My Sweet Punishment by Amelia Brooks (best book club books of all time .TXT) 📕

       I woke up when it was already dark outside.

       Yeah, Mia. If you work like this for a couple more weeks, you can forget about the normal daily regime.

      I lost my scholarship last semester. But don't think. I'm far from being a truant and I love studying very much. My grades started to drop after my younger brother's health has deteriorated sharply and I returned home to help my mother.

     James, my six years brother got acute kidney failure. Mom already works day and night to pay for my brother's treatment and help me to settle up in the city of big opportunities. She says that she wants a better future for me. Although, I continue to convince her that I'm not a little girl anymore and I can take care of myself.

       Soon, I got a part-time job. I work as a waitress in one of the most popular nightclubs in the city “RIA”. I don't know how I happened to get this job since they take almost only models there.

       My appearance is modest and unremarkable. I'm not tall, I don't have any prominent curves, and I have an ordinary face. My only pride is my hair. Thick, jet-black, the perfect sheen, never touched with hair-dye, and there was no need in it. I’m comfortable with my look and never tried to change it, maybe yet.

      At first, I worked six hours a day, and it was great, ‘cause I had enough time for my study too. But after a while, my working day turned into a twelve-hour daily hard labor.

      There’s always trouble with our staff. Getting a job, they thought it would be easy here. Endless parties, wealthy people, and other life beauties. Girls even try to find their future sugar daddy among the guests. But in fact, it’s vice versa. As a result, they run away from the club in a month because you actually need work, although the place is a hot spot.

      And I can't even think about quitting. I comfort myself with a constant reminder of a decent salary and tips. At least a little bit, but I try to help my family. I will graduate from university soon and get a normal job. Then maybe in a couple of years, I will take my mom and James out of our middle of nowhere town.

    The only downside is that there is no time and energy left for studying now. I feel like I'll be without a scholarship next semester too. But it’s not such a big deal. I'll try to solve this issue somehow. Thank God I’m not excluded.

      The phone rang. It seems that I’ve just got a new message. I don't even doubt who it's from. Olivia, of course. But the content of this message alarmed me. 

      Olivia: “Well, I hope you're awake by now. Your task is to find an evening dress as soon as possible. I'll be there in an hour. Xoxo.”

      I put the phone aside.

    I'm not going to look for anything, especially since I don’t have such clothes in my wardrobe. I prefer comfort to beauty.

      This restless girl is going to take me to the club again, isn't she? Oh, no. Thank you, but I was just there. I don't even want to think about it. My head is still throbbing from the loud music. And our last trip to "have some fun" I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Especially the moment when Olivia left me alone and drove off into the sunset, as she put it, 'with the man of her dreams'. Except in the morning, he vanished into thin air. And I had to fight off a freaky reeking admirer all by myself.

       As she promised, my friend arrived exactly an hour later.

       “Well, you’re up. It’s already great. But where is the dress?”

     “What dress, Olivia? You know I'm not a fan of clubs, especially after our last visit.” I looked at her with my arms folded.

      “Don't be mad, Mia! I truly thought it was fate. But who knew that he would be such an asshole.”

       Indeed, a guy who hints at intimacy right away after a couple of drinks, just cannot but be a gentleman. I did not say it out loud, because it is useless to argue with the girl. We were past all that. I love her. She’s a good friend and kind girl, but sometimes too naive and boy-crazy. Oh, I don't envy her future husband.

       “To cut it short, today’s my father's birthday. In honor of his holiday, he arranges a party. I happened to look at the guest list and saw HIS name there!! Henry Collins! I can’t believe it, Mia. I'm so happy I'm finally able to meet him in person!” Olivia glowed with happiness.

      Hmm, Henry Collins? I don't remember that name. Although… Yeah, right. A couple of years ago, Olivia chattered my ear off about him. Rich, handsome, and single. The dream of all girls. But I don't really remember what this man looks like right now. Apparently, not everyone's dream, huh?

      “And in order to break the “biggest” news to me, you had to storm into my home early in the morning? Did I get you right?”

      “You don't understand. He’s my ideal type. After he left for Spain three years ago, I’ve lost all hope. But he came back. And if it's not fate, I just don't know what it is!”

       It seems to me that I’ve heard it before. Déjà vu?

      “I mean, I’m really happy for you and all that. But what do the evening dress and myself have to do with all this news?”