Axel" as he gets up, this is the first time I see someone stand up to Axel. "That's none of your fucking business" as he wipes the tears from my face.

"it is, she is clearly uncomfortable, but you are making her do this, what did she do so bad to make her go through this?"

"I'm warning you Styles, stay away from her" as he says through gritted teeth. He takes off his coat from my shoulders and he throws it at him and he yanks me away, I look back once and I see Styles waving at me and I wonder if I will ever see him again.