SLOW DOWN BABY

"Is this the right choice? But I've never set foot in a place like this before."

Outside the nightclub gates, a striking young woman stood amid the chaos of the capital. Her eyes followed the line of luxury cars pulling up, one after another, delivering their wealthy patrons.

Her gaze was sharp, but her mind was in turmoil-a tangled mess of doubts until the chime of her phone cut through the warm night air.

Startled, Zavira's shoulders twitched. Her left hand slipped instantly into her jeans pocket, retrieving the device. As the screen illuminated her face, the caller ID showed a single word:

"Mom." She swiped the green icon to the right.

"Yes, Mom...?" she answered softly.

From the other end came a quiet, gut-wrenching sob. Zavira frowned.

"Mom, what happened?"

Only silence replied.

Not a single word followed-just broken, ragged weeping echoing in her ear. Zavira called out again, once, twice, three times, yet the tears remained her only answer.

"Mom, what's going on?!"

"You have one month to pay every single cent!" a woman's voice thundered through the line, sharp as a crack of a whip. "If you don't, get out of that house, or I'll make sure the two of you rot behind bars!"

Zavira froze. That wasn't her mother; it was Mrs. Wulan, the loan shark who had been tormenting their family with endless debt. Then, beneath the shouting, she caught the sound of her little brother's shallow, frantic breathing.

"Sis... where are you? I'm so scared," he whimpered quietly, his voice muffled, as if he were hiding.

Zavira could picture it clearly. Her little brother, tucked behind the wooden wardrobe in the living room, trembling while clamping a hand over his mouth to muffle his cries.

Her fists clenched tight, a sharp ache piercing her chest.

"Dear God... Zikri, listen to me carefully. Stay hidden until she leaves, okay? I promise I'll come home with the money."

"Mom and Dad are getting yelled at, Sis. They hit Dad," Zikri sobbed.

Her fingernails dug into her palms until her knuckles turned white.

Despicable monster, she cursed silently. "I'm so sorry, Iki. I'm not there right now. Just stay hidden until that parasite leaves."

"Okay, Sis. Come home soon with the money. Please... Mom and Dad..."

The line went dead. Zavira exhaled a long, heavy breath. Her mind was racing, but one fact stood clear: she needed that money tonight.

"Forgive me, God."

Without hesitation, she stepped into the club, the pounding bass reverberating against her ribs.

Though her stride seemed confident, inside she was drowning in panic. The cash was needed immediately, and this was the only desperate path left open to her.

At the front counter, she approached a woman dressed in solid black.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where the manager's office is?"

The woman arched an eyebrow, scanning Zavira from her scarf down to the heels of her shoes. Without a word, she raised a finger and pointed toward the back.

"Second floor, straight ahead, then take a right. Mr. Daniel's office is right there."

Zavira gave a faint nod of thanks and headed toward the cold stairs.

Her steps grew heavier as she neared a door marked "Management." Just as she raised her hand to knock, the door swung open, and a man stepped out, an edge of panic on his face.

"Sir, I'm Zavira," she said nervously.

The man pointed at her, running an appraising look from her shoes to the top of her head. A thin smirk crossed his lips, but his eyes held no warmth.

"Are you still a virgin?" he asked bluntly.

The question struck like a bolt of lightning. Zavira froze, stunned. The words made no sense to her.

"Excuse me? What do you mean?"

"I asked you a question. Are you a virgin or not?!" he snapped, his tone rushed, as if pressed for time.

Zavira stared at him, bewildered, before nodding slowly. The movement was hesitant, as if she couldn't quite believe she was confirming it.

Before she could ask anything more, the man grabbed her wrist, dragged her into a nearby restroom, and shoved a uniform roughly into her hands.

She caught the fabric, her fingers trembling. Her thoughts spun out of control-what did her personal life have to do with the job she was applying for? None of it added up.

"What are you waiting for?! Get changed now!" he barked. "You need money, don't you?"

Cornered, Zavira could only nod. She locked the door and began undressing with shaking hands.

The uniform felt completely wrong against her skin. It was shockingly revealing, the hemline cutting high above her mid-thigh. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, disbelief written across her face.

"Are you done yet? Get out here! Don't keep me waiting!" his voice boomed through the door.

"Y-yes, Sir!"

Startled, she hurried out with hesitant steps. Facing her, Daniel smiled faintly, an appreciative gleam in his eyes as he took in her appearance.

"Perfect! Now, you have one job. Take this drink to VIP Room 305. There's an angry guest inside. Just make sure you cater to him properly."

Zavira stopped cold, her eyes wide with confusion.

"Sir, I came here for regular work."

Daniel's expression hardened, his brows knitting into a sharp scowl.

"You need fast cash, don't you? He can pay you an obscene amount."

"But I-"

"Quiet!"

He cut her off, seized her arm firmly, and dragged her down the hall toward the VIP suites.

With no strength to resist, Zavira followed, her heart hammering against her ribs as though it would burst.

At the far end of the corridor, near a staging station lined with bottles, a crash echoed from behind a thick wooden door, sounding like glass shattering on the floor.

"Where is the girl I asked for?! Can't Daniel find a single one?"

"I'm sure he's tracking someone down right now, Sir!" a man in a formal suit said, trying to diffuse the temper in the room.

"Damn you, Sherina!" cursed Xafier Leonardo Sebastian.

"Pardon me, Sir!"

Daniel pushed the door open and pulled Zavira inside. Her entire body locked with tension.

Across the room sat a man with his legs crossed, a lit cigarette smoldering between his fingers. His eyes were glazed, feverish with a heat that seemed to consume him.

"Here is what you requested, Mr. Xafier," Daniel said, addressing the man standing rigidly beside the sofa.

Samuel scrutinized Zavira with a sharp, probing gaze.

"Are you certain she's clean? No complications?"

"I guarantee it, Sir! Completely untouched!"

Zavira's brow furrowed. "What is this supposed to mean?"

Suddenly, the man named Xafier rose to his feet. His imposing height made Zavira shrink back. He stared down at her with bloodshot eyes, then gripped her arm with bruising force.

"I want her," he growled, waving a dismissive hand to order the other two men out.

Before she could run, Zavira was shoved backward, her spine hitting the softness of the mattress.

She tried to push herself up, but before she could move, his full weight came down over her, pinning her completely to the bed.

"Serve me now!"