The Billionaire Heirs

The pulsating beat of the club hit Claire before she even stepped through the doors, a heavy thump-thump that matched the rhythm of her racing heart. She paused outside for a moment, taking a deep breath of the cool night air, before pushing open the heavy steel door and stepping into a world drenched in neon and shadows.

Inside, the air was thick with sweat, perfume, and tobacco. Claire walked through the club easily, her eyes adjusting to the dim, strobing lights as she made her way to the back room.

The staff lounge was a stark contrast to the chaos outside—a small, quiet space with worn leather couches and a few lockers. She tossed her bag into one of them and quickly changed into her work attire: a sleek black dress that clung to her curves and a pair of knee-high boots that added a few inches to her height. She checked her reflection in the broken mirror, applying a final touch of crimson lipstick and adjusting her brown hair.

"I hope the night passes away quickly," she muttered, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way to the bar. Behind it, Ray, the head bartender, was already in full swing, mixing cocktails with practiced flair.

"Hey, Ray." She smiled at him.

"Ready for another night in paradise?" Ray shouted over the music, flashing her a grin.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Claire replied, leaning across the bar. 

"Hey," she nodded at the unfamiliar girl beside her. Judging from the waitress's uniform, she must be her colleague. But she has never seen her before.

The girl smiled back tightly at her, before muttering "Hey"

Claire's curious eyes trailed her, from her blonde hair to her pale skin, she looked pretty young and naive for the job. But she was quite an innocent beauty.

"There you go!!" Ray handed the tray of cocktails to the girl. She smiled at him, and Claire rolled her eyes when Ray winked at the girl. He must be in his full-blown flirty mood.

"I've never seen her before," Claire could no longer hide her curiosity immediately after the girl left.

Raymond hummed. "She's new." 

Claire's mouth formed an "O"

"Quite a beauty for the job," she complimented, her eyes following behind the girl. Compared to Claire, who appeared sexy and feisty working in those uniforms, the girl was the direct opposite. She looked uncomfortable in that outfit, and that made her an easy target.

How did she end up here? She watched her, contemplating, until she reached a table at the conspicuous corner of the VIP lounge. Two men were seated at the table, their faces indiscernible in the dimmed light, but the man in a black suit somehow caught her attention.

Maybe it was the way he puffed his cigarette, or how the smoke dispersed into the air forming vague shapes.

When their gaze met, Claire looked away nervously.

"You're early today," Raymond stated, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. 

"Yeah," she replied involuntarily.

"I just finished my shift early," she was referring to her part-time job at the chicken shop. 

"I didn't want to go through the stress of returning home, and forcing myself to leave my bed later," she added with a nervous smile.

It was a lie. The only reason she didn't go home was because she was not ready to face her sick mother. At least, not until she had earned enough money today for her medications. Comforting her was becoming exhausting, and today, she felt numb.

"You still ran here" Raymond stated matter of factly, gazing intently at her. She didn't miss the skeptical look on his face.

Inquisitive Ray is here. She better come up with an excuse before she gets busted.

"I needed to shake and sweat some things out of my head," she replied with a shrug, before turning to face the lounge.

"It looks a little deserted today, or is it just me?" She quickly changed the topic.

Raymond hummed a "yes" before saying, "It's midweek, Claire." 

Claire heard his voice so closely. He was leaning towards her ears, again. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. Here comes flirty Ray. At least, she was glad his inquisitive side had disappeared.

"People barely show up here on weekdays. Fun is for the weekends" he added in an alluring voice.

That was indeed true. People frequented the club mostly on weekends. Everyone seems to be going around with more serious business during weekdays.

"Well, except for some very interesting people." Claire heard him say. She did not fail to notice how his voice had gone from being playful to cold.

And what she saw next made her blood boil. It was the men from earlier.

The drinking partner of the man in the black suit was harassing the new girl. Claire watched as the man spanked the girl's butt while she poured drink in their glasses. She could picture the excitement and thrill on his face.

And she acted on impulse. Her palms clenched into fists as she strode towards them.