00:14My name is Lila, a destitute stripper who suffers from bills.
00:21Three months ago, I'd been planning to audition for the New York Ballet Company.
00:25Now I was applying glitter to my skin for men who would tuck dollar bills into my G-string.
00:30Three months ago, the wedding day of me and a man I had never met, Ethan Pacheco, a marriage
00:34I wanted no part of.
00:36I had slipped away while the guests were arriving, needing a moment to breathe, to think.
00:40I had wandered aimlessly until I heard sounds coming from one of the guest bedrooms.
00:44Although the man had his back to me, I knew he must be my fiancé who I had never met.
00:49Without twice thought, I drived away from the estate, away from Ethan Pacheco and the future
00:53that had been decided for me.
00:55I ended up at a bar downtown in the late night, drowning my sorrows in tequila shots.
00:59That's when he appeared beside me.
01:10Bad day?
01:13The worst.
01:19I'm Ethan.
01:22Of course you are.
01:24I, uh...
01:26I'm running away from one Ethan tonight, I don't need another.
01:30I had laughed then, a bitter, hollow sound.
01:33The funny thing was, with all the drama going on, I still didn't know what my fucking fiancé
01:38looked like.
01:38But this guy had been charming, attentive, and I'd been vulnerable, hurt, and increasingly
01:43drunk.
01:44When he suggested we get a room at the hotel next door, I hadn't said no.
01:48I'm running away from one to two.
02:17I was running away from the hotel.
02:19I'd woken, alone, with nothing but a lingering hangover, and the crushing realization that I couldn't go home again, not
02:25to face my father's disappointment, not to marry a man who had already betrayed me.
02:29So I'd disappeared, cutting off contact with everyone from my old life. My savings hadn't lasted long. Now I had
02:35to dance in a bar to earn money. The bar had been booked out by the owner tonight. He was
02:39going to hold an important party in the VIP room.
02:45Those eyes, almond-shaped, hazel with flecks of gold, exactly like, no, oh god no, this can't be happening.
02:52That night at the bar, my one-night stand as my boss and ex-fiancé, his eyes met mine, and
02:58the world stopped spinning.
03:03Stop staring at the boss, are you crazy?
03:08I immediately dropped my gaze. The tiny, sequined outfit left little to the imagination, but it was better than being
03:14completely naked.
03:15I needed this job. Rent wasn't going to pay itself. Did he recognize me?
03:19Shouldn't your older brother be running this meeting?
03:23I can't imagine your father Henry's crazy enough to let a 23-year-old handle business this magnitude.
03:32Everyone turned to gauge Ethan's reaction, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
03:38Care to guess why I'm the heir while my big brother works under me?
03:42You're not in any position to question my capabilities.
03:45The man's face reddened. He wisely kept his mouth shut.
03:48The meeting dragged on, numbers and threats mixing with the heavy beat of the music.
03:53I felt increasingly light-headed. The room started to spin. Or was I the one spinning?
04:00I landed hard on the floor, right in front of the gathered crime family bosses.
04:05Is this how you dance, you worthless slit? Ruining our evening with your amateur bullshit?
04:10I looked up to see an ugly older man in the corner.
04:13He pulled out a thick wad of cash, throwing it on the ground.
04:17Bills scattered across the floor like fallen lead.
04:20If you don't want to lose those pretty legs of yours, crawl over here and give me a proper lap
04:25dance.
04:27And don't stop until every piece of that costume is on the floor.
04:32The other men watched with varying degrees of interest.
04:35Some looking uncomfortable, others openly leering.
04:38My eyes darted instinctively to Ethan, but his expression remained carefully neutral.
04:43As if he didn't know me.
04:45I couldn't afford to lose this job, and I couldn't afford to make enemies of people like him.
04:51That won't be necessary.
04:53Lucas, Ethan's childhood friend, I knew.
04:56Like Ethan, his family's business standing did not allow anyone to challenge him, too.
05:02The lady can make it up to us by joining me for a drink instead.
05:07What do you say, beautiful?
05:09Beautiful.
05:24She's mine.
05:26Who dares to touch her?
05:29Just seconds ago, he seemed to be uninterested in this matter.
05:32But now, he's so possessive.
05:34He didn't offer much explanation after the kiss.
05:37In the mafia world, powerful mafia bosses can have any woman they want.
05:42You want to keep living?
05:43Nobody threatens my strippers.
05:45Get out.
05:46And consider any future business arrangements with the Pacheco family permanently terminated.
05:50The older man's face flushed a deep shade of crimson.
05:53He scurried from the private room like a whipped dog.
05:55Why would the Ethan defend an insignificant stripper?
05:59You.
06:01Come here.
06:02You'll be sitting on my legs, serving my drinks for the rest of the evening.
06:04Lucas wisely held his tongue.
06:06My head was still spinning.
06:07Don't mess this up.
06:08I repeated to myself like a mantra.
06:10My legs felt like they were made of jelly.
06:12I stumbled, my balance completely gone.
06:15God, that made me so wet.
06:16I wanted him.
06:17Pour me some champagne.
06:19My stomach lurched violently.
06:20A wave of nausea washing over me.
06:23Don't throw up.
06:24Don't throw up.
06:25Don't throw up.
06:26I had just ruined what was probably a $10,000 suit.
06:29Good.
06:30He would kill me.
06:32To everyone's utter shock, he threw his head back and laughed.
06:39I'm taking you home, little troublemaker.
06:41Oh no.
06:42He knew exactly who I am.
06:44Why was I feeling strangely sick today?
06:46No, I was not pregnant.
06:48Was I?
06:53This was the worst.
06:55I didn't want to get involved with this terrible man anymore.
07:02Instead of heading toward the exit, as I'd expected, Ethan carried me into what appeared
07:07to be an office.
07:08Without ceremony, he threw me on a leather sofa.
07:11His phone rang.
07:13Hey.
07:14His voice suddenly warm and gentle.
07:16A woman.
07:18No, I can handle it.
07:20You know I always do.
07:23Who is he talking to?
07:25Is it her?
07:26The woman from the engagement party.
07:51He frowned.
07:52He is disgusted by me.
07:53Of course he is.
07:55What man like Ethan Pacheco would want a cheap stripper like me?
07:59For a brief moment, I thought maybe there was something beyond our one-night stand.
08:05But now here he was, talking intimately with another woman, while I lay sick on his couch.
08:11I couldn't take it anymore.
08:12Despite my dizziness, I pushed myself up from the sofa.
08:22Where do you think you're going?
08:24His voice was low and cold again.
08:26No warmth.
08:29Home.
08:33I'll take you home.
08:35That's not a request.
08:36It's a decision.
08:39I can get home by myself.
08:41I don't need your help.
08:42You can barely stand.
08:44Don't be stubborn, Lila.
08:48I'm fine.
08:50I just need some fresh air.
08:56Let me take you home.
09:00Who's the woman you're talking to?
09:03The question burst from my lips.
09:11How much did you hear?
09:31Knowledge can be dangerous, sweetheart.
09:38Especially information you shouldn't have.
09:45I will not let you humiliate me like this.
09:51You have another woman, yet you're here trying to, what, get a quick folk from the stripper?
10:01He stared at me.
10:03He looked genuinely confused.
10:05I am not the kind of woman you can use whenever you want and discard when you're done.
10:12I never was, and I never will be.
10:33How could I be so stupid?
10:36I'd known something was wrong for weeks.
10:38The constant nausea.
10:40The missed period.
10:41The tenderness in my breasts that made even wearing a bra painful.
10:48Asshole.
10:50Complete and total asshole.
10:51He doesn't get to treat me like that.
10:53Just because I dance at Eclipse doesn't mean I'm his for the taking.
10:59Please be negative.
11:01Please, please, please be negative.
11:09Pregnant?
11:11I'm pregnant with Ethan Pacheco's baby.
11:15I could barely afford to feed myself.
11:16And what would I tell the baby when it asked about its father?
11:19Sorry, kid.
11:20Daddy's a rich asshole who doesn't even know you exist.
11:23Oh, and by the way, he owns the strip club where mommy works.
11:26Neat, huh?
11:27That night, I couldn't sleep.
11:29I found myself hunched over my laptop at 3 a.m., scrolling through websites about abortion procedures.
11:35I even watched a video that made me bolt to the bathroom.
11:37The fourth time that day, I'd found myself hugging the toilet.
11:41As I rinsed my mouth, I caught my reflection in the mirror.
11:45My eyes were red-rimmed and haunted.
11:48The next morning,
11:50Leo, Ethan's personal bodyguard or assistant,
11:53Did you do it?
11:58Do what?
12:02The abortion.
12:03Did you go through with it?
12:07How the hell did you...
12:08Answer the question.
12:11How the hell did Ethan know I was pregnant?
12:13And why was his personal watchdog stalking me outside an abortion clinic?
12:19Does he know?
12:21About the baby?
12:24How long has he known?
12:25Did he send you to make sure I get rid of it?
12:31Wait.
12:32You're pregnant with Ethan's child?
12:35Shit.
12:36I just royally fucked up.
12:37Leo hadn't known the baby was Ethan's.
12:39He'd only known I was pregnant.
12:43I... I... I didn't...
12:47Sir, we have a situation.
12:49Double shit.
12:50I was worried he was gonna tell Ethan, so I ran.
12:53Hey, wait!
12:54You must come back with me now to see Mr. Pacheco.
12:57You're gonna fuck!
12:59No fucking way!
13:01I'm not going anywhere with you!
13:02Miss Bravo, please be reasonable.
13:07Was it reasonable to stalk me to a clinic?
13:09Was it reasonable to try to drag me to see your boss like I'm some kind of runaway pet?
13:13Don't tell your boss about this, or I'll kill you for real!
13:23Don't make this more difficult than it needs to be.
13:26I jammed my key into the ignition, praying my piece-of-shit car would actually start.
13:30The engine sputtered once, twice, then roared to life.
13:34Thank God for some mercies.
13:34Tell your boss to go himself!
13:42I hate this terrible situation.
13:44Should I keep the baby?
13:45Maybe I should keep the child.
13:47Maybe I should let Ethan know.
13:50I signaled and changed lanes, heading toward the Eclipse nightclub instead of my apartment.
13:55Better to confront him directly than wait for him to come to me.
13:59This is my baby, too.
14:01I practiced in the rearview mirror.
14:03And I'm keeping it whether you like it or not.
14:08My heart pounded harder with each step toward the elevator.
14:11I clutched my purse where I'd tucked the pregnancy test.
14:16Come on, Lila.
14:17Come on, Lila.
14:17You got this.
14:19Come on, Lila.
14:20You got this.
14:21My stomach dropped to my feet as another moan reached my ears.
14:25Ethan!
14:26Ethan!
14:27Ethan!
14:28Was there another stripper inside?
14:30Not here!
14:33Ethan!
14:42No one's going to interrupt us.
14:45I've made sure of it.
14:48What if someone comes in?
14:51Then they'll get quite a show, won't they?
14:52Besides, I locked the door.
14:54You didn't lock it at all.
14:55You're so bad.
14:56That's why I've always loved you, even when we were kids.
15:00Always breaking the rules.
15:02Only for you, Sophia.
15:05Always for you.
15:06Sophia, the name hit me like a slap.
15:09His childhood friend.
15:10The one person his mother approved of.
15:13The woman she had always hoped he would marry, instead of me.
15:26What the fuck are you doing?
15:28My voice sounded strange to my own ears.
15:33Sophia nearly falling off in her haste to cover herself.
15:36Ethan's eyes widened as they locked on mine.
15:39Shock quickly replaced by something unreadable.
15:42Lila.
15:43I could hear my own breathing, ragged and uneven.
15:47Sophia was frantically smoothing down a skirt.
15:50A face flushed with embarrassment and anger.
15:53Who is she?
15:54One of your dancers?
15:58Oh, I'm so much more than that, sweetheart.
16:01I'm the mother of his child.
16:05You're pregnant?
16:06You unbelievable piece of shit!
16:08Lila, you need to calm down and let me explain.
16:11Explain?
16:11What is there to explain?
16:13This is the second time I've caught you with her!
16:15The second time!
16:17I was an idiot to think you'd changed!
16:19Wait, is this...
16:21Is she the one you were supposed to marry?
16:23The one who ran away from our engagement
16:25because I caught him with you the first time.
16:28Congratulations!
16:29You're fucking a father-to-be!
16:31Lila, that's enough.
16:32You're upset, and we need to discuss this privately.
16:34We're not discussing anything!
16:36Not now!
16:37Not ever!
16:39Not now!
16:42I knew that look,
16:44as though I was the inconvenience of the application.
16:50The baby?
16:52Get rid of it.
16:56What?
16:57Get.
16:57Rid.
16:58Of.
16:59The baby.
17:03Are you serious right now?
17:04Was this some kind of sick joke to you?
17:09What's not lying carry you in a right now?
17:12Get rid of it or disappear.
17:13I don't care which.
17:15I want nothing to do with it.
17:19The smoke drifted toward me.
17:21You're smoking?
17:22Near a pregnant woman?
17:23Are you kidding me?
17:24You want a check?
17:25I'll give you a check.
17:26Just don't bother me with this mistake.
17:29The only mistake here is you!
17:31The only mistake was me trusting you!
17:34I want nothing to do with you or this baby!
17:36I don't even know if it's mine!
17:37I never asked for a child from some stripper whore!
17:40Now get out of my sight!
17:43You bastard!
17:47A car was slowing at the curb.
17:49I didn't think.
17:50I stepped off the sidewalk and yanked the back door open and threw myself inside and slammed
17:54it shut.
17:55Long time no see, little sweetness.
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