Isn't it ironic how people will spend thousands a day buying tickets for the lottery, and when they win, they'll spend money again and become bankrupt? If they're taking that big risk, why do they constantly do it? They think they won't get carried away, but greed, things they don't need, jelousy, and fake friends take all the money and leave you bankrupt.
Mindy Crashall, a twenty-six year old California sweetheart, buys a ticket. For the first time, and the lucky numbers 15, 9, 44, 12, and 71 are displayed on the TV and wins three million dollars. But she vows she won't spend it all, but when a couple of months pass, she's bankrupt. No house, no money, nothing.
She needs to get 45,000 dollars fast, and she won't sell her body for sure, until she stumbles up on a burlesque club called Paradise. They pay big, but this shining star doesn't get her spotlight on the stage, no actually behind the stage, or behind the bar station. Now she's getting big pay, but will she slip up again, and if she does, will a friend she meets at the club help her?
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]