BURNING FOR DADDY

Isabella's POV

I'd been staring at the whiskey glass for three minutes.

Four ice cubes. Dad had always used four. Said three were for amateurs, five were trying too hard. Four was perfect.

Fuck.

I tossed it into my mouth before the memory could finish forming. The burn in my throat felt good. Real. Unlike the last two months since we buried him-those months had felt like I'd been living underwater, sound muffled, movements slow, nothing quite reaching me.

Until tonight. Tonight I needed to feel something that wasn't the gaping hole where my father used to be, in my heart.

"Oh, darling. I'm so sorry."

Some asshole bumped into me, pouring his drink all over my dress. His hands went straight for my thigh, playing concerned and nice while copping a feel.

I should've cared. One year ago, I would've broken his nose.

Tonight? I just let him.

What did it matter anymore?

Charlie, the manager, swooped in like always. "That's our exclusive customer Mister. If I think you're doing what it is you're doing, you're going straight to jail."

The creep forced a small chuckle and quickly walked away.

I forced a smile. "Thanks, Charlie."

"Anytime, Isa." He looked at me, his eyes full of pity. Everyone looked at me with pity now

"You good?"

No. Dad's gone. Mom's made an announcement that she's marrying someone new in a month or two, not like I cared even if it was in two days. He was a rich man from New York.

He was going to make our lives better.

I can't sleep without seeing his face in the hospital bed. I quit stripping because I kept breaking down mid-routine and here she was grinning from ear to ear, happy and overseeing preparations. Calling it the best day of her life.

It made me wonder if she ever loved my father.

"I'm great," I lied.

He patted my shoulder softly, "Cheer up mi cariño. You'll be fine".

I wasn't an exclusive customer, but a worker here. I had worked as a stripper in this club for a year, and only sent in my resignation letter two days ago. I couldn't continue. Charlie had just always been nice to me.

"I know you've resigned cariño, but I need a favour. One of our best customers is here today, and he requested your service. If it isn't too much for me to ask...".

I smiled and set my shot glass on the counter.

"Sure. What is it?"

He motioned at a table and handed me a tray.

I took it and I went to serve him-whoever it was.

I could feel the eyes of everyone in the VIP section as I walked towards the man, placing the drink on his table. The stranger's gaze burnt into my skin despite having several eyes on me.

"You're not naked today," he stated simply, licking his lips as his eyes scanned my body.

I set the tray gingerly on the table.

"Yes, I don't