time. The doctor said the healing process should not be that long so until you are able to take care of yourself Big Mommy is going to nurse you back to health. This has been a very painful year for all of us Duchess but through God we will make it.” I grab the tablet and pencil the doctor gave me and quickly began to write a note to my grandmother. How was my mom funeral? “About that her body was never found Duchess the police department felt like your mother and your father sat this whole thing up because they did not want you, but we both know that is not true. Baby I know you have a lot of questions, and never did I think that I would see the day where I would have no answers we just got to take everything day by day. Duchess all I ask is one thing from you do not hold a grudge against your father for this put it in God hands baby he can bring light to a situation better than we can.” I watch as my grandmother walked out my room leaving me with only my train of thoughts. “I am going to merk that motherfucker.” I said barely in a whisper. “I don’t know where you at but I will find you.”

  Duchess shook her head trying to ease her terrible past out of her head. “Hey Mystery you next ma the crowd is going wild. You ready?” Duchess fix her mask on her face and made sure her body glitter was covering every ounce of her body. Duchess started stripping three years ago at club Finest. One day Big Mommy left to go to the store and never came back Duchess search for her everywhere and issued out a missing report five weeks later she got a package at the door it was Big Mommy body cut up with a note in her mouth that read I will finish what I started Duchess knew it was her father. With no money and no one to turn to Duchess turned to stripping to make a living. “Everybody get on ya’ll feet’s yo fellas how many of you would love to have a mystery lady in your life? Well I am about to make every last one of your dreams come true I give you Mystery.” Duchess walked on stage backwards clapping her ass doing a backflip landing with a split. Grinding to the beat of “Slow Wind” by R.Kelly Duchess let her mind and body take over. Crawling to the pole Duchess placed her ass cheeks in between the pole and started clapping her ass. Duchess walked seductively over to where the ballers was making sure they got a glimpse of her body licking their lips Duchess drop to the floor spreading her legs giving them a clear shot of her jewel box. Throwing all their money on Duchess slapping her ass Duchess wink after hearing her music drop informing her that her performance was over. Duchess walked off stage making sure her ass jiggle the crowd went wild and started chatting “Mystery”. Satisfied with her performance and the dough she just made Duchess decided to walk around the club to make a little extra cash for some lap dances. “Yo Mystery a nigga by the name of Pookie just walked in the club he said he looking to blow $250,000 and he want you to be one of his private dancers.” Diamond said. “Wait who? How do he look?” Duchess asks with her heart racing. “He look a little cracked out I mean you know how you know when somebody on drugs they start looking like it to you? That’s how he look he a baller I fucked him a few times I don’t know what’s longer his money or his dick. I’m about to go over there and see what’s up he been sweating me since I” “Listen stay away from him. When was the last time you got tested?” Duchess said Cutting Diamond off. “Mystery why is you asking me that I am not a hoe I strip and yeah he break me off but I do not sleep around with everybody I am only eighteen.” “Exactly you are only eighteen and you need to know who you are dealing with at all times. Did ya’ll use protection?” “No he said he don’t like using condoms.” “When was the last time ya’ll had sex?” “Two nights ago why are you asking me all these damn questions Mystery. You just a hating ass bitch you walk around here with your ass out yeah you the face of the club but so what we getting money like you getting money.” Diamond bark. Duchess bust out laughing “hating on what you? This has nothing to do with me being the face of the club hell I can careless about this damn club longest my bill get paid I got bigger shit to worry about. Take yo young dumb ass to the clinic, and word of advice never let no man talk you out of protecting yourself tell that nigga I’ll fuck with him another night.” Duchess walked off letting her words sink into Diamonds undeveloped brain. As much as she wanted to step to her dad Duchess knew she was not prepared for that war, but she was ready to start preparing for it. Duchess walked towards Gary her best customer “hey daddy you mind if I give you a lap dance?” Duchess said rubbing her butt in Gary’s face. Although Gary looked lame, old, and broke he was a freak with loads of money. “Why you always got that mask on? I don’t like when you hide your beautiful face.” Duchess ignored Gary and kept grinding on him. “I miss you mystery I can’t stop thinking about you. Why won’t you let me take you out of this club and take care of you?” Duchess kept dancing moving fast to the music grinding hard as she could on Gary. “Answer me dammit?” Gary yelled startling the people in ear distance and Duchess. “Letting a man take care of you give them power over you and you lose yourself in the process. What man does not want his woman to work? A punk that’s who. You out here getting money why wouldn’t you want to see your women built her own empire? There’s nothing like your own and nothing good last forever I am a living witness you have a bless night Gary.” Duchess grab her money and walked towards the dressing room. "Mystery I’m sorry come back I did not mean to yell at you” Gary yelled. “Yeah nigga you fucked up CUT THROAT” Duchess said to no one in particular. Stepping back into the dressing room Duchess walked over to Money. “How much I made tonight Money” “$25,000 plus the $3,000 you just made in tips. Business has been booming since you been in here.” Duchess nodded grabbing her money shoving it in her purse. “Boss want to see you? Yo why you never take that mask off Mystery I don’t know anybody who ever really seen your face.” “Mind your business Money you get paid to count money not to figure out my identify. Page and let Bally know that I am on my way.” Duchess headed to her private shower looking around making sure nobody was in there with her. Preparing to take her mask off Duchess notice a figure in the corner pretending to not have notice Duchess processed to pretend to take a shower. “Bitch” Yella yelled charging at Duchess with a knife. Duchess waited until Yella came in on her moving quickly throwing Yella head to the wall busting her forehead. Yella swung the knife wildly hoping she had cut Duchess at less one time. Duchess ducked grab Yella hand bent it and started head butting her. Throwing her into every mirror and putting her head in the toilet flushing it Duchess kneed Yella in her back and stomach. “Hey what’s going on? Fuck it I’m fena go get Bally ya’ll bitches fucking shit up got the people on the outside being nosey and shit ya’ll bitches just wait” Money said running out of the ladies dressing room. “Fuck Bally Duchess said focusing her attention back on Yella and the ass whooping she was just giving her. “This what you want bitch” Duchess ask Yella punching her in her face almost knocking her out. “Oh hell nal bitch wake yo ass up” Duchess said shoving Yella head back in the toilet water. “What the fuck is going on in here” Bally yelled kicking the door off the hinges. Duchess continued to give Yella the ass whooping of her life. “Mystery I said what the fuck is going on in here?” “Ask this bitch” Duchess barked. “She said fuck you baby? She think she runs this club let her know this is your spot and that I am first lady. Look at what she did to my face? She a hating ass bitch that hate to see us get money.” Yella said coughing up blood. “You said fuck me?” Bally ask walking in Duchess face. “You got that right” Duchess said walking even closer to Bally face. Seeing Duchess stand up for herself turned Bally on he had fucked every stripper in his joint except Duchess the crazy part was that the only way he would accept you in his club is one you got to be a bad bitch two you got to have sex with him. It was something about Duchess he loved her rawness and cocky attitude Duchess was just what Bally was missing out of his life. “Yella get your shit and go your time is up in here” Bally said pointing at the door. “What? Are you serious? Nigga we fucked every night for the past four years I have your son you said you loved me you better fire this bitch too” Yella yelled unable to show her pain. “Mystery here
to stay you got to go love you keep up too much shit.” “Oh okay I know what you doing baby you don’t want me to strip anymore right? We getting married like you promise?” “Yella lets not do this right here right now.” “No Brandon let’s do it right here right fucking now. Are we getting married or not?” Yella ask stepping in his face. “Do you really want to wear two ass whooping’s today Yella.” “Answer my question” Yella said crying knowing what Bally answer would be. “I lied Yella ain’t nobody go wife you up only a damn joke would. You think I don’t know Lil’ B isn’t mines it’s Money baby I been wanted to throw these pictures in you and that nigga face. Only his ass would actually go through with wifing yo ass up bitch you have no walls literally.” “Nigga you made me suck your dick for three hours with the promise of you marrying me I love you Brandon how could you do this to me?” Yella cried falling to her knees. Money ran to her side holding