I tried to dance as I had the first time, but my heart wasn't in it. The crowd didn't notice, the noise was just as loud, and the men touched me as they had the first time. When we had stripped to our bras and G-strings, the place erupted in whistles and cheers. Debbie worked her side of the room. She rolled her stomach and jiggled her butt so I did the same. I put myself in a trance and pretended I was in a movie. I raised my arms above my head as men slipped money into my G-string and ran their hands over my bare backside. I pirouetted to the next table, where the men whistled. I posed, ran my hands over my body, touched my groin and trailed my fingers over my stomach to my breasts.

Adam seized me by the arm and hauled me away. The men booed and hissed as he dragged me behind the curtains and into the dressing room. It happened so fast that I didn't have time to resist.

He slammed the door, grabbed the nearest clothing item and threw it at me. "Get dressed!"

I clutched the jeans. The anger he emitted transcended the whole room. "I swear to God, Jasmine, if you don't get dressed, I'm going to hit you!" He raised his hand above me. I got into the jeans even though they weren't mine.

The door slung open. Robert stood with one of the bouncers. "What's going on here?"

I didn't say anything, but by my look of terror, he said, "Are you all right, Jasmine?" Robert then turned to Adam, who was searching the piles of clothes scattered on the backs of chairs, and said, "Who the fuck are you?"

Adam shoved a shirt at me and loomed over Robert. "I'm her fucking boyfriend and if you're the cunt who made her do this, I'm gonna kill you."

Robert took a step back and looked over at me. "Is this true?"

I stood stunned.

"Get the shirt on!" Adam said.

"They're not my clothes," I whispered.

"I don't give a fuck! Get it on!"

"Is this true, Jasmine?" Robert hollered.

They kept yelling at me. My head pounded. I slid down the wall and covered my face with my hands.

"Get up, Jasmine! Now!"

"Is this true?"

Something inside of me snapped. I raised my head and screamed at them, "Why don't you all...leave! Me! Alone!"

"Is that what you want?" Robert eyed me. "We can get rid of him."

Adam caught him by the front of the shirt. "How about you fuck off!"

I covered my ears to block them out. Robert said, "You hurt her and you're dead. Jazz, I'm leaving Santo outside the door. If you need help, yell."

The door shut, but I stayed huddled with my face against the wall. I guessed Adam was still in the room with me.

"Get dressed, Jasmine."

I ignored him and squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the nightmare would end.

He crouched in front of me. "Jasmine, I don't have patience for this shit. Get up and get dressed."

"Leave me alone, why can't you just leave me alone?" I whispered and pressed my ears harder.

He let out a heavy breath, then ran his hand down the back of my head. I jerked away so he withdrew it and said, "I can't leave you alone when I see you doing this. Jasmine, you can't expect me to be happy watching you do what you're doing."

I yelled, "It isn't your business."

Before he could answer, the door opened. Debbie and Annette came in laughing. They stopped, stunned.

Adam glared at them and snarled, "Get what you need and get out!"

I turned on him. "Don't speak to my friends like that!"

"Then get up and get dressed so we can take this somewhere else!" Adam jerked me to my feet and roared, "Now, Jasmine!"

"I'm not going with you." I struggled against his hold and seethed, "You need to leave me alone or I'll call Santo!"

Adam raised his eyebrows and cocked his head. He let go of my arm and opened the door. "You! She has something to say!"

Santo came into the room. He focused on me and said, "Yeah...you alright?"

I peered anxiously at Adam, then at the bouncer. I sized them up and hated Adam for calling my bluff. He cocked his head once more. "Your call, Jasmine?"

"What the hell's going on?" Santo growled at me.

I studied Adam once more and uttered, "We have nothing to say to each other. What I do is my business."

"We have plenty to say to each other. Therefore, what you do is my business until I've said what I need to say. You either find your clothes, Jasmine or skitch your dog on me. What's it gonna be?"

Debbie and Annette gathered what they needed. Debbie mouthed, "Are you okay?"

I didn't answer, but because I'd glanced at her, Adam fixed his eyes on them. "Are you done, because I'd appreciate some privacy?"

They bolted from the room. Santo shrugged, followed and closed the door behind him.

"Jasmine, we can stand here for the rest of the night if you want, but I'm not going anywhere until you get dressed and listen to what I have to say."

I folded my arms across my body. My head throbbed like someone had cracked it open with a rock. "I don't want to talk to you, Adam. Why can't you let it be? I got the hint. I'm not demanding reasons or explanations. You've already said everything I needed to hear."

"I'm sorry about what happened. I didn't have a choice."

"Oh, fuck off, Adam." I scoffed. "What was I again? Just some stupid bitch that you happened to pick up for a fuck"

Adam sighed and slumped on a chair. "Can you hurry up and get dressed? I'm taking you home."

"I don't want you to take me home. I don't want anything from you."

"You don't have a choice," he folded his arms and stared at me. "Like I said, we can sit here for as long as you want."

I huffed, "Until your phone rings."

He hung his head and ran his hands over his face. "Jasmine, I know this is hard to believe, but I love you. We need to talk. I have things to explain to you. After I've done that if you want me to piss off I will, but you have to hear me out first." He pointed at the door. "I'm going to wait outside and take you home even if I have to drag you."

Tears ran down my face. I brushed them away, found my dress and got changed. I sighed, knowing I'd have to listen to him if I wanted him to leave.  

Adam hates what Jasmine is doing.  In a way, I can't blame him.  What do you think?

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