Chapter 2 Lust in the Dust

That morning, Iris accompanied her father to the nearest clinic. While waiting for the dialysis process to finish, Iris spent time reading a book.

Usually, the process will take about three hours more. Iris had to reach into her pocket for her father's dialysis for about five hundred to seven hundred dollars, and that had to be done three to four times a week. Her father's condition was pretty bad and they didn't have health insurance.

Last night's income Iris used to meet the necessities of life which are not cheap. She even had to pay the rent for the apartment which was three months in arrears and was always billed every week. The owner had already started issuing threats, Iris was forced to pay four months at a time, a total of over three thousand dollars.

Iris also provides a number of tuition fees for her brother, Jan, which is not a small amount. In a day, Iris had spent seven thousand dollars, not including medical expenses.

Such was her fate. No matter how much money she earned, her father and brother always needed money. She couldn't stop and left her job as a prostitute.

Even though it was painful, Iris was able to endure every time she saw her father and Jan.

In the nighttime musings, Iris could sometimes only whimper in suffocation.

She vividly remembers the day she spent the first night when losing her virginity because she had no other choice.

The pain of being forced to serve men the same age as her father, made Iris feel disgusted with herself at the time.

This wasn't the dream she wanted. Iris, who is good at singing, hopes to start a career in the world of music and not become a woman of pleasure like what she does right now. But at the age of fifteen, her father was no longer able to work, and their mother died.

They need to eat and pay rent or staying homeless will be the end of their life. It was impossible to return to their country because there was nothing left!

Iris stopped reading and took a deep breath her heart throbbing in pain. After seven years in a profession that makes her tormented, Iris begins to want to get rid of all this.

***

"Iris Barcova!" call Juarez.

The woman who had just arrived that afternoon immediately came and entered her office. The chief director of the hotel where she worked invited her to sit down.

"There was a complaint from Marten Hernandez, your customer last night!" said Juarez with sharp eyes.

Iris gasped and felt her heart start to feel bad. But the girl chose to remain silent, not responding. The man who still had a thick Mexican accent was really mean-looking and cunning.

The acne scars on his face make Iris sometimes think of Juarez as a monster.

"He complained and refused to pay for the room as well as the booking fee. The reason is, Marten has already paid you ten thousand dollars, in CASH!" The last words were spoken loudly and firmly.

"But Marten said...."

"Mr. Hernandez! You don't deserve to address people in such a disrespectful way!" cut Juarez hard.

Iris took a deep breath, then raised her face in annoyance.

"Mr. Hernandez promised me that worth of tips! Not including the booking fee and also the room payment!" repeated Iris this time loudly and sarcastically.

Plakk!

A slap flew across her face. Iris has pushed aside with a stunning face. There was a little blood flowing from the corner of her lips.

"Listen, Bitch! Do you think you're worth that much? Don't be so pretty and think too highly about yourself!" Juarez hissed intimidatingly. "You are nothing more than a poor immigrant girl!"

Iris straightened herself up again. Her long, slightly wavy black hair looked messy.

"Pay all the bills and I want it done right now! If you don't settle it, I'll report you to immigration!" threatened Juarez, no longer tolerated.

A flick of his hand shooed Iris away harshly. Without trying to wipe the blood off, Iris came out with heated eyes. She could taste salty in her mouth, and Iris ran to the nearest bathroom.

Iris was crying and holding back sobs as hard as she could in the toilet. Her heart ached and her world felt even more congested. There was no more room left for her to breathe freely.

Why is her life taking longer to lead to the abyss of destruction? It's better to end breathless than living a life like this, she thought with a painful heart.

After washing her face with gargling, Iris rushed to the club manager's room, Peter. The steps are long and hasty. As soon as she was ushered in, Iris pushed the door quickly.

"Iris?!" cried Peter in surprise. There were bruises on Iris's face.

"How much does Marten have to pay?" Iris asked in a trembling voice. The man who was only thirty-five years old sighed heavily.

"I've told you so many times! Do not involve yourself with Martin Hernandez! That guy is sneaky! He used to get free girls who wanted to be new actresses! Why don't you ever listen to me?!" cried Peter in annoyance.

Iris held back the tears that had covered her retina. But as soon as she blinked, one by one they fell.

"I'm in danger of being kicked out of the apartment, Peter! My brother needs college tuition, while my father also has dialysis! Tell me, Peter! Where am I supposed to get the money, if not from selling myself?!" Iris asked, holding back sobs.

Peter cursed regretfully and handed her the bill.

"I already paid fifteen hundred dollars. That's all I have, you'll have to find out for yourself the rest, Iris."

Iris grabbed and looked at the nominal. Her eyes widened and Iris's face turned pale.

"Five thousand dollars?!" Iris shrieked.

"Marten didn't pay for his drinks and he stayed two nights at the hotel."

"But why do I have to pay all the bills? Including the second night?"

"Iris, that's Marten's cunning. He will drag you to the deepest hell to avenge his loss."

"But I didn't harm him, Peter! I served the disgusting man, and we agreed on the price!"

"Sorry. I can't help you this time."

Peter raised his hands languidly. Iris sat limply. There are only one hundred dollars left. How did she get the rest in five hours?

"I don't have that kind of money, Pete. Where do I get so much money?" Iris complained.

Her voice sounded desperate and helpless. Peter clasped his hands together with a concerned face.

"Again, I'm so sorry. I really don't have a solution for you. You know what Juarez is like." The club manager couldn't help her at all. Juarez had threatened Peter not to interfere too far this time.

Iris got up and wiped her tears carelessly. Without saying goodbye, she walked past Peter.

***

Iris entered the hotel's payment room and after asking for time to pay off, but she was disappointed again.

The manager asked for immediate payment and no postponement.

"Give me whatever you have. The rest should be this afternoon!" said the man coldly.

Iris handed her all the money and with unsteady steps, left the room.

With a pounding heart, Iris sat inside the locker room, where they got dressed to prepare themselves. Misfortune after misfortune she faced today.

Working for years she was never able to save. All she spends on treating her father and Jan's school. Iris didn't know anymore whether she was still able to continue to work with Juarez.

The man was like a loan shark. Forcing poor immigrant women at suffocating pay. Iris has no identity, except for an expired passport. The three years after they arrived in the country, her father did not have time to take care of anything and was already disabled.

"Iris, Juarez is calling for you!" Lori exclaimed with a surprised face. Iris, who had just sat down and hadn't finished dressing up, finally nodded.

She knew Juarez was going to intimidate her again about the payment. She has not been able to pay it off until this second.

"Come in!" ordered Juarez who looked ready to leave.

The woman entered with her face down, while her jaw clenched.

"You haven't paid off as I ordered! Where's the money you've got?! It's gone for fun?!" Juarez denounced it without sympathy.

The old man drew closer to her. Iris could smell the pungent smell of cigarettes coming from his mouth.

"Serve five guests tonight! Assume to pay your debt! Don't argue or run! I'll sue the police for fraud! Got it?!" snapped Juarez with a sly face.

Iris agreed without fighting back. Her eyes were teary without a sob. Satisfied with the intimidation, the man left Iris with his briefcase.

Peter who was present in the room just stared in silence.

After Juarez left, Iris was shaken and choked by the suppressed sobs. She had to serve five guests, free of charge!

This affliction pierced Iris' soul too deeply. She was drowning in the greed of the more powerful.

Her body is like being shrouded in a disgusting dusty lust that she cannot clean and will continue to cling to. If she could choose, perhaps sudden death would be far more advantageous than her current life.

That night, on the same bed, Iris cried silently. The men take turns enjoying her body. Sometimes she bites her lip as hard as she can to endure the pain and fatigue.

Her tears continued to flow throughout the night without stopping.