Chapter 3

Ten minutes later, Cassie, having reapplied her makeup, dragged me into the club.

No need to guess, it was another one of her wild friends' get-togethers.

There were seven or eight people, men and women, gathered in the VIP room.

When we walked in, the room's chatter abruptly ceased.

"Well, well, if it isn't Princess Cassie, with her personal pet."

"Looks like you're late today, huh? Your lapdog isn't keeping up! How should we punish him?"

"Let the lapdog perform a trick!"

"I like it! We're drinking, and we could use a clown for entertainment..."

The group started making fun of me again. I was used to it, unfazed.

Cassie naturally slipped into the embrace of a wealthy young man, then crooked a finger at me.

"Dean, didn't you hear? Everyone wants you to perform. What are you waiting for?"

I said expressionlessly, "I have no talents. I don't perform."

Chad, the rich young man, smirked.

"Who said you have no talents? Isn't a lapdog best at licking? Just kneel down and lick our shoes clean, won't you?"

Another young man, Kyle, glanced at his flip-flops and joked, "Oops, my bad, I forgot I wasn't wearing dress shoes today. You don't mind, do you?"

At that, the group roared with laughter.

The laughter echoed in the VIP room, sounding especially grating.

I suppressed the anger in my heart, standing still.

Cassie frowned and snapped, "What's wrong with you today? You're not listening at all!"

"Are you trying to spoil everyone's fun and embarrass me?"

"Get down and start your performance, now!"

I said coldly, "Sorry, I'm not into that. If you want to lick, you lick. I'm not doing it."

The moment I finished speaking, the tension in the room thickened.

Chad looked astonished. "Oh my, Princess Cassie, your lapdog seems to be biting back. He's even talking back now."

Tonight, I had completely embarrassed Cassie in front of her friends.

She stood up and slapped me twice, ordering me to kneel and lick Chad's shoes.

But I stood firm; she couldn't budge me.

She was furious, red-faced, spitting all over me.

"Alright, alright, Princess Cassie, calm down. Why get upset over a lapdog?"

"How about this: for every bottle of liquor the lapdog chugs, I'll give him ten thousand dollars."

"Don't say I'm getting a free show. I'm not short on dog food money."

Chad pulled out a wad of crisp bills from his bag and tossed them at my feet.

Kyle opened a few bottles of liquor and set them in front of me.

Cassie hissed in my ear,

"If you don't drink tonight, then get out of my life forever. I'll even strip you of your right to be my lapdog!"

I checked the time. Four hours left on the contract.

Fine. I might as well see this charade through to the very end for Cassie.

Besides, who would turn down money?

Ten thousand dollars was still ten thousand dollars!

I picked up the bills, grabbed a bottle, and tipped my head back, chugging it down.

This was hard liquor, unlike beer, quite potent.

The burning liquid scorched my throat, sending a searing heat straight to my head.

I nearly choked, coughing violently after emptying the bottle.

"Well, well, I never would have guessed the lapdog could hold his liquor!"

"This show is way better than shoe-licking. Chug another one!"

"I'll cover this ten grand!"

The group laughed hysterically, clapping and egging me on.

Chad pulled out another ten thousand in cash and threw it at my face.

"Keep drinking! Ten grand a bottle, isn't that easier than working a regular job?"