Once I was back inside my small studio, I made a bubble bath and soaked in it like there was no tomorrow. But even the soothing mango scent of my favorite bath soap couldn’t stop my mind from racing around like a cat running after a ball of yarn.

Bills here.

Bills there.

Bills everywhere.

Hell, I could look in the damn sink and find a bill there.

My income was cut clean off, and the other jobs out here as a cashier or a waitress weren’t gonna cut it. Before I’d started dancing I’d tried quite a few other jobs and none of them made anything compared to that. There was only one card I had left.

Since my mind sped up faster with worry and panic, I slopped out of the bathtub and walked over to my phone. It was like I was a zombie who had forgotten about the need for a towel until I went to use an electronic device. Drying my hands on a stray throwaway shirt, I picked up the phone and dialed Willow.

I didn’t like having to ask favors, but this was life and death in all honesty. If I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t live.

It rang a few times, and then she picked up. I gripped the phone tighter, nervousness welling in the pit of my stomach.

“Hey, Stace, what’s going on?” Willow asked, in her usual cheery voice.

“Hell. Jim just closed down the club, and didn’t even bother to tell us before we took the time out of our day to get down there.”

The soap bubbles on my body were popping and sliding down my legs as I stood in the doorway, talking to Willow.

“Oh my god?! Really? That’s insane. Do you need help finding something?”

There was my cue, like an invitation handed out to me.

“Willow, can you hook me up with something?” I pulled at a stray strand of hair since it was clinging to my face.

“Sure! You’ve called at the right time.”

The worry and anxiousness that had been gnawing at me instantly subsided. Phew.

“Good. What is it?” I asked, walking back to my tub.

I was taking a risk since this phone wasn’t water proof. But what the hell, I needed to calm back down. If talking to Willow on my phone while in the bath was going to do it, then I’d do it.

“Grant Carter.”

Those two words made me freeze in my steps. “Wait, the Grant Carter? Of Carter Enterprises?”

I majored in business and dabbled in IT, so his name was constantly thrown around in my classes. When I saw his face plastered in the magazines for being the world’s newest billionaire a few years ago, my panties nearly melted.

Grant Carter was a walking stick of sin and sex. No wonder he was rich.

“Yup, Darien is a good friend of his,” Willow said, mentioning her husband, “and he just had a position open up for a personal assistant. He was asking us if we knew anyone who could fill it so I was actually going to ask you. But I figured you’d just say it didn’t pay enough compared to dancing, or whatever excuse you always give me to keep doing it.”

I laughed, because she was right. Had I not been forced to find a job due to the club closing down, who knows who long I would have stayed there, telling myself that one day I would leave, and with Willow continually prodding me, or giving up because it was futile. But still, Grant Carter was so gorgeous—how could I not be interested in working for him?

I swallowed a lump in my throat. Being a personal assistant to Grant Carter? I wasn’t good enough for that. I had no experience. But the money… the money associated with this had to be good. Maybe not Bar Seven good, but better than flipping burgers.

And I wasn’t in the position to be picky. Plus, this was considered a legit job; hell, I could brag about it anywhere I went without that those black cloud of shame that seemed to hang over me whenever I had to tell people what I did.

No more old ladies shaking their heads, no more lies that I couldn’t keep up with. No more thinking no one would ever want to marry me or have kids with me, or, if they did, that I’d have to skip out on making dinner because my shift at the only nudey club in town that accepted older ladies started in half an hour.

Just a simple everyday job and the possibility for an actually “normal” future. Nice. Even though it seemed like a very big change.

“Sure, I’ll give it a shot,” I said, my voice breaking with uncertainty.

“Great,” Willow chirped. “I’m so glad you’re going to take this position!”

“Wait, don’t I have to go to an interview? I mean, it’s not guaranteed, right?” The bubbles in my bath had faded out, and I could see my bare legs under the milky water.

My nerves were achey from being wound up so tight.

“Of course it’s guaranteed. This isn’t an open public position. Referral only, and I know for a fact he has none so far.”

Willow was confident in her words. Darien and his constant swagger must’ve rubbed off on her big time in the business world.

“Okay, Willow, I’ll go for it then. Thank you so much, I really needed this.” I leaned my head back on the bathroom tiled wall and swished my feet around in the warm water.

“No problem, let me get everything setup. I can have you in there tomorrow! I’ll call you in the morning with more info. But make sure you pick out something professional to wear. Probably couldn’t hurt if it’s a little sexy. That would probably impress Grant.”

“Sure thing. Really, thanks again, Willow.”

We hung up and I managed to squeeze enough energy to soap up my wash cloth and wash myself down.

Grant Carter Enterprises. I couldn’t believe I’d be the personal assistant to someone who had started such a successful company. That right there was enough to put on a resume and go anywhere.

But would I want to go anywhere? Not while I had the opportunity to work for a gorgeous billionaire…

I couldn’t help letting my fingers find their way to my naked pussy because it got so wet just thinking about Grant Carter and the fact that I’d get to be near him soon. Willow had said to wear something sexy. I imagined him ripping my clothes off and bending me over the desk in his office.

I wished a guy like Grant could take me for my very first time. Most guys were intimidated, being with a stripper. They didn’t get that a woman could show off her body for money but still be quite naïve when it came to actually having physical contact with a man.

It was easy, up there on stage, with many eyes on me from a distance.  One on one was a completely different thing. I had to admit I was scared to open myself up emotionally as well as physically. Scared to be vulnerable.

I rubbed my clit, wishing that Grant could be doing it instead. I bet he had a big cock. I bet he knew what to do with it.

A rush filled my body as I was close to climax. One more thought of Grant thrusting his big cock inside me was all it took to come. I let out a gasp as I felt the sweet release. It was a welcome distraction after a crazy day.

At least it had turned out to have a happy ending. And a new beginning.