The Governor's Woman

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The music pounded through the club, each beat shaking the ground beneath my feet. My hips moved to the rhythm, a dance I knew by heart. The dim lights flickered, hiding the rough edges of this place and making everything look better than it was. I used to hate this life, hate what I had turned into. But look at me now.

I became the woman I swore I’d never be—a person selling dreams under the cover of darkness. Dignity? That disappeared a long time ago, traded for money that pays my rent and buys my food. And I don’t regret it. Not when this life funds my search for the people who murdered my family.

A sharp pain hit my chest as memories from three years ago came rushing back. Screams. The cold touch of a gun against my head. The helpless feeling as I begged for their lives. But those monsters just laughed, enjoying my pain. They didn’t just kill my family; they broke me too.

Nakakaawa ka, Akhlys. A voice whispered in my mind, mocking me. I pushed it away, refusing to let it drag me down.

The song ended, and I stepped off the stage, ignoring the applause. I glanced around, watching as one of our staff picked up the bills scattered on the floor from my dance. Tonight’s earnings were better than usual, probably because the holiday season was coming up. People wasted their money here instead of saving it. If only they knew.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Renetha, my friend, cozying up to some band’s lead singer. She had a knack for catching the attention of famous guys, though I could never remember their names.

I shook my head. Same old Rene. She never learns. Alam naman niyang hindi siya seseryosohin ng lalaki, but she keeps trying. People always chase after things that hurt them in the end.

I guess I’m the same. Here I am, still haunted by my parents’ deaths, still stuck in the nightmares of that night three years ago.

I can’t forget. Every day, I replay that horrible scene in my mind. I want to move on, but how can I when justice hasn’t been served? When the killers are still out there, free?

Pagdating ko sa backstage, I slumped into my chair, wiping off the heavy makeup from my face. The weight of the past clung to me tonight, and I couldn’t shake it off. Sleep. That’s what I needed. Just enough to push the memories aside.

I was about to change out of my costume when I heard someone call my name.

“Ano na naman?” I muttered, annoyed, as I stepped outside. It was Rene, rushing towards me, panting as if she had just run a mile.

“Akhlys! Shuta ka!” she shouted, looking around until she spotted me.

I raised an eyebrow. “Ano’ng problema mo?”

She gasped for air, clutching my shoulders. “Tawag ka ni Ryan!”

“Bakit?” I asked, confused.

“Bakit!? May customer!” she snapped, like I should’ve already known.

“Hindi ako nag-papatable,” I shot back, turning away. I didn’t care how much they offered; I wasn’t in the mood tonight.

Pero ang kulit ni Rene. She grabbed my arm again, practically shaking me. “Hindi! Assist mo lang daw!” she pleaded.

I rolled my eyes. “Bakit ako? Of all the girls here, bakit ako?”

“Ikaw ang gusto eh!”

“Sabihin mo ayaw ko.” I tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t let go.

“Dali na! Malaki ‘yong offer, promise!”

“Magkano?” I asked, pretending not to care.

“Ten thousand!” she said, flashing ten fingers in front of my face. I stopped in my tracks.