9 days.

219 hours.

13,140 minutes.

788,400 seconds.

That was how long it had been since I'd walked in on Roxy and Taehyung together in the bathroom at Copacabana. Walking in on the man I loved with another woman's mouth on his dick had broken my heart beyond repair.

What was even more fucked up was that just hours later, I found myself feeling guilty for that creep from the buck's party touching me so intimately. I hadn't initiated anything; I had been an innocent bystander—but I still felt dirty.

Being Jin, he managed to break down my walls in less than a day, coaxing me into sharing what had happened between Tae and me. At first, he wanted to fire both of them, but I reminded him that they hadn't broken any rules and were indispensable to the club. In the end, Seokjin settled for giving them stern warnings instead.

Since that night, I'd managed to keep my distance from both Tae and Roxy, only catching glimpses of him in passing. Roxy and I had never interacted much before that fateful evening, which made it easier to avoid her. After hearing what happened, Seraphina and a few of the other showgirls also played interference, keeping her out of my sight.

With each passing night that I refused to look at or interact with my ex-boyfriend, Tae's pout deepened. He looked dashing in his uniform, but the pain in his heart was evident on his face. By day three, he was starting to look exhausted, and by day five, his expression shifted to one of forlorn longing. Tonight, though, he looked like absolute shit.

While Taehyung crumbled under the weight of his guilt, I was busy nursing my broken heart. I had cycled through the five stages of grief over the past week, each stage more suffocating than the last. First came denial—I tried convincing myself that I had imagined the whole thing because I never believed Taehyung could cheat on me. Next was anger, aimed at him, at her, but most of all at myself for failing to see the signs.

Then came the bargaining stage, where I argued with Louisa, clinging to the hope that I could forgive him if only there was a way to erase the image of them together in that bathroom from my mind. Depression followed, manifesting as self-hatred and insecurity; I believed he had cheated because he found Roxy to be younger, thinner, and more beautiful than I was. This stage lingered longer than the others, the claws of self-doubt clawing at me from the abyss I had locked it in, threatening to drag me back down into that dark place.

Finally, three days ago, I accepted that my relationship with Taehyung was over. I knew I could never forget what happened, which meant I could never forgive him.

Seokjin, Louisa, and Justin had been my unwavering support through this tumultuous time, each offering their own unique way of helping me navigate the breakup. Jin was all about self-care; when he learned what I'd stumbled upon, he threw together a 'So Long, Asshole' party, transforming my living room into a DIY spa. Louisa joined in, and we spent the evening gossiping about our exes while pampering each other with treatments.

Justin took it upon himself to remind me what fun felt like. Because my money had always gone to paying off the debt, I had never really spent money on myself or entertainment. He whisked me off to Coney Island, where we rode different rides until I thought I might barf. We indulged in delicious junk food and laughed until my sides hurt. Not once that day did I think of my ex.

Louisa's approach to helping me heal involved nurturing myself and channelling my emotions through creative outlets. Dance had always been my preferred form of expression, but since my mother didn't prioritize creativity, I never learned to draw or paint. Louisa, with her passion for art, guided me through sip-and-paint sessions at her place, where we transformed my feelings into brushstrokes on canvas. While she focussed more on the painting side of the evening, I was more interested in the alcohol. It might have been my tipsy, delusional brain talking, but I found my pieces came out better the more wine I drank.

⋆⁺₊⋆ 🖤 ⋆⁺₊⋆

'Nope, don't even think about stopping, Chloe Harlowe,' I mentally reminded myself as I forced my legs to move past Taehyung, who stood behind the bar. I hoped I was faking enough confidence to make it convincing. 'He's the one who threw away our relationship. He doesn't get to waltz in here and make me feel bad.'

"Lola! You ready, girl?" Seraphina exclaimed, enveloping me in a tight hug as I stepped into the backstage area. "It's Hot Girl Summer Night!"

The irony of celebrating feminine sexuality while feeling utterly unsexy wasn't lost on me. I was grappling with killer cramps that made me want to curl up in a corner and cry. I was one of those unlucky girls who endured really painful periods. Most of the time, I followed the continuous cycle of my pill, skipping the placebo tablets. However, under my primary care physician's advice, I made sure to take the sugar pills at least three times a year to ensure everything was functioning properly. Unfortunately, this was that week. The silver lining? My periods were relatively short, usually lasting only three days.

I popped two Tylenol and washed them down with a swig of water. "Yep, once these kick in, I'll be good to go," I said, trying to sound optimistic.

"Good. It's time to show that playa what he's lost!"

A few times a month, Copacabana hosted special nights centred around a theme, and tonight's was "Hot Girl Summer Night"—a celebration of everything that made us showgirls feel sexy. For some of the girls, it was stripping down until they were practically nude, while others preferred to spin and climb the pole like sexy rock climbers.

As for me, I loved embracing my curves. What better way to celebrate than through twerking and burlesque choreography?

The three songs I had chosen each highlighted a different aspect of my body. When I picked them out about a month ago, I had thought about what Tae would like. But now that he was in my past, instead of changing the selections to reflect this new chapter in my life, I decided to keep them and show him exactly what he had thrown away.

My first performance would be a sexy, sultry burlesque number to Muse's "Feeling Good." Initially, I had planned to wear a sheer white negligee with nude illusion panties underneath. However, since Aunt Flo was visiting, I needed an alternative costume. While rifling through my expansive lingerie collection, I stumbled upon a corset dress I hadn't worn in ages. It was a dress of contradictions—red leather and lace, striking a balance between edgy and ultra-feminine. Paired with silver sparkly shoes, I knew this look would drive the crowd wild as my hands glided over the skin-tight fabric.

The choreography I had created was full of seductive hip swivels and hands that roamed every inch of my body. It was like I was making love to my body and everyone was there to watch.

Since the breakup, the song took on a whole new meaning. It truly felt like a new dawn, a fresh start for me. I'd lost a140 pound sack of cheating shit, and I felt like a new woman. Sure, my heart still ached a little each day, but reflecting on my relationship with him made me realise just how toxic it had been for far too long. A vindictive part of me hoped this song would hit Taehyung like a punch to the gut; I wanted him to understand that I was moving on.

https://youtu.be/CmwRQqJsegw

For my second time on the main stage, I would go into full-on twerking mode. The moment I heard 'Pretty Girls Walk' by Big Boss Vette, I knew it was the perfect song to shake my ass to. At first, I had planned to perform solo, but I decided to modify the choreography so Lotus and Mandii could join me on stage. Lotus, the newest hire at Copacabana, came with a wealth of pole experience, while Mandii was a skilled hip-hop dancer. Over the past few weeks, I had been mentoring both girls, teaching them twerking and some burlesque moves.

It had been a while since I had done a full twerking routine. Typically, I incorporated twerk movements into other dance styles rather than focusing solely on it. The three of us decided to wear wide fishnet stockings with dance booty panties layered over them. Since it would be my routine, I opted for red panties that accentuated my full curvy ass, while the other two wore slightly more modest black ones. I chose matching leather bustiers for all of us, complemented by black chokers featuring the word "pretty" in rose gold. Standing together, we looked like slutty biker chicks looking for a great time.

https://youtu.be/P30xndYwVJU

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸🖤¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

My first two performances had earned standing ovations from the audience, and each time I stepped off stage, I felt more empowered than before. I caught glimpses of the bar during my routines, and the look on my ex's face was a mix of longing, sadness, and regret.

I knew it was petty to revel in this, but I had felt utterly humiliated when I caught him. Watching Taehyung's expression, combined with the audience's indifference toward Roxy's three performances, had me on cloud nine.

Much like my bachata with Seraphina—which patrons still talked about over a month later—I knew this next dance would cement my place in Copacabana's infamy. While lap dances at tables and booths were common, none of us girls typically performed them on stage. In all my years dancing at the club, I had never done a lap dance on stage... until now.

Several factors had to be considered before embarking on a performance like this, starting with who would be joining me on stage. I knew every man in attendance would jump at the chance to have his name thrown into the mix; being showcased in such a way would elevate him to the status of a king among men.

During my time entertaining men between my performances, I considered who might be the lucky guy I would grind on for this special dance. Most patrons understood the rules about no touching, but for this routine, I wanted the guy to be an active participant. That meant I had to trust he wouldn't overstep the boundaries I set or assume I was offering something more afterwards.

Seokjin, the club owner, was definitely out of the running; it would be strange to practically dry hump my best friend.

Any of the women in the audience were off the table as well. I didn't want to do another show with a female partner. Red Velvet's advances had become rather incessant since my bachata dance with Seraphina, and I didn't want to give her any ideas. Plus, I wasn't attracted to women; to pull off a sexy dance like this, I needed to either feel genuine attraction or be able to feign it convincingly.

Among the men in the crowd, I estimated that about 80% would try to cop a feel where I didn't want them to. As much as I hesitated to ask my new friend to be my co-star, Hoseok was the only person I truly trusted. When I first approached him about the dance, he declined, not wanting to get between my boyfriend and me. But the moment I revealed that I had caught the cheating bastard in the bathroom with one of the showgirls, his stance changed.

I had given Hoseok a brief rundown of my boundaries, and when his eyes widened at the realisation that he could touch me in certain areas, couldn't help but giggle uncontrollably. Over the past few weeks, he had booked more private shows with me, but most of those sessions had turned into conversations rather than performances. It was refreshing; he saw me as a person, not just a stripper. As time went on, I sensed that Hoseok might be interested in me, but I was hesitant to start anything, still nursing my broken heart. Plus, I knew that if I slept with Hoseok and Jin ever found out, it would likely mean an instant termination.

After Kassandra finished her pole routine to "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!", there was the standard five-minute break before my performance would begin. As I waited in the wings, I double-checked my outfit, ensuring my nipples were covered by the black crosses, along with the tampon string. This was one of the downsides of being an erotic dancer—you still had to perform during that time of the month.

For this third dance, I was dressed like a bondage fetishist's wet dream. My three-piece lingerie set was comprised solely of bold directional straps that wrapped my body, making me look like I was a rope bunny. A semi-open bra made my boobs appear bigger than they were, and the matching thong panties accentuated my full hips. A thigh suspender harness—with the same matching gold hardware as the bra and thong—added to my allure and sexiness. A pair of black and gold sky-high heels finished off the outfit.

Since I would be on my knees for much of this dance, I made sure to wear my skin-coloured knee pads. These were essential not only for protecting my joints but also for allowing me to glide smoothly across the stage.

As one of the stagehands began setting up for my performance, Jackson took to the mic, hyping up the crowd and asking if they were enjoying the night so far. I always loved the sound of his Southern drawl coming through the speakers; it was both calming and energizing at the same time.

The house lights dimmed, signalling that my performance was about to begin. I rolled my shoulders to relieve some tension in my tired muscles. This would be my last solo dance of the night, which brought a wave of relief. That meant I had less than an hour left in my shift. I hoped I could squeeze in a few more lap dances or private performances to boost my earnings, but the night had already been very good.

"For her last show of the night, our little Lola could use some help!" Jackson announced, pausing to let the crowd get riled up, eager to be the lucky one chosen.

That was my cue. I sauntered onto the stage, and as the spotlights illuminated me, an audible gasp rippled through the crowd as they took in my outfit. Rowdy men catcalled one by one, each hoping to be the one I picked for my special dance. What they didn't know, though, was that I already had my man.

"Who ya gonna choose, darlin'? Who's the lucky fella gettin' a special dance tonight?" Jackson's question sent the patrons practically climbing over one another as they rushed toward the stage. Different men—and a few women—tossed bills my way, hoping their generosity would sway me to choose them.

As I scanned the crowd, my eyes landed on Hoseok in his usual booth, casually sipping his drink. Red Velvet was no longer sitting next to him, and I soon spotted her weaving through the sea of bodies, her gaze raking over my body with a predatory intensity. I was accustomed to being undressed with stares, but the way she looked at me felt different—almost violating.

Justin appeared at the side of the stage, extending his hand for me to take. His skin felt warm as he helped me down the three steps, and the smile he flashed me was equally reassuring. He walked beside me toward Hoseok's booth, a protective arm draped around my lower back, shielding me from the jostling bodies as we made our way through the crowd.

When we reached Hoseok, the excited glint in his eyes was unmistakable. Wordlessly, I extended my hand, inviting him to join me. Without a moment's hesitation, the dangerous man set his drink down and intertwined his fingers with mine. I led him toward the stage, and if he felt any discomfort with the attention, he didn't show it. He moved like a man entranced by a siren's call, unable to resist the pull.

As we reached the centre of the stage, I placed both hands on his shoulders and gently eased him into the waiting chair. Brian, the lighting technician, plunged the floor and stage into darkness, heightening the anticipation in the air. I could hear Hoseok's breath quicken, clearly affected by our closeness as I straddled his thighs, my back pressed against his.

"Remember, you can touch me everywhere apart from my breasts and groin," I whispered into his ear as I reminded him of the boundaries. "You can touch and grab my ass only if I place your hands there, okay?"

I heard him half moan out a 'Yes' as I shifted on his lap to strike my pose. I could feel his member twitching beneath me, almost in time with the heavy bass and drum beat. 

https://youtu.be/5SMJNT8-MEQ

♪ Whores in this house ♪

Red lights at the back of the stage flickered to life, casting a sultry glow across the room.

♪ There's some whores in this house ♪

The smoke machine released a thick puff, enveloping the stage in a swirling haze of red, creating an alluring, atmospheric glow.

♪ There's some whores in this house ♪

Overhead LED lights sparkled like a constellation of stars, casting a shimmering glow over Hoseok and me.

♪ There's some whores in this house ♪

The front lights burst to life, illuminating my silhouette as I struck a sultry pose, captivating the audience with every curve as I used Hoseok like my chair.

♪ There's some whores in this house ♪

The overhead spotlight drenched Hoseok and me in a brilliant glow, accentuating us as we became the centre of attention.

The crowd erupted in cheers seeing me sitting upon my human throne, swirling my hips with unbridled sexiness to the clean version of WAP. As Cardi B began rapping about being a sex freak and being wet and gushy, my hands travelled down to my core, implying that I was touching myself while sitting on the man behind me. I wasn't normally this explicit with simulating sex, but this song called for it and it was Hot Girl Summer.

♪ Put this cookie right in your face

Swipe your nose like a credit card♪

I slid off Hoseok, dropping to my knees in front of him and looking as if I were about to worship his manhood. I gave the audience a nice view of my toned cheeks as my ass nestled on top of my heels. Guided by the beat, my hands began to slide up Hoseok's legs. I could feel his toned muscles tremble as he tried to hold in his excitement. When I reached the middle of his thighs, I pushed his legs apart, giving myself room to dance between them.

♪ Look at my mouth, look at my thighs

This water is wet, come take a dive ♪

Although, instead of moving into the open space, I pushed myself back. Using a slow, wave-like sliding motion, I scooted across the floor until I was at the edge of the stage. I felt hands stuff money under my lingerie straps, and when I looked to see who it was, I came face-to-face with Red Velvet. I noticed that her hand was reaching towards my derrière—a big no-no. Wiggling my finger at her, I turned to face her boss on stage, his legs still in the position I'd put them in.

♪ I want you to park that big Mack truck right in this little garage ♪

Pivoting to the left, I aligned myself parallel to the audience. Locking eyes with Hoseok, I gracefully lowered my upper body until my cheek brushed the floor, revelling in the thrill of executing a sultry slide like this. I knew the way my upper body was on the floor made my raised hips and ass look delectable. I made sure to add in a few hip thrusts onto the stage, pounding my hands as I did so. I found moves like these made notes rain down on me and today wasn't any different. From here, I transitioned into a series of booty pops, moving my hips from side to side so they slammed onto the stage.

♪ Gobble me, swallow me, drip down the side of me (yeah)

Quick, jump out 'fore you let it get inside of me (yeah) ♪

As Megan Thee Stallion began rapping, I used a caterpillar movement to transition myself back onto my hands and knees. Like a pantheress stalking her prey, I slowly crawled my way back to Hoseok, my hips swivelling in smooth horizontal figure-8 movements.

♪ Ask for a car while you ride that (Ah) (While you ride that)

You really ain't never gotta (Mwah) him for a thang (Yeah)♪

As I reached the chair, I rose from my hands and knees to stand before Hoseok, positioned between his still-open legs. With my hands resting on the back of the chair, framing his head, I leaned in closer, beginning to roll my body against his in a slow, tantalizing rhythm. I heard Hoseok suck in a deep breath the moment our chests touched. The movement put our faces close together, making it look like I was about to kiss his lips. I noticed that his eyes locked onto my mouth as if they willed me to connect our lips.

♪ Pay my tuition just to kiss me on this wet and gushy (Mwah, mwah, mwah)

Now make it rain if you wanna see some wet and gushy (Yeah, yeah) ♪

However, like the tease I was being tonight, I rolled my body away in a slow, fluid motion. Using exaggerated movements, I straddled one of his thighs. My hips undulated back and forth, as I arched my back. If we were anywhere apart from Copacabana in the middle of a dance, it would have looked like I was getting myself off using Hoseok's thigh.

♪ He got a beard, well, I'm tryna wet it

I let him (Mmm), now he diabetic ♪

Hoseok lifted his hands to rest on my hips, and the crowd erupted in response. Cheers of admiration for him mingled with shouts of frustration from those who wished they could be in his place, creating an electric atmosphere that intensified the moment. I isolated my hips, performing a twerk to make it look like I was riding the man beneath me. This was the reason why I didn't like the cowgirl position—I danced on enough men at work that I didn't want to do it in bed, too. As I danced, I kept my movements fluid, sensual and very suggestive.

♪ Your honor, I'm a freak, handcuffs, leashes

Switch my wig, make him feel like he cheatin' ♪

Turning around, I slid down Hoseok's body until I was squatting between his thighs with my knees spread wide. I heard cheers as the crowd took in the way that my panties barely covered anything. I leaned my upper body back, resting my head on Hoseok's groin. Beneath my hair, I felt the tell-tale sensation of a very hard and large cock. As I swayed and undulated my hips towards the audience, the movements caused me to rock on the dick beneath me. I looked up and locked eyes with the man I was dancing on, smirking at the way he bit his bottom lip.

♪ If it don't hang, then he can't bang

You can't hurt my feelings, but I like pain ♪

My core muscles engaged as I rolled myself up off his body, dropping back onto my hands and knees. Because the chair that we were using was slightly lower than the standard ones, my hips and ass were in grabbing reach for him.

Hoseok muttered a low "Can I?" to which I nodded.

It barely took two seconds before his hands were back on my body. I pushed my hips backwards into his touch further, the feeling of his fingers exploring drove me wild. Not once did Hoseok touch me anywhere inappropriate; he kept his hands and fingers either on the sides of my hips or the rounds of my cheeks. It would have been easy for him to take advantage of the situation and cop a feel but he didn't do that. I took my time enticing not only the crowd with my swivelling hips... but also Hoseok.

♪ Yeah, you dealin' with some wet and gushy

Bring a bucket and a mop for this wet and gushy ♪

I made a sexy transition from being on my hands and knees to standing. As I stood back between his legs, both mine and Hoseok's hands roamed my body. Mine tweaked my nipples while he felt up my torso and outer thighs. When Cardi B rapped 'I'm talkin' wap, wap, wap, that's some wet and gushy', my hands tapped on my core before I licked a finger.

♪ There's some whores in this house

There's some whores in this house ♪

As the outro played, I grabbed hold of Hoseok's hand. I walked him back to the stairs, where Justin was there to help me with a hand as I stepped down them. The gang leader and I made the crowd part, some patrons slipping notes under my lingerie. The men were all well-behaved but once again, Red Velvet tried to cop a feel until her boss growled in anger. The two of us reached his booth the same time the last line played and I pushed him to sit on the seat. I pressed a kiss to his cheek and thanked him for being a good sport.

As I strode down the centre aisle toward the backstage entrance, my gaze caught Taehyung's. Despite the distance between us, the tension radiating from him was palpable. His jaw clenched tight, and the way he pressed his tongue into his cheek spoke volumes of his anger. I couldn't resist the urge to taunt him; I shot him a wink and a smirk before turning the corner, savouring the look of fury etched on his face.

The petty and vindictive part of me revelled in his anger. He'd shattered my heart, and I couldn't help but wonder how long his betrayal had been going on. Taehyung had never had a say in who I danced with before, so why should I grant him that power now? Watching him seethe only fuelled my determination to embrace my freedom.