"Jeez, these shoes are killing me." I whined as I brought two bottle of beers on the bar where Catalina is sitting and drinking.

"If you're not that stupid then why are you still wearing that garbage? God, how many duct tape did you put in there?" She looked at my stiletto that are just being repaired every time I wear them.

"What can I do? These are the the only ones I have." I sat on the stool next to hers and ordered a martini at the bar.

"You know, you're such an idiot. You have all the most beautiful shoes but you choose to leave them because of Rafael. How ignorant of you."

I rolled my eyes at her. "For your information, Catalina. Its my choice to not keep anything of what Rafael gave me. They are only needed when I an gonna act as his wife. But unlike now, I don't need them because I am not his wife anymore."

"Ahem, you are still married, dear. You two still haven't sign some divorce papers yet."

"Yeah but we officially declared that we no longer need each other." I turn my stool around and look around the bar. "We are done. The contract ends as soon as his father's company is now Rafael's hand. He doesn't need me anymore and I don't need him too."

Catalina finished her drink as I finished mine as well "Well, it's already been 2 weeks and he didn't even show his face to you yet."

"He's in Cannes." I replied, standing up from the stool because I saw many customers coming in the bar. Time to do my job and face what is real. Stop expecting that he will come to bring you back in his penthouse, Belle.

Time to wake up. This is the reality.

No time to waste because right now, my priority is to earn some money so we can pay our bills.

It's like I'm back to zero from bingo.

I went to the back to arrange my makeup. I've been working six hours straight from seven pm and now it's one in the morning.

I darken my Smokey eye make up and put some lip gloss because lipstick aren't my thing. I look so different from the Belle before. I look more mature on how thick my makeup right now. Well, these are how the boys love it.

To be honest, 8 out of 10 of my customers says that I look 16 so they told me to apply more makeup so I did. Luckily, my customers increases.

"Hey Belle" Ashley, one of my coworkers, greeted me as she entered the room and she put her things inside her locker.

"Hi Ash. You're shift starts at one?"

"Yep. Are there a lot of customers?" She asked, sitting next to me as I apply some eyeliner.

"Wow it seems like you are the lucky charm of this unlucky club. Since you came back 2 weeks ago, a lot of customers came."

"Maybe because they found out that the billionaire's ex wife is working here, entertaining some old perverts."

Ashley laughed, she was facing the mirror this time, applying some bust in her chest to make it look bigger. "I don't think so. You really won't be recognized easily from what you look like when you were married than what you are right now."

"Hm...how come?"

"You're clothes, makeup and looks are so beautiful when you were still married and now you are here. Your makeups too thick and bold, your clothes are so cheap and you don't look like a virgin right now because of that sexy tight dress you are wearing."

Wow.

"I-I guess you're right." I mumbled, letting out a chuckle then stared at myself in the mirror once again. I do look so mature and sophisticated with this dress. It's a tight dress but the side of my tummy is seen and it is very bare at the back.

"I like that dress, where did you get that?"

"I bought it yesterday at the cheap dress shop. It was on sale so I bought it."

"Lucky you." She sigh then stood up "I better show my face to Ms. Dane or else she will fire me. See you around, Belle!"

"Bye." I quietly respond as I finished arranging myself. My hair is still in it's natural curls so I didn't bother tying it up in a bun or a ponytail so I just let it down.

I reached for my drawer and started to light up a cigarette.

Yes, I know this is bad but since the day I went back to work here, I went back to my old habits. I smoke a lot and I hate it when Catalina hides them. And I've been drinking alcohol lately which is really not me.

I smoke but I don't drink.

But drinking and smoking was kinda my way to go through the pain in my heart.

I miss him.

I really do and I am not gonna hide it. But I also don't want to see him despite how much I miss his voice.

I don't even have a news about him. Did he and Marissa continued their little love nest? What happened to Christoffer? And his family? The whole gang.

I miss them all. Steve's kind attitude, Don's serious smirk and Scott's annoying insults. God, I didn't even say goodbye to them. That is one of my huge mistake though, how I wish to hug them before I made up my mind to end our deal.

Oh well, more customers are coming so I went back in to entertain one. I put up my signature smile and faked that I am enjoying.

"Good evening, sir. I am Lilian and I'm your woman for the night"

Actually, did I ever mention that I'm Lilian when I talk to older men? Brenda if it's around my age and Selly when the customer is in his 50s. Weird am I?

~~~•••~~~

My shift has already ended and it's 4 in the morning. Catalina is still not done because her shift ends at 6 and I don't want to wait that long so I am just gonna go home on my own.

"Goodbye, Belle." One of the workers and strippers of the club waved at me as I leave the place.

"Bye, girls."

The cold breeze hits my bare skin making me shivers so I just wrap my arms around my body as I walk home. There are no taxi around so walking is the only option in this one.

Jeez, I slid my hand inside my shoulder bag and grab a stick of cigarette and smoke one. I put it between my lips as it helps me gets warm from the cold air.

I'm such an idiot for not bringing a jacket or coat with me.

But as I was walking, I felt kinda uncomfortable which I don't know the reason why until I look behind me and noticed a black is driving on the road in low speed. Who is that?

To be honest, I've been noticing that car for a week and it is already making me curious who would that be. I've seen it park near the club then sometimes I would notice it going to the direction as where I was going.

But then I realize nothing is gonna happen if I keep on asking myself. So what I did for me not to get embarrassed if I ask who it was...I thought for a second.

Act like a prostitute so I can see who is inside the car. I'm sure that it is not Rafael because those kinds of small cars in his type so I places with my hair a little before walking to the driver's window in a sexy way.

"Hey, sugar. I keep on noticing you following me. You want to have a good time?" I leaned closer to the window but too bad, I still can't see who it was. "I can give you a good time, you know."

Still not lowering his window so I just shrugged my shoulders and started walking slowly off the car but I stopped when I heard the window lowered.

"Yeah, you can definitely give me a good time, Belle."

My eyes widen seeing my husband inside that car with a very serious look. Shit, he will mistake me for being a hooker!

"R-Rafael?!" I suddenly made a step back "What are you doing here?"

"Me? I'm just checking out my wife on how she is going with her job since you left me." He replied, "So, if I was a stranger then you will surely go home with me? Are you that kind of person now, Belle?"

I let out a scoff "Wow, how dare you accuse me as a hooker. You surely know that I am not like that."

"Yeah, two weeks ago. But what I saw just two minutes ago is not how I know you"

I rolled my eyes and ran my fingers through my hair. "Damn you. I am just playing that part and there is no way I would fucking go to a stranger and let him take me home!" I stated, wrapping an arm around me to warm myself but one hand is holding the cigarette.

Rafael sigh then stepped out of his car and walked towards me. "Ill drive you back to your apartment. Its dangerous if you take this road alone"

"Oh so we are in talking method right now? Jeez, Rafael. I would rather be in a bunch of stupid men that be in same car with you." I started walking past him but he grab my arm "Let~"

"~I know you are still mad at me but there is no way I'm letting you walk alone in the dark, Belle. Please, get in the car"

"Get lost, idiot." I ignored his request even though he look so handsome right now in that simple sweater and blue jeans.

"Get in the car, Isabelle or I will drag you myself." He warned.

"Haha, nice try, Rafael. But you are not scaring me anymore." I continued being stubborn and walk back inside.

I tried my best to walk away from him but since my foot are aching, it didn't work well but in a snap, someone had lifted me off the ground and Rafael put me over his shoulders like a sack of potato.

"Rafael! You son of a bitch, put me down!" I shouted at him but he didn't listen to me. He just continue walking then he opened his front seat and just threw me in and put me in seatbelt. "Rafael, I'm let me out of here!"

He got in his seat and drove off. Jesus, why am I even here with my husband?

Good thing my cigarette is still in my mouth, I can smoke inside his car so he can drop me out.

"Quit that thing. Do you want to smoke yourself to death?" He lowered his window and then threw the cigarette out.

"And it's not your freaky business anymore if I want to die or not" I told him, arrogantly just staring outside the window with my arms crossed because it's freezing inside his car.

"It is still my business, Belle. Even if you turn this world upside down I'm still your husband."

"Yeah right." I muttered, sarcastically "I am already used of hearing that same excuse over and over."

"Belle, please. Just listen to me, about the last~"

"Hey, hey, don't you dare bring that topic right now if you don't want me to jump out of this car, Rafael. I don't want to hear it anymore" I spat at him. "Where the heck are you taking me anyway? Better drop me in my apartment, you stinking pig!"

Rafael laughed at my choice words. Really? He still have the guts to laugh at how angry I am at him.

"Stinking pig? Really, is that the best you can say to me?" He took a glimpse of me then grinned "That really hurts my feelings, my wife."

"The fuck I care about your feelings. You didn't even care about mine." I mocked and stomped my feet. Jeez, I hate this.

Rafael gulped and sigh before speaking to me again. "Listen, Belle. As much as you want to hate me and not believe me, I do for you. What I feel for you is far different from the other girls I met even for Marissa. Like I said, you're special to me."

I scoffed "Special. Tsk, yes from the others you know. I became your wife. Played wife. Of course, I'm different. I am the only woman who knew you real you, what you feel and what caused you to be so heartless. You just owe me something, Rafael. And that is why you feel different from me"

"No, Belle. Its just -fuck, I don't know how to say it. You know how hard it is for me to express this." He rubbed his head then gripped the steering wheel harder "I'm changing, and I know it. But God knows how much I care for you, Belle."

Lies, lies. I can't take it anymore.

"Stop the car."

"What?" He looked at me like I'm crazy.

"I said stop the car and drop me." I told him, with a cold tone.

"Are you crazy? I'm not dropping you at this street, Belle."

"I don't give a damn. Just stop the car and I don't want to hear anymore of your lies!" I screamed at him and my anger is starting to boil. But he still ignored me. "I said stop the car, Rafael. I swear I am gonna yell and start panicking if you don't"

"I won't drop you, Belle. I'm not that heartless to let you go walk on your own. I promise I will shut my mouth just let me bring you back safely"

His voice was neatly pleading. I want to argue back and fight with him but his tone is making me melt. Damn this love. I love him so much and one word from him makes me obey him like a dog.

Rafael didn't utter a single world in the whole ride. He quietly drive and I silently stare outside the window.

He dropped me to the apartment and I unbuckled his seat belt and grab my shoulder back. "Goodbye, Rafael. I hope this will be our last meeting."

"No."

"What?" I paused at opening his car door.

"I'm not letting you go, Belle. You are my wife and you will stay as my wife as long as I want. You are mine and mine only. Get that in your mind. For now, let you go and think about what I said. Goodbye, babe."

Oh boy.